MUNICIPAL ANNUAL MEETINGS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1085, 20 December 1877, Page 3

MUNICIPAL ANNUAL MEETINGS.

CHRISTCHURCH. The annual meeting of the City Council was held yesterday at noon. Present—His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. Grapes), Crs. Thomson (Mayor elect), Pratt, Toomer, Briggs, Bird, Ruddenklau. Several exMayors and ex-Councillors and a number of other gentlemen were present by invitation to witness the installation of the Mayor for the present year. Crs. Bickerton and Ick arrived at a later portion of the proceedings. His Worship said the present was the annual meeting called as a matter of form to instal the Mayor for the ensuing year. He woidd first call on the town clerk to read the minutes of the previous meeting. The minutes having been confirmed, the Mayor elect stepped forward, and having made and signed the usual declaration, Mr Gapes placed the Mayoral chain on his neck, and Mr Thomson took his seat as Mayor amid loud applause, Mr Q-apes being accommodated with a seat on his left.

His Worship having formally asked if any Councillor had any business to bring forward, and receiving no reply, declared the business closed, and the meeting adjourned. Champagne and biscuits having been brought in—Mr Gapes said he begged now to propose the health of his Worship the Mayor, who, he trusted, might never regret, entering on his office, and he hoped he would have as peaceable a time as he could wish for. There was one little matter —an old tale of his (Mr Gapes)—that he could not help referring to, even at that time, viz., the position of affairs with reference to the health of the city. He hoped the Mayor would excuse him for asking that he and the City Council would do all in their power to remedy the evils which existed in this direction. There was no denying the fact that they were in a precarious state so tar as the sanitary condition of the city was concerned. There was no body now who could definitely attend to this as things were at present, and he trusted that the Mayor and Councillors would see their way to devote their attention particularly to it, and to compel drains being formed from private drains into the side channels. It was not his fault while Mayor that this work had not been carried out as determined by a resolution proposed by Or. Jones in 1875. He was extremely sorry to have to say that at the'present time there were very few drains connecting with the channelling from private dwellings, and all the slops were thrown down near the houses to the danger of the health of the whole of the citizens. While Mayor he had urged on several occasions that action should be taken to remedy this, and had even gone so far as to instruct that the asphalting should not be proceeded with until drains hud been laid down. He would again urge the Mayor and councillors to attend to this necessity immediately. Mr Gapes then referred to tho slate of several private streets, which, he said,

made them unfit for habitation, and would like some of the gentlemen to visit them and see for themselves. The members of the medical profession had done well in Christchurch, and if they interested themselves in remedying the present state of things they would do equally as well in the future. [Laughter.] He regretted having to refer to subjects foreign to the meeting ; but he could not help asking the new Mayor and councillors to give this important matter their best attention ; and he now begged to propose the toast of “His Worship the present Mayor.” [Applause.] Mr M. B. Hart—“ And that he may find it a bed of roses.” [Laughter.] The toast was heartily received, and musically honored.

His Worship, who was received with applause, said he felt much obliged to all present for the manner they had received the toast of his health. He could assure them that he did not look upon the office as a bed of roses ; but with the confidence of the citizens, and the help of his fellow-councillors, he hoped to remove as many of the thorns from the roses as possible. [Applause.] The office had not been of his own seeking, and he had only come forward at the request of a large number of his fellow-citizens, who were doubtless aware that he had some leisure time at his disposal, and experience gained in his position as City Councillor. It had given him the greatest pleasure to be proposed and seconded by two old fellow colonists, viz., Mr George Gould and Mr John Anderson —[Applause]—the latter gentleman having been second Mayor of Christchurch, and for years Councillor. [Applause.] He trusted the coming year would not be an uneventful one, and that many great works of importance would be brought forward in that time, and amongst others a better water supply for Christchurch, which had been mooted at the dinner a few nights since. [Applause.] There would be another important question to be considered, viz., that of an endowment for Christchurch. [Applause.] He was more than afraid that they would be left without an endowment if they did not make a strong and final effort shortly; they would have little hopes of obtaining one after the land fund was made colonial revenue. With reference to the drainage from private dwellings referred to by Mr Gapes, he was certain that could be left over for a day, and Mr Gapes and others would doubtless be satisfied in a little while with the action taken by the Council. He would do his best to fulfil the duties of his office, and trusted his efforts would have merited the confidence of the citizens and Councillors when it came to his turn to instal some other gentleman into the office of Mayor. He begged heartily to thank them for the manner they had drunk his health. [Applause.] The Mayor next proposed the toast of “The retiring Mayor, Mr J. Gapes,” referring to the warm interest he had always taken as chairman of the sanitary committee in the health of the city, which he had left as a legacy to himself and the City Council. The toast was honored with cheers.

