CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 380, 31 August 1875, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, August 30. The usual weekly meeting was held in the Council Chambers. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Calvert, Hart, Ick, Raphael, Jones, Gapes, and Schmidt. 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, £l9O 6s ; Waimakariri do, £3l 14s 4d ; fines from Resident Magistrate's Court, £5 5s ; rent from Market place, 7s. Total receipts, £227 12s 4d. Overdraft at Bank on general account, £3585 4s 9d. Drainage account—Dr, £1374 18s sd. Drainage rate account—Cr, £1175 7s Bd. Wages, &c,, to be paid on general account, £IBB 6s Id; on drainage account, £ll2 9s 4d. The Mayor said he had waited on Messrs Hanmer and Harper, and subsequently on Mr Maling, who said he was prepared to waive his claim for damage done to his horse and cart while crossing Worcester street bridge, but his man, Macfarlane, had been severely injured. He then saw Mr Macfarlane, who detailed the circumstances of the accident, which showed that the Council were liable to a certain extent. Macfarlane would lose three weeks' work besides doctor's expenses, and he (the Mayor) would suggest that £lO be given to him. Dr Foster hud also agreed with the equity of this amount. He might mention that it would be months before the man would be able to lift anything. He (the Mayor) had received a deputation, asking him to call a public meeting to be addressed by the candidates before the election to take place on the 9lh, He had asked the deputation whether they desired it should be merely a meeting of ratepayers, and they replied certainly not, it was their wish that no person should be excluded from it. Cr Raphael, after hearing the remarks from the Mayor, would move that £lO be paid to Macfarlane. Cr Calvert seconded the resolution. After some remarks from the surveyor in explanation, the resolution was put and agreed to. Some discussion took place on the meeting of candidates, after which it was decided that the Mayor should call a public meeting of the burgesses of Christ.church. The city surveyor reported—- " 1. I have been again obliged to stop the work of the drain on the South belt, owing to the very bad state of the ground. The delay will only be for two or three weets, during which time some concrete blocks will be made to use in lieu of brickwork.

" 2 In the course of two or three days the Montreal street bridge will be finished, so that the men will be at liberty to commence Madras bridge. "3.Re Mr Heasman's application.—l find the side channel in Manchester street cannot; well be lowered, but when the concrete channel is laid through that street we may perhaps be able to gain 5 or 6 inches." Paragraph No 1 of the report was approved. The second paragraph was held over until the statement of- receipts and expendituie had been discussed. On No 3 paragraph being read, it waa resolved that a reply be sent to Mr Heasman in accordance therewith. The Mayor said he had been informed that two persons who had received permission fco remove soil from the footpath in Hereford street east, had wantonly and wilfully injured the channelling with the wheels of their carts, as quickly as it had been formed. Crs Gapes and Ick spoke very strongly of this wilful conduct. Or Raphael said he had called the attention of the Council before to this practice, which was repeatedly indulged in by milkmen with their carts, notably in one instance in Tuam street, to which he had referred at the time. He would move—" That the surveyor take immediate action in this matter." Cr Jones seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Several tenders for twenty lamps were opened, and that of Mr T. Williams waa accepted. Tenders for Totara timber were opened and referred to the works committee and surveyor to accept. A letter was read from Cr Bishop, saying he would not be able to attend that evening as he was unwell. He enclosed a memo re Mr Nathan's letter, which letter he thought should be acknowleged with thanks. The financial position of the Council was such that he would recommend the works of the J city be stopped, leaving only the carters and 1 four channel sweepers. This course he considered would be the prudent one to take from a business point of view. The motion in his name for that evening would have to lapse. Mr Nathan's letter of last week containing; suggestions relative to main drains, &c, which he thought should be inserted in. the Abolition of Provinces and Local Government Bills, was again read. After remarks from Councillors, an amendment moved by Cr Ick—"That a reply be sent to Mr Nathan, acknowledging his letter with thanks," waa carried. A letter was read from the Avon Road Board, stating that complaints had -been made by ratepayers of that district, of the way in which the footpath on the North east belt had been left.

The surveyor explained that it was the impossibility of obtaining shingle which, prevented the work being completed. It was resolved—" That a reply be sent that the footpath will be shingled as soon as practicable." 'An application was read, signed by a number of residents on the north side of the Ferry road, asking that the footpath in front of their premises might be formed and shingled. Resolved—" That a reply be sent that the work will be carried ont in due course." .

A petition was read, signed by twentythree owners of hansom cabs, pointing out that it had been the custom for some time past to carry three passengers in a hansom cab, if requested to do so; that no inconvenience had resulted from this practice, but on the contrary, that it had been found a saving of expense to passengers; that M. Goodger had recently been fined for having done so. and asking the Council to take this matter into their earnest consideration, with a view of allowing three passengers to be carried ; adding that when a committee of cabmen had had an interview with the Council, Dr Foster, who was present, had remarked in reply to a Councillor, that there was nothing in the bye-law to prevent the hansoms carrying three passengers. After some discussion, on the motion of Cr Raphael, the petition was referred to the bye-law committee, to report in a fortnight, the Mayor in the meantime to confer with the Resident Magistrate and Commissioner of Police with a view to staying proceedings.

An application was read from Mr J. Goss asking permission to use Lichfield street for the removal of a store.

