CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1487, 21 November 1878, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

«. Wednesday, Novembeb 20. An adjourned meeting of the City Council was held at 7 o'clock cat the City Council Chambers. Present His Worship the Mayor and Cra. Ick, Gapes, Ayers, Cass, Tremayne, Clifford, Binstead, Jenkins, and Wilson. THE LATE UK CAI/VEBT. Cr. Wilson said before the »>us ness of the Council commenced he would like to take the opportunity of expressing his deep regret at the death of Mr Calvert, who was once a member of the Council, and he should like a let or of condolence to go from that body to the widow, and at the same time re ord as a Council ths great respect in which they had held him, and their regret at his death. He w uld also move —"That the Cocncil should not individually but as a body attend the funeral of the late highly esteemed gentleman." The motion was seconded by Cr. Ick, who also paid a very high tribute of re-pect to the memory of the deceased gentleman, who. he &aid, was one of tho.-o men who did good by stealth, and blushed to find Time. As a greater man than even Cr Wihou had said, the evil that men did lived after them, but the good was inte red «ith t he r bones. The motion whs agreed to unanimously. THE ANNIVKUSAUY. SI'OKTS. The opinion of Dr. foster was read as to the legality of a giant bong made to the sporti committee. While Dr. Foster did not think such a grant was contemplated by the Act, he did mt see that it was oppooed to the spirit thereof. After some ni en-- ion the vote w s confirmed. ASSESSMENT OK THE CITY. Cr. Ick mo.eu —•' I h it tendi rs for the assessmentof the city be calle I for, to lie. return-hie by the next ordinary meeting of the Council." 1 e hoped every a-si tance and information would be given by the town clerk to the gentleman who u ighl be appointed as city assessor. last year -it was reported that every obstacle was thrown in the w; y of the assessor. The motion was agreed to. THE SWIMMINO BATHS. The Mayor drew the attention of the Council to the fact that many of the bathers were in the hubit of climbing up tte fence c-n tho inside of

the baths, and so making themselves observable totheiublic. We would also suggest that the words " Swimming baths " should be painted on the outside. Tho matter was referred to the sanitary committee. WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. His Worship said that siuce tho Ist of June the tees from weights and measures had been paid in to the General Government a count His own opinion was that they themselves should app tint an inspector and collect all fees. At all even: san effort shou'd he in.de to see if they could g t the control of thi- department. Tho Council then proceeded to take up tho busmes where they left off on Monday night. carter's lane. Tn moving the receipt of the finance report on this matter, his Worship explained what had been done in regard to this la-ie since application had been made to the Council to take it over. The Council had done the work, assessing the residents pro rata, but they had refused to pay as no notice had been served on them. ( r. Wi son thought the fault of this money not having been received was due to the Mayor. His Worship said as usual Cr. Wilson had found a mare's nest. The work was begun in his predecessor's time, aid the persons who wished the work to be done knew perfectly well that it was to bo paid for to the Council on completion. There seemed to be an idea that he as Mayor was to be responsible for all that was do"e by the committees of the Council. Ho did not think it creditable in any persons after they had got their streets made to repudiate payment. It would be a very hard thing if the I Mayor was to be blamed for what was done by the works committee. Cr. Wilson said the time of bringing up this question, on the eve of a mayoral election, was an inopportune one. It was not right to bring up any matter that would cast a reflection upon either of the candidates He wished to be as kind as he could to both gentlemen who were coming forward for election. The Mayor said the reason the matter had now been brought forward was because the finance committee had found the money could not he collected, and they had therefore considered it necessary to bring it before the Council. He did not bring forward matters merely at times it might suit him, but at the earliest possible moment. If Cr. Wilson held the views he had expressed, as to why the matter should be dropped at present to serve the purposes of either of the candidates, then he was very sorry for him. Cr. Ayers was of opinion that the sooner the whole matter was before the Council and decided upon the better. Cr. Gapes asked the Mayor under whose regime it was agreed the work should be done, explaining at length the circumstances connected with improving Carter's lane. He exonerated his Worship the Mayor altogether from any blame. The mistake was that the work hid been begun by the surveyor before the necessary notices had been served. He would like to know how it was that the surveyor had done tho work.

