CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 943, 3 July 1877, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, July 2

The ordinary fortnightly meeting was held at the Council Chambers. Present —His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Hobbs, Ick, Turner, Jones, Bird, Hawkes, and Nathan. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The Mayor said that a report from Dr Foster on Beaton's rates had been placed on the table. His Worship then referred to two accidents that had occurred through the steam roller being worked in the streets /while the ordinary traffic was going on. Reference was also made to cab and other bye-laws drafted by Dr. Foster, which had been laid on the table.

Cr. Turner mentioned that these drafts had been made out by the direction of the bjolaw committee, and that that committee had not yet read or considered those drafts. Specific instructions as to the Council's solicitor attending the Council office to obtain all necessary particulars had been given to that gentleman. The Mayor wished to refer to a clause of the Act under which the Council could recover damages for carrying off storm water. The following was that he referred to: — If surface or storm water lies upon any land within the borough, the Council may, by giving twenty-four hours' notice to the owners or occupiers of such land, or any adjoining lands, or if there be no occupier, and the owner cannot be found, then the Council may, without further order, make an open drain so as to carry off such water to the public drain or channel most convenient for that purpose, but shall do as little damage as possible thereby, and shall not make such drain under or so as to interfere with any building without the consent of the owner or occupier of such building. The Council shall have power to allow any reasonable compensation for damage that may have been caused by making such drain through such land not requiring to be drained to the owners thereof. The Council may recover the whole of the cost of such drain ami the amount of such compensation from the owners or occupiers of such lauds that are drained thereby, in such proportions as the Council thinks fair; such charges shall be deemed to be, and may be recovered as a separate rate. Any occupier may deduct any sum so paid from any rent due by him, or may otherwise recover such .amount from the owner of such land in respect of which he paid the same.

Cr Ick said the surveyor had received instructions to block up the streets in win li the roller was working. This he had done, but the barricades had been knocked down. The surveyor had recommended that the roller should only be used during the summer months, and if the Council desired it this should be done.

Or Turner referred to the flimsiness of the barricades that had been erected; had they been otherwise, possibly the accidents might not have occurred. Ho would move a resolution that the streets should be barricaded previously in which the roller was being used; and that it should be taken to the place of working at an earlier hour than citizens are in the habit of going to business, and return to the Council yard later in the evening. The resolution was agreed to.

At the suggestion of Cr Hawkes, it was resolved that an advertisement should be inserted in the local papers intimating the streets which were closed for working by the steam-roller.

Or. Hawkes referred to observing horses on certain reserves of the Council which had been planted with trees at very great expense, and also to broken fences on the other reserves.

Or. Ick suggested that Cr. Hawkes didn't know much personally about his observations. On the motion of Cr. Mobbs, the Lyttalton Times was made the official paper of the Council for the ensuing six months. Or. Ick referred, as that seemed to be the time for making remarks, at some length to the great change in the return tickets issued to country people or. Saturdays at hitherto single fare, but was assured by Crs. Turner and Hawkes that his anxiety was a mistake.

Cr. Hobbs also desired to say something,

Though he felt pleased at receiving the Council's confidence in his absence through illness at last meeting, of being elected as the delegate of the Council, lie would, studying his own interests, have preferred to have declined it, preferring that some other member of the finance committee had been appointed. Since, however, he had been chosen, he would assure the Council that he would endeavour to faithfully do his best in their interests. As this movement had emanated from the Council, and as thus a great deal of preparatory work would be supposed to emanate from them, he would like to have the services of the town clerk if the Council would permit it. As it might not be expected that the greater portion of the members of the Assembly would have met in Wellington before the Ist August, he had wished that a circular should be dated asking the delegates to meet on that date at Wellington, and woidd suggest that it should be done. He desired to mention he had askedthe Wellington Council the extent of their accommodation to provide for the conference. He wished to regret the remarks that had appeared in that day's Press with reference to this conference. Being absent, he only knew of his appointment to the position by the morning's paper. From his recollection, the whole credit of placing this movement before the Council in a tangible manner was Cr. Turner's emanation, though there had previously been an indefinite observation of this matter from the Mayor.

His Worship regretted that any personal reference should have been made to this matter; but if it was desired that credit should be given to whom it was due, he thought in justice to himself that he ought to say he had spoken of the necessity of some such action to the Mayor of Ivaiapoi a month before it was mentioned in town, and had also spoken to the town clerk, Christchurch, a week before Cr. Turner had tabled his motion. He had heard some expressions about a letter which had appeared in that morning's Press ; but he could say he was not the writer, neither did he know who wrote the letter.

Cr. Hobbs said he happened to know who the writer of the letter was, and he also knew that the letter had been refused by the Lyttelton Times. Cr. Ick said it was not difficult at any time to know who the writers of such letters were.