Granted, subject to the supervision of the surveyor. • A letter was read from Mr A. W. Doran saying that in his application for a remission of portion of his rates, he had only asked for a remission of so much of the rate as might be deemed to be in excess of what was just. Resolved that a reply be sent to Mr Doran similar to that forwarded last meeting. A letter was read from a mother of a family saying she was unable at present to pay her rates, as she had no one but herself to assist in supporting her family. , . Referred to the rate collector to report. The following report was read from the?, finance committee:—

" The finance committee beg to report on* the balance sheet submitted last week asfollows:—

" That finding the receipts from rates last year amounted on an average of twenty weeks to £l7O a week, they think, with increased exertion on the part of the rate collector, the amount this year may be put down to the 16th November next, at £2OO a week.

"On the expenditure side the committee have added the probable interest on overdraft. With these -corrections, the balance sheet submitted will be an approximate estimate of receipts and expenditure, showing the deficit on the 16th November' amounting to £2879. " The Council will see only a small amount down to be expended on account of the Madras street bridge, as the committee think it had better be deferred uutil after November.

"The committee recommend the Council to discontinue the use of the corporate seal at the head of advertisements for the present, as it adds materially to the cost." An approximate estimate of receipts and expenditure to the end of the financial year, was brought up by Cr Raphael, showing receipts £4035, and expenditure of £6914, leaving a deficiency of £2879. Cr Raphael went through the items of estimated receipts ; among other items one of £1250, expected from the Government, which he was rather dubious would not be obtained. There was also an item of £l3O, interest due on the overdraft, which had not been previously considered. The Mayor read a memo from the Provincial Secretary saying the Government would

have no objection to pay over the £1250 by 16th November, if it could be Bhown that that amount had been expanded in the city for drainage and bridges, and this could bo easily done. Eelative to the amount put down for interest due, ouly £2O 5s 6d had been paid to the bank on the overdraft during the last six months, and there was a much larger amount of interest due to the Council by bank on the drainage rate credit. The correct deficit was £1449, and it was his firm belief that with the assistance of a second collector rates to the amount of £3OO per week might be got in, and that amount with the Government instalment would place the Council in a very favorable financial position at the end of their financial year. Cr Ick hoped that when the 16th November arrived Provincial Councils would have passed away like a beautiful dream. He had, and always had very little faith in Provincial Councils, and was exceedingly doubtful that the £1250 would be obtained from the Government. He was, however, glad to hear the hopeful view of things held by the Mayor. Cr Raphael would only believe the Pro vincial Auditor would consider that £1250 had been spent in bridges and drainage within the stipulated time, when he (Cr Raphael) saw that he had passed the vouchers. He (Cr Raphael) would like it to be shown him whenever £3OO of rates had been collected in a week ; at least, the town clerk's books for the last year would not show that average. The only item in the estimated expenditure which had been put down in excess was the item for lamps, The statement brought up by the town clerk last week was in his opinion not correct, and he believed it would be ultimately found that the statement submitted by him that evening would turn out to be the correct one. The Mayor moved —" That the statement drawn up by the town clerk be adopted." Cr Jones seconded the motion.

Cr Ick could not vote for either statement. He would desire that the finance committee reconsider both statements, and bring up a •well digested one. He would move as an amendment—" That the statements submitted be referred to the finance committee." Cr Gapes seconded the amendment, and trusted the finance committee would reconsider the statements. Cr Hart, though not much of a financier, had succeeded in.producing a clear balancesheet at the end of his financial jear. He could not believe—judging by previous experience—that it would be at all probable they would collect £3OO a week. Looking at the large deficiency, he would ask them to look at the difficulty in the face, and commence at once to reduce their expenses. Cr Ick would suggest that a special meeting of the Council be called to consider and draw up a balance-sheet. The motion and amendment were withdrawn on the understanding that a special meeting of the Council be called for. Friday next, at seven o'clock. A long letter was read from Mr J. W Treadwell, containing suggestions of the means of "arriving at the most; proper, cheapest, and best permanent adjustment of the flooding and nuisances visited by your works and sanitary committees." On the motion of Cr Jones, seconded by Cr Calvert, the works committee were authorized to spend .£SO, towards giving relief to the residents in the neighborhood referred to in the above letter.

A requisition, signed by forty-six ratepayers, was read asking his Worship the Mayor to convene a public meeting to hear the views of candidates for municipal honors at the forthcoming election. This matter had been disposed of at an earlier portion of the evening. The following report was read from the committee appointed to draw up a petition for increased representation for the city : " The committee for increased representation in the General Assembly beg to report that they forwarded on the 27th inst to the Hon E. Richardson, M.H.R., a petition signed by 1500 persons, electors, ratepayers, and others, asking for an additional member for Christchurch East, and the same for Christchurch West. Your committee append to this report the expenses incurred in obtaining signatures. Fbedk. Hobbs, chairman." . A telegram had been received m reply from the Hon E. Richardson, saying the petition had arrived to hand, and would be presented on the 31st inst (to-day.); The account mentioned in the report was passed, and the report adopted. The usual weekly report of the inspector of nuisances was read and approved. Cr Gapes moved—" That the nuisance inspector be instructed to give notice forthwith to all owners and occupiers] fronting on Peacock and Conference streets, to cause the said streets to bo properly formed and shingled, in accordance with clause 299 of the Municipal Corporations Act." Cr Jones seconded the motion, which was agreed to. . W. Malyon applied for a transfer of his cab license to J. D. Cranston, which was granted. A driver's licens3 was granted to C. W. Drene. A license to hold public meetings was granted to D. H. Christie, for the new Orange Hall, Worcester street. The Council then adjourned.