CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 860, 27 March 1877, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, March 26.

The ordinary meeting of the Council was held at the Council Chambers at 4 p.m yesterday. Presert His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Hobb«, Ick, Nathan, Thorn* son, Jones, Bird, Hawkes, and Turner. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The Town Clerk reported as follows :—Received on account of general rates for week endißg March 17th—On account of general rates. 1876, £B2 2s 6d ; Waimakariri do, £)3 133 9J ; rent of Market Place, 7s ; receipts from bath, £3 18s 3d ; dog fees, £lO ; licenses, £7 10i ; received on account of Horatio street. £39 ; bye laws, 2s ; total for week, &156 13 \ 64. Beceived for week ending March 24th—General rates, £162 Is ; Waimakariri do, £27 0s 2d ; rent of market, 7s; receipts from bath, £1 4s 3d ; fines from ii. M. Court, £23 2s 6J ; dog fees, £27 ; licenses, £5 10s ; received on account of Horatio street, £2 ; bje law, la ; total receipts for week, £248 5s lid ; general account, Cr, at bank, £3I7T 6s ; bills paid and to be paid on general account, for fortnight, £377 53 Id ; drainage loan account, Cr, £2Bl 2a Id ; drainage rate accouut, Cr, £3484 12a 8d ; drainnge rate account, Dr, £462 ; bills paid and to be paid by works committee on drainage loan account, £133 10s Id.

Th City Surveyor reported : '• 1. The works committee have accepted the tender of Messrs Knowles and Fatten for forming and shingling Salisbury stnet.

" 2 The works committee have given instructions to have two mud carts nmde, as the carts in the Council's use are unsuitable for the purpose. "3. It is said the two trees standing in the roadway of Cathedral Square are an obstacle to the traffic. I should not feel justified in removing them without orders from the Council.

"4. I cannot see any objection to ths Rev Mr Fißher having peimis-sion to lay out the right-of-way from Durham street which he has applied for, provided it is mnde a thoroughfare in compliance with the new Act. •' 5. Thecostof M irton street, so as to be taken over by the Oonncil, would be £72 12s. " 6. The erst of forming and shingling the east bide of the east belt, between Hereford

Btreet and Gloucester street, will be £BB 13s. "7. The channelling on the north belt is commenced. "8. Appended hereto is a list of the private streets and rights-of-way in ihe southeast and south-west quarter?; There are several blanks owing to my not being able to obtain the requisite information." Clauses 1 and 2 of the report were approved. Clause 3 was opposed by Crs Hobbs, Turner, and Hawkes, who considered the trees were an ornament, and for the present at least could not be considered in any way an obstruction or inconvenience.

Cr Thomson said that if the trees were not removed in a little while the roots would soon capsize the channelling now laid down On the motion of Cr Thomson, seconded by Cr Ick, it was resolved to authorise the cutting down of the trees. Cr Ick observed that it might not be necessary to remove one of them at least for some time.

On clause 4 being read, considerable discussion took place, it being pointed out that the new Act positively required that there must be two entrances to a right of way. Eventually it was decided to defer further consideration of the clause until next week. The remaining clauses of the report were approved. A letter was read from Mr C. Flockton, valuator, accompanying account for balance, due i>3o, out of the total amount of account £7O, and strongly urging that an allowance might be made him for his time previous to the Assessment Court being held, as he had been engaged in revising objections, making lists, and reports of same to be published in the daily newspapers, as determined by resolution of the Council. It was resolved to refer Mr FJockton to the terms contract, Cr Turner again ex pressing his regret that his desire of making the valuer an officer of the City Council had not been deteimined upon at the time. Had it been so the late inconveniences would not have been occasioned.

Cr Hobbs gave formal notice cf motion for Btriking a general rate of 9d in the £ for the year 1877 on the day of— The motion was agreed to. On the motion of Or Hobbs it was decided to publish the estimates for 1877 for general information.

The reply from the Drainage Board, signed by Mr Barman, to resolutions passed at the late public meeting, and which bas already been published, were again read.

Dr Park'ti letter of last week to the Drainage Board, respecting a drain at the rear of his premises, at the corner of Colombo and Lichfield streets, was read. The Town Clerk stated that this matter had been attended to. A letter was read from Messrs Banks and McDougall, St Asaph street, asking that the portion of their store fronting that street might be pitched at the Council's convenience, charging them with the costs. Application granted. A letter wan read from the Avon Boad Board, askiDg for the loan of the pile driver belonging to the City Council for a week or two. Referred to the works committee.

