CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 813, 30 January 1877, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, January 29. The usual weekly meeting was held at the Council Chamber. Present—Hia Worship the Mayor, Ora Nathan, Thomson, Hobbs, Hawkrs, Bird, and Jones. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The town clerk reported as follows . Beceived for week ending 20th January— Accounts, general rates, 1876, £22l' 4s; Waimakariri do, £36 17s 4d ; watering rates, £2O 16s lid ; fines from Resident Magistrate’s Court, £4 ss; rent of market place, 7s; deposit from J, L. Wilson, £3O; carriers licenses, £l6 10s; drivers’ licenses, £56; building license, £1; hawkers’ licenses, £2; total receipts for week, £389 0a 3d. Receipts for week ending January 27th— General rate, 1876, £BO Is; Waimakariri do, £l3 6s lOd; rent from market place, 7s; fines from Resident Magistrate's Court, £ll 15s; receipts from baths, £2 14s 9d; bath tickets, £1 16s; carriers’ licenses, £3 ; kerosene licenses, £3; rent of weighbridge for quarter, £7 ; interest on general account, £l4 13s 3d; total receipts for week, £137 13s lOd. Grand total for fortnight, £526 14s Id. General account, Cr, £5272 9s 9d; drainage loan account, Cr, £2472 15s 8d; drainage rate account, Cr, £2907 13s 3d ; sinking fund account, Cr, £149 17s 6d; bills paid and to be paid on general account, £1049 13s 4d; on drainage loan account, £597 6s 3d, The city surveyor reported 1. “ The swimming bath at one end has been fitted up with a false bottom, so that non-swimmers can now bathe in safety. 2. “The new street running from Durham to Montreal streets is in a fit condition to be taken over by the Council. 3. “The channelling of Park terrace and some of the small streets is now being carried on, and when they are finished the contractors can commence on the East town belt. 4. “ Work is now being carried on in Cambridge terrace, with the object of widening the road and improving that locality, 5. “Tenders for 3000 cubic yards of shingle will be laid before the Council. “ O. Walkden, City Surveyor.” Clause 1 was approved. On clause 2 being read it waa resolved, on the motion of Or Hobbs —“ That a special meeting of this Council be held at 4 p.m. on Monday next, to consider the propriety of taking over the street mentioned in the ClftUSG*” Clauses 3 and 4 were approved. A number of tenders for shingle were opened, and that of Mr Brightling was accepted. . , A letter was read from Captain Alport, of the Christchurch Fire Police, applying to the Council for their usual annual subscription in aid of the funds of that force. On the motion of Or Thomson it was resolved to grant the fire police a similar amount to that given them last year. A letter was read from Mr C. Flockton, 0.8, forwarding his account for preparing the city valuation for 1877, and asking for a payment on account. By desire of Councillors the town clerk explained the large amount of extra work that bad been done by the assessor. It was decided to accede to the request, and the account as a whole was referred to the finance committee for their consideration. The report on “ private streets,” brought up at last sitting, and consideration of which was deferred, was again read by the town Cr ick here took his seat at the council table. In conjunction with the report a letter was read from Mr J, B. Gresson, enclosing a list of ratepayers who were anxious that a private street between Madras and Barbadoes streets should be formed, and a separate rate levied by the Council under clause 111 of the Act. The clauses of the report were considered seriatim. The first clause was approved. After considerable discussion, a resolution moved by Cr Nathan, expunging clause 2 of the report, was carried on the casting vote of the Mayor, Cra Ick, Thomson, Hawkes, and Bird voting against. Or Jones moved —“ That the works committee, in connection with its report on

private streets, be instructed to give the city surveyor directions to make a map of the city of Christchurch, in accordance with clause 190 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876.” Or Nathan seconded the motion. Or Hobbs said Mr Strouta had in hand a map of the kind required, which was nearly completed, and he would suggest to the works committee that one of these maps be procured and adopted as the city surveyor’s map. The motion was put and agreed to. The following report of the finance committee was read : “ Your committee have met in accordance with the resolution passed last meeting, referring the investing of the sinking fund to its consideration, and beg to report—- “ That the powers under the Act of 1867, clause 253, compelled the Council to invest its sinking fund in General Government debentures approved by the Governor, but that this course has been altered in the