CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 649, 18 July 1876, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, July 17. The usual fortnightly meeting was held in the Council Chamber. Present —His Worship the Mayor and Crs Thompson, Ick, Jone°, Schmidt, Gapes, Bird, Hawkos, and Turner, The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Mayor said that a committee of the Council had been held to consider Municipal Corporations Bill, and a series of amendments had been suggested. These suggestions had been forwarded to Wellington, and ho had received the following letter from Mr E. 0, J. Stevens, in reply :—“I have to thank you for the communication received this day, embodying the views of the City Council on Municipal Corporation' Bill. I shall do my best to give effect to them. I sent you this morning the Counties Bill aud Financial Arrangements Bill, which I hope will reach you safely.” He had also received the following telegram from the Hon E. Richardson :—“ Your letter of 12th instant received. Will watch the amend' ments you propose in Municipal Act, but the question of election of Mayor will, I think, be carried against your Council’s views.” From an article he had seen in the Lyttelton Times on the amount the Corporation would have to pay towards charitable aid, he had telegraphed to Mr Richardson and received the followingßeply to telegram re charitable institutions—Borough to receive £1 for £1 rates, and all licensefees, including auctioneers’. To take charge’of charitable aid, including hospitals; counties bmefitting by hospital to contribute fair proportion assessable by commissioners of audit. All such institutions may be handed over to voluntary associations and to be supported by private charity, subsidized by municipality, and five shillings for every pound subscribed from the consolidation fund. Management purely local.” He (the Mayor) had great pleasure in slating that the Most Rev the Primate and Archdeacon Wilson had waited on him that day and expressed their intention of aiding in the establishment of a charitable institution, and their willingness t o subscribe towards Us maintenance. He thought it would be desirable to take some action in this matter before the Bill became law. Or Ick felt that in view of the expected changes about to take place a committee of the Council should be appointed to inquire into the question of charitable aid, and report to the Council. He hoped, however, that he would not live, to see the day when a poor law would be introduced here. He would move—” That the sub-committee consist of the Mayor and Crs Turner and Hawkes, with power to add to their number. The committee to bring up their report as quickly as possible. A special meeting of the Council to be called if necessary to consider it.” The Mayor desired to mention that the £ for £ would not be paid to the Corporation unless they did take over the charitable institutions. Cr Hawkes said that though the bait at first sight seemed somewhat tempting, he was afraid the result would prove a heavy expense to the Corporation. He felt that this question should have the earnest consideration of the Council. Or Jones hoped that the committee would recommend in their report the allocation of large reserves to the Corporations for charitable purposes. Cr Thompson seconded the motion, He did not think that there would be such heavy calls made on the Corporation under a judicious system, as was feared. It was his opinion that half of those demands now made on the charitable aid department was simply loafing. The sooner that that department was taken over and managed in a better manner than it now was, the sooner it would be better for everybody. He had known of men bringing their wives here and then going elsewhere to look for work, leaving their families to be provided for by a paternal Government. The motion was put and carried. The town clerk reported receipts as follows For week ending July Bch, 1876general rates, 1875, £126 19s ; Waimakariri do, £2l 3s ; general rate, 1876. £BS Is ; Waimakariri do, £5 16s lOd; rent of Market Place, 7s; licenses, £2 10s; bye-laws, 2s; Spreydon Road Board, £6 15s ; total, £l9B 14s. Bor week ending July 15th, 1876general rate, 1875, £92 15s; Waimakariri do, £ls 9s lOd; general rate, 1876, £124 2s ; Waimakariri do, £2O 13s 8d ; fines from R.M. Court, 10s; rent of Market Place, 7s ; licences, £2; rent of weighbridge, £6 16s 8d ; bye-laws, 2a; grant to municipalities, £l2si); total, £1513 10s 2d; grand total, £l7ll 14s 2d. Overdraft on general account, £4728 15s 2d; drainage loan account, Cr, balance £13,811 7s 