A letter was read from the town clerk, Dunedin, in reply, complying with a request to have a copy of specifications for asphalting the city of Christchuich laid in his office for general inspection; A telegram was read from the town clerk, Auckland, asking whether the Council thought that, under clause 16, sub section 2, of the Municipal Act, the auditors retained office until June 30th. The Town Clerk said the answer had been forwarded.

Cr Nathan moved the following motion, of which he had given notice—" That all resolutions binding this Council to contribute half the cost of forming, shingling, and making the roadways on the rural side of the belts be rescinded."

Cr Turner seconded the resolution, which was agreed to after some discussion. The following report of the lighting committee was read:—

" Your committee beg to report that in considering the question of a new contract with the Ges Company for lighting the city, they deem it highly necessary that the hours should be extended for keeping the gas burning till three o'clock in the morning instead of between one and two, as they consider ttoat the lights are extinguished at a time when they are most required for the safety and good order of the city. The gas company have been written to to ascertain what will be the additional cost. f It is considered desirable to extend the lighting of the city, but the committee are not able to carry this out in consequence of the gas mains not being extended to the localities that should be lighted, therefore the company have been asked to extend their mains along the belts under a promise that if they do it, the committee would recommend to the Council the erection of one gas lamp at the corner of each street on the belts. " The company have been asked to extend jts mains an once to enable a gas light to be put in the place of the kerosene lamp at the corner of Worcester street, on the west aide of Cathedral square. ■ ' Also, to enable the committee to erect a lamp at the corner of Tuam street opposite Phillipstown, which spot should be immediately lighted for the convenience of a large and increasing population. 'fThe committee have decided to put an additional lamp in Caßhel street, about the middle of the street, between Hobday's and X)pnaldaon : s.

"To carry out the increased light, it is necessary that twenty iron lamps be ordered at once, and power is aßked of the Council to order them.

" Complaint of the insufficient lighting power of the gas on Saturday nights have come before tho committee, and they have directed that the Gas Company's attention should be called to the matter. " Jas. Geo. Hawkes, Chairman. " 26th March, 1877."

Cr Hawkes, as chairman of the lightiDg committee, said that a few otatistics, results of obsetvationsof the consumption of a private lamp having ita own register and lighted at the ordinary hour in the evening and put out at about six o'clock in the morning, had be:en very carefully taksu. These showed that this lamp—which by the bye he had seen burning nearly all day on one occasion —had only for six months consumed gas to the value of £2 10a 6d. Now, adding onethird of the amount for the winter months would give a total value of £5 18s 6d, or .£1 17s Cd lees than the Ga<3 Company submitted as their specially reduced rate, and this lamp, be it remembered, had been allowed to burn all night, and was not put out at three o'cloclf as coutemplated by thq light-

