CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 955, 17 July 1877, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, July 16.

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

MAYOR'S STATEMENT.

The Mayor said that some of the business of the previous meeting was, by desire, left over until that day, and he believed it would be best to first dispose of that part left undone. One portion was the especial instructions in connection with the steam road roller, which had not been carried into effect. He thought an explanation should be given in this matter, seeing the dangerous manner in which the roller was being worked during the busy hours of traffic. He had given especial instructions for the precautions to be taken for the prevention of accident as far as possible, and subsecpiently the same instructions had been resolved upon by the Council. As those he had given had not been carried out and no reason or explanation given, tended to lower his position from the executive to a subordinate officer of the Council. He felt, in respect to his position, that it was his duty to speak rather plainly now, as it was not that his instruct ions alone but those from committees of the Council had even been ignored, and if this practice were allowed to eontinue it might ultimately place the Council in an awkward position. He should have preferred at the present meeting that the matter in question should be allowed to lapse, but ho felt that acts of negligence should not be overlooked, and officers ought to be given to understand that instructions from any superior authority must be strictly attended to. He wished to mention another matter. For some time past lie had noticed the dangerous state of the Post-office to pedestrians in front of. the Post-office, caused by the number of omnibuses and cabs remaining on the stand at one time. Bemembering the number o£

persons walking along this part from the Whately road, he thought some very serious accident might one day occur, and the Council ought, considering the amount of foot traffic, to take measures to prevent such a contingency. This would be in a measure provided for if the bye-law committee would provide another cabstand on the opposite side in front of the old fire brigade station. He might mention while on this topic that as it was necessary that cabstands should be mentioned in the bye-laws, it might be as well to see what other parts of the city might not be inserted in the now cab bye-laws while they worn being considered. Cr Turner said that a resolution had been passed last week by the Council bearing on this matter, and unless it were found that some complaint could be made since that date, then he thought it was simply wasting the time of the Council to go further into it. Cr Ick must express his surprise at any reference being made to this at the present meeting. If any complaint had occurred since the resolution was passed by the Council at their last meeting, then he thought the surveyor in simple fairness should have an opportunity of giving his explanation, more especially as the Mayor's remarks were to be made public. He would move —" That the surveyor's explanation may be heard. "

After a remark from Cr Thomson as to not understanding the matter, Cr Turner explained what had been done at the previous meeting and the position of the question. Though he would always support the chair in its ruling, still he felt that this matter had been sufficiently determined on so far as it had been placed before the Council at the last meeting; and he really thought unless something new had occurred since the resolution determined on, there was no necessity for their further going into the matter. Cr. Jones would, under the fact of the statements of the Mayor, second Cr. Ick's resolution.

