CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 767, 5 December 1876, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, December 4. The usual fortnightly meeting was held in the Council Chambers. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Cra Ick, Nathan, Thomson, Turner, Bird, Gapes, and Jones, The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Mayor said that the election o£ Mayor for the ensuing year would be made under the old Act, which fixed the date at December 29th, the third Wednesday in December, and this was also in accordance with clause 11 of the Act, 1875, which was still in force. Under this clause the Mayor was elected by the Council, and the election would come off this year in accordance with this clause. Under the Local Elections Act, which would be in force this year, the election of Mayor would be in tbs hands of the ratepayers. The object of the Legislature in passing the Act appeared to him to be a desire to secure uniformity in all the elections throughout New Zealand. He desired to ask the Council to appoint a returning officer at the coming election of Mayor, as he did not feel very strong, and as it would be necessary to appoint a returning officer for the district, he would suggest that Mr George Leslie Lee, who had acted as returning officer at the general elections should be asked to act at the election of Mayor, with a view to the appointment being made permanent. He had taken the liberty to speak to Mr Lee on t his subject, and that gentleman had consented to act if appointed. In conversation with the hon Mr Richardson the subject of fee in connection with this office had been referred to, and the amount of £3 3s for each election mentioned, had been spoken of as a very reasonable amount. As he had previously mentioned he felt hardly strong enough to undertake the duties, and would ask the Council to decide on a returning officer at that meeting, as it would be necessary that the appointment should appear in the following morning’s papers. Cr Thomson moved —“ That Mr G. L. Lee be appointed returning officer at the coming election of Mayor.” Cr Ick seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. His Worship said that there was a matter connected with the making up of the electoral roll on which the town clerk was anxious to have the ruling of the Council. There was no provision last year for payment of this work, and last year, though a very great deal of trouble had been taken in making up the returns, they were pronounced by Mr Hamilton to be informal, and they were thrown out. Considerable discussion took place on the necessities insisted upon by Mr Hamilton, among other instances it being mentioned that Ma, Mac, and Me, had to be placed in distinct columns to please that gentleman under his reading of the requirements of the Act, and it was generally expressed that the Council could not afford to spend ratepayers’ money to comply with what had been found by experience to be merely official whims. Eventually, it was decided that the AttorneyGeneral should be written to for his opinion as to whether Mr Hamilton’s dictum was a necessity by law, or whether it would not be cheaper to pension that gentleman off to prevent his acting as an obstructionist in the new order of things. Some other remarks followed and the matter dropped. The town clerk reported as follows : Received for week ending 25th November — On account of general rates for year, £3OB 9s ; Waimakariri do, £6O lls fid ; watering rate do, £l9 Os 7d ; fines from R. M. Court, £1 10s ; rent of market place, 7s ; received from Gas Co, £4 12s ; licenses, £2. Total receipts, £3Bl 10s Id. Received for week ending 2nd December —Account of general rates, 1876, £lls 2s ; Waimakariri do, £l9 3s 8d ; fines from R, M. Court, £ll 5s ; watering rate, 1876, £SO 9a 6d ; quarter’s rent of weighbridge, £7 ; of market place, 7s ; deposit Brighting on shingle, £l2 10a; licenses, £2. Total receipts, £217 17s 6d. Grand total for the fortnight, £599 7s 3d. Cr, at bank on general account, £3549 4a 9d ; drainage loan account, Cr, £6027 7s 3d ; drainage rate account, Cr, £2893 18a 3d; sinking fund account, Cr, £l4B 10s 2d; bills, &c, paid and to be paid by works committee, £621 9s lid ; on drainage loan, &c, £217 7s. The Council resolved itself into committee, and among other matters the question of charitable aid, in its future relation with the Council, was considered. The responsibility of the General Government until the end of the year was gone into, when the City Council would have to accept and prepare for taking over that responsibility. Under the new system, each inmate of the hospital, and every one receiving charitable aid, would be allocated to their individual district, in the same way that the maintenance of each person at home was charged to his or her parish when necessity compelled theirjapplying for this aid. An opinion was expressed that the Council would be assuming very heavy responsibilities in accepting those of other portions of the district. A difficulty might be experienced in collecting the proportionate charges from outlying districts, such as from Timaru and other places. At the end of the year, after the new Act bad been in force, the Government could deduct the amount found not to have been provided by the various districts. Some further remarks were made as to the responsibility that would have to be assumed by the Council, and as to the desirableness of their facing the question at once, when