The Mayor stated that the surveyor had told him he did it in accordance with instructions whicli he had received from the chairman of the works committee. Cr. Ick—l deny it. Mr Walkden rose to speak, but tho Mayor told him he had better defer any remarks till a latpr period. Cr. Gapes thought the surveyor ought not to have carried out such a work until he the notiees hud been served up n the owners. '1 h:; work had been commenced at Ihe wrong end. He could not find from the minutes that works committee h d given such authority. Ihe Mayor said the work had been commenced before tho town clerk had had an opportunity of complying with the Act. Cr. Cass thought the whole matter had been conduct d in a loose and unsatisfactory manner —in a manner that reflected no credit on the •'ouncil. There had maniestly been an omission somewhere, and it was the duty of the Council to find it out and provide against its repetition upon any future occasion. He was un.tble to see who was personally to blame, but it was very evident that some one must be. Pchips the surveyor himself would give some account of the authority on which he performed tbe work. Cr. binstead asked if it was the province of the Council or the works committee to see if the ne easary notices had been serve). The Mayor said it would undoubtedly be the duty of the works committee. In answer to the Mayor, the surveyor stated that Cr. Ick had called him into his sale room one day,andiold him there was nothing to prevent him commencing tue improvements in the lane ' ■tiding, "for Heiven's sake do go and begin the work at once, for Carter is worrying my life out." His Worship said this was, he thought, an answer to the question. (Jr. Wil on expressed the opinion that the answer was a most unsatisfactory one, and was proceeding to make further remarks when he was called to order by the chairman. Cr Wd-on said it w.is a very great failing of his Worship that he spoke a great deal too much himself and would not allow anybody else to speak. His Worship said he would not allow Cr. Wilson or any ether couneillor to talk so to the chair. If he did not respect him he should at least pay some respect to the position. Cr. Wil-on said the chairman was in the habit of continually interrupting him. His Worship—Yes? Because you are in the habit of so continually speaking out of order. Cr. Wilson said that as personal matters had been imported The Muyor—Yes; and you are the first person who has imported personal matters into the subject. Cr. Wilson—The Mayor i 3 quite as amenable to be spoken to when he is speaking out of order as any other councillor when he is interrupted le^itimittely. Cr. Gapes—l must call Cr. Wilson to order. The Mayor—l give Cr. Wilson every latitude because he is abusing mo. Cr. Gapes—lf councillors are to be all speaking out of order like « r. Wilson, we may be here till next week. Will he make one speech like other memhers and then fini.-h. I rise to support the chair, and I feel that it is the duty of all other councillors to do so.

Cr. Wilson—That may be on account of your contracted ideas. I will not see anybody belonging to this Council wronged without speaking up. Cr. Ick considered he was entitled to say a few words on the subject. It had been said that the matter was referred to the works committee, but it had not been referred to that committee. The day after the meeting of the Council they had requested the town clerk to write to the residents of the lan<i, asking them to remove the obstructions to the work being carried out. With regard to what the surveyor h d said he had no remembrance of any such conversation, and he was quite sure ho bad given no definite iu>tructions on the subject. It was quite possible he had said to Mr Wulkden, "Why don't you push on with the work," ashe had frequently said to him on other occasions. When the resolution was passed the works committee had nothing more to do with it as it went into the hands of the officers of the Council to carry out. Not until the 18th of September—two months ago — were tin notices served It seemed a strange thine; that this matter should bo brought forward now when an election was pending. It whs a dastardly ittem.it to injure him on the coining election and n thing else, bnt he was too well known by the public for it to injure him, and it conhi not, ther fore have the fffect it w.i.s intended to do. Excuse could not be raised that the surveyor and Town Clerk were not aware of tbe-o things, because a short time before a blunder had been committed by the officers of the Council serving notices on the wrong persons, and the Council wa-t con.-equently the s fl'erer. The surveyor, even if such an order had been given by him, Councillor Ick, had no right to act upon it, for neither he nor any other member of the Council could give such instructions. It was the surveyor's duty to see that the clauses of the Act had been < ou plied with. Cr. Oapes explained that in the case that Cr. Ick had referred to the property h id been transferred into other hands when the notices were served, so that in that respect no blame rested on the officers of the Council. In answer to a question from Cr. Ayers, His Worship said that in this ease no notices had been served at all. Cr. Ayers did not like strong language to ho used in that Council, and he t-huuld wish to know who Cr. i (, k charged with using "dastardly" conduct towards him. Cr. Ick said lie charged no member of the Council, but dasturdly conduct had been used towards him. He should decline to give i.ny more definite answer. Cr. l hfford would like to l<now whether it was tlii duty of the chairman of the works committee to point out and explain the meaning of the different clauses of the Act to the officers of the Uo nil. ~ The Mayor said the town clerk would mt require to be instructed in all his duties. So long as anything was 'lone ut the Com cil Board the town eWk must be held responsible, but not for what wa■• done by the committees. Cr. Jenkins 11 sked if the money could bo recove ed from the residents of Carter's lane. His Worship said that would be a matter fi r the city solicitor to decide. His own opinion was that it could not, but that was worth nothing.

Cr. Jenkins asked if the Council could up Carter's line in the meantime. His Worship replied that was a question he was hardly prepared to answer. If the Council wished the question referred to the city solicitor it could be done. Cr. Wilson again expressed his opinion that the matter hart been brought forward at an inopportune t me.