ing committee. He would merely add that for 102 lamps the Gas Company charged the Council £2 15s 3d more per year than they did o.ie private consumer for an individual brap, and councillors would agree with him that paying this money was hardly looking after the interests of the ratepayers. After some remarks from councillors, it was resolved on the motion of Cr Jones—'M'fhat the lighting committee be asked to request the gas company to furnish freßh tenders for lighting the city." The motion was agreed to, it being understood that the report would be further considered at the next meeting, after a reply had been received from the gas company. Cr Turner moved the following motion—- " That the Council accepts the decision of the citizens, as expressed at the late public meeting, as final in the matter of the proposed purchase by the Council of Morten's section, and respectfully requests the Mayor to take no further steps towards taking a vote from the ratepayers thereon. That a copy of the resolution be forwarded to Mr Morten." His reason in doing bo was that he considered the feeling of the meeting held was sufficiently emphatic to show the desire in this matter. Before the Council could hope to caTry the resolution intended they would at least have to poll 700 clear votes, and he felt one thing more, that were the resolution to go to a vote it would disfranchise a large number of those who had taken a great interest in the question, as the vote would have to be taken on last year's burgess roll. There were many who might have recorded their votes in favor of the intended action who had not made themselves eligible this year by neglecting to pay their rates. Though he would carry to an issue any question on which he might consider a fair expression of opinion had not been received, yet he still felt it would be wrong to oppose one so fairly represented aB that of the ratepayers' meeting, and the strong expression that he considered had been shown at the late meeting. He would now move his resolution already read by him. Cr Jones had great pleasure in seconding the resolution, and must give Cr Turner very great credit for his manliness in taking this present action when he found the ratepayers considered the one previously taken had been iojudicious. Or Hobbs said that in speaking to Cr Turner's motion, and in deference to the wishes of a number of influential citizens who could not attend the public meeting, and who desired more information on the above question, he had much pleasure in supplying the following He had no desire to it-fiuence a single vote by eo doing. The Council had brought the question to an issue iu order to divest themselves of the responsibility. It was now for the ratepayers to accept theirs, and further, it would have been unjust to Mr Morten to have kept him any longer in suspense. He (Cr Hobb3) had hoped that the citizens would have accepted their statements as reliable, and given their support without their going into details, because it was manifestly impolitic that they should furnish evidence to prove value for Mr Morten, and they considered him quite competent to do so for himself. If Cr Turner's motion were carried no vote would be taken, and if such was the case there could now be no objection to shewing their hand. The sole reason for initiating the measure was to give increased facilities for the traffic at this portion of Colombo street They (the committee) were of opinion that an increased width of street must give more room for vehicles to pass and re-pass, and also that they should at the same time lessen the risk of accident to pedestrians crossing at that point. They considered it advisable to avail themselves of the present opportunity of acquiring the land for this purpose before any permanent buildings were erected, because if the latter occurred, any future attempt would be rendered practically impossible, as the compensation then asked would be too great for the Council to pay. Negotiations having failed for the purchase of the 10ft proposed for the above purpose, the committee deemed it desirable in the interests of the city to take the whole block. They had made their calculations, and found that there was not the slightest probability of the citizens ever requiring to contribute anything towards the cost. They had no doubt the property could be so manipulated to realise all that would have to be paid as compensation, because the corporation was in a much more favorable position for borrowing money than any private individual could be. The following was the manner in which he made his calculations, arriving at this conclusion. The section 733 has 99ft frontage on Colombo street, and 112 ft 2in frontage on Hereford street and Cathedral square. They proposed to widen the street by taking off the 12ft 2in from the Hereford street and Cathedral square frontages, leaving the section 99ft by 100 ft, and making the street 12ft 2in wider. He carefully valued the land, irrespective of the buildings now upon it, and received an offer to lease the Colombo street frontage at £7 per foot, with a depth of thirty-seven feet, the lessor to spend £4OOO in building to an approved uniform design of frontage. This would have left sixty-three feet to let on \ Hereford street, which they also valued at £7 per foot, and sixty-three on Cathedral square, which, owing to its close proximity to the new Government buildings, they valued at £5 per foot. Total as follows : 99 feet frontage on Colombo Btreet by a depth of [37, at £7 per foot per annum £693 63 feet on Hereford street, by49£ deep, at £7... 441 63 feet on Cathedral square, by 49£ deep, at £5 per foot per annum 315 £1449 Deduct from this— The interest on £20,000 (the highest estimated cost) at 6 per cent interest aud 1 percent sinking fund, amounting to £I4OO Balance £43 This showed a credit balance every year in of the Council, and the property would redeem its cost iu forty years at the farthest, and, as they had stated, cost the ratepayers nothing. The calculations he had made to borrow £30,000, viz, £20.000 for land, and £IO,OOO for building, showed an equally satisfactory result. The income from the property would have covered the annual cost for interest, &c, £2IOO, and the Council would have been plus the proceeds of sale of present buildings on the site, and also have their present offices and site to let or for sale as another asset arising out of this investment, and the ratepayers would have had 12ft 2in added to the width of street. And now as to his reasons for arriving at £20,000

