CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1385, 24 July 1878, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Tuesday, July 23. An adjourned meeting of the City Council was held at 3 p.m. Present —His Worship the Mayor, Cra. Ick, Briggs, Ruddcnklau, Tooiuer, and Bird. The Mayor said that this meeting had been fixed to consider the suggestions for tho Municipal Conference, for amendments to be made in the Municipal Corporations Act, ami also to instruct the delegate of the City Council as to the points in which it was desired ho should take action. * The suggestions for the Conference, as reported from the various meetings held to consider them, were as follow : Proposed amendments in the Municipal Act. 1. Width of Streets.—Clause 199 should he altered so as to make the width of private streets 40ft., instead of 66ft. , ~ 2. Steps to be taken by Dr. Foster to enable the Council to get those reserves In Christchurch which are reserved for special purposes, altered to fur general municipal purposes. 3. That the delegate to the Conference bo requested to assist in having the proviso in clause 14 of the Public Health Act amended as far as regards Christchurch. 4. Re deductions from Government subsidy. 5. Clause 61, that sub-section 4 be altered to read "Not more than 7," similarly to qualification for number to General Assembly. C. Clause 84, that the Mayor ho ex-officio member of all committees. 7. After clause 207, add a clause exempting all waterworks from local or county rates or taxes at a higher rate than the unimproved value of the laud. 8. That the Government should bo asked to gna rautee county aud borough loans. 9. Amendments in the Rating Act.—That the 13th section of the Bankruptcy Act, 1868, be reenacted. 10. That owners shall be made liable for all rates. 11. Cattle Market Reserve.—That steps be taken by the delegate to bring this matter before the Government. 12. Weights and Measures.—lnspectors should be nuder the control of the Council. 13. Municipal Corporations Act, clansa 188. — Boundary roads, boroughs should pay half tho cost of work done on boundary roads. 14. As to advisableness of having a pnid agent in Wellington to see that the recommendations of the Conference are carried into effect. 15. That the expenses attending tho Conference should be divided amongst the municipalities according +o the revenue. 16. That the delegate urge on the Government the necessity for the establishment of a Mayor's Court at Christchurch. On suggestion 1 being read, Cr. Ick desired to know whether it was open to members now to discuss those suggestions. He might say that he bad opposed the a teration, as he considered it would be going back instead of forwards. Cr. Bird also supported the opinion of Cr. Ick. The next suggestion was considered. The Mayor said that this was necessary, in order to enable the Council to utilise the reserves which at present they could not. To have these pieces of ground locked up so as to be useless to the Council, they might as well bo without them altogether. The suggestion was agreed to. The Mayor sa hl that the next suggestion was put in so as to alter the proviso in the Public Health Act making the Drainage Board the Board of Health for the city. This was also passed. The next question was the deductions from the subsidies made by the Government, and it was decided that the delegate be furnished with the opinion of the city solicitor on the subject, laid before the Council. The suggestion that the Mayor should be ex officio a member of all committees, was agreed to. On the next suggestion The Mayor explained that the rates wore wanted to be made a first charge on a bankrupt estate. The suggestion was agreed to. In respect to the next suggestion, it was explained that it was intended that the owner of property should bo liable for longer than the time now fixed by the Act. They were now liable if applied to within four months. The suggestion ho believed came from the finance committee. Cr Ick suggested that the suggestion should read thus —"That the 53rd clause of the Rating Act should be altered so as to make the owner liable for rate 3 unpaid by occupier if applied to within six months." This was agreed to. It was agreed that Mr Moorhouse be furnished with all the papers connected with the Cattle Market Reserve que-tion On the suggestion as to the inspector of weights and