Act 1876, clause 161, giving the Council power to invest its sinking fund, through Commissioners to be appointed by the Council (clause 160), in such securities as the Council may from time'to time direct. “The committee recommends that two gentlemen be appointed Commissioners under the said clause 161, and recommend that they bo instructed to realise ou the present General Government debentures, and invest the proceeds, with other monies as thty accrue:, to the sinking fund, in advances on mortgages on freehold securities within the city, which mode of investment will give a considerable increase to what the Council is at present receiving. “ Your committee intends so soon as total amount of the rate roll for the current year is made up to meet again, with the view of calculating what amount will be sufficient to provide interest and sinking fund on the £35,000, and under clause 113 to apply to the commissioners of audit to reduce the present special rate to the actual sum required for that purpose. " Your committee has had under consideration the necessity of providing further assistance in the office, and recommends that applications be invited from youths over eighteen years of age, to commence with a salary of £75; per annum, preference to be given to youths who have passed the Civil Service examination. “ P. Hobbs, Chairman, “ January 25th, 1877.” The report was received, and on the motion of Or Hobbs was adopted, with the exception of the last clause. He desired to mention that the finance committee hoped to have the gratification of reporting that under the new assessment it might not be necessary to levy a special rate of 5d to provide interest and sinking fund to repay the loan of £35,000, and from the present calculation it was hoped that 3d or 3£d would be found sufficient. Or Hobbs moved—” That the town clerk be instructed to advertise for a person to combine the duties of cab inspector with other duties in connection with the Council,” It bad been found by the finance committee that the Council could not at present afford to employ an officer to confine himself solely to inspecting cabs Cr Bird seconded the motion. In conjunction with the motion, a letter was read from the Commissioner of Police in reply respecting the services of a senior member of the force to act as cab inspector for the City Council, stating the pay of a first class sergeant to be £lB2 10a per annum, with clothing, house rent, fuel, and light extra. Cr Hawkes thought it would be necessary to have some competent officer to inspect the cabs, and for the day and night and very unpleasant work he would be called upon to perform, he considered they would be getting a qualified man at a cheap rate, according to the commissioner’s estimate, After further remarks, Or Hobbs obtained leave to withdrasvhia motion for the present. On the motion of Cr Nathan, the town clerk was instructed to write to the Commissioner of Police, defining the duties that would be required from a cab inspector, and asking whether an officer could not be told off to perform these at a salary of a year. The report of the fire brigade committee was read. Mr Superintendent Harris, Chief Fire Inspector, wrote, reporting seven alarms of fire during last quarter, five in buildings, one gorse fence, and one false alarm. The most serious fire had occurred on November 15th, at Donaldson and Thompkin’s shops, in Cashel street. The new hose sent for had arrived by the Crusader. The reports were received. On the motion of Cr Hobbs, seconded by Or Thomson, it was resolved to remit the first clause of the committee’s report back, for them to reconsider and recommend a means for obtaining a supply of water for fire prevention purposes. The second clause was referred to the byelaw committee. The last clause was adopted, and the Superintendent’s report approved. With reference to MrJ. B. Gresson’s letter, previously read, it was decided to refer it to the surveyor for his report, The following letters had been received during the week and attended toFrom Registrar General’s office, Messrs Maples Bros, D. Munroe and Co, Melbourne ; J. L. Wilson, Saunders, Henderson and Co, General Government, on account fire-engine; Treasury, Wellington; Chief Postmaster, Christchurch ; Hanmer and Harper, and Mr G, Willmer. Or Hawkes moved—” That this Council authorise an expenditure of a sum not exceeding £2H for the purpose of erecting a room to answer the purpose of waiting room for caretaker, and dressing room for ladies, and a screen at the swimming baths.” Or Ick seconded the motion. He had hoped that the Mayor would have referred to an article which had lately appeared in an evening paper about the refuse floating down from the hospital, and it was well known that nothing of the kind took place. It was well known that all objectionable matter of every kind was carted away from the hospital every night, Cr Hawkes said that not an atom of matter found its way into the river from the hospital, and it was only right that this should be known, as articles of the kind alluded to were likely to do the baths harm Or Hobbs made similar remarks, and said that it had taken centuries in larger and older cities to pollute rivers flowing through them. The motion wag agreed to. Or Hawkes moved—" That an advertisement be inserted in the papers, appointing the hours from 10 a.m, to 12 o’clock to be Bet apart for ladies,”