as the highest valuation to be paid to Mr Morten. The value of a property to a private individual is, as he took it, that sum upon which the income of the property would pay interest, «kc. Now assuming his calculation of income from the land to have been a correct one, viz, £1449 per annum, this sum would only provide interest on £18,112 10s at 8 per cent, which it was fair to assume a private person would have to pay. He might possibly borrow a portion of that sum on a first mortgage at a lesser rate, but he would certainly have to pay more on a second, if he could obtain it, which would equalise the rate of interest on both mortgages to quite 8 per cent, the amount he (the speaker) assumed the owner would have to pay. He trusted that explanation would afford satisfaction to the ratepayers as to the soundness of the opinions of those Councillors in favor of the scheme. It was exceedingly difficult for members of a public body to fight on behalf of their constituents against largb vested interests, and especially so when legal talent waß specially retained to oppose them. Under such circumstances, it was clearly tho duty of the ratepayers to accept the opposing statements cum grano salts At the same time, he wished every ratepayer to exercise his own discretion, and vote as he might think fit, when once he hnd taken the trouble to weigh both sides of the question. Cr Nathan considered the proper course would be to rescind tbe resolution previously passed. He sincerely regretted that he hail not had the privilege of having the elaborate written statement of Cr Hobbs before him, so that he might have had an opportunity of closely criticising its contcutious. One point he desired particularly to contest was Cr Hobbs's belief that money would always have the value here of 8 per cent. He did not for one moment believe in the arguments, and again he must say he should like to have had the statement before him to have gone very fully into particulars.

Cr Bird felt that as the Council had committed themselves to a certain course, they should go on with it to the bitter end. Cr Hawkes endorsed what had fallen from tbe previous speaker. They should remember that many ratepayers (and the larger number) never attended public meetings, and it was his belief that it would be found that the majority would be in fa\or of the action which had been determined on by the Council in the interests of the ratepayers after mature deliberation. He would certainly go to the poll Ho had to refer to one matter with regret in connection with the late meeting, and that was the action of the Mayor in reading the miuutc3 of the Council and the names of those members who had voted for tho resolution.

The Mayor said he merely considered he waa doing hie duty to the ratepayers in acting aa he did. Or Ick, though desiring to accede to the wishes of the ratepayers, regretted that Or Turner, in bringing his resolution forward, was somewhat showing the white feather, and that was what he would never do. fCr Turner—Certainly not, Those who know me will know that I am actuated by no such fear.] He agreed with Or Hawkes, that a large number of the ratepayers did not attend public meetings, and as this waa the first occasion on which they had gone to a vote of the ratepayers —and had decided calmly in Council that each a course would be for the general benefit—the Council should now, in his opinion, carry out their first intention boldly. Cr Thomson was sorry that the resolution had been brought forward. Those who were present at the meeting that evening could easily imagine that the majority present went there prejudiced against acquiring the land, as all those who were known to be in favor of this action were received unfavorably, and when Mr Treadwell, who was known to have taken a decided stand against it, appeared on the platform he was received with loud applause. [Or Nathan—Perhaps Or Thomson will remember that Cr Turner was very deferentially listened to ] Yes, certainly he (Cr Thomson) must say that gentleman was, but it was only after he had told them that kicking up a row and carrying a resolution by such means as attempted was a reflection on their intelligence. The motion for acquiring the land in the interests of the ratepayers had been carried by a vote in the Council of 6 to 3, and he would support its now being carried to the issue of a poll. Cr Turner, in reply, again reiterated that the only reason why he had brought forward the resolution was that it had been fairly put to the citizens, and he thought the meeting held sufficiently represented the voice of the ratepayers to show that the action of the Council was not endorsed. He had not touched upon the question of the illegality of the proceedings before, but this point had been raised, and he was not prepared to say that the view was an incorrect one. He "was exceedingly sorry that the Mayor's action of having allowed the minutes to be read that night had been in any way referred to, and also to the manner in which he (Or Turner) had been received, until he had appealed to the better feelings of the meeting ; and it was only right for him to say that from the considerate manner with which he had been subsequently treated he would not been have subjected to so rauoh disapprobation had not a reporter of the Pbess, who had reported the previous meeting of the Council placed into his mouth —in connection with the previous public meeting held—such words as " packel," "touting," and other words conveying the impression that the meeting had consisted of other persons than what he (Or Turner) had balieved. After the meeting was over this reporter came to him, and said that he (Cr Turner) had not used such expressions at the Council meeting, but he had not the honesty or manliness to say this to the meuting, or place the chairman in the position of telling them so. He again regretted to have had to refer to these matters, and would once more say that, in his opinion, they had had sufficient evidence that the proposition to acquire Mr Morten's land was not acceptable to the ratepayers, though if it came to a vote he would honestly tell them he would give his vote in favor of the Council.

The resolution was put and lost by 5 to 4. Ayes—The Mayor (as councillor), Crs Turner, Jones, Nathan. Noes—Cis Ick, Hobbs, Hawkes, Thomson, and Birr 1 . Cr Hobbs remarked, mb rosa, that he had been informed that day by Dr Foster that the proceedings were illegal, as the public meeting had been called in an informal manner.