measures, The Mayor pointed out that if the officer was under the' control of the Council the latter would have to pay his salary. It was pointed out that the fees and fines in that case would be handed over to the Council. The suggestion was adopted. On the next suggestion, it was resolved to add in clause 188, subsection 1, after the word " districts," the words, "or adjoining borough." Cr. Bird drew attention to the question of the fines from unregistered dogs coming to the Council. It was pointed out that tho Council could only have the fines from the breach of their own bylaws. Cr. Ick said he thought the Council should consider whether Christchurch should not have a Mayor's Court. The establishment of such a Court would relieve the Resident Magistrate of a great deal of work. He-ides which, if they had the Mayor of tho city presiding, they would have a chance of their by-laws being more stringent'y carried out, and thus conduce to the good government of the city. There was quite as much technical business as would occupy the time of the Resident Magistrate, and the establishment of a Mayor's Court would enable the Mayor or presiding Justice to deal with cases of drunkenness, trifling cases of assault, &c. The Mayor quite agreed with what had fallen from Cr Ick. Cr. Briggs also was greatly in favor of such a suggestion being made to the conference. Cr. Ruddcnklau was of opinion that the course proposed would entail additional expense on the city. The Council agreed that the suggestion should be brought before the conference. The two latter suggestions, as to the appointment of a paid agent and the apportionment of the expenses, were agreed to. Cr. Briggs drew attention to the fact that the sheet of suggestions did not contain one adopted by the Council, that the Mayor should be elected either by the Council or by accumulative voting. This was somewhat of an important matter, and should he included in the suggestions to the Municipal Conference. It was agreed that this should be done. The Mayor having to leave, Cr. Ick was voted to the chair. At this stage of the proceedings Mr Moorhouse came in. Mr Moorhouse said, from a conversation he had had with the Hon. E. Richardson and Mr E. C. J. Stevens, these gentlemen appeared to be under the impression that the conference ■would sit for a fortnight. The Mayor of Taranaki, however, who was going to attend the Conference,had stated that it would not last above a week. He therefore would be happy to place his services at the disposal of the Council, as there was no possibility that his attendance on the Conferences would interfere with his Parliamentary duties. The Chairman then read over the suggestions to Mr Moorhouse as adopted by the Council, explaining the various items and quoting from the various documents referring to the points to be brought under the notice of the Conference. After a lengthened discussion, the various suggestions given above were endorsed by Mr Moorhouse, except the one relating to the Government being asked to guarantee county and borough loans. Cr. Ruddcnklau then moved—" That the thanks of this Council be given to Mr W. S. Moorhouse for his acceptance of the post of delegate of the City Council, and also for his attendance this evening." Cr. Briggs seconded the motion, which was agreed to unanimously, and the Council adjonrned. CHARITABLE AID AND HOSPITAL BOARD. A meeting of the Charitable Aid Board was held last night at, the Hospital. Present— The Mayor of Christchurch (in the chair), the Mayor of Sydenham, Mr Montgomery, M.H.R., Dr. Turnbull, and Mr J. E. Brown, M.H.R. The minutes of the last meeting were read by Mr J. E. March and confirmed. The Mayor read a letter from the Colonial Secretary, accop'ing tho Board's offer to take charge of the Orphanage at Lyttelton. He Baid he had communicated with the authorities at Addington to arrange for the prisoners ' to do the outdoor work required in the grounds of the Hospital, &c., but found that tii* limited number of men required would neee&titate the dividing of tho prison gang, for which the provision of warders waa insufficient. Mr Montgomery suggested that some of the recipients of relief could be made use of. Mr J. E. March eaid that be could arrange •with Mr Armstrong to superintend the work if done by the recipients of relief. Mr March read a report, of which the following js a flummary:—Tho amount duo

