CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 791, 3 January 1877, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Tuesday, January 2. The Council met at 4 p.m. Present —Bis Worship the Mayor, and Ors Hawkes, Hobbs, Turner, Nathan, Thomson, Jones, Bird, and Ick. FINANCIAL. Eeceipta for the fortnight, £4348 7s lid, including General Government 5s grant, £1472 14s 3d; and balance of Provincial Government grant, £2500 ; credit to drainage loan account, £4246 17s 3d ; credit to general account, £7353 14%.r9d ; credit to drainage rate account, £3242 16s 2d ; wages &c, to be paid—general account, £ll2B 16s lOd ; drainage account, £630 4s 6d. DECLARATION. The Mayor Elect (Mr Gapes) made the formal declaration required by the Act, and thereupon took his seat. PRIVATE STREETS. The Mayor stated that a letter, referring to private streets, would be read at the meeting that afternoon. He thought the time bad now arrived when the Council should undertake the formation of private streets. Hitherto, persons had been allowed to make and form these streets without reference to the Council, but he thought this should not be allowed. The Act provided that the Council should be consulted, but this had not been done. Consequently, in some instances, streets were formed and buildings erected the positions of which could not be properly described in the rate lists, owing to the streets not being made. He might also

add, while addressing the Council now, that it would be necessary for them to appoint a returning-officer to conduct the elections relating to the City TJouncil. RETURNING OFFICER. It was resolved —“ That in accordance with clause 6 of the Regulation of Local Elections Act, 1876, this Council hereby appoints Mr G. Leslie, returning officer, to hold all elections within the city ; that the fee shall be £3 3s for each election.” OFFICIAL PAPER. It was resolved —“ That the Press newspaper be the official paper for the next six six months.” CITY SURVEYOR’S REPORT, The city surveyor reported as follows ; “ l. The bell tower and look out on the Fire Brigade Station, Lichfield street, are in a thoroughly decayed state, and require rebuilding. “2. The stables at the new station are finished, and occupied by the Council horses, “ 3. The old fire brigade buildings on the Market square I have advertised for sale by auction, by direction of the works committee. “4. A contract for 4000 cubic yards of broken boulders has been entered into with Mr J. L. Wilson. “ 5, The contractor for building the swimming shed has completed his contract,” The report of the city surveyor was approved as a whole. DRAINAGE BOARD. The following letter from the Drainage Board was read : “ Christchurch District Drainage Board, “ Hereford street, “ December 19th, 1876. “ To his Worship the Mayor and Gentlemen of the City Council. “ Gentlemen,—l am directed by the chairman to inform you that the powers of the ‘Local Board of Health ’ have been vested in the * Christchurch District Drainage Board,’ and that no provision is made in the Act for levying a rate by the Board to cover the expenses required annually for the purpose of the said Act. The Board has communicated with the President of the Central Board in Wellington for information as to how the necessary revenue was to be ob tained, and, in reply, the Hon Dr Pollen (President of the Central Board) suggested that the Board should apply to the City Council and Road Boards within the Christchurch drainage district. Clause 16, subsection 4, seems to imply that the local bodies should supply the necessary funds, pro rata. According to a calculation made, the coat for 1877 would only entail a rate of from one penny to one penny farthing in the pound upon the annual valuation, to cover the expenditure. Iu support of the appeal, I beg; to refer you to clause 75 of the Christchurch District Drainage Act, wherein it states that the Board is only empowered to levy rates 1 for defraying the costs, charges, and expenses of any work or works executed, or to be executed by the Board under the authority of this Act, &c, &c,’ consequently the Drainage Board is dobai red levying rates for the working of the Public Health Act, such powers being vested in the City Council and Road Boards.

“ I have the honor to be, &c, “ Edwd. H. Palmer,

“ Clerk to the Local Board of Health.”

Or Turner moved—“ That the town clerk reply that this Council cannot vote funds to be expended by a body over whose acts they can have no control.”

Or Ick hoped the City Council would resist any attempt that was made to take from them certain duties that more properly belonged to them than to any other body He thought that the sanitary affairs of the city should be left to the City Council, The Council must have an Inspector of Nuisances, and he thought that if they had to pay for attending to sanitary matters in the city, the Council should have the direction of any measures that were to be taken. The Drainage Board, as now constituted, might very properly look after the sanitary matters connected with the drainage district, leaving out the city of Christchurch. Cr Nathan disagreed with the last speaker. He did not regret that the charge of sanitary matters had been left in tbe hands of a body whose operations would extend over a larger area than the powers of the City Council conferred.