The Mayor said he had received a communication from Wellington that the Mayor had power to ratify the action of the Council.

Cr Nathan considered that Cr Hobbs had no right to communicate anything sub rosa received on the authority of a solicitor, which might have altered the direction of their voting, had they known of it before. The Council were not in committee, and what had been said was for the information of the public. The following report was received from the Inspector:— " I have the honor to report that since last meeting I have served notice on the following hotelkeepers to provide proper urinal accommodation, viz :—J. Davis, Al Hotel, clean, but far too small ; J. Carl, Empire Hotel, accommodation bad, and wants reconstructing; G. Beattie, Palace Hotel, had no urinal for public, except small one in connection with billiard-room which the public could not well find ; T. Pyett, Golden Fleece Hotel, had no urinal ; H. Allen, Golden Age, urinal far too small. I have to-day made a second inspection of the above premises as the time given in, notices has expired. I find the City hss made an attempt, but the place at pr':S3nt through being unfinished, is very dirty. Mr Davis, at the Al, drew my attention to the small amount of accommodation they have at the back of the hotel, and stated it would be impossible for them to increase the urinal unless they couid lease a portion of the adjoining premises. Mr Carl, Empire Hotel, has not attempted to comply with notice. Mr Allen has not made sufficient alteration. Mr Beattie, Palace Hotel, has not complied with notice. Mr Pyett, Golden Fleece has made good accommodation. I would respectfully ask the Council to decide what steps I shall take in this matter. " I inspected breweries and found them to my satisfaction, the whole ox them being clean and having a good supply of water, which flows through them. The principle of drainage at the Crown Brewery is by having two large casks sunk into the ground, one below the other, and all water has to flow over these before reaching the Antigua street drain. At my last inspection at this brewery I ordered Mr "White to place gratings at the end of shoot leading into casks, and also at the outlet into drain, so that not any grain ceuld possibly pass into same. Messrs Vincent and Co have cesspools covered just outside of brewery, where all sediment collects. These are cleaned out once a week, and washed with lime water. The other breweries are similarly treated. I consider them satisfactory. Inspected block No 3, N.W., and found a good many without pans, and served the usual notices ; also, several on the same block to provide drainage. Inspected that, portion of block 3, N.W.T.R,, between Conference street and Salisbury street, and served thirteen notices to provide pans and proper drainage where required ; also, that portion of same block between Conference street and Aldred street ; also, a portion between Aldred and Peacock streets, aad have made out twenty-seven notices to serve. Would respectfully call the attention of the Council to the following :—That a great portion of the notices served when I commenced are past due, and on applying to the town clerk for instructions he told me to proceed, but stated I had better have the Mayor's sanction before doing so, as chairman of sanitary committee. I afterwards saw the Mayor, who said I h*d better not take proceedings until it had been sanctioned by the Council. Aa I have served a very large quantity, it is necessary for you to decide what steps I am to take before serving the remainder of notices already written. " 1 would respectfully call the attention also of the Council to the fact that there is not a single bye-law in book by which we can proceed against persons for keeping fences trimmed, and trees so that they do not obstruct public footpaths, &c, and as we have served some two hundred notices for same thing, I should be glad to get information how to act.

" laspected nightsoil reserve, and found it to ray satisfaction, beiug well covered and no offensive smell coming from same. " Inspected different portions of the town to ascertain the worst places in side channels where flushing was wanted, and beg to suggest that wells be placed at the undermentioned places—Corner Lichfield and Colombo streets, corner of Whately road and Kilmore street, corner Colombo and Gloucester streets by Mr Gee's shop, corner Armagh street west and Park terrace, corner Montreal street and north belt, and opposite corner. These are places that require attention at once ; there are many places which might be remedied if people would let their artesian wells ruu.

" There are many other things I would like to draw your attention to, details of which you will find in book of daily records. " FKANCI3 EoaBS, " City Inspector.

" P,S. —I would respectfully call the attention of the Council to a nuisance complained of in the QMe the other evening—viz, the large amount of cabs standing in front of the Criterion Hotel of an evening, which causes a great obstruction to passengers and annoyance, more especially to ladies, and would ask you to consider what is best to be done in this matter.

"F. H." On the motion of Or Turner, the report was referred to the sanitary committee. It was resolved —" That the draft of byelaws drawn out by the committee should be forwarded to Dr Foster." The Council then adjourned.