to the hospital by patients was—for the year 1877, £3555 15a ; for the half-year ending 30fch June, 1878, £1604 15s; total, £5160 10s. Sundry payments and amounts remitted reduced this total to £4642 15s, a very large proportion of which—over £2ooo—is a bad debt. The secretary had visited the Ashburton immigration depot, and found that the building could be made very comfortable for the present occupants of the Selwyn Home. Ho hud telegraphed to Wellington for the temporary use of the depot, and had received a telegram granting it. He recommended that immediate steps be taken to secure a suitable site for a benevolent institution.

Dr. Turnbull said that there were about twelve old men in the Hospital. Mr March said there wore four at tho Armagh street depot. Mr Brown mentioned two at Addington.

Mr Montgomery thought that the obtaining of the Ashburton depot should not interfere with the building of a permanent asylum. The other members of tho Board were quite of this opinion. Mr Brown moved—" That the immigration depot at Ashburton be temporarily used as a home for aged and infirm persons who are destitute, in terms of tho consent given by the Minister of Immigration." The motion was agreed to. Mr Pridgeon was here asked to report how many inmates of the Hospital were fit subjects for the home, and he Baid there were eight. Mr Brown moved—" That the chairman be authorised to have the depot at Ashburton whitewashed, and the necessary repairs and alterations made, and bedding, &c, purchased." The Mayor of Sydenham questioned the advisability of expending money upon a building which would probably be occupied as a home for only a few months. The motion was agreed to. It was resolved to call for tenders for supplies to the Homo at Ashburton. Mr Montgomery moved —"That as there are now thirty-eight aged and infirm persons who are depending for support, solely on charitable aid, and as it is probable the number of such persons will be increased in proportion to the annual increase of the population in the district, the Board is of opinion that a home should be established on a permanent footing for the reception of aged and infirm persons who are now or may become destitute."

Mr Brown seconded the motion, which was agreed to. It was resolved that information should be sent to the Government as to the steps now about to be taken, and as to the probable cost thereof. The Mayor suggested that efforts should be made to obtain a grant of land upon which to erect the permanent Home ; also, that an endeavor should be made to get the Home endowed.

Mr Montgomery moved—" That the Board is of opinion that the information contained in Mr March's report respecting the debt due to the Hospital be forwarded to the Government."

This was agreed to. The Chairman then read the following letter : Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 16th July, 1878. Sir,—-I am directed by the Colonial Secretary to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 11th int., requesting to be informed whether the Government wish the Charitable Aid and Hospital Board to supervise the Lyttelton Orphanage, and in reply to say that the Government having ascertained that by error in the transmission of telegrams the intentions of the L.ttelton Borough Council have been misunderstood, and as it now appears the Council do not wish to take charge of the Orphanage, tho Government accept the offer of your Board with thanks. The Colonial Pecretary desires me at the same time to draw your attention to the provisions of the ■ estitute Persons Act. 1877, of which a copy is enclosed ; and to say that he thinks a strict enforcement of its provisions would compel tho relatives of destitute persons to contribute to their support, and thus materially reduce the expenditure from public funds. The police have been instructed to give every assistance to your Board in carrying out the provisions of the Act referred to.—l have, &c, G. S. CoorEß.

Mr March read a report upon the O rphanage which he had sent to the Government under date of June 10th, and to which no reply had been received.

Mr Pridgeon reported that the number of bottles of medicine given to out-door patients of the Hospital averages 2000 a year, the average cost being one shilling each. In the asylum the number was 400, in the gaol 150, for the police 50, for the charitable aid 100, for the immigration barracks no estimate could be given, for the Selwyn Home 50, for the Refuge 50, for Armagh street depot 50. The number of bottles of medicine dispensed for the Hospital during the last twelve months was 10,950, and for other institutions 2850 ; total 13,800 bottles yearly not including powders, pills, &c In reply to Mr Montgomery, Mr Pridgeon said that nothing was paid to the Hospital for all this.

It was resolved that the chairman and Dr Turnbull be reqttested to inquire into the best means of diminishing the expense of dispensing medicines at the Hospital, and report to the Board.

The Chairman and Mr Booth were appointed an accounts committee, the signature of either to vouch for the correctness of the Hospital accounts. The same gentlemen, with Dr. Turnbull, were appointed a works committee to carry out minor alterations in the Hospital, A list of employes, and their wages, was laid before the Board.

Upon the question of the appointment of a house surgeon, Dr. Turnbull asked for a few days longer, in order that the Hospital staff might make a full report. The Board then adjourned.