2d; drainage rate account Cr, £lBlB 18s lid ; bill, &c, be paid by works committee on July 11th, £lO4l 13s 4d ; on July 17th, £6Ol 6s 8d ; bills aud wages to be paid on drainage loan account, on July llth, £167 19s 4d ; on July 17th, £653 19s Id ; total both week’s accounts, £B2l 18s sd. The surveyor's report was read as follows : “LA few days ago. a horse was bogged on that part of Barbadoes street near the cemetery. After consulting the Mayor and the chairman of the works committee, I had notices put up that the Council could not be responsible for the condition of unformed roads. The above remarks also apply to a portion of the South bolt and Madras street south. “ 2. The repairs of Manchester bridge were commenced to-day. 3. Many of the footpaths are still in a very dirty condition owing to the frost, but they are being gravelled as fast as one can obtain the gravel, “4, The contractor for lowering the road in Peterborough street west, informs mo that he hopes to have it finished this week. “ G. Walkden, City Surveyor.” Clauses I and 2 of the report were approved, On clause 3 being read, Cr Turner said he could not for the life of him see why the footpaths should have been lowered at great expense, and not made temporarily passable with gravel, <o the hindrances of more important works. There was general grumbling about the present state of the paths. Cr Jones spoke of the difficulties with which the surveyor had had to contend, and that he had simply carried out the instructions of the works committee. At the desire of Cr Ick, the surveyor explained the difficulties of placing all the paths in proper condition while the late and present weather continued. His experience of the suburbs of London was identical with the present difficulties.

Cr Turner did not desire to refer to this as a reflection on the surveyor. The remaining clauses of the report were approved. In connection with a question raised by Or Ick as to the liability of the Council regarding the wooden bridges throughout the city, the following report was read from Dr Foster on the case Cronin v City Council, recently heard in the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court: “ You will have seen the report of the B. judgment in Cronin’s case. I cannot say that lam satisfied with it, as it appears to me, while accepting entirely the principle I contended for, not. to apply that principle fairly fo the facts in evidence. “ For instance, Cronin himself was held not to be negligent, because it was not proved that he did see what it appeared he ought to have seen. But it is precisely on this ground that the Council arc held to be negligent. They ought, it is said, to have seen and they did not see ; cither, therefore, the Council were not negligent, or Cronin was equally so, and in neither case was the Council liable, “ But the whole result is that the Council are held not to bo liable unless want of reasonable care is made out, and the amount of debt and costs which they now have to pay is about the sum which they would have been disposed to give wifhout litigation. On the other hand Cronin’s success is not such as to tempt unreasonable claimants. “ I do not think, therefore, that I ought 'o advise an appeal. I recommend that the town clerk bo authorised to hand Messrs Joynt and O’Neill a cheque for the amount of the judgment given—£24 19s fid.” After some remarks from Councillors, Cr Turner moved —“ That the surveyor be requested to report what stops are taken from week to week to ascertain the condition of bridges wit! in the city, and under the control of the Council.” Cr Ick seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The surveyor explained that a monthly supervision over the bridges had hitherto been kept up, A letter was read from the Secretary for Public Works, stating that £2500 has been allocated to the City of Christchurch out of the grant to Municipalities, A letter was read from Mrs Webb, Tuam street west, asking for the assessment on her premises to be reconsidered, as she had been unable to attend at the proper time through illness. The town clerk was instructed to reply that no reduction could now be made in her assessment. A letter was read from Messrs Hobbs and Goodwin, bill posters, complaining of being shut out from posting bills in Cathedral square, and asking permission to erect boards for the purpose in the square, and also on the waste ground north side of the Post office, and one inside the planted enclosure adjoining Cashel street bridge. Referred to the works committee, with power to act. An application was received from Mr Thos Bullivant, asking