Cr Turnermovecl—“That his Worship the Mayor, and Crs Nathan, Bird, and Gapes be appointed a committee to confer with the authorities on this matter and report to the Council.” He (Or Turner) considered that their feelings of humanity would not allow them to see people starve in Christchurch, no matter from what portion of the district they might have arrived. He thought if this matter were ventilated through the agency of the ladies of the various parishes and the clergymen (who might first be asked to hold a meeting to consider the proposed state of affairs), that very valuable suggestions as to the best means of giving aid would be received. From his experience some years ago on a committee for a similar purpose, he felt that these suggestions would be invaluable, as on that occasion the modes of applying those charities had been altered with good benefit uader the various exigencies. Cr Ick having seconded the motion, quite endorsed Or Turner’s remarks, and after further observations from councillors, with a remark as to the manner in which Mr Rolleston was at present considering the question of charities in their relation to

Christchurch, the motion was put and carried. Mr T. M. Hassal wrote, enclosing a cheque for £42, estimated cost of the work of forming Eaton place, with a request that it might be carried out at once. Works committee authorised to proceed with the work. Mr H. E. Alport wrote, applying on behalf of the anniversary sports committee for permission to use Latimer square for the annual sports on Saturday, the 16th instant. Request granted. The following letter, addressed to the Mayor, was read from Or Hawkes :—“As I shall be unable to be present at to-day’s meeting of the Council, in the first place will you kindly hare me placed on leave ; in the second place will you kindly move the resolution standing in my name in re the Bast belt bridge. In company with the surveyor I went over the whole of the ground between Barbadoes street and the Bast belt, and I quite concur in his opinion that the Barbadoes street site is totally unfitted for a bridge of any magnitude, for innumerable reasons. In the first place from the lowness of the approaches, and from the fact that it connects with a street that can never be thickly populated, in fact, the only real advantage of a bridge at that spot would be affording a means of approach to the Cemetery from the Roman Catholic Church. The site at the rear of the boat sheds seems to me to be out of the question, through reason of that portion of the terrace being so low as to be under water when the river is at all high. On the other hand, a bridge over the river at the belt would be an immense service to a large d strict, and would perfect the drive round the city, and I imagine that the small amount of land required could be obtained from Mr Bowron at no great cost, and I have reason to believe that many of the residents in the neighborhood would be willing to lend a hand if the Council determine on erecting the bridge at that spot. Will you kindly get the clerk to look up in the minutes a discussion which took place on the subject at the time the first grant was obtained from the Provincial Government, and I think you will find that a sum of money was determined to be spent on a bridge at the belt and a foot bridge at Barbadoes street. These are a few rough ideas written in great haste, and for yourself I know you are in favor of the scheme, and I trust that you will combat the idea that the work should depend on the co-operation of the Avon Boad Board, as I think the t me has come when we should cease to be bound down by the idea that no work should be done which will benefit an adjoining district at the same time as ourselves without their paying their share. At the same time I think in this case that the Avon Road Board ought to contribute liberally. Excuse haste.” Some discussion followed on the motion moved by the Mayor, after which it was decided to allow the matter to stand over for a fortnight. The City Surveyor reported : 1, “The works committee recommend that the small triangle (one of the Council’s reserves) opposite the Junction Hotel, Papanui road, be thrown into roadway, I will furnish plan and estimate for the alteration next meeting of the Council. 2. “ They also recommend that the old buildings occupied by the Fire Brigade in the Market Place be sold, 3, “ The channelling in Latimer square is now finished, and the road and footpaths are being formed up to it. 4. “ The channelling of Cranmer square is being proceeded with. That portion of High street between i'uam and St Asaph streets is being channelled, and several culverts are being laid in this neighborhood, which I hope will do away with the inconvenience hitherto felt in rainy weather. “ O. Walkden, “ City Surveyor.” The report was approved, The adjourned motion of Cr Nathan’s, allocating £3OOO from the grant to be received from the Provincial Government towards the cost of asphalting the footpaths was brought on and agreed to with slight discussion, Or Jones dissenting, as he objected to those ratepayers being again taxed who had already contributed to this work. Cr Nathan then gave notice of motion that he would move at next sitting, that the Council resolve itself into committee of the whole, to consider a scheme for carrying out the above object. Or Nathan, after referring to the want existing of female servants, and the desirableness of having more of this class introduced among the