The town clerk reported as follows :—Received for week ending June 23rd: General rate, 1875, £6 12s ; Waimakariri do, £1 2s ; general rate, 1876, £2B 12s ; "Waimakariri do, £4 15s 4d; general rate, 1877, £72 ; Wahnakiriri do, £l2 ; rent of Market Place, 7s ; received on account of Horatio street, £l2; licenses, £l3 8s ; dog tax, £lO 10s ; fines from E.M. Court, £3 ss; publicans' fees, 10s; Drainage Board rate, £3O. Total receipts for week, £194 14s. For week ending June 30th: G-eneral rate, £3113s ; Waimakariri, £5 5s 6d; rent of Market place, 7s ; of Post Office, £75; of R.M. Court, £3l 5s ; account of Carlton riglit-of-way, £ll 19s 9cl; dog tax, £6 ; fines from E.M. Court, £8 10s; interest, £66 10s 8d ; publicans' licenses, £1405 ; Drainage Board rate, £l3 3s 9d. Total receipts for week, £1654 14s Bd. Total receipts for fortnight, £IBO6 14s lid. Drainage loan account cr., £269 lis 9d: drainage rate account, cr., £3232 2s 7d. Bills, &c, paid and to be paid on general account, for fortnight, £l3lß 15s lOd ; on Drainage loan account, £BB 3s. By finance committee, £6Ol 16s 6d, REI'ORT OF SUB-COMMITTEE BE BANKING ACCOUNT. In terms of your resolution the undersigned (his Worship the Mayor not attending) waited upon the manager of the Bank of New Zealand on Wednesday, 27th hist., and arranged with him for the further conduct of the banking business of the Council on the terms and conditions set forth in the manager's letter attached hereto. The terms granted by the Bank are very satisfactory, being an increase of 1 per cent per annum on the daily minimum balances, and a reduction of 2 per cent upon the interest to be charged on advances from the bank. A reduction has also been made on the rates of exchange upon London and Australia. The arrangement with respect to the treatment of funds, if any, to arise from the sale of debentures in London is more than usually liberal to the Council. Although a distinct authority was given by the Council to the sub-committee to fix the account for any definite period, your sub-committee considered that on the terms granted by the Bank it would be beneficial to the Council to conclude an arrangement for at least tlnee years. They, therefore, ask the confirmation of the Council to this clause in the agreement with the Bank. C. W. Turner. L. E. NATHAN. Council Chamber, Monday, July 2nd, 1877. The letter from the Bank of New Zealand referred to in the previous report was read, as follows : Referring to the interview which took place this morning between the chairman of the City Council finance committee, Mr Nathan, and myself, I have now the honor to place in writing the arrangements entered into for the conduct of the banking business of the coi'poration for the ensuing three years. 1. Overdrafts—We will charge you interest at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum on overdrawn accounts, chargeable half-yearly. 2. Interest on credit balances. —We will allow interest at five per cent, per annum on credit balances. The interest on same to be credited to you quarterly. We propose working the interest on the daily balances of all the accounts, and calculating same as one, so that your Council will derive the benefit of the interest on the total transactions. That is, the Corporation will pay or receive interest on the net daily balance of amalgamated accounts with 2nd contracted with the bank. 3. London Exchange.—-We will allow you a concession of one half per cent, on current rates botli ways, but minimum rate selling and maximum rate buying to be par. On drafts purchased on you in London at one half per cent, under current rates, but not to be below par. 4. Exchange on Australian Colonies —To be par on Melbourne and Sydney, and half rates on other ■ places, but minimum rate selling and maximum rate buying to be par. 5. Intercolonial Transactions to be at par — The bank will act as agents for placing the debentures of the Corporation on the London market for a commission of 1 per cent, on the nominal value of the bonds, inclusive of brokerage. Proceeds of such bonds to be remitted for the credit of the Council at Christchurch by draft, at liftecn days sight at par, or if desired by the Council, placed at interest in London at the ruling current rate of the day to await their drafts against same to this end. I have, &c, J. L. Coster, Manager. After a short interval,

Cr. 1 Fobbs said lie had very great pleasure in moving the adoption of the report. He did so, as lie considered the terms were very Luvorablo in comparison with those of the previous years. The percentage on the daily accounts, including all the separate accounts as one, with the percentage on any overdraft was, in his opinion, as good an offer as could be received; and though he admired free-trade in banking, he thought better terms could not

have been obtained at present; but would like any of the other Banks to have the account in the future.

Cr. Ick seconded the adoption of the report.

