CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 548, 21 March 1876, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, March 20. The Council met at i p.m. Present —The Mayor, Cra Ick, Hawkes, Bird, Schmidt, Jones, Gapes, Thomson, and Turner. The Mayor said that he had telegraphed to the Paymaster-General for the returns upon which the 6a 8d in the pound to be paid to the Council by the General Government had been calculated, and on receiving them he found that the calculation was made on the rates collected in five months instead of on the twelve months’ collection. He was afraid that if seme action were not taken at once, that the Council would lose according to one calculation £BOO, and according to another £ISOO. He thought it would be well if some person were appointed by the Council to proceed to Wellington to confer with the Government on the matter. Or Ick moved —“ That the Mayor be requested to proceed to Wellington to confer with the Executive of the General Government re the grant to the municipality.” He knew of no man so fitted as his Worship to undertake the matter.

The motion was agreed to. It was resolved, on the motion of Cr Turner—“ That a letter be sent to the Commissioner of Police, requesting him not to take action re the breaches of the Hackney Carriage Bye-law on the day of the Heathcote regatta.” He explained that he did this because several of the omnibus drivers had been summoned for not having given notice of change of route. This it was out of their power to do, inasmuch as the notice of the half-holiday had only been given the day before the regatta. The Mayor said that a letter from the City Council to the Drainage Boardhadbeen considered that morning, requesting payment of £IB,OOO for the outfall drain. The matter had been referred to the Board’s solicitor for his opinion as to the legality of the Board paying the amount to the Council by way of overdraft, Or ick hoped that the amount would be paid as soon as possible, for if the money were not soon paid the Council could not proceed with any further drainage works. The town clerk reported the receipts for the week as follows General city rates, £73 10s ; Waimakariri rate, £l2 6s ; watering rate, £BO 5a 4d ; fines from Resident Magistrate’s Court, £1 16s ; rent of weighbridge, £6 16s 8d ; rent of Market place, 7s ; licenses, £3 10s ; deposit on Main’s contract, £3 10s ; total, £lßl 19s. Overdraft on general account, £2437 10s 6d. Overdraft on drainage loan account, £9703 19s lid. Cr, balance on drainage ]ate account, £2119 18s. Accounts to the amount of £167 16s 8d on the general accounts, and £lOl2 17s 6d on the drainage loan accounts were ordered to be paid. The city surveyor reported as follows : “ The tank opposite Wilson and Sawtell’s has been cleaned out and repaired; the bottom of this tank was good, but the side wads were much worse than any of the other tanks, owing to the concrete blocks of which the tank is built being laid dry, consequently many of the vertical joints were quite open, and allowed the water to pass freely through them. The metalling of the streets is progressing but slowly, owing to the difficulty of obtaining the stone suffi-' ciently fast. I have advertised for 3000

cubic yards more shingle. I have also advertised for tenders for the new fire brigade station.” The report was approved. Plans for the erection of a new fire brigade station were laid upon the table, and approved by the Council. Cr Thomson drew the attention of the Council to the manner in which the engine went down the street on Saturday night. He saw some hot embers in the street, which had fallen from the engine, and he really thought some means ought to be taken to prevent this. The matter was referred to the fire brigade committee. Cr Thomson said he had been informed that several cases of scarlet fever had occurred, which were not reported by themedical men, This was a serious neglect, and in in direct contravention of the Act. Letters were read from medical men, reporting scarlet fever, but stating that it was of a very mild form, A letter was read from the hon. secretary of the Drapers and Clothiers’ Association, conveying the thanks of the association to the Mayor and City Council for requesting the citizens to close their places of business on the day of the Heathcote regatta. Cr Ick moved, “ That the surveyor prepare a plan for a foot bridge over the Avon in Antigua street in place of the one reported to be in a very dangerous state.” Cr Turner seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The report of the inspector of nuisances was read and approved. A special report on the Antigua street drain was referred to the sanitary committee. A letter was read from the Commissioner of Police, stating that he would take steps to enforce the provisions of the Width of Tires Act. A carrier’s and hawker’s license was granted to John Findlay, and a hackney carriage owner’s license was granted to H. Kirkwood. The Council then adjourned.