Mr Gapes, in returning thanks, said he had been six years in the Council, had never been late at any of the meetings, or left them until the business was over, and had only been absent from one meeting the whole time, and that was while he was engaged with others selecting the 2000 acres of land as an endowment for the city. His Worship next proposed “ The health of the ex-Mayors of Christchurch,” and regretted the absence of Mr John Anderson, whom he had hoped to have seen amongst them that dav.

The toast was responded to by Messrs A. Duncan, J, P. Jameson, H. iSawtell, M. B. Hart, and F. Hobbs. Mr Jameson in his remarks said he was seriously afraid, considering all things, that more taxation would have to be imposed. In the olden days they used to think that as the place grew up the taxation would be lessened, but this did not prove to be the case. As he had been asked to come out of his retirement and take his share of the work again in the Council, if the citizens desired that he should do so he would endeavour with the help of his fellow councillors to seriously consider whether they should not do all in their power to keep the rates down. Mr Hobbs among other remarks said the taxation of the city could have been decreased considerably, and would have been if they had obtained the £ for £ they had been led to expect. It should be remembered though that the present drainage rate was only to pay interest and sinking fund, and interest on the £IB,OOO which” had been spent on the surface drainage of the city. The Mayor next proposed amid loud cheers the health of Mr C. C. Bowen, whom he hoped to see stand for the representation of Christchurch at the next general elections. The toast was drunk with musical honors. Mr Bowen, who was most heartily received, said the length and duties of the past session had prevented him with great regret from being present at the annual horse show, but ho was glad to see to see the Mayors now—[loud laughter]—sound in wind and limb, all in the team, and not one thinking yet of being fired and turned out. [Laughter.] Ho would not venture on politics, but, in reference to the remarks of regret that had fallen from the Mayor, he might say that occasionally it was a healthy arrangement for men to be going in and others coming out, and some might think they could see their way to do as much good while in opposition as in olfice. He would take that opportunity of saying that his colleague, Major Atkinson, with the knowledge that if he had wavered in the compact entered into with the Southern members he could have retained office, and that the opposite might be the result, had still stuck to his colours like a man, [Loud applause.] He hud desired to say this, as few gave some of our Northern friends credit for the manner they had stuck to the financial compact made with the Southern members. With reference to his Worship’s hope that he (Mr Bowen) might stand for Christchurch, he would say that his constituents had returned him twice, and at a time when he desired to take a seat in flic Lower House in preference to the Upper House, to which ho had been called, and while his constituents had confidence in him he considered they had a claim on him. At the same time he honestly confessed it would be a great pleasure to him at any time to represent Christchurch, where he was so well known. [Loud applause.] Regarding the remarks as to taxation made by Mr Jameson, they naturally felt that all taxation was a nuisance, but the question was what return did they get for it, and was the money judiciously spent. A high rating with oauivalcnt returns was at times preferable, but the difficulty was high rating with little to show for it, which was often the case with young towns, where they could not show in returns what they wore trying to accomplish, and would eventually succeed in doing. As to

the question of endowment, the 2000 acre? selected could not really be looked at as a) ndowment at all commensurate with justic< to Christchurch —[applausej—and he was veri <orry that the Provincial Council had noi endowed Christchurch when they could havi done. [Applause.] The town of Dunedii bad splendid reserves, and the reason was that they had held from the first the largereserves made for them. The Christchurch town reserves were simply sacrificed through necessities existing at the time, and the argu ment that had been used in the Provincial Council that |the money received was more than the value of the reserves was fallacious, as if they could have been held to the present time their value would been very considerable. [Applause.] He would always be very happy to support any endeavour to obtain an endowment for Christchurch, and it would be absurd to suppose that 2000 acres of land could be considered an endowment sufficient for this city. [Applause.] Again slightly referring to politics, they must not be downhearted, as if things were found to be going wrong the people would soon set them right —[loud applause]—and what he strongly deprecated was any attempt to set up a class cry. They were all, and had been, working men, and the one thing he was afraid of, and deprecated, was any such cry being raised as that of the working class against others. They might depend upon it that the evil which would result from such a proceeding could not be washed out in a day. He thanked them sincerely for the manner they had drank his health. [Cheers.] The Mayor next proposed the toast of “The Ex-Councillors,” and said he thought the election of Mayor should be by the Council, who would be much better able to judge of the merits of candidates than people outside. [Hear, hear.] If Councillors were chosen with the idea that one day they might be called upon to fill the position of Mayor, gentlemen of large experience would be found to come forward.