Cr. Hawkes said he would never give his consent to the adoption of such a resolution. When the Bank of New South Wales was changed it was accepted as a principle by the City Council that the account should be changed if necessary every three years; and the strangeness of the position was that the proposer of that principle laid down by the Council at the time was no other than the councillor who had now moved the adoption of the report, he meant Cr. Hobbs. He (Cr. Hawkes) was not going to say that the terms arrived ft with the Bank of Mew Zealand was not as favorable as could have been obtained, but as a generally accepted rule had been understood that the Council's account should be put at intervals, he felt that each Bank should have at least the opportunity of saying whether they would accept the account or not. In his opinion the Council had stultified itself at the last meeting, so far as giving any other Bank a chance of having the opportunity to compete, as allowing the committee in its wording, to endeavour to receive—from the one Bank to which the offer was to be made —the most favorable terms, was in his opinion, reductio ad absurdum. He would merely say that he would vote against the motion, and considered the Council had not acted fairly in deputing the powers they did to the committee.

Cr Bird had intended to vote against the non confirmation of the report, but after the resolution had been submitted to the works committee that day, he felt on principle that the Council would be' stidtifying itself by voting against the resolution. Cr. Nathan regretted that on such an issue Cr. Bird had not left his principle at home, if if that was the only one which prompted him to support the motion. He (Cr. Nathan) then spoke of the absurdity of the idea of constantly changing a banking account, as any one would know after going into the figures. Cr. Bird had only evidently changed his principles from the last meeting after reading an article that appeared in an evening paper. On carefully going through the accounts he had found that the whole of the debit and credit balances on all the accounts for the last twelve months amounted in credit and debit to £lB 12s lid.

Cr. Turner went into resolutions passed by the Council to show that no principle as referred to had been laid down by the Council. Three years ago the whole of the banks had had an opportunity of tendering for [the Council's account, and only one had done so, and this although it was known that the Council would in a short time have some £30,000 to spend. The committee authorised by the Council to do so had accepted the most favorable terms that could be obtained, and if it were found that the account was a continual subject of controversy, they (the Council) would find that they have eventually to go cap in hand and pay a bank to take it. After Cr Jones had spoken in favor of the resolution, it was put and carried, Cr Hawkes alone dissenting. The city surveyor reported—

No. 1. The works committee have given me instructions to construct a raised footpath over Armagh street bridge. No. 2. The Council's men are employed cleaning and repairing the different streets. The great quantity of rain that has fallen during the last two mouths renders it very difficult to keep the roads in a condition safe to travel on. No. 3. The footpaths are being repaired in different localities as speedily as we can procure the screenings.

The report was approved as read. A letter was read from Mr A. M. Johnson, of Trout Dale Farm, Opawa, asking permission to obtain trout ova from the river within the city boundaries. It was resolved not to comply with the request.

A letter was read from some person whose signature it was impossible to decipher, referring to a man discharged from the City Council work who had been ten years in the employ, on account, of his inability to do the same amount of work as the other laborers. Referred to the works committee. A petition, signed by a number of the City Courcil's laborers was read, complaining of their having received notice to leave the employ, saying they had long served the Council and were married men; also asking for an interview. Cr. Hawkes said he would ask for a return of the length of servitude of the men discharged and those kept on. If there was found any incapacity it should be known, and if any favoritism it should be rigidly investigated. He would move that the town clerk be instructed to prepare a report of the kind to which he had referred.

It was then resolved that the Council go into committee, which was done. On resuming, Cr Hawkes said that having heard the explanations offered by the works committee, he would ask permission to withdraw his resolution, trusting that in one case noted, and in every one so far as future reductions were concerned, length of servitude would be taken into consideration. Permission was given to withdraw the resolution. A letter was read from the town clerk, Wanganui, asking when the meeting of hospital delegates would be held. A letter was read from the Dunedin Borough Council consenting to send a delegate for the purposes contemplated.

Similar letters were read from the Auckland, Westpori, Grreymoufch, New Plymouth, Thames, Lyttelton, Kaiapoi, and Akaroa boroughs. A letter was read from Mr F. Gr. P. Leach, offering to collect the City rates for 1877. Decided to stand over until next meeting. Telegrams were read from the Mayors of Oamaru and Lawrencs, asking why those municipalities had not received any intimation as to the intention of holding a general conference of boroughs at Wellington. A copy of fees collected by the Collector of Customs at port of Lyttelton for the borough of Christchurch from 9th February to 19th April, and amounting to £O9 ss, was read.

A letter was read by Cr. Hawkes from the manager of the Gfas Company, asking that where the mains touched the belts whether it was desired to place down pipes to test the meter system determined on by the Council ? He (Cr. Hawkes) would like to know whether the Council would authorise the committee to go to any expenditure in this direction.

It was decided that this matter should stand over until an interim meeting of the committee had been held to report to the Council at next meeting. After considering a number of licenses, the rest of the business on the paper was ordered to stand over until next meeting | B The Council then adjourned.