CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 980, 16 August 1877, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Wednesday, August 15. An adjourned meeting of the Council was held at 4 p.m. Present—His Worship the Mayor (presiding), Crs Jones, Hobbs, Nathan, Turner, Bird. The business before the meeting was the reception of the report of the delegate to the recent municipal donference (Cr Hobbs), and the disposal of the business left from last meeting. NUMBERING THE HOUSES. A letter was read from Mr Buck, submitting a plan for numbering the houses in the streets of the town, and asking the adoption of it by the Council. Cr Turner said that there was a bye-law passed some years since making it imperative on householders to put up a number on their houses when the Council ’desired it. He .’therefore thought that, with a view to haying uniformity in the city, it should not bo left in the hands of a private individual. He -should move “ That the application of Mr Buck be declined.” Cr Jones seconded the motion. Cr Nathan said he would _ propose an amendment on that to the effect that Mr Buck be empowered to carry out the plan he proposed under the supervision and to the satisfaction of the city surveyor, provided the work be at once commenced. He thought that if this work were carried out it would be of great convenience to the public generally. Cr. Hobbs said that he did not think that the city was far enough advanced to call for the system of numbering. If they did it with the number of vacant spaces in the city they would have to renumber the streets ercry year.

Or. Bird seconded the amendment, as he thought it would be of very great convenience to the public, and, as it could be done without cost to the Council, he felt that it would be a very good thing. The amendment was then put and lost by three to two, Crs. Nathan and Bird voting for it, Crs. Turner, Jones, and Hobbs against it. WATERING THE STREETS. The Mayor said the time had arrived when the watering of the streets should be put in hand. Cr. Jones moved—“ That the necessary steps be taken for obtaining the signatures for . a watering rate, and that the watering of the city be commenced when necessary.” Or. Hobbs seconded the motion, which was agreed to. FENCING THE NIGHT SOIL RESERVE. Cr. Nathan moved—“ That the report of the Sanitary Committee as to fencing the night soil reserves be carried out.” He thought it would be advisable, while fencing this reserve, to plant it also. Cr. Turner seconded the motion, and suggested that application should be made to the Local Board of Health for a contribution in aid of the work. The motion was agreed to. THE MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE Cr. Hobbs said, as the delegate from the City Council, he had attended the Municipal Conference at Wellington. The conference met on August Ist, and he was appointed as chairman, on the ground that the movement had been initiated from the Christchurch City Council. He had referred in his opening address to the reasons which led the Christchurch City Council to take the steps they had. The Government had printed the report of the proceedings, and he had hoped that he would have been able to place it before them, but they were not to hand. ‘ He had received a letter in which the secretary of the conference stated that the printed copies would be to hand next- steamer. Copies would be forwarded to each municipality in New Zealand, and also to the members of the House and the Government, asking for their concurrence in the recommendations passed by the conference. The conference, he might say, represented the whole of the municipalities of Now Zealand with one or two exceptions, and these sent telegrams expressive of their sympathy with the objects of the conference, and had their wishes brought before it. On clause 11 of the Municipal Corporations Act it was recommended that -all fines should be recovered before the Resident Magistrate “as well as before two Justices of the Peace? This was not provided for in the Act, and it might be pleaded as an argument against paying fines. Clauses 46 and 47 were amended so as to read that any person producing his receipt for rates seven days before an election should be entitled to vote at any election, and his name struck off the defaulters’ list. He might say at the beginning of the conference they agreed that wherever there was any want of unanimity among the delegates the resolution should be withdrawn. In clause 62 it had been recommended that Councillors could take the necessary declarations before two Councillors in the absence of Mayors. In clause 84 it was recommended that the Mayor should be ex officio chairman of all committees. In clause 104. the goldfields’ revenue arising within the borough was recommended to bo paid to the municipalities. He might say in passing that it was owing to the county of the Thames having taken a very large sum paid for gold duty which should have come to the borough that the Government had paid the £6OOO to the Thames. On clause 108 he was sorry to say great misrepresentations had been made in Christchurch. This was giving power to levy up to 2s in the £ for rates, and this was opposed by himself and others. The Dunedin representatives, however, explained that they only had one rate for all purposes. The recommendation therefore was in the following words —“ Only in the provincial district of Otago, where the rate can be up to 2s in the £.” The provision did not in any way affect any part of the colony except Otago, and was never intended to do so. On clause 139 and following clauses it was recommended that when the vote of the ratepayers as to borrowing money was taken, the votes of owners of property and tenants whose leases had more than seven years to run