permission to use two-thirds of the footpath, opposite Beatty’s new hotel, Gloucester street, for the erection of a hoarding. Permission granted, subject to the sur veyor’s approval. Or Thomson as a member of the Fire Brigade Committee asked that authority bo given to have the ends .of the new building cemented, and shrubs planted alongside the river. The necessary permission was granted. A letter from Mr W. F. Warner, Cathedral Square, offering to contribute a large proportion of the expense to lay out the enclosure opposite his promises, and plant with shrubs, if the poplar trees are cut down, was referred to the Planting Committee. The Mayor stated his intention of also contributing to this work. On the motion of Cr Ick, permission was given to Mr Turner to erect and maintain a gas lamp in front of his building iu Cashel street. A letter was read from the Commissioner of Police, referring to those persons who have been selling goods in Cathedral Square and refused to leave when requested, saying that if some officer of the Council would lay an information for trespass, the police would give evidence. Cr Thomson moved—“ That the letter from the Commissioner of Police be'handed to the Council’s solicitor, with instructions to examine into the cases referred to, aud if he be satisfied therewith to take immediate action thereon,” Cr Bird seconded the motion. Cr Hawkes, though thinking the action already taken was a piece of petty tyranny, would yet uphold the authority of the Council. Cr Turner agreed in a great measure with Cr Hawkes’ remarks. The motion was put aud carried. Cr Gapes handed in the following protest: —“ I hereby protest against the recent proceedings of this Council re the Cathedral square reserves for the f blowing reasons:— “ Ist, That in my opinion it is contrary to clause No 388 of the Municipal Corporations Act; and 2ndly, As being an unnecessary infringement oi the rights and privileges of the public.” Cr Gapes moved—“ That all further proceedings re the Cathedral square reserves cease, and that the notices be removed; and also that suitable openings bo made in the fences lately erected on the north and south sides for the convenience of the public.” The motion was not seconded, aud fell through. Cr Hawkes referred to the insufficient egress from the galleries provided at the Music Hall, and said that in such a fragile place, with people smoking and throwing tobacco about, the result might be very serious if anything occurred to cause a sudden rush from there. He would move—- “ That unless proper egress from the galleries at the Music Hall bo provided within one week, the license granted be cancelled.” Cr Turner seconded the motion. In his position as Councillor he had visited this place, and fully endorsed what had fallen from Cr Hawkes. The resolution was put and carried. The usual weekly report of the inspector of nuisances was read and approved, Tne following letters had been received since last meeting, and attended to by the works and lighting committees :—T. Greig and others, D. Craig, M. A. Petson and others, S. Jackman, J. Herman and others, C. Louisson, James Park, Geo. Beatty, J, P Jameson, Spreydon Road Board, aud the Chief Postmaster. The medical officer’s usual report on'eases of scarlet fever was read. A number of licenses were granted, and the Council adjourned,

VITAL STATISTICS. The following is a summary of the Re-gistrar-General’s report on the vital statistics of the various boroughs in the colony for June ;

The deaths of persons not residents of the boroughs, occurring at hospitals, have been excluded in all cases. The population Ins been estimated by adding the excess of biiths over deaths since the Ist March, 1871. to the then census population. It is impossible to estimate the increase from immigration. The births were 15 more than in May. The deaths were 2 more in number than the deaths in May. Of the deaths, males contributed 60 ; females, 53 ; 37 of the deaths were of children under 5 years of ago, being 3271 per cent of the whole number; 20 of these were of children under 1 year of age. There were 7 deaths of persons of 65 years of age and over ; 5 of these persons were males and 2 females. Of these, 1 male, aged 69, died at Auckland ; 1 .male of 65 at Nelson ; and 3 of 66,76, and 79, respectively, at Dunedin ; I female, aged 73, died at Wellington, and one of 75 at Dunedin.

Population. Births. Deaths. Deathrate. Auckland ... 13,231 48 21 1-59 Thames 8,385 11,393 18 7 0 83 Wellington 78 26 2'28 Nelson 5,911 18 3 051 Christchurch 10,821 65 22 2'03 Dunedin ... 19,762 83 33 1-67 Hokitika ... 3,506 8 1 0-28