CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 374, 24 August 1875, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, August 23. The usual weekly meeting was held in the Council Chambers. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Bishop, Ick, Jones, Raphael, Gapes, Schmidt, Hart, and Calvert. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The town clerk reported receipts for the week to be as follow :—From rate collector: account general city rates, 1875, £2OO 11s ; Waimakariri do, £33 8s 6d ; fines from Resident Magistrate’s Court, £1 10s ; rent from Market place, 7Sj Total receipts, £238 16s 6d. Overdraft at Bank on general account, £3452 16s lOd. Drainage account—Dr, £1266 11s 4d. Drainage, rate account—Cr, £1096 Is lOd. Wages, &c., to be paid on general account, £360 11s 3d ; on drainage account, £IOB 7s lOd, The Mayor said a statement of estimated receipts and for the year had been prepared by the town clerk, and though the finance committee had not met that evening at the usual hour, as the month of November was approaching he would desire that the should consider it that evening. So far as the petition for an increase in the representation of the city was concerned, two men had been employed obtaining signatures to it during the week, and he had been informed that a large number had already been obtained. He would call a meeting of the committee to consider it in the course of a day or two. A difficulty had arisen in the preparation of the debentures, for which he had not been prepared, as it had been found that, in the wording of them, the day on which the rate had to be struck for their security, should have been mentioned therein. This difficulty would, however, soon be got over, Before sitting down, he trusted that councillors would, that evening, pay all attention to the business before them, and abstain from personalities which had occasioned the scene of the previous Monday’s sitting. He had been compelled to take legal advice as to the course he ought to pursue under similar circumstances, but he sincerely trusted that the good sense of members would not occasion him to take the action he had been advised to take. The statement of the estimated receipts and expenditure for theyearwas brought up, and, after some discussion, was referred to the finance committee to report next week. The surveyor reported that Conference street is 40ft wide, and that it could be formed and shingled for £7 per chain ; that Ualkett street is only 33ft wide, .and formed of a material unfit for the purpose, which caused it in wet weather to be an unhealthy swamp. The channelling of Hereford street and Cashel street was finished, and the work of channelling Worcester and Gloucester streets was commenced. He had been authorised by the works committee to advertise lor the necessary timber for the remaining five streets running from east to wesc. With reference to Conference street, the town clerk was instructed to send a reply to the residents hr accordance with the surveyor’s report. After some discussion on the clause relating to Halkett street, the following resolution, moved by Cr Bishop and seconded by Cr Ick, was carried—•' That a reply be sent to Mr Halkett, stating that the street referred to being of less width than the Act allows us to take over a street, the Council can make no offer to do so, but must nevertheless point out that as the said street is in such an unhealthy condition, the Council hereby give the owners and residents notice to have the street put in proper condition under clause 299 of the Municipal Council Act.” The remaining clauses of the report were approved,

Cr Bishop referred to the fearful state of the land at the rear of the Lincoln road district school, which had, he thought, been accelerated by the school committee closing up some of the drains. He felt that for the sake of the health of the inhabitants there, and the children attending the school, it was imperative that something should be immediately done to drain off the stagnant water. He would move chairman of the West Christchurch School committee be written to directing the attention of the committee to the dangerous results which might occur to the health of the children and inhabitants of the neighbourhood by the accumulation of water at the rear of the school, caused it is understood by the closing of a ditch in the school ground, and should be glad by the committee having the said ditch reopened until arrangements can be made for the drainage of the water in that locality to be taken "to the south brick drain now under construction. 