The toast having been honored, was replied to by Messrs Q-eorge Q-ould, Calvert, Jones, Wood, Turner, and Nathan. Mr Turner, in replying to the toast, said that the happiest moment he enjoyed while in the Council was when he was leaving it, though he regretted that he with others had not occupied the position a little longer to have been able to complete some matters in hand, among building by-law, as the present one was found to be inoperative. With reference to transferring the powers of the Local Board of Health it was the deliberate act of seven out of nine councillors. It was done at a time when scarlatina was rife here, and the Council found from the clashing of the boundaries that the powers of the Local Board of Health should be vested in one central authority, and that authority ought to be the Drainage Board. Prom the contradictory statements that had b(*m made on the matter, he thought it only ri|ght that this fact should be generally known. So far as taxation was concerned he did not think it possible with his experience on the finance committee to decrease the taxation, as it would take a shilling in the pound alone to keep the streets in order. Before sitting down Mr Turner paid Mr Nathan a high compliment for the action he had taken while a councillor in introducing the work of asphalting the city footpaths. The toasts of the Pire Brigade and Pire Police were next proposed and heartily received.

Mr Superintendent Harris, in replying, said he hoped the Council would see their way to offer a premium for the best and second best plan for procuring a water supply for Christchurch.

Captain Mitchell also responded. Mr Bowen proposed the toast of “ The present Councillors.” The old Councillors had worked well for the city, and the town was capable of being made one of the prettiest towns in New Zealand. The Councils had done well in the past in this direction, and he would suggest that they should keep as many open spaces as possible. [Hear, near.] If they only kept the drainage out of the river and the spaces alongside open they would have one of the prettiest promenades in all New Zealand. There had been a great deal of talk about drainage, but that was at any rate getting on, as few large works had been executed without a great deal of talk at first. With drainage would come the water supply, and he knew of no place where a greater pressure could be easier obtained than in Christchurch. [Applause.] The town of Chichester, in England, was notunlike Christchurch, in being situated on a flat, and after a great deal of agitation it had been most efficiently drained and made a very healthy place. There had been a great deal of nonsense talked about Christchurch being unhealthy, but the statistics showed that even with the Hospital included, Christchurch was not an unhealthy town, comparatively. The artesian supply of water had been a very great boon in the past, but they would not be able to say they had an efficient supply required for flushing their drains, fire prevention, or domestic purposes until they had water with good power of pressure, and that power could very easily ho obtained. 1 Applause.J Ho begged to propose the toast of the present councillors.

The toast was duly honored and responded to by Cr. Ick on behalf of the Council. Cr. Ruddenklau said he must refer to remarks made about the Council having desired to hand over their powers as a Local Board of Health. The seven councillors spoken of had been caught in the street, and their assent obtained to hand over these powers to the Drainage Board, It had not been done by a vote of the Council, having first duly considered the matter. He simply felt it to be his duty to make these remarks after what had been said on this matter.

Cr. Hobbs said a great deal of the opposition had been caused by a feeling of dignity on the part of some councillors. [Cr. Ruddenklau —There is no question of the dignity of the Council about it.] The Metropolitan Hoard of Works in London overrode the authority of the London Corporation, and surely if the latter body sank their dignity on a similar quest ion, the City Council might well do the same.

Cr. Ick said it was not a question of the dignity of the Council. They were all men, and had worked together for the good of the citizens for years, and he hoped this would be the last time he would hear such a silly foolish expression as the dignity of the Council. Mr Duncan said he thought it had been a most indiscreet course to introduce sanitary matters in any way at that meeting. He had come there to see his friend installed in the Mayoral chair and to help to drink hie champagne. [Laughter.] If they wanted to discuss sanitary affairs let them appoint another night for the purpose, and if hie Worehip would provide champagne he would be very happy to come and take his share oi what was going on. [Laughter.]

The next toast proposed was the “ City Solicitor and officers of the Council.”

