CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1014, 25 September 1877, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, September 24. The first meeting of the newly-elected City Council was held on Monday afternoon. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Radclift'e, Pratt, Ruddcnklau, Ick, Bickei'ton, Briggs, and Thomson. SWEAEING- in. The Mayor swore in the various Councillors present, each of whom made the usual declaration. NOTICE or MOTION. Councillor Briggs gave notice to move at next meeting—" That in future the meetings of the Council be held at 7 p.m., instead of 4 p.m., each alternate Monday." CORRESPONDENCE BE EAILWAYS BILIi. A letter from the Thames Borough Coun- < cil in re the proposed District Railways Bill held over from last meeting, was read. Cr. Ick proposed that the matter should be referred to the finance committee, with power to call a special meeting if necessary. He did not think that the matter would ever affect Christchurch, but it might just be as well to see into it and to assist other boroughs. This was seconded and carried. JUVENILE EXHIBITION. A communication from the Borough Council of Ballarat, Victoria, regarding a Juvenile Exhibition was referred to the finance committee. DOMAIN ACT. A copy of the Domain Bill recently introduced into Parliament giving power to Domain Boards in Canterbury to charge for admission to such grounds on the occasion of cricket matches, athletic sports, &c, was read. Cr. Radcliffe thought there was no use for the Council to express an opinion on the matter, seeing that the Council had no control over the Domains. The Mayor remarked that the Bill had been sent in order that the opinion of the city for or against the Bill might be obtained. He thought it was an important matter to the citizens. Cr. Bickerton said that the great point to be looked at was this : a fine entertainment might be got up in the Domain if a charge were allowed to be made only for a limited time. Cr. Pratt did not think the principle should be applied to the recreation grounds in general. Cr. Briggs had no objection to the provisions of the Bill so far as it was proposed to let the Cricket Club charge on certain special occasions, but he had a strong objection to citizens being refused admission to Hagloy Park without payment. These grounds belonged to the public and should not be taken from them at all. He thought the matter one of such importance that a public meeting should be called to ascertain what the citizens thought of it.

Cr. Kadcliffe argued that the reserves were made for the use of the citizens, and lie should never consent to citizens being charged for admission to these grounds, or for their being used for speculative purposes. Cr. Ruddenklau agreed with the views expressed by Cr. Pratt, and argued that there should be special enclosures for such entertainments as those referred to by the Bill. Cr. Ick did not know how to act just on the spur of the moment, and he counselled time for reflection. The matter was of the

highest importance, and he was inclined to regard the Bill as an attempt to get in the thin end of the wedge to interfere with the rights of the public, of which the Council was the guardian. A public meeting might be advisable.