should be taken. On clause 210, having reference to private streets, it was recommended that the mode of collecting the cost should be made under the Municipal Corporations Act, 1875, which provided that the advertising of the amount to be collected should be a legal demand. On section 220, referring to the removal of stagnant water, lie had, as instructed by the Council, taken Dr Foster’s opinion, which was adverse to any steps being taken to amend the clause. lu the" Eating Act several amendments had been made ; it had been recommended in section 9 that the occupier should be taken to be the owner for the purpose of voting, if the occupier paid his rates and his name appear on the burgess-list. In clause 37, as to structural severance, a recommendation was adopted which would have the effect of preventing the objection being raised which had been in a recent case here. As regarded the reduction of subsidies, the following resolutions were passed : That it is desirable that the Government should carry out in its integrity clause 22 of the Abolition of Provinces Act, 1875, whereby the costs of hospitals and charitable institutions are to be borne by the consolidated fund of the colony. That no deductions should he made from _ the subsidies payable to the local bodies, as provided by the Financial Arrangements Act, but that in the Charitable Institutions Bill now before Parliament provision should be 'made . for the maintenance of those institutions throughout the colony from the consolidated fund, but failing this by a general rate levied on the colony, such rate to be fixed annually by Parliament; and that all hospitals and charitable institutions be managed by bodies elected by the local governing bodies in the various districts where these institutions are established; but where any district adopts the Charitable Institutions Bill it shall he accurately defined, and shall be exempted from taxation for similar institutions, That in the opinion of this conference the amount (if any) to be contributed towards the support of hospitals should be based on the number of patients admitted from the several municipalities, Counties or Road Boards; provided that in cases of patients arriving from parts beyond sea, or patients who have no fixed residence in the district in which such hospital is situate, the cost should be charged upon the whole district, the municipality being included, and that the cost of their maintenance and treatment be divided as nearly as possible equally between all the’ contributing bodies. Prior to these resolutions being passed the Government wore applied to asking upon what principle the deductions were made. The Government replied in as vague terms as they had to the Council, simply telling them that it was according to the Financial Arrangemeats Act. This, however, was no inf or*

tion whatever, and a deputation waited on the Premier to ask him for the figures. This was done, but only at a very late period, just before the conference closed its session. He might say that they were unable to obtain any information as to the large sum said to bo expended in Christchurch. With respect to the refund the conference passed the following resolution;— That in view of the unequal way in which subsidies have been deducted from municipal bodies during the past year, this conference respectfully request the Government to take such steps as may be necessary to adjust the matter fairly, by charging against those governing bodies from which no deductions have been made, such sums as would be their fair proportion, with a view to the monies so obtained being paid to those governing bodies which have been required to contribute in excess of their fair proportion. They had got a promise from the Government that they would carefully consider the matter of refund and re-adjustment with a view to paying over the sums overcharged. Mr Ellen, of Kaiapoi, had moved that the deductions for the cost of these institutions should be chargeable according to rateable value, which, however,, was the principle upon which the resolutions passed by the conference had been founded. It was vei-y much fairer, however, to charge the cost on the consolidated fund, and if this was not sufficient then a general rate should be struck to supplement the consolidated fund. The Government had positively said that if deductions were to be made in the future they were prepared to accept the rateable value of property as a basis. Ho had hoped to have been able to have given them the figures for the rateable value of the whole of Canterbury. He was under the impression that the rateable value in Christchurch was only one-sixth of the whole, hence they would have to pay onesixth of the deductions. If it applied to the future no doubt it would apply to the past. Hence he proposed that if the Government oould not consent to give them the amount unfairly deducted in the past, they should be asked to re-adjust the matter on the basis agreed to as fair by them. So far as Christchurch was concerned, in comparison with others, the deduction had be'en nearly as much as had been payable. He would point out that if the County Councils had come into operation thei’e would have been some £17,000 subsidy, probably instead of £7OOO, but the deduction had been made on the smaller sum. He hoped that it would be the endeavour of the Council to get from the Government the refund of the amount unfairly deducted from the subsidy due to Christchurch. He had moved in the matter of the endowment of the municipalities, and his resolution had passed as follows: — 1. That whereas the duties devolving upon the various municipal governing bodies in respect of formation of streets, drainage, lighting, waterworks, and numerous other public works necessary for the health, comfort, and convenience of the inhabitants are so large as to be disproportionate to the revenues at present secured to them, it is desirable that urgent repi’esentations be made to the Government of the necessity for assisting those bodies to efficiently discharge the duties falling upon them. 2. That, with a view to such assistance being of a permanent nature, Parliament be asked to provide for the endowment of the various centres of population with areas of land the revenues from which shall be specially applicable to public works of the nature mentioned. 