CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 755, 21 November 1876, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, November 20.

The usual fortnightly sitting was held at the Council Chambers, PreEent—Crs Ick, Turner, Nathan, Bird, Thomson, Jones, Gapes, and Hawkes. In the absence of the Mayor, Cr Ick was voted to the chair.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Cr Turner said he had observed that tenders had been called for valuing the city. At the proper time he would move that those tenders be rejected, and that Mr 0. Cuff be appointed city valuer, at an annual salary. He believed that this course would result in benefit to the citizens generally. There had been very few objections made to Mr Cuff's valuation last year, and the Council had power to appoint Buch an officer, under clause 6 of the new Act.

Cr Thomson thought that as the tenders had been called, they Bhould at least be opened and considered. The town clerk reported as follows : Received for week ending 11th November — General rate, 1874, £8 8s ; Waimakariri do, £1 8b ; general rate, 1876, £4B 2s ; Waimakariri do, £8 03 4d; rent of market place, 7a ; licenses, £7 ; building fees, £l4 18s ; Drainage loan account transfer, £3450 ; fines from B. M. Court, £4 15s. Total receipts for week, £3642 18s 4d. Received for week ending 18th November—General rate, 1875, £3 2s ; Waimakariri do, 10s 4d ; general rate, 1876, £195 Is ; Waimakariri do, £32 10s 2d ; rent of market place, . 7s ; Barnes' deposit, £l4; Government grant (first instalment), £2500 ; licenses, £2 ; fines from R. M. Court, £4. Total receipts for week, £2751 10s 6d. Grand total for fortnight, £6294 8s lOd. Cr, balance at bank on general account, £3510 0s lOd ; drainage loan account, Cr, £5988 6s lid; drainage rate account, Cr, £2719 10s 4d; bills, &c, paid and to be paid by works committee for fortnight, £560 3s 4d ; on drainage loan account, £2Bl 4s. The following letter was received from the Mayor, who was unable to attend through severe illness :—" On Thursday last I received from Wellington a circular letter from the Hon the Colonial Secretary's office, to* gether with several Acts passed last session. My attention was specially called to certain clauses of the Rating Act, 1876, which is now law. In clause 6 it is provided that the valuation list must be completed by the 16th January next, and considering the very insufficient time now remaining to do this work, I instructed tho town clerk to immediately advertise for tenders for ihe same, subject, of course, to the approval of the Council. In considering the tenders I may take the liberty of remarking that under the Rating Act, the duties will have to be performed in a very different manner from any previous valuations, and the work be about eix times as much as heretofore, so that members must be prepared to pay a considerable sum to have it well done, My private opinion is that the sum named in the margin would be the smallest that tie Council can expect to pay. " The successful tenderer should be allowed access to tho block plans, which will now be of great service to the Council in obtaining a correct and exact valuation list. I desire to refer members especially to section 2, which defines the meaning of 4 rateable value.' "I regret exceedingly, gentlemen, my inability to to present to-day on account of a severe illness from which I trust I am now recovering. " I have, &c, " Feedk. Hobbs, Mayor." The chairman said they must all regret the cause which compelled his Worship's absence from the Council. The city surveyor reported :. *' 1. The late heavy rains caused the roads in several streets where gas mains have been laid to sink very considerably. I communicated with the secretary of the Gas Company, aud he caused men to bo sent immediately to remedy the evil. "2. The great amount of rain that fell does not appear to have caused any inconvenience in the pity, except at a few places where new and larger culverts are about to be substituted for the existing ones, "3. Owing to tho holidays and the wet weather the contractor for the swimming

shed has been as yet unable to commence building it, but he now intends immediately to begin, and in consequence of the unavoidable delays he begs the Council to extend his time for another fortnight.

"4. The forming and shingling of Durham street north is finished.

" 5 The channelling "of Latimer square and Oxford terrace is being proceeded with. " C. Walkden, City Surveyor."

The clauses of the report were approved, and on the motion of Cr Hawkes, the extension asked for in clause 3 was granted.

The following tenders for valuing the city under the new Rating Act were opened : From Messrs Flockton and Sharpe (I), £215 12s ; (2), £247 12s, or £237 12s, if not compelled to attend the Revision Court for the Drainage Board as well as for the Council. Should the Council allow access to their detail plans of the city, with the proviso that all information so obtained would be considered strictly confidential, and only used for purposes of valuation, then the above tenders would be reduced by £2O. From Mr C. Cuff, as follows—Valuing properties in city, and compiling new roll, £l5O ; making duplicate copy, £25 additional; filling in books and delivering notices, £SO do; if compelled to give frontages and areas, to be given in two months' time, £2OO do. For the valuation of the whole city and attending the Revision Courts, same as last year, £59.

Cr Turner moved —"That neither of the tenders be accepted, and that the finance committee be. authorised to make arrangements with Mr Cuff to carry out the requirements under the Rating Act." He saw that there was one item of £2OO for tracings of frontages and areas which might not be required unless a dispute arose, when a simple tracing, at a small expense, would suffice. He mentioned Mr Coff's name as he was so thoroughly conversant with the work, and there had been so few objections to his valuations last year, Mr Cuff, in his tender, had also offered to attend the Revision Courts. Cr Nathan seconded the motion.