1 ’ Cr Gapes seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A letter was read from Mr D. B, Bowie, South town belt, asking whether the Council intends doing anything to abate the nuisance of the roadway adjoining his property. .Resolved—“ That a reply be sent that this matter will be attended to as soon as possible.” A letter was read from Messrs Hanmer and Harper, instructed by Messrs T. J, Maling and Co, applying for £3O, for injuries done to horse and servant while driving over the Worcester street bridge. After hearing an explanation from the city surveyor and inspector of nuisances, who had witnessed the accident, it was resolved—“ That the matter be left in the hands of the Mayor, to report next Monday.” A letter was read from the Secretary for Public Works, enclosing copy of Mr J. M'Williams’ tender of £3OO for clearing the Avon, £SO of which would be payable by the City Council on completion of the contract; also stating that £l3 was due by the City Council to the Government on account of last year’s contract. On the motion of Cr Jones, it was resolved that the sum of £45 be paid to the Government on account of last year’s contract. A letter was read from Mr L. E. Nathan submitting for the consideration of the Council the following suggestions, also giving his reasons—l. The advisableness of getting inserted in the Abolition of Provinces Bill a clause vesting all main drains, their formation, and maintenance, in the General Government. 2. To get a clause inserted in the Local Government Act empowering portions of Road Board districts abutting on municipalities to amalgamate with such municipalities ; and 3rd, dwelling on the cost of the conservation of rivers to Christchurch and neighbouring districts, and suggesting the possibility of having clauses inserted in the Local Government Act, which would relieve these places of the exceptional burdens imposed on them by existing arrangements. After remarks from councillors, consideration of the letter was deferred for a week. A letter was read from Mr C. Collins, calling attention to a dangerous hole in the asphalte in front of his premises, Whateley road. Referred to the works committee. A letter from Mr A. Braid, Melbourne, enclosing drawing, was read, requesting attention to his horse street scrapers, which he could supply at £26. Referred to the works committee. A letter was read from Mr H. Roberts, Kilmore street west, asking for remission of his rates, in consequence of his house having been totally destroyed by fire. On the motion of Cr Raphael, seconded by Cr Jones, the request of Mr Roberts was complied with. A letter was read from Mr Heasman, asking to have the side drain in Manchester street lowered. Referred to the surveyor to report. An application was received from Mr Andrew Brandon, as trustee for four orphan children, asking for a remission of the rates of cottages inhabited by them, and rented on their account, the total rentals received being £llos a week, their sole means of living. On the motion of Cr Raphael, seconded by Cr Calvert, the rates of the cottages were remitted. Letters were read from Mr George Bruce and A. W. Doran, complaining of the assessment of their property, in each instance the valuation being exactly double that of last year. Resolved that a reply be sent that the Council has no power to reconsider the assessments made by the valuer. Cr Raphael, on being called on by the Mayor, said that in deference to the members of the lire brigade, and to prevent any further misunderstanding, he would not move the resolution of which he had given notice. Cr Jones said that in justice to his position as a Councillor he would ask the Council to hear an explanation from him. Had Cr Raphael said that in deference to him (Cr Jones) he would ask leave to withdraw the resolution, he might have said nothing, but as the motion had been before the public for a fortnight Crs Raphael and Hart objected to Cr Jones speaking, as he (Cr Raphael) had expressed his intention of not moving his resolution. The Mayor ruled that Cr Jones could make an explanation. Cr Jones would positively assert that he had never had a contract with the Council, or supplied the Council with any goods. The facts were, that in March, 1873, he retired from the Council for six months, and during that interval of time, a 3 lb box of carriage candles had been obtained by Mr Harris, the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade. In 1875, Mr Harris again obtained a box of candles and a case of kerosene oil. All those articles had been supplied to Mr Harris, and paid for by him, as Mr Harris and he would challenge the town clerk to say that even one single penny had ever been paid to him from the funds of the Council. Cr Raphael’s motion had been commented on in Otago and otherprovinces, and he trusted that his (Or Jones’) remarks might go forth to the ratepayers, who had had sufficient confidence in him to send him to the Council on more than one occasion, atd which confidence he had always used his best efforts to retain. Cr Raphael said he had a report of an analogous case by him, tried lately at home, which fully justified the action ho had taken; but as he had said before, in defes

ence to the members of the fire brigade, he desired to obtain leave to withdraw his resolution. Leave was then given, and the subject dropped. Or Jones obtained permission to withdraw the motion of which he had given notice relative to the removal of the shrubs in the North town belt enclosures. The weekly report of the inspector of nuisances was read, and after some discussion, An application from 0. W. Drenc for a drivers’ license was adjourned for a week. An application was read from J, Heard, asking his cab license to be transferred to J. Garland. Granted. NOTICE OF MOTION FOR MONDAY NEXT. Or Bishop to move—“ That the necessary steps be taken to adopt by byelaw part XI. of the 13th schedule of Municipal Corporations’ Act, 1867, referring to ttm manner in which the business of the Council should be conducted.”