CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 883, 24 April 1877, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, Apjul 23

A special meeting of the Council was called for at half-past three o'clock, but up to a few minute-; past four His Worship the Mayor and Cr. Thomson were the only members present. Subsequently Crs, Nathan, Ick, Turner, Ifobbs, and Bird followed, and the meeting was held. The Mayor said the first business before the meeting Avas to consider claims for, and objections against, the Burgess list, and to settle the same. The Town Clerk had informed him there had been no claims or objections made. The corrections had all been initialed, Cr. Turner would desire, as somewhat connected with the burgess list, to mention that he knew that the names of several firms, managers of Banks, and companies had been excluded from the electoral roll posted outside the Council Chambers. The 00111*50 in its cxtremest sense that could be taken in this direction under the Rating Act was to at least enter one of the names of a firm, and not disfranchise so many responsible citizens and other ratepayers in this wholesale manner merely through the volatility of the Council's officials. The Town Clerk wished to be permitted to remark that the electoral roll was compiled under the directions of the registration officer and in accordance with the Registration of Electors Act, and a number of members of firms and others in the city had not mado themselves eligible to bp included in the roll. In reply to Cr- Nathan, the Town Clerk said the names of firms, wliere eligible, had been placed on the roll, unless it had been specially requested which member of any firm it was desired should be so entered.

In reply to Cr. Bird, the Town Clerk stated that whore banks were concerned the name of the manager was entered. Cr. Hobbs explained specifically the course the Council ought to pursue according to the clause of the Act under which they had met for the business in hand. Under clause 45, they could adjourn that meeting for a week, to enable all citizens so desirous to be placed on the roll; the town clerk in the meantime advertising that if the rates were paid before Saturday next, or some earlier day in the week, the names of defaulters would bo placed on the roll. He should move resolutions to this effect later on, and his object in doing so was that now they wore working under a new Act those persons who had nob so far paid their rates should by now doing so not be disfranchised. He felt if to be the duty of the Council to take all legitimate means of preventing the citizens being disfranchised, consistent with their duty as Councillors of carrying out tho Act. After Cr. Hobbs had moved two resolutions in accordance with his remarks, it was then found —(direction being called to the fact) —that, as the special meeting had been called for half-past three o'clock and up to five minutes after four no quorum had been present, the special business subsequently done was illegal. Very lengthy discussion followed, after which it was eventually decided to consider that the special meeting had lapsed through want of a quorum, another meeting to be called for considering the same business ou ! Thursday next, at 3 p.m.

The ordinary meeting was then held, same Councillors present, Cr. Hawkes attending later in the evening. The minutes of the previous general meeting were read and confirmed.

The Town Clerk was instructed to pay an account of £24 Bs, which the valuer had been authorised to insert in the newspapers. Cr. Hobbs moved—" That the town clerk be instructed to advertise that the defaulters list of the names of those persons who have not paid their rates for 1876 is open for inspection, and that unless the said rates arc paid on or before 12 o'clock on Thursday, the 26th instant, their names will be excluded from the burgess list for the present year." Cr. Ick seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

The Town Clerk reported as follows :—Received for week ending 14th April, account of general rates, 1876, £64 6s ; Waimakariri do, £lol4s 4d; watering rate, do, £1614s lOd; deposits—Smart's and Brightling's account, £911; account Horatio street contribution, £4 ; licenses, £l7; rent of Market place, 7s ; fines from R.M. Court, £9 10s ; dog tax, £8 10s ; pawnbroker's license, £lO ; total receipts for week, £1052 9s 2d. Receipts for week ending 21st April:—Account of general rates, 1876, £l2 10s ; Waimakariri do, £2 Is 8d; from Heathcotc- Road Board, £44 6s 6cl ; deposit from Mr Smart, £7 10s ; rent ef Market place, 7s; receipts from baths, 6s 9d ; contributions on account of Horatio street, £8 18s 2d ; licenses, £9 10s; fines from R.M. Court, £3 5s ; dog tux, £8 10s; from General Government, £B7 ss; receipts for week, £lB4 10s ; total receipts for fortnight, £1236 19s 3d ; credit at bank on general account, £4680 12s 6d; on drainage loan account, £I2BO 4s lid; on drainage rate account, £3127 19s lid; on drainage sinking fund account, £lsl 7s ; bills, &c, paid and to be paid by works committee on general account for two weeks, £IOOB 16s 7d : on drainage loan account, £358 16s 3d. In reply to Cr. Nathau, who referred to the very small receipts just now coming in from the city baths, The Town Clerk stated that he understood from the bath-keeper that the chairman of the baths committee had authorised him to close the baths for the present season. The City Surveyor reported as follows : No. I—The1 —The works committee recommend that the road across the Market place be closed ; also that some action bo taken with regard to utilising the site of the old Fire Brigade Station.

No. 2—The works committee sanctioned an asphalte crossing- over the North belt being laid, and paid for by Mr Gould. No. 3—Appended hereto is a statement showing- the cost of watering the streets during the past summer. No. 4 —The application of the Rev. Mi* Fisher, to form a right-of-way on the west side of Durham street, seems to me to bo in compliance with the Act. No. 5 —A letter from the Engineer of the Drainage Board will he laid before the Council,

No. (J —The work of channelling the South belt is commenced.

