CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 427, 26 October 1875, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, Octobeb 25. The usual weekly meeting was held in the Council Chamber, at four o’clock. Present— His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Turner, Jones, Schmidt, Ick, Wood, Hawkes, and Gapes. The minutes of the previous weekly meeting were read and confirmed, The town clerk reported as follows Receipts for week from rate collector, account general city rates, 1874, £l4 lls ; Waimakariri do, £2 8s 6d; account general city rates, 1875, £l7B 16s; Waimakariri c'o, £29 16s; fines from R.M. Court, £5 5s ; deposits on contracts, £79 10s {’quarter’s rent for paddock, £2 16s 6d ; watering rate, 1874, £2 8s 7d ; Market place rent, 7s; total receipts, £315 15s 7d. Overdraft at Bank on general account, £2lOl 19s 7d ; drainage account, Dr, £3758 18a 6d ; drainage rate account, Cr, £1419 7s 7d ; wages, &e, to be paid on general account, £176 18s lOd ; on drainage account, £43 14s. The Mayor said that during the week he had, through the kindness of the Hon E. Bichardson, received six copies of the new Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill. He did not know whether the Bill had received the Governor’s assent, but he had gone through it very carefully, and had made the following notes thereon :—“ Clause 2 repeals part c. 47, so that any Councillor resigning can now stand again for re election. Clause 3 provides for election of assessors and auditors by ballot, instead open voting as in clause 123. Clause 4 makes the time twenty-six days instead of four weeks, as in clause 144. Clause 5 repeals the latter part 145, and makes the meaning much clearer. Clause 6 repeals 152, numbers of votes to be recorded when division called for, and book signed by chairman ; removes the liability to prove legality of position of chairman or Councillors. Clause 7 repeals 189, and makes it optional to make by-laws by special order or by a resolution of the Council. Clause 8 repeals 191, and removes the power of veto from Superintendent to the Governor, and provides for publication in Gazette and local papers before coming into operation. Clause

9 repeals section 4, 1872, re by-law being gazetted in Provincial Gazette , &c, and part section 8, 1874, re by-law regulations. Clause 10 extends time from fifteen to fifty years, in clause 239. Clause II repeals 299, and makes it much simpier, and no notice is required except by advertisement requiring payment after work is done. Clause 12 corrects clerical error, substituting the word second for third in c. 33, A." A. 1871 ; questions to voters at elections. Clause 13 provides that repeals in this Act shall not prejudice anything done under such repealed clauses. Clause 15 provides for the election of Mayors in future. My term expires on the 15th of December ; (he election for my successor should be on the 16th, but that being a public holiday, it is provided that it can take place on theday following, viz, the 17th, which will be the day this year. Clause 16 provides that the election of Mayor shall be conducted in the same manner as that of councillors, viz, by the Mayor, as in clause 81. Notice will appear on the Ist December (see c. 83), and the nomination will have to be made in like manner as in the election of a councillor, before four o’clock on the 6th December ; the nomination day will be fixed for the 7th. I may mention that in the House of Representatives the Bill passed for each burgess to have but one vote in the election of Mayor, but the Legislative Council have deleted this provision, and consequently cumulative voting will be allowed as usual. The remaining are unimportant; I need not, therefore make any comment upon them.” The city surveyor reported “ 1. The works committee recommend that another new water cart should be purchased, also that the street lamps should be painted. “2. I have advertised for tenders for building the stone work of Madras bridge. “ 3. 'ihe formation of Conference street is finished, and the shingling will be at once commenced.” The clauses of the report were approved as read. Four tenders were opened for the lease of the city weighbridge for twelve months, and that of J. McDonald, at £B2 rental for the year, was accepted, subiect to the usual conditions. The following letter, addressed to the Mayor, was read from the Under Secretary, Wellington : —“ lam directed by the Eon Mr Richardson to forward to you, in compliance with your telegram of 15th inst, sir copies of the Municipal Corporations Acts Amendment Bill, now before his Excellency the Governor for assent. The entire textshows the Bill as passed by the House of Representatives, and the portions thereof scored through and in italics show the amendments made by the Legislative Council, which amendments have been agreed to — i.e., retaining the italics, and deleting theportions scored through.” Ordered to be acknowledged with thanks. A letter was read from the Provincial' Secretary in reply, saying the Governmenthad not yet decided what action would be taken with reference to obtaining a site for public cemeteries under the vote of £lsoo* of last session.

A letter was read from the manager of the - Bank of New Zealand requesting a.cheque? for £2 8s 4d, being J per cent commission for paying drainage loan coupons due in London on Ist April and Ist October last.

Ordered that the amount be paid if in accordance with agreement.

A letter was read from the secretary to the West Christchurch school committee, informing the Council that the late Board of Education had authorised the committee to subscribe the sum of £lO towards the formation of Horatio street leading to the back entrance of the Lincoln road school, provided permanent legal access was secured ; that the committee are prepared to recommend payment of the subscription on the condition named, and urging the Council to proceed with the formation of the street as soon as possible. In conjunction with the foregoing letter one was read from Mr A. Jameson, writing for himself and residents between the Windmill road and Lincoln road, drawing attention to the state of the drainage of that district, and the condition of some private roads at the rear of the Lincoln road school, which he suggested should be taken over by the Council.

After some discussion it was resolved that the letters be referred to the surveyor to report as to the cost of forming and draining the private roads referred to. A letter was read from Messrs Harman and Stevens, informing the Council that, they had obtained subscriptions towards the erection of the Hereford street bridge to the amount specified in the Council’s letter of' the 18tb instant, and that the subscriptions, would be collected forthwith.

Consideration of clause No 3 of the] surveyor’s report of the previous week, accompanying plans for the new bridge at Hereford street, and which had been adjourned for a week, was resumed. Cr Turner moved—“ That the consideration of the surveyor’s report respecting the proposed new bridge at Hereford street be further deferred, and that the chairman of the works committee and Dr Foster confer with Mr Lane as to the terms and conditions upon which the proposed alterations in the mill dam, &c, may be effected.” Cr Gapes seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A letter was read from Dr Guthrie, house surgeon to the hospital, calling attention to the filthy state of the drain running from Antigua street to the river. From its proximity to the hospital, a most offensive odour was carried from accumulated rubbish and decomposed animal matter in the drain into the grounds, which, in his opinion was detrimental to the health of the patients. Cr Ick said that this matter had already been attended to. A carrier’s license was granted to Stephen Harper, and an owner’s to Michael Howard. At the suggestion of Cr Turner, the surveyor promised to have a rough estimate ready on Monday of the cost of a footbridge over the river at the East belt. The Council then adjourned.