Cr Hobbs pointed out that the whole question resolved itself into this—which body was to collect the necessary rates ? If the City Council did not attend to the sanitary affairs of the city, of course they would be enabled to reduce their rates, while the Drainage Board would have to increase theirs proportionately Cr Jones expressed a hope that the mover of the resolution would withdraw it. It was a financial matter of great importance, and he should be exceedingly sorry to see the City Council refuse to subscribe to the necessary expenses of the officers ;that had been appointed. Ho did not suppose that sanitary matters were going to cost them any more than at present, because they were transferred to the Drainage Board. Cr Thomson reminded the Council that individually they had consented to the Drainage Board taking over the powers of the Local Board of Health (the City Council.} It was true this decision had not been come to at a meeting of the Council, but members had individually consented to it, [Cr Turner—7 out of 9.] He did not think, however, that the motion before the Council would have any other effect than that of bringing the City Council and Drainage Board at loggerheads with each other, and then asking the Government to step in. He thought the wiser course to pursue would be to postpone consideration of the subject for a fortnight. Cr Hawkes said he would support Cr Turner’s motion, in the hope that it would lead to the Drainage Board taking active steps which would result in their being provided with the necessary funds. If the sanitary matters of the district were placed in the hands of different bodies ho believed that where one district would do the work well, another would not carry it out so efficiently; Therefore he believed in the whole thing being placed in the hands of one body. After some further discussion, the motion was withdrawn, in order that a fortnight’s consideration might be given to the subject. Another letter was read from the Drainage Board, asking the Council if they would undertake the collection of the drainage rate in connection with the ordinary rates (the same notices to do for both), and also on what terms the Council would undertake the work.

Cr Turner moved—“ That the letter be referred to the finance committee, to consider and report.” Cr Ick opposed the motion. He considered that the Drainage Board ought to do its own work. At present the City Council’s rate

collector had quite enough to do, without having to collect the rates of another body, Cr Thomson would’ postpone any remarks he had to make until the committee reported. He might say that he hoped the ex-Mayor would not, as he had declared, abstain from voting on questions in which the Drainage Board and City Council were interested, because if he did so the citizens would not be represented. He believed that if Cr Hobbs votel exactly as he thought he would be equally appreciated, by whichever Board he sat on and by those whom he represented. He hoped, therefore, he would not abstain from voting whenever a question was put to the Drainage Board or the City Council. Cr Nathan hoped the Council would agree to co-operate with the Drainage Board in this matter. It meant economy indirectly, and therefore he trusted the Council would endeavor to meet the views of the Drainage Board,

After some further discussion, the motion was agreed to. A letter was road from Messrs W, Gray and Dowds, calling attention to the necessity of forming and draining the right-of-way belonging to Mr Chudley, between Tuam and St Asaph streets. The writers stated that they bad repeatedly asked Mr Chudley to attend to it, but he would not do so, and they had no power in the matter. The letter was referred to the works committee, to report generally on what should be done in the matter of private streets A letter was read from Dr Deamer (late health officer to the Board of Health), acknowledging receipt of vote of thanks passed by the Board. A letter was read from the Under-Secretary for Justice, Wellington, stating that the Mayor (Mr Gapes) had been appointed a Justice of the Peace. A letter was read from residents in Whately road, stating that it had been proposed to take up certain asphalte which they had subscribed to have put down some time ago, and requesting that such a proceeding would not be allowed. No action was taken. ENDOWMENT.

On the motion of Cr Hobbs, it was resolved—" That a sub-committee, consisting of Crs Nathan, Thomson, and the mover, be requested to consider and report what steps it is desirable for the Council to take under clause 350 Municipal Council Act, I 87 6: to obtain an endowment of land for the city.” AEDEED STREET. It was decided that this street should be taken over by the Council. THE CABMEN. Or Turner, before the question of granting licenses was gone into, said he felt indignant that the Cab Inspector had not afforded the Council the information which the Council directed him to give with reference to the character of the applicants for licenses. The clerk stated that the Cab Inspector had reported that the licenses of two applicants should be withheld. Cr Turner said the whole thing was a farce. It was well known that some cabmen in this city were living on the infamy of relatives. It was currently reported in town that at least twenty cabmen obtained their living, directly or indirectly, by assisting prostitution. The information was in the hands of the police, and he thought steps should be taken to compel the police to furnish it. He begged to move—" That a letter be addressed to the Commissioner of Police, enclosing the names of all the applicants for cab licenses for the ensuing year, with a request that the police will report to this Council upon the character of each of these applicants. ” If this letter had not the desired effect, he would recommend that a letter be sent to the Attorney-General, asking for information as to what the duties of the police ;were. He thought that pending inquiries, permits for one month should be granted. After some discussion, the motion was agreed to, and it was decided that permits for one month should be granted to the applicants pending enquiries. Notices of Motion. Cr Hobbs to move on January 15th—“ That the Council authorise the taking of the necessary steps under clauses 179, 180, M.O. Act, 1876, and clauses 21, 22 and 23 of the Public Works Act, 1876, to acquire possession of town section No 733,”

“ That notice be published in accordance with clause 140 M.O. Act, 1876, to the effect 1. That this Council propose to widen that portion of Colombo street opposite the Bank of New Zealand. 2. That a sum not exceeding £25,000 be borrowed for the purchase of town section No 733. 3. That the rents of the said property shall be pledged as security for the said loan, and (if necessary) a special rate of Id in the £ on the rateable value of property in Christchurch. 4. That the Mayor be requested to take the neccßsary steps to convene a public meeting to consider the above proposals, in accordance with clause 141.”