Cr. Pratt proposed—" That the power proposed to be given to the Domains Board be limited to such portions of the public recreation grounds as are enclosed for special purpose?, such as cricket grounds, &c." This was not seconded. Cr. Ick moved, and Cr. Pratt seconded — " That the Mayor should call a public meeting to consider the question." Carried. WATERING RATE. The Mayor stated that a sufficient number of signatures in favor of a watering rate had not been obtained, that watering had been begun, and that it was now for the Council to say whether the watering should be continued. Crs. Radcliffe and Briggs remarked that they had never been asked to sign. It was resolved, on the motion of Cr. Thomson —" That strenuous efforts should be made to obtain a sufficient number of signatures." STANDING COMMITTEES. Cr. Ick brought up the matter of appointing committees for the ensuing year. At the suggestion of Cr. Briggs, it was resolved to reduce the number of committees at first proposed. After a conversation of an unreportable character, the following committees were appointed : —Works and Lighting—Crs. Ick, Thomson, and Bird ; Finance—Crs. Thomson, Pratt, and Briggs; Bye-laws—The Mayor, and Crs. Bickerton and Pratt; Fire Brigade— Crs. Ruddenklau, Radcliffe, and Banks ; Sanitary and Baths—The Mayor, and Crs. Bickerton and Ruddenklau. FINANCE. The Town Clerk reported thus: —Receipts for the fortnight, £437 12s Id; Drainage Loan Act credit balance, £lB9 15s sd; drainage rate account credit balance, £2359 14s 5d ; drainage account No. 2—Bills to be paid to the Drainage Board, £172 3s 9d; general account, £955 8s 9d ; receipts, two weeks, £437 12s Id ; works committee, £IOO ; the Mayor, wages, &c, £167 0s 9d ; bills to be paid, £355 18s 9d. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. In reply to Crs. it was stated that the Bank allowed interest on daily balances ; that the G-overnment would subsidise the Council for giving work to the unemployed ; and that £l2 covered the expense of the late election. surveyor's report. The following report from the surveyor was read : 1. The swimming hath I expect to have ready for use by the end of this week. 2. The'tank in the Whately road has been cleaned and thoroughly repaired. 3. The first part of my last report which refers to the drainage of Mr Wilmer's land was deferred for further consideration. Mr Bell, the engineer to the Drainage Board, lias also been requested to report on the state of the locality for the Local Board of Health, and annexed hereto is a draft of what he intends to report, which he politely furnished mo with. 4. I have received a reply from Mr Conyers informing me that the Government decline contributing towards the expense of forming their frontage on the South belt. 5. I am at a loss to know what to do with the men' we have taken by request of the Government, as I cannot* get carts enough to keep them employed. 1 have shifted a. number of them to the North belt, and other streets, in order to avoid discharging them. The first two clauses were approved without discussion, but some conversation ensued on the reading of the third, the result of which was that the matter was referred back to the Drainage Board. Clause 4 was allowed to remain in abeyance, the finance committee to communicate at once with the G-overnment regarding this matter, and also as to what subsidy they will give towards the payment of "the unemployed" in that part of the town bolt fronting the railway reserve. Clause 5 was passed, and the report as a whole was adopted. TENDER. The tender of Thomas Hcnly for fencing the night-soil reserve was accepted, the price being 4s per chain. PROTESTS. Tiie Mayor stated that certain protests had been received regarding the late election, but they did not come under the jurisdiction of the Council, and he had referred the parties to the Courts. The letters were read at the request of the Council as follows : Christchurch, Sept. 17, 1877. To the Mayor of the Borough of Christchurch. Sir, —I, James W. Treadwell, burgess of the borough of Christchurch, do hereby protest against the election of Wm. Pratt on the following grounds : —That during his candidature and polling and at the present, he being a shareholder in the Press Company, consisting of less than twenty persons, was and is participating in the profit, and was concerned in the work done for the Council in the shape of printing and advertising for the said Council, and that therefore, under clause 01 of the Municipal Act, he is disqualified and ineligible to sit as councillor for the said borough, and I beg that his name may be struck oft' the list of candidates. J. W. Treadwell. Christ.hurch, September 14th, 1877. To the Mayor, etc. I, Henry Toomer, a burgess of the borough of Christchurch, do hereby protest on the following grounds against the election for the aforesaid borough, of Enoch Henry Banks and and Charles Edwin Briggs, namely, that they were at the time of candidature and of polling, and are still on this 14th of September, concerned in work done for the Council, the said work being the supply of horse feed by the said Enoch H. Banks, for which money was and is due to him by the Council, and printing work done by the said Charles E. Briggs, as manager of the Press Company, on which money is due, and I claim under section 4 of clause 61 that their names be struck off the list of candidates or of councillors. Henry Toomer, Seur. September 14th, 1877. To the Mayor, etc. I, James W. Treadwell,aburge sof the borough of Christchurch and an elector of the electoral district of Christchurch west, do hereby protest on the following grounds against the election for the aforesaid borough of Christchurch of Enoch Henry Banks and Charles Edwin Briggs, namely, that they were at the time of candidature and polling, and are still on this 14th of September, concerned in work done for the Councilthe said work being the supply of horse feed by the said Enoch H. Banks, for which money is due to him by the Council, and. printing work done by the said Charles E. Briggs as manager of the Pkess Company, on which money is= due, and I claim under section 4 of clause 01 that their names be struck out of the list of candidates or of councillors. J. W. Treadwell. It was moved by Cr. Ruddenklau —" That a reply be sent to the protestants stating that the Council had no power to act in the matter." Seconded bv Cr. Radclifi'e, and carried.

In reference to two of the foregoing the following memo, was read :

September 12th, 1877. To F. T. Haskins, Esq , Town Clerk : Dear Sir, —We beg to give you notice that we abandon our contract with the City Council for the supply of horse feed, and are prepared to pay any penalty that may be incurred in consequence.

Yours truly, Banks and McDougall. Received about 10 a.m, on 13th September, 1877. F. T. H. Cr. Ick stated that there was a party in town who was willing to take over the contract at the price of Banks and McDougall. It appeared that the contract had neither been signed nor sealed, nor was there any penalty attached. Some surprise was expressed at this, which was explained as having occurred through an oversight. Consideration of the memo, was held over till next meeting. inspector's report. The usual report of the inspector was read, and a portion of it, from clause 1 to 6, referred to the sanitary committee. Cr. Ruddenklau moved— " That the town clerk be instructed to lay on the table next sitting day all contracts and securities, and other particulars relating to the revival engagements of the officers of this Council; also a copy of all resolutions laid down by former Councils relating to works in progress; and that the town clerk be instructed to procure the New Zealand " Hansard." The resolution was seconded by Cr. Radcliffe, and carried. The following letter had been received : Treasury, Wellington, 12th September, 1877. Sir, —Replying to your letter of the 21st ult., in which you inquire whether, now that the Act for the inscription of New Zealand stock has passed the House of Commons, effect can be given to the wish of the Council to receive the interest on the New Zealand bonds held by it in London, I have the honor, by direction of the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, to inform you that advantage cannot be taken of the Imperial Act until the New Zealand Parliament has legislated on the subject. I am to add that a bill to provide for the inscription of New Zealand stock is now under the consideration of the Legislature. I have, &c, C. F. Batkin, Sec. Treasury. To his Worship the Mayor, Christchurch. The Council then adjourned.