3. That Parliament should be asked to appoint a select committee to inquire into the pecuniary position of all the boroughs in the colony, and, where it is found that insufficient endowment exists, that endowments of land of not less than 5000 acres for every 1000 of the population should be made. 4. That a deputation from tins conference should he appointed to wait upon the Government, and request them to give their support towards obtaining such endowments ; and also to bring in a Bill or Bills during the present session to give effect to the recommendations agreed to by this conference. This was a very important matter, and he had moved in it on his own responsibility. In waiting on the Premier he was glad to find that Major Atkinson,for himself was in favor of a Commission being appointed to examine into the position of the various boroughs of the colony. As regarded the support of fire brigades, the Premier could not see the way clear to pay the cost of the fire brigades. From his point of view the objection was that the Crown were giving the councils the fees, which was not'done elsewhere. The least they could do in return was to protect the Government property. It was suggested by the secretary of the Insurance Companies in Wellington that a special rate should be levied for fire prevention purposes, but the conference thought that there was quite sufficient rating without this being added. [Hear, hear.] It was recommended that the annual election of councillors should take place in December in each year, instead of September as now. There was also a recommendation which provided that the City Council rates should ho a first charge on a bankrupt estate. As regarded waste pieces of land being vested in corporations, the Minister of Lands informed him that the Government were thinking of introducing a Bill to the same effect. The private Bill drawn for the city had been handed to the Government, and they had promised, if their own Bill did not meet their wishes, they would support the Bill proposed by the Corporation. As regarded the vesting of the Market Place in the Corporation, tne Hon. John Hall had expressed himself as being opposed to the alienation of this reserve from its original purposes unless ample notice was given. He had pointed out to the Hon. John Hall that the Council held by freehold power over two of the sections, and if they exercised their power over these the remainder of the Market Place would be practically useless. It woidd therefore be necessary for the town clerk to givethc requisite notice to the various owners of properties. He knew it was thought that a Town Hall should ho built, and it might bo placed there. He did not think that there could be any opposition to this. As regarded the connection by telegraph of the Fire Brigade Stations and the Public Buildings, a precedent was fortunately found in Wellington, and the Hon. Donald Reid had said that he saw no objection to it being done in all the largo towns of the colony. This was, so far as he recollected, all the subjects upon which he had to make a report. Cr. Ick said he thought they were deeply indebted to Cr. Hobbs for the lucid explanation he had given them that evening of the proceedings of the conference. He had much pleasure in moving—“ That the cordial thanks of tliis Council be given to Councillor Hobbs for his valuable services in attending the Municipal Conference at Wellington ; and having heard his statements, concur in the resolutions passed a.t the- Municipal Conference.” Cr. Jones seconded tho motion, highly eulogising the conduct of Cr. Hobbs as tha

representative of the City of Christchurch at the conference. Crs. Bird, Turner, and Nathan spoke in support of the motion, expressing the feelings of the ratepayers generally that Or. Hobbs had discharged the onerous duties devolving upon him as their representative. Cr. Nathan' pointed out that the credit of suggesting the conference was due mainly to Or. Turner. The motion was agreed to unanimously. Cr. Hobbs spoke in feeling terms of the recognition of the small services he had been able to render to the city. THE ALLEGED TWO SHILLING BATE. Cr. Turner desired to call attention to the fact that the letter signed by Mr Haskins as town clerk, to Mr Jameson, had left the impression from its curtness that the 2s rate was to be imposed, and had been supported by Cr. Hobbs at the conference. He would read the letters which had been published in the “Lyttelton Times.” [Read.] What he objected to was that there was no word of explanation added, even after Mr Hobbs was back from Wellington, and not only so, but after he had explained the whole matter in one of the papers, not a word was said about the matter, and he desired to have an explanation, because Cr. Hobbs had been held up unjustly as attempting to increase taxation. [Hear, hear.] Mr Haskins said the original draft of the letter was as follows : •City Council Office, Christchurch, August 10th, 1877. J. P. Jameson, Esq., Christchurch. Sir, —I have the honor, by direction of his Worship the Mayor, in reply to your letter of the Bth instant requesting to be informed whether or not the delegate to Wellington had received instructions to recommend the