The resolution was then put and agreed to. The Surveyor explained that after receiving instructions from the Mayor lie had given instructions to the foremen and men as to erecting barricades while the roller was being worked. These had been pulled down and driven into. He had given the instructions committed to him faithfully to the foreman, and believed they had been carried out. The Mayor explained that at the last meeting of the Council he was left without a quorum, and thus could not go as far into the matter as he would have desired. Or. Ick would like to be understood, that though showing deference to the chair, yet the Mayor should know he was according to the Act simply an executive officer of the Council, and coxdd not give instructions unless under an order from the Council. The Mayor would like that the position of Mayor, as defined by Cr. Ick, should go forth to the public if only for the information of future aspirants for the honorable office of Mayor of the people's election. Cr. Nathan considered that sufficient time bad already been wasted on the matter. It had been decided at the last meeting, by resolution, that certain action should be taken in the future, and unless it had been shown this had not been done he would move that the business of the Council be proceeded with. Cr. Ick seconded the motion, which was agreed to. FINANCE. The Town Clerk reported as follows :—Received for week ending July 7th —Account general rate, 1876, £5 138; Waimakariri do., 18s lOd. Account general rate, 1877, £139 9s ; Waimakariri do., £23 4s lOd. Fines from Resident Magistrate's Court, £110s; dog-tax,£B 10s; auctioneers' licenses, £010; pawnbrokers' do., £lO ; drivers, £2 ; cab owners, £1; on account of Carlton right-of-way, £2 3s 9d; Horatio street, £6; rent of Market place, 7s; of weighbridge, £7 ; kerosene licences, £2; borough stage licenses, £2 ; Gresson's right-of-way, £l3 15s; Drainage Board rate, £SB 2s Id. Total receipts for week, £923 13s 6d. Received for week ending July 14th :—General rate, 1876, £l4 2s ; Waima'kiriri do, £2 7s; general rate, 1877, £199 6s; Waimakariri do, £33 4s 4d ; dog tax, 10s ; fines from R.M. Court, £7 ; rent of Market place, 7s ; on account of Gresson's right-of-way, £2O 12s 6d; on account of Horatio street, £ll 18s Id; pawnbrokers' licences, £lO 6s ; Drainage Board rate, £B3 ! 0s lOd. Receipts for week, £382 7s 9d. \ Total receipts for two weeks, £1306 Is 3d. < Cr. on general account, £1596 3s sd. Bills | paid and to be paid by works committee for j fortnight, £733 12s lOd. Drainage loan ac- | count, Cr, £lßl 8s 9d. Drainage rate account, j Cr., £2638 10s Bd. Bills to be paid on ac- j count of Drainage Board rate, £sl ss. [ Cr. Thomson referred to a difference be- j tween the Cr. balances on two accounts on Hie j town clerk's sheet, and that shown in the . banking account. i The Town Clerk explained that he at times received money from the bank without memo- . randa attached as to Avhich accounts they j were to be credited. Thus some of the accounts showed in credit and vice versa at times, until he received full particulars. Cr. Hobbs, as a representative in the coming conference was requested to make a note of j this to submit at the meetings of that body that the Government should instruct the bauk ! to state the items for which amounts were j paid in future slips. ■■ SURVEYOR'S REPORT. '

The surveyor reported as follows : No. 1. The works committee desired me to draw the attention of the Council to the fact that all the broken stone and shingle is now exhausted, and that the state of the finances will not allow of any more being ordered until after March next, and consequently the very essential work of putting the different streets in order will be again thrown into the winter montlis at a time when it is so desirable to attend to other work, such as scooping, sweeping, and cleansing the streets.

No. 2. In respect to Mrs Dickey's letter, that was refeiTed to the works committee, the committee have decided that no further action can be taken in the matter as I could not recommend that it should be a covered drain.

C. Walkden, City Surveyor

The report was read. Cr. Ick moved—" That the works committee be authorised to call for tenders for 5000 yards of metal, payment s to bo made after the present financial year." The motion was seconded.

Cr. Turner said it appeared to him this was a matter that might well be brought under the consideration of the works and finance committees to see whether the work of forming the streets might not be carried out effectually and thoroughly, and money borrowed under the Act for this, as a permanent work. To do this would be settling this matter of the streets for time to come.

Cr. Nathan cordially agreed with the ideas that had fallen from Cr. Turner, and it might be matter for their member of conference, while at Wellington, to remember that the Provincial Council had monopolised the lands