Or Thomson did not like this way of doing business at all. The offer of £59 from Mr Ouff for attending the Revision Court could not be taken into consideration, as this condition was not mentioned in the specification, and was altogether out of court. Looking at Mr Guff's tender it would be seen that hia tender was, taken altogether, £425, and Flockton and Sharpe's £247, less £2O if access was allowed to the block plans. He did not desire to saj anything against Mr Cuff's abilities as a valuator, but it was very easy to prevent disputes by reducing 12 or 15 per cent. He believed, however, that Mr Cuff had valued fairly, and that was all the Council wanted. Mr Flockton was an engineeer who had been in the employ of the Colonial Government for some time, and had also done valuing at home, where this work was more intricate than here. He regretted the action taken by Or Turner, as he did not think it was fair to those persons who had tendered in reply to an advertisement from the Council, Or Turner said when he saw the advertisement he at once went to the town clerk, and learnt it had been inserted by the Mayor's instructions as time was so short. He then said he would oppose the tenders being accepted, as he thought a permanent valuator should be appointed. Or Nathan said he thought the sting might be taken out of the resolution if Or Turner were to omit Mr Cuff's name. Cr Thomson asked if the resolution were carried would the finance committee be authorised to settle the matter privately. Cr Turner said such was his desire. Cr Thomson would then most strenuously oppose the motion, and he did not like the idea of the Council doing its business in this manner. They advertised for tenders under a new Act, and now, on a suggestion from Mr Cuff, intended to revert to the old mode. The motion was put and carried, Cr Thomson being the only dissentient. A letter was read from Mr J. P. Oliver, drawing attention to some pools of stagnant water in a road leading off Durham street south. Referred to the surveyor.

A letter was read from the Drainage Board, expressing their willingness to cooperate with the Oity Council in the expense of having the city thoroughly valued. A letter was read from the Public Works Office, informing the Council that £SOOO had been allocated to the city out of the grant to Municipalities for the three months ending 31st December, 1876. The first instalment of £2500 was payable at the Treasury, and the second would be subject to a deduction should the land sales not reach the estimated amount.

A letter was read from Mr D. B. Bowie, South belt, asking whether the Council intended doing anything for that neighborhood before the season is too late, and drawing attention to the large quantities of gravel laid down there. Referred to the works committee.

Or Gapes withdrew the following motion of which he had given notice—" That a suit: able rail fence be erected at all places on the side of the river, within the city, where the banks are within 40ft of the footpath," on the understanding that the works committee will fence in all dangerous placeß along the river. Or Nathan moved—" That the sum of £3OOO be set aßide from the money to be received from the Provincial Government for municipal purposes as a contribution toward special rates to be levied for the purpose of asphalting portions of the paths within the town belt." He had made an estimate of the cost of asphalting the whole of the streets of the city within the town belt onehalf the width of the pathways, and of the same thickness as thatjlaid down in Cathedral square, and his estimate amounted to £13,262. He felt that the Council should contribute one-quarter of this amount; onequarter might also be fairly charged on the general ratepayers, raised by special rate, who would derive considerable benefit from the improvements, and also by the lessened cost of keeping the city clean, and owners of sections fronting on these paths might with justice be asked to pay the remaining half of the cost. In his opinion the Council ought to take advantage of their present satisfactory financial position to allocate apportion of their funds to a work which in his belief would be spending money to great advantage, and in the best interests of the ratepayers.

Or Turner aecondod the motion, but would desire that it should be postponed for a fortnight until next year's estimated assets and expenditure had been placed before the finance committee. Several councillors addressed themselves to the resolution, some expressing a wish

that Or Nathan would adjourn his motion for a fortnight. After Or Nathan had replied, an amendment, moved by Or Hawkes, was carried, postponing consideration of the question for a fortnight. Or Gapes moved—" That Peterborough and Kilmore streets, from the Normal sohool, be formed on the same principle as Durham street." Or Jones seconded the motion. Or Nathan moved as an amendment — " That the matter be referred to the workß committee," which was carried. Or Nathan moved—" That this Council under Special Order do now make a separate rate of 1-Jd in the & for watering the portions of streets as mentioned in the rate list, and that the list be signed in accordance with clause 210 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1867, and the seal of the Council be thereto affixed."

Or Thomson seconded the motion, which was agreed to. On the motion of Or Thomson, the Mayor was authorised to sign and seal the lease of the weighbridge. Cr Hawkes brought up a petition signed by over 200 ratepayers in theN.E. portion of the city and in Bingsland, in favor of a bridge being erected over the river in continuation of the East town belt.

The petition was received and read. Cr Nathan would like to know how many of those who signed the petition lived in the city, and how many in Bingsland. He would give notice that a list of this proportion be made out for next meeting. A letter was read from Mr G. Bowron, in reply to one asking whether he would be willing to give a portion of his land if a bridge were erected across the Avon, at the East town belt, saying he had sold all the land he wished to dispose of, and had no desire to obtain the bridge referred to ; but as he did not wish to stand in the way of a work of public convenience, he would sell as much of his garden frontage as would make the road the required width, provided he received a fair compensation for damage done to his property. In reply to Cr Turner, the town clerk said he had written to the Avon Board to see what amount they would be prepared to contribute towards the erection of the proposed bridge, and had received a that the matter would be considered at the next meeting of the Board. Or Hawkes said he would give notice to bring on the motion next sitting which had stood in his name and had lapsed at last meeting in his absence, and would also ask that the petition and Mr Bowron's letter should be considered at same time, The usual report from the inspector of nuisances was read and approved. A license was granted to Messrs Millett and Saunders for their skating rink in Gloucester street. Some cab licenses were granted and others refused, and the Council adjourned. NOTICE OF MOTION. Cr Gapes to move at next sitting:—" That tenders be called for the formation of the north end of Barbadoes street,"