immigrants assisted to the province by Government aid, said he would move a resolution at next sitting asking the Council in the interests of the ratepayers to bring this necessity under the notice of the General Government. On the motion of Cr Jones, a motion was carried expressing the Council’s appreciation of the manner in which Dr Deamer has carried out his duties of health officer of the city. Cr Turner said he would move at next sitting—•“ That a sum of money be appropriated for the purchase of 10ft of land from Mr Morten for the purpose of widening Colombo street.” Or Jones, as chairman of the fire brigade committee, invited the members of the Council, by desire of Mr Superintendent Harris, to an experiment on Wednesday next at the new fire brigade station, by Professor Bickerton, with carbonic acid gas. The following reports of the finance and works committees were then brought up and adopted ANNUAL REPORT OP THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. “Your committee beg to report that they have had under their consideration the finances of the Couuci', and beg to report the following as the probable position for the current year.— “ Liabilities —Deposits due to contractors, £192 ; rates collected and due to Waimakariri Board, £303 ; salaries due ou November 16th, 1876, £196 ; contracts in progress, £3588; sundry small accounts, £SO ; total, £4329. “ Estimated Expenditure—Salaries; Town clerk, £4OO ; surveyor, £400; collector, £200; inspector, £2OO ; assistant clerk, £l5O ; contingencies, £IOO ; forage, £3O; election expenses, £SO ; Mayor’s official expenses, £3OO ; legal expenses, £250; printing, &c, £4OO ; fire brigade, £SOO ; fire prevention, £SOO ; fire insurance, £3O; total, £7849; contingencies, £2151 ; total, £10,000; for works, £16,580 ; grand total, £26,680. “Estimated Assets—Balance in hand, £3OOB 9fl 9d; Provincial Government, £2500; General Government, £I4BO, £3980; rates outstanding, £3BOO ; total, £10,788 9s 9s. “ Licenses Dogs, £ISOO ; auctioneers, £600; publicans, £2OOO, £4IOO ; Govern-

ment grants, £6500 ; less deductions, £3500, £BOOO ; rates, 1877, £7OOO. “ Incidental Receipts—Fines, £255; rents, £550 ; licenses fees, £350, £llsO ; Board of Conservators and Drainage Board, £3 '0 : Insurance Company and Government, £250 ; total, £26,288 9a 9d, “ Annual Works Committee’s Report foi i876-7.~Your committee and city surveyor have had under their consideration the report of the finance committee, wherein it appears that the balance available for public works from the estimated receipts would be the sum of £18,744. It will be seen that a very large sum is required for shingle, much of which will be required for streets that have already received a coating of gravel, but through the lowering of some streets, and disturbing the surface of others, consequent on the system of channelling being carried out throughout the city, will require to receive a considerable quantity of that material; also the shingling of several streets which hitherto have been unshingled absorbs a still larger quantity, and besides there remains provision for repairs for the year. These works necessitated the recommendation of the large amount put down. The committee have also put down the sum of £ISOO for municipal offices, as, from the state of the present buildings, and the inconvenience experienced from insufficient accommodation, it is apparent that before long provision must bemade to meet the growing wants of the city, in having suitable buildings to conduct its business in an efficient manner. The sum of £3OOO put down to asphalting is considered by the committee to be only a grant in aid to meet any action the Council may decide upon for asphalting the footpaths of the city. The committee therefore recommend for adoption by the Council the expenditure on the following works for the current year :—Day labor, £3640 ; broken stone (metal), £3OOO ; gravel tor footpaths, £2OO ; shingle, £2OOO ; forming and shingle South Town belt (half width), £1000; contribution in aid for asphalting footpath, £3OOO ; horse feed, shoeing, &c, £400; lighting, £I2OO ; municipal offices, £ISOO ; contingencies, £2564; fire brigade stables, £l5O ; paving Cathedral square, £6O ; fencing river side, £3O; total, £18,744, This expenditure is exclusive of the stock on hand as shown in the liabili ties and asset J , as se L - forth in the annual balance-sheet. The surveyor recommends the shingle to be placed upon the following streets Durham street from south belt to St Asaph, 18 chains ; ManChester from Kilmore to west belt, 31 chains; Barbadoes from river to south belt, 70 chains; Madras from High street to Latimer square, 20 chains ; Montreal from Whately road to north belt, 18 chains; Antigua from river to Park terrace, 25 chains; Park terrace, 40 chains ; east side of Latimer square, 11 chains ; west side of Cranmer square, 11 chains; St Asaph street from Barbadoes street to east belt, 18 chains; Tuam street from Barbadoes street to east belt, 18 chains ; Peterborough from Montreal to Madras street, 40 chains; Salisbury from Park terrace to Manchester street, 40 chains; Chester street from square to terrace, 10 chains. Total, 370 chains. The balance to the credit of the drainage loan account (£6234 Is 6d) will be available, and it is expected will about complete the remaining unchannelled portions of the city. The Inspector’s report was read and approved. Several licenses were granted and others refused, and the Council adjourned.