altering the rating power of the Council from is to 2s, to reply— That the proposal for. such alteration emanated from the Otago municipalities, and was strenuously opposed by the Christchurch and other delegates. Ultimately it*was settled that power was to be asked for the alteration, but it was only to apply to Otago. I have the honor to be, Sir, your obedient servant, F. T. Haskins, Town Clerk. He showed this to his Worship the Mayor, who instructed him to reply as he had done. The Mayor distinctly ordered him not to send this letter. His Worship said all that was asked by Mr Jameson’s letter was whether the delegate had been instructed to do certain matters or not. He had- replied to this and felt it to be his duty not to go further and say anything about what had been done in the conference. [Cr Turner, “ Oh, oh.”] Cr Nathan said that he was very much surprised to hear what had fallen from the Mayor. He took it that the Mayor should represent and not mis-represent the Council. [Hear, hear.] If Cr Hobbs had not written to the papers explaining the whole matter, the inference left on the minds of the ratepayers would be that Cr Hobbs had supported a rate of 2s in the pound. [Hear, hear.] Cr Turner said that he could not but express himself very strongly as to the conduct of the Mayor. It was time tor the Council to assert its dignity, and to insist that one of its members who had thus been misrepresented should be put right with the citizens. [Hear, hear.] He begged to move “ That Mr Jameson’s letter and the proposed reply as drafted by the town clerk, be handed to the reporters, with a request that they be published side by side with the actual letter, as directed by the Mayor to be sent, also that the town clci'k send a" copy to Mr Jameson.” He would also read to the Council the letter of Mr Jameson to the Mayor. It was as follows : Christchurch, August Bth, 1877. Dear Mr Mayor,—l observe by the report in the newspapers that the delegates representing the Municipalities at the conference at Wellington have unanimously agreed to suggest to the Government the alteration of the rating power from Is to 2s. I will fain hope that instructions to this effect were not given to the representative sent from Christchurch. The citizens will have their attention called to this matter, and I trust will strongly oppose the introduction of it into the Amended Municipal Act. Taxation is becoming so burdensome to the ratepayers that residents will be driven to move outside the belts. I write to ask you kindly to inform mo whether Mr Hobbs is acting according to the instructions of the Council in recommending the aforenamed alteration. The favor of a reply will be esteemed by Your obedient servant, J. P. Jameson. His Worship the Mayor. The following was the answer which had been returned by order of the Mayor, instead of that read just before by the town clerk : City Council Office, Christchurch, August 10 th. J. P. Jameson, Esq. Sir, —I have the honor by direction of his Worship the Mayor, in reply to your letter of August Bth, requesting to be informed whether or not the 'delegate to Wellington from this Council received instructions to recommend the altering the rating power from Is to 2s, to reply that no instructions were given to ask for such increase. I have the honor, &c., F. T. Haskins, Town Clerk. Cr. Jones said he would second the motion with very great pleasure, as the impression on the minds of the ratepayers by the answer given was that Cr. Hobbs had supported the impositiou of a rate of 2s in the £. Ho thought the Mayor had been very imprudent in doing what he had done. Cr. Bird said that he could only characterise this as a stab in the dark. Cr. Hobbs said that there had never been such an insult offered to him during the whole seven years he had been in public life. He must say that he felt that he had not been treated with the commonest courtesy by the Mayor, because he had waited on his Worship the Mayor on the 9th and reported what had been done. He could only take it as an attempt to do him an injury in the eyes of the public. He could say this, that he never felt anything so much as that an old and respected citizen of Christchurch should have deemed him capable of doing what ho knew would be opposed to the wishes ot the citizens. His Worship the Mayor had not even extended to him the commonest courtesy in stating what he know was the fact that he (Cr. Hobbs had distinctly repeated to the Mayor immediately he arrived in Christchurch that this power to rate up to 2s only affected Otago, and nowhere else. As he had said he could only characterise the action of the * Mayor as an attempt to hold him up undeservedly to j the scorn of this fellow ratepayers, when a word of explanation would have saved it. [Hear, hear.] Cr. Turner said that he could not understand why the Mayor should have prevented the answer proposed to be sent by the Town Clerk being forwarded, which would have been a proper answer to have sent to Mr Jameson. Hio Wonhip; I don’t thipk bo. X

right to say more than I did, because it was only asked whether the delegate was instructed to support an increase to 2s in the £. Cr. Turner—l think that the letter sent by your orders had the effect of creating the impression in the minds of the ratepayers that Or. Hobbs had deliberately proposed an increase in taxation. [Hear, hear.] His Worship—Well, I don’t think I was justified in doing what you want me to do. I replied just to what Mr Jameson asked me. Cr, Turner—Yes, but by h few lines of explanation added to it you would have aared much misapprehension, and much false assertions as regards Cr. Hobbs’ conduct. [Hear, hear.] The resolution was then put and agreed to unanimously. liICENSKS. Several licenses were granted, and the Council adjourned.