CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 392, 14 September 1875, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, September 13.

The usual weekly meeting was held in the Council Chamber. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Ick, Gapes, Jones, Schmidt, Wood, Turner, and Thomson. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Cr Gapes desired the permission of his Worship to correct an error that appeared in the report of the Council in Tuesday’s Press. He was there made to say Shat he wished Cr Hart might be returned at the election. He had no recollection of having used such an expression, and he considered it would be very injudicious for any Councillor to give expression to his predilections, even if he had any. He trusted the representatives of the papers would take a note of his remarks. The Mayor said he had received a copy of the Municipal Corporations Loans Act, which was now before the Assembly, and provided somewhat different machinery from their own for borrowing money. The Bill was a short one, and in some respects an improvement on their present Act, His Worship then explained its provisions relatively with the Act now in force. Cr Jones would like the Bill referred to the new |bye-law committee for their consideration and report. Crs Gapes and Ick thought the draft might be referred to the finance committee. Cr Ick moved—“ That the Bill be referred to the finance committee to report.” Cr Gapes seconded the motion. Cr Turner would prefer its being laid on the table, when it might be referred to by any councillors who would desire to come to the Chambers and read it. If the draft were relegated to a committee., the Council would then have to discuss their report, and considerable time would be lost. The Council altogether, were only a committee of nine, and with a desire to save time, he would move —“ That the Act be discussed at the next sitting of the Council.” Cr Wood seconded the amendment. On being put, the amendment was lost, and the resolution declared to be carried. The town clerk reported receipts for the week to be as follow;—From rate collector account, general city rates, 1876, £250 17s ; Waimakiriri do, £4l 16s 4d ; fines from Resident Magistrate’s Court, £5 ; contribution towards formation of Conference street, £67 10s ; owners’ and drivers’ licenses, £4 ; rent from market place, 7s. Total receipts, £368 41s 4d. Overdraft at Bank, on general account, £3647 4s 3d. Overdraft on drainage account, £15071857d ; drainagerate account, Cr,, £1374 6s lOd ; wages, &c., to be paid on general account, £265 18s lOd ; on drainage account, £539 18s. The city surveyor reported :—“ 1. In compliance with the resolution of the Council, I have had two of the horses sold, and the staff of workmen reduced to about £4O per week. “ 2. I have had the stone breaking machine and other plant removed from the quarry to to the yard. The works committee think it advisable that the machine should not at present be sold. “ 3. The water carts are now in readiness for use, and will be sent out as occasion requires. “ 4. As it will not take very long to finish the Gloucester and Worcester streets channelling, perhaps the Council will think it advisable to invite tenders for two more streets. “5. Montreal street bridge was thrown open to the public last week, although not in a quite finished state. Mr Lane has kindly promised me to lower the water in the river one day this week, to facilitate the putting on the lower braces. 1 beg to ask the Council’s sanction to have engraved on this bridge, “ 1875, Hobbs, Mayor,” Clauses 1,2, and 3 of the report were approved as read. On the motion of Cr Ick, seconded by Cr Schmidt, the works committee were authorised to call for tenders for the side channelling of Armagh and Chester streets. The remaining clauses of the report were approved.

Or Jones bad been informed that there were not sufficient horses at the brigade stations to draw the engines to a fire at the desired speed. He would wish that the works committee be authorised to procure one or two more horses. Or Ick said that that committee already had authority to purchase one horse, and this would shortly be done. The following letter from his Honor the Superintendent, addressed to his Worship the Mayor, as chairman of the Drainage Conferense, was read : —“ Wellington, September 9th, 1875. My dear Sir, -The Drainage Bill went through committee last night without amendment. It appears a very well drawn Bill, and was generally admitted to be so. In accordance with my previous undertaking the final stage of the Bill was postponed till after the city elections, and is fixed (in this House) for next Wednesday, when, unless I am asked by the Drainage Conference to postpone it farther, it will no doubt be read a third time. If amendments are required by the Conference, they (the Conference) should forward them to me before that date. I shall be glad if you will write to me or telegraph before Tuesday next, saying how the matter stands. I told the House I would re-commit the Bill, if necessary, and would give time to enable any amendments to be forwarded. There will be opportunity also in the Upper House to introduce any amendments.” This letter bad been considered and dealt with at the special meeting of the Council on Saturday last. A letter was read from Mr W. Widdowson, drawing attention to the state of the channel in Manchester street, opposite his house. On the motion of Cr Jones, the surveyor was instructed to take measures to abate the nuisance complained of. A letter was read from Mr B. Cass, asking permission to suspend a blind from the verandah of his premises, in Market place, for a short time every afternoon. _ _ Permission granted, under the supervision of the surveyor. A letter was read from Messrs McWilliams and Peiper, of Colombo street, calling attention to a stagnant pool of water in front of their premises. , , .. As the letter was strangely couched, it was resolved that it lie on the table. An application was read from H. P. Lyons, agent for M. Blondin, asking permission to erect a marquee in Latimer square for one month, for his high-rope ascensions, early next year, M. Blondin undertaking to leave the ground in good order, and one-half of gross receipts of one day’s taking, to be distributed among the local charities. After some discussion, Cr Jones moved— That permission be granted as asked.” Cr Gapes seconded the motion. Cr Ick moved as an amendment—“ That the matter stand over for a week, Cr Thomson and himself to be a sub committee to wait on the residents in the neighbourhood of the square, and see if they had any objection. He would like the ratepayers to be consulted before permission were given. Cr Thomson seconded the amendment. After some further remarks, and an explanation from his Worship, Cr Ick received permission to withdraw his amendment, and the resolution was put and carried. A letter was read from Mr H. J. Hail, Biccarton, complaining of his name having been intentionally omitted from the new rate-roll.