of the Council in earlier years, and also whether a special grant of land should not, in fairness, be devoted for the purpose now under discussion. Cr. Ick's motion was put and agreed to. Cr. Hobbs said there were many important matters which would no doubt crop up at the conference, and at a later time of the evening he would refer to his desire to receive instructions from the Council before leaving. _ Cr. Turner considered a special meeting should be called for this purpose, and would move—" That a special meeting of the Council be held on Monday next at four o'clock, to consider the questions for reference to Wellington." Cr. Hobbs seconded the motion, which was agreed to. CONFERENCE OF MUNICIPALITIES. On the motion of Cr. Hobbs, the town clerk was authorised to reply to the letters received with reference to the conference, either by letter or telegram. Cr. Hobbs said that two letters had been received from the Borough Council of Lyttelton, suggesting that a conference of the Canterbury boroughs should be held before the general conference. As the Canterbury district members would only number four as against perhaps twenty-six of other members, he hardly saw the utility of holding the meeting, but as they were going to hold a special meeting on next Monday, perhaps the town clerk might be authorised to write inviting the members to be present on that evening. Cr. Turner remarked that this preliminary meeting was evidently only considered necessary through the suggestion having emanated from the Christchurch Council, and it might be thought that, under those circumstances, the district representatives should go prepared with some resolutions. After further remarks, it was understood that the matter should be left in Cr. Hobbs's hands to arrange a meeting with his brother delegates. LIGHTING- COMMITTEE. The lighting committee reported as follows : Your committee have considered the matter of further lighting the city in conjunction with a resolution on the hooks that wherever the Gas Company should extend their mains to the town belts the Council would erect lamp posts at the corner of every street, and recommend, in order to carry out the resolution, that power be granted to the committee to invite tenders for twenty-four posts, eight of which are to be made meter posts ; and the committee also recommend that one of the latter should be placed at Mr Mumford's, under his offer, the gas supplied to be paid for by meter. J. G. Hawkes, Chairman. In connection with this, a letter was read from W. Mumford, asking permission to erect a lamp on the east corner of Madras street, south belt. He would erect the lamp and pay for the gas. It was resolved to adopt the report and comply with the request. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was read from the Under-Secretary for Public Works, acknowdedging receipt of letter from the Council, requesting the use of the late Provincial Chamber for municipal purposes, and in reply stating that temporary use of the chamber had already been granted to two public bodies, and it was thought inadvisable to enter into further arrangements, until the general question of the use of this and other similar buildings had been determined upon. A letter was read from the Colonial Secretary's office, saying that witli reference to the return of the cost of local bodies, it was desired that there should be supplied a nominal roll of the officers employed in the service of the borough, together with a return of the salaries and allowances paid to such officers, and to the Mayor and members of the Council. [Laughter.]

A circular letter was read from the Under Secretary, Wellington, recommending that the Council will publicly notify that they have established all existing pounds in the Borough, and to appoint poundkeepcrs, and fix the sc;ile of fees to be taken.

The Mayor was requested to cause inquiries to be made as to the expense incurred in maintaining the present public pound. The minutes of correspondence taken with regard to the Cattle Market, originally reserved for the Council, were read by the town clerk and laid on the table. This land it was stated the General Grovernment is about to take possession of. Or. Hobbs was asked to go through the papers, and give his opinion at the special meeting to be held on Monday. Mr Leach's application, offering to collect the rates for the year 1877, and which had been adjourned from the last meeting, was again considered. A letter was also read from Mr Gr. A. Buck, making an application for the collection of the rates for the present year, at the rate of £2 per centum upon the total amount of all rates collected by him. After some remarks from Cr. Ick as to the necessity of the whole question of the collection of rates being taken into consideration, he moved —" That this question be referred to the finance committee for their consideration and report." Cr. Bird seconded the resolution.

Cr. Thomson disagreed with the motion, and was very sorry that a power did not exist under the Act to allow 2 or 2h per cent, allowance on all rates paid within the first two months of the current year. It was unfair to those who paid their rates at first call, that others should be allowed twelve months' tick, and where the Council had made a mistake was their dilatoriness in summonsing those in arrears. lie would move as an amendment

—"That, in answer to the application, the writers be informed that the Council have no intention of altering their present system of collection."

Cr. Hawkes deprecated such matters being relegated to the finance committee, who had plenty of work on their hands to attend to. If Cr. Ick would withdraw his resolution, he (Cr. Hawkes) would promise to come prepared with a resolution nextjmeeting which woidd touch upon the whole question of the collection of rates. Cr. Ick said that, under Cr. Hawkes's distinct promise, he would withdraw his resolution. Why he had wished to refer this question to the finance committee was that it was an important one, the necessity for some alteration in the accumulation of back rates lie had referred to for years past being apparent, and he thus desired that they should f Lilly consider the question as a whole, and suggest any improvements thought desirable. He begged leave to withdraw the resolution he had moved.

Leave was given, and the resolution with drawn. The amendment was not seconded. The collector's reports on recruests for re mission of rates were read. Some were con firmed and others disallowed.

After considering a number of licences, the Council adjourned.