Dr. Foster in replying said a mistake had seen made in taking the election of the Vlayor out of the hands of the Council, and his had only been made law to please the Ministry of the day, Messrs Haskins and Walkden also replied. Mr Hobbs said that at the late conference, held at Wellington, he, and the ex-Mayor of Dunedin, as representing two of the largest cities in New Zealand, had endeavored to have the Mayor elected by the Councils, but they had failed. In the M.C. Act it would be seen that the Mayor was merely an executive officer of the Council, and the probability of his carrying out the duties of the office with success rested with his qualifications for the the position, and the confidence the Council would have in him so as to induce unanimity. With reference to what had been said about the Local Board of Health, he was sure that when the City Council desired to take over the supervision of the city and suburbs, the Board would only be too happy to hand them over all the powers, and subsidies too. Mr Nathan desired to impress upon the Council the necessity of urging on the Q-overmnent the advisability of making the support of the charitable institution a tax on the Consolidated Revenue, as sick, ailing, and impoverished persons were more likely to gravitate towards centres of population. If this were not done, large cities and municipalities would be overweighted, and it should be remembered that the persons requiring assistance hud been and were being introduced by the Immigration scheme for the benefit of the whole colony. It was wrong in principle to leave the charge of their maintenance on the municipality in which they should happen to be at the time. If some such course as he had pointed out were not pursued some municipalities would be taxed heavily for charitable rates while ethers, more fortunate, would escape. Only the other evening he had been told by a gentleman that one parish in Ireland had to pay as much as 25s to the £ for poor rates. He would illustrate what he meant. In London, in St. Q-eorge’s in the East, the people had been rated 3d in the £ for poor rates, while in St. Q-eorge’s in the West they had had to pay 3s or 4s in the £. That was the sort of thing he wished to avoid here, and ho thought it but right to make these remarks, as they had the pleasure of having present one of their Statesmen, who could advocate their wishes in the House of Assembly, [Applause.] Mr Hobbs said that in conversation with Mr Reynolds, who he believed was in the confidence of the Q-overnment, that gentleman had informed him that it was not unlikely municipalities would be paid over the whole of the subsidies on account of charitable institutions for the present year. Mr Duncan proposed a toast about parting, and the company broke up. SYDENHAM. The first annual meeting of the Sydenham Borough Council was held yesterday, in the offices of the Council. There were present— His Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Brovn, Buxfon, Charters, Jones, Yennall,and White law. Mr Q-eorge Booth, who had been re-elected Mayor for the ensuing year, made and signed the usual declaration, and was duly installed as Mayor of Sydenham. After which, it having been ascertained that there was a difference of £SOOO between the amount of the rateable property in the Sydenham portion of the Spreydon road district, shown in the Board's statement of accounts, and the list of ratepayers given for the purposes of the late election of councillors for the Borough of Sydenham, it was moved by Cr. Whitelaw, and seconded by Cr. Jones —“ That a committee consisting of the Mayor and the chairman of the finance committee be appointed to enquire into and report regarding the discrepancy of £SOOO 8s between the amount of the Sydenham Borough’s share of the Spreydon Road District Assessment Roll, given by the Board to the Council, and the amount on which the Board proposed at the late conference to pay the pro-rata, amount due to the Sydenham Borough,” This was agreed to, and the Council then adjourned. LYTTELTON. The annual meeting to instal the new Mayor for Lyttelton was held at the Council Chambers, at noon yesterday. Besides the retiring Mayor and the Councillors, a number of officers and old members of the Council were present. Dr. Rouse, the retiring Mayor, took the chair. He said—G-entlemen —In retiring I beg to thank you for the great kindness you have shewn me during my three years’ term of office. I have done my best to run a straight course, and, of course, like all others who try to proceed in this manner have trod on many persons’ toes. I am very glad to resign my scat to one who has lor so many years worked hard and successfully for the good of the town. lam sure his presence in the chair will be a sufficient guarantee of the able manner in which the town’s work will be. done. 1 am also pleased to sec a Council ready to support the new Mayor, second to none that has ever represented the municipality. I am sure that with such a Mayor and Council the work of the town will be well done during the ensuing year. I will now ask Mr Allwright to take this seat. [Cheers.] Mr Allwright, the new Mayor, then took his seat. He said —Gentlemen : I am aware that in taking office as Mayor I accept a great responsibility, but, seeing the gentlemen round the table, and knowing their capability and kindness, I have little fear of success, as I know they will aid me in carrying out my duties. These duties are not new to me, but they are greater now than they were some years ago. I feel that I must give up more time now than once was the custom, and 1 not only feel the responsibility, but am aware that 1 am in some measure, in accepting the office, acting against my own private interest. L will endeavour during my term ot office to give my best attention and time to the interests of the town. The burgesses may be sure of one thing, that whatever 1 do will be for the interests of the people, for those interests are identical with ny own. I will not detain you longer, but hope that at the conclusion ot my year of office I shall be able to look back and see that 1 have done credit to myself and good to the own. I will now ask you to drink to the •etiring Mayor (Dr. Rouse) in a glass of drampagne. [Cheers.] The toasts of “The Retiring Mayor,” ‘Officers of Council,” “Incoming Mayor,” md “ Dr, Donald,” were proposed and duly responded to, and the Council then adjourned.