Or Ick seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A letter was read from Mr J. M. Watt, complaining of the action of the scavenging contractor. Referred to the sanitary committee. A letter was read from Mr A. R. Sims, R N., bringing under the notice of the Council the draft of an organisation he purposes starting to encourage swimming at the public baths, &c. Referred to the bath committee. On the motion of Or Jones, seconded by Or Hobbs, it was resolved to vote a donation of £5 to the sports committee. Or Hobbs handed in the following notice, as required by the Act: — “ To the Town Clerk, Christchurch. Sir, — We, the undersigned members of the Christchurch City Council, hereby require you to convene a special meeting of the City Council on Monday, the sth February, at 4.15 p.m, for the purpose of considering the propriety of the Council authorising the taking of the necessary steps under clauses 179 and 180 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876, and clauses 21, 22, and 23 of the Public Works Act, 1876, to acquire possession of town section 733 for the purpose of providing and maintaining public offices within the city, in which to hold the meetings and transact the business of the Council, and for the use of its officers, and for holding public meetings and transacting public business relating to the city, and for the further purpose of widening that portion of Colombo street which lies immediately opposite to the Bank of New Zealand, And that the Council causes a survey to be made and plans to bo prepared, showing generally the purposes for which it is intended to apply the land, and the nature of the works proposed to be executed, as required by section 21 of the Public Works Act, 1876. And further, to consider the desirability of borrowing a sum not exceeding £30,000, to be expended in the purchase of the said land, and in the erection of the said buildings. Fred, Hobbs, Jas. Geo, Hawkks, J. A. Bird.” He (Or Hobbs) had to report on behalf of the committee appointed to confer with the solicitors that it had been found desirable to commence dc novo under clausa 81 of the the Act, and after the subject had been considered at the special meeting the necessary steps could in due course be taken for laying the whole matter before a public meeting of the ratepayers. Several letters had lately appeared in the papers to the effect that the object was to raise this money under the authority of a special rate which would really mean increased rates to the citizens. He thought the ratepayers of Christchurch would at least give him,credit for the desire to do all in his power to decrease the rates instead of increasing them, and an effort in this direction was shown in a document which had been laid before the Council in the earlier portion of the evening. The first object in taking this land was to widen the street, and the committee had tried by every means to negociate the purchase of a strip for this object at the highest possible price they could go to. As however they could not succeed in getting it, and the necessity for widening the street at this corner being positive, and the present the only opportunity that might occur, they had determined to take over the whole section on their estimate of £30,000, which it was thought would be sufficient to purchase the land and put up municipal buildings ; it was calculated that £2IOO would be sufficient to pay interest and sinking fund on that amount; and every estimate made, both by Mr Morten, himself, and others, went to show that the returns would more than pay what was required, and though the ratepayers would nominally guarantee a penny rate, they would never be asked to pay one fraction. Crs Nathan and Ick hardly thought these remarks should have been made on a mere notice handed in calling a special meeting, and would not like them to go forth to the pub’ic unchallenged, or that it was thought the whole of the Councillors endorsed them. On the motion of Or Hobbs, it was resolved —“That this Council, in compliance with clause 107 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876, do hereby appoint any two of its members to countersign cheques.” The Council then adjourned until Wednesday next, at half-past fouti