The town clerk explained that Mr Hail was entered as owner, not as occupier, and application should have been made s by that gentleman to the Court of Assessors under clause 54 of the Municipal Councils Act. It was resolved that a reply be sent to Mr Hall, informing him that the Council desire he should justify the first clause of his letter or withdraw it. The surveyor was instructed to carry out the work of Conference street, the contribution for which has been forwarded to the town dark. A letter was read from Messrs Allen and Sons, builders, asking permission to erect a hoarding in front of the new building to be erected in Cashel street; for Messrs Twenty - xnan and Cousin. . . Permission granted, under the supervision of the surveyor. The estimates for borrowing £9OOO for drainage purposes were laid on the table. Cr lek moved—“ That the drainage estimates now submitted, with reference to the borrowing of £9OOO, be approved, and that a special meeting of the Council be held on Friday next, at 10 a.m., to make a special rate of Id in the pound ; and that the town clerk take the necessary steps to make it a special order of the Council, as also the time and place for the sale of the debentures.” Cr Jones seconded the motion. Crs Turner and Thomson would suggest that the special meeting be held early on next Monday evening, instead of on Friday. The resolution was altered to 6.45 p.m. on Monday next, and on being put was agreed The following committees were appointed for the ensuing year:— , Works—Crs Ick, Gapes, and Jones (Cr lek, chairman). _ , Sanitary—Crs Gapes (chairman), Schmidt, ' and Thomson. . Finance —His Worship the Mayor (chairman), and Crs Turner and Raphael. Fire Brigade Crs Jones (chairman), Schmidt, and Thomson. Lighting—Crs Raphael (chairman), Wood, and Ick. Bye-law—His Worship the Mayor (chairman), and Crs Turner and Wood. Or Jones moved—“ That this Council approves of the Christchurch District Drainage Bill now before the General Assembly, and requests his Honor the Superintendent to take the necessary steps for it to pass through the remaining stages this session in order that it may become law.” It was unnecessary for him to dwell on this matter, as the result of the last election showed unmis takeably the feelings of the ratepayers in this direction. The Bill had been delayed in its progress through the House, waiting the verdict of the citizens, and it must be • very gratifying to his Honor the Super- ' intendent that his action in the matter of drainage had been so thoioughly endorsed by the citizens. , , . 1 Cr Gapes seconded the motion, and felt exceedingly gratified that the verdict of t e inhabitants was so strongly in favor of - said he felt very much gratified that in the return of three new members, all «■ in favor of the Drainage Bill, the part he had taken in this matter had been so thoroughly endorsed by the public. , ‘ Cr Thomson said he had not had an opportunity previously of saying that he was thoroughly in favor of the system of drai age contemplated by the new Bill. Cr Turner desired that it should not go

forth that the question of drainage had been a test question at the late election. He at least did not consider it as such, and went to the ratepayers in this manner—“ If you want me, take me.” Cr Ick agreed with what Cr Turner had said, and felt the election did not turn on the question of drainage. It was the social position of the gentlemen elected which had secured their return. Relative to tue question of drainage, he had consistently opposed its being decided on the eve of an election, until the ratepayers had had an opportunity of expressing their opinions on it. That was the only reason why he had opposed the Bill being sent up to the House at the lime. The resolution was carried unanimously. On the motion of Cr Jones, seconded by Cr Ick, a resolution was carried unanimously, recording a vote of thanks to Mr M, B. Hart, for the services rendered by him as councillor, and that an illuminated copy of the resolution be forwarded to him. After the weekly report of the inspector of nuisances had been read, he was called in, at the instance of Cr Ick, and explained the action taken by him in a nuisance case heard lately before the resident magistrate. The clause referring to this case was expunged, and the remainder of the report approved. Some sections requiring to be filled up. and the removal of foot bridges, were brought under notice by several members of the Council. An owner’s license for a Hansom cab was granted to F, Yale. The Council then adjourned. NOTICE OF MOTION FOR MONDAY NEXT. Cr Turner, to move—“ That the ordinary meetings of the Council be held each Monday at eleven o’clock in the forenoon.