No, 7 —Appended hereto is an estimate for forming three private streots, which are in a very bad and unhealthy condition. On number one clause being read, Cr. Ick, chairman of the works committee, said that they thought the road alluded to should be closed up, as it was simply being used now as a convenience for butcher carts only. The recommendation was aj)proved. With reference to the second portion o,f the clause, Cr. Ick thought it would ho as well to remit this for the consideration of the finance committee, as thero was a person at present desirous of leasing that portion of the reserve. Cr. Hobbs could not agree with tin's reserve being leased for any term of years, and would prefer that no action should be taken until the term for which the ]X)st oilicc was held by the G-eneral Government had expired, when tho whole of the site could be devoted to its original purpose, viz., a general market on one side, and a fish market on f lie other. The cost of this work would bo very little when the time arrived, compared with the beneficial result that must follow. If the question were referred to the finance committee now, and action was recommended that might, involve an outlay, which woidd have to bo referred to a vote of the citizens—and though his actions in the Council throughout had been all directed towards the progress of the city —the late vote taken could not be held to be encouraging to Councillors working with the best motives, and at a future timo the citizens might then see the benefit that would accrue from erecting these public buildings for the benefit of the ratepayers without any cost to them.

Cr. Thomson said that if o>\ Hobbs only lived until he saw a. market building on that reserve — ast he suggested—lie would live to be a very old man. [Laughter.] Cr. Turner said that if the question were referred to the finance committee, he would do his best, should any work be found desirable, to take a vote of the ratepayers to have it carried out. It was a very different matter to raise #SOOO for the purpose of utilising this land, than that on which the last vote was taken, and ho would oppose its being alienated from its original intention. Cr. Nathan would approve of this part of the clause being remitted to the finance committee, but at the present time he was not prepared to decide upon the object referred to. He was sorry the action taker; by the citizens regarding Mr Morten's, land had been referred to, as if the ?;at&)>ayers had considered the schem.p. a desirable one, he was certain thpy would have approved the action of the Council by their vote. Cr Ick referred to the action he had taken to promote the efforts of a private company to erect a market on this site, to the failure of the Duncdin and Auckland corporation mar-< kets, and said he would oppose any of the ratepayers' money being spent for the.erection of a market, as. ho was certain it would only result in financial failure. After further- remarks, an amendment referring the question of the whole of the Council reserves to the finance committee, as to tho best mode of utilising them generally, was carried by the casting vote of the Mayor, the ayes being Crs. Hobbs, Nathan, and Turner, and the noes, Crs. Ick, Thomson, and Bird.

Clauses 2, 'S, and -1 of tho report wore approved. In connection with clause 5, a letter was letter was read from the engineer to t:ic Drainage Board, saying that Board had decided not to take any active steps in draining the roads at the rear of the West Chyistohurch School, as they considered tho matter was one for the consideration of the city surveyor.

At the desire of the Council, the surveyor produced a plan which ho had made eighteen months ago for the drainage of that neighbourhood, and which was approved by the Council, and ordered to bo oarriod out, but was afterwards delayed by their orders at the request of Sir Ireadwell ; he (Mi Treadwell)

representing that lie would carry out the work on a plan determined on by himself. He (Mr Walkden) had at the time cut a drain for temporary relief through Professor [3ickerton's land, by that gentleman's permission, and on the express understanding that this drain should only be used until his (Mr Walkden's) scheme could be carried into effect. The drain was kept open for twelve months, pending Mr TreadwelPs intention of carrying out his proposed scheme, and as no action was taken after that long delay, Professor Bickerton objected to its being kept open longer, and filled it in—the evil predicted soon following. The minutes referring to this work, and Mr Walkden's recommendations, were read, when it was suggested by a Councillor that in fairness alone to Mr Walkden, those particulars should be published, in reply to a letter which it was understood had been forwarded to the Drainage Board during the day, and signed by Mr Treadwell and other residents in the neighbourhood.

Clause 6 of the report was approved. Cr Hobbs moved —" That this Council do hereby make and levy a general city rate of one shilling in the £1 for the general purposes of the borough for the period ending 31st December, 1877, to be payable in one sum on the Ist day of June, 1877, and of which due notice has been given as required by clause 40 of the Rating Act, 1876." In moving the resolution he had much pleasure in saying that the finance committee did not consider it necessary to levy a special rate this year. The comparative rates levied for 1876-77 had been as follows : —1876 : general city rate Is in the £ ; special rate, 5d do ; Waimakariri, do 2d do ; drainage rate, 2kl do, being a total of Is 9|d in the £. 1877—General city rate, Is in the £ ; Waimakariri, 2d do ; drainage rate, 5d do, or a total of Is 7d in the £. Perhaps he would not bo wrong in giving it as his individual opinion that a less rate than one shilling in the £ might have been levied for the present year, yet it had not been considered expedient to reduce the amount. The drainage rate would not have to be increased next yoar, and the special rate would be very small. He begged to move the resolution. Cr. Thomson seconded the resolution, which was agreed to.

Cr. Hobbs said he would like that some particulars should be obtained regarding the result of the pumping out of the Lyttclton water supply pipes by the Government fire engine. He had been informed that so much sand hud been sucked up as to render the engine useless for a week. He thought these results should bo learnt as a guide to the action intended to be taken by the Council for fire prevention purposes.

The Mayor said he would endeavour to obtain all particulars. Consideration of the surveyor's report was then resumed, and it was resolved to adjourn further consideration of the last clause until next meeting.

At this stage somothing was being said about a sanitary report nearly two years old, referring to block No. 4 at the rear of the West Christchuroh school, when the attention of his Worship was drawn to the hour, and to his having to shortly attend a meeting of the Ratepayers' Association, and on the motion of Cr, Turner, seconded by Cr. Thomson, the remainder of the business was adjourned until Thursday next. The Council will meet on that day at 3 p.m.