( r. Tremayno had been told by one of tin residents in qnes ion that the amount demanded of him was mon trous. He thought the only thing tlvy could now do was to make an appeal to the residents of Carter's lane. The Mayor said ho had given positive instructions to the town clerk not to interfere with the work of the city surveyor. Cr. Icte had said tho street in question was not referred to the works committee. Now all works were under the supervision of that committee as foon as they were sanctioned by the Council. Not a single notice had been served, but an account had been rendered to each person. He thought it was an nng. nerous thing to est reflections upon officers whom he knew to be innocent of tho matter, for with regard to tho notices h iving been served upon the wrong persons, Cr Ick knew the land in question had changed hands. Cr. Ick—l deny it. It is an untruth. I never knew it had changed hands. The Mayor—With regard to bringing this matter forward now with any idea of damaging Cr. Ick at the election, that is a statement which I say is utterly untrue. The same charge was brought by him when the question of the was brought up. As then, so now, I c;raid not but bring it torward. Accounts came from the works committee to the finance committee and it was necessary to refer them to the Council, 'i he work was finis edand placed be fora us in the ordinary course of business, and are we to ignore these things just because election time is coming on ? I say again that such a statement is ungenerous, as nothing was further from my thoughts. I have of all things, tried to keep clear of all disputes at such a time. I , again say it is a most ungenerous action tr, ingto ) cat the blame of this bin ider upon the City Surveyor. With reg rd to the "monstrous" charge spoken of by Cr. Tremayne, I may say that the channelling of Carter's 1 me was ch- aper than any other in the city. With regard to the whole matter. I think a blunder has been committed, but I don't attribute it to anybody. It is my p ace to defend my officers. I have always done so, and can't hear t ieir characters aspersed without doing so. With regard to Cr. Ick, I again say th-ire has been a blunder, and I say no m >re, for no one for a moment supposes that that gentleman would like this Council to make a private street without being paid for it, and I do not, therefore, see why such great pains should be taken to throw the blame on somebody else. We ai-e all liab eto make mistakes. Cr. Ick—l don't admit I made any mistake. The Mayor—l might have made the same error myself. However, the whole matter has gone quite far enough, and I trust we shall have no more garbled st.foments. Cr. Ick—Hear, hear. After some further remarks by the Mayor, who asserted that as soon as any work was passed by the Council it went into the hands of the works committee. Cr Wilson said i p it was ruled that chairmen of co-omit ces were to instruct and be responsible for the works of the Council's officers, he should throw up his position as chairman of the sanitary committee. He did not have tho time to do th t; with the Mayor, who received £ 100 a, year from the Council, it might be different It appeared to him that the st.itement that had been mole by Cr. lek had not been controverted His Wor.-hip—Yes, they have ; by me. Cr. Wilson —< >h, I oon't call you much. Cries of ' Order order." Cr. WiNon moved as an amendment—" That the consider it on of the matter be deferred for further information " Cr. Gapes seconded the motion pro forma, and s iid he could not see how it could be said that the surveyor had reieived orders to proceed with his work. . . Cr. sck would not vote for receiving _ the report in its present form, as it stated a positive untruth, viz , that the survejor had received instructions to carry out the work. Cr Gapes could not agree to receive the report in its present shape, for the same reason as Cr. Ick. Cr Cass, as a member of the finance committee, would suggest that the words be altered to read as follows. ' that the work was procee ed with without the necessary notices being given according to the Act. The Mayor believed if the report were altered as propo.ed that the public wuiild believe the surveyor was to blame. He did not for his own part b dieve the surve or would have carried out that wo k without receiving instructions from some one. Cr. Wilson's amendment was lost. Cr. Cass then moved his suggestion in the way of an amendmentAfter some fur. her observations, the report as amended was received. Cr. Cass moved— the work 3 committee be authori-cd by this Council to arrange with Messrs Carter and Co. with a view to an amicable settlement on the b'st terms p >Bsible, ; and to report 10 this ('ouneilat its next meeting.'' Cr. Ayers seconded ike motion, which was agreed to. BRIDGE OVER THE AVON. Councillor Wilson moved—" That in _ the opinion of this Council the design tor a bndg ) over the Avon at Barbadoes street, as prepared by the city surveyor, be approved by the Council, and that the Council invite tenders for the same at once, upon the assurance that not less than .£l5O will be contributed towards the co3t of the same by the surrounding owners and lessors of property." Seconded by Cr. Ick on condition that the workwas not commenced until next year. This was accepted by Cr. Wilson. Cr. Ayers would move as an amendment—- " That the work be done on condition that onethird of the cost be guaranteed." Seconded by Cr. Gapes. After some discuss on the amendment was withdrawn, and Cr. Wilson substituted the sum of .£250 for that of £l5O. FISH HAWKEES. Cr Wilson moved—" That in the opinion of th'S Couneil it is essentially necessary for the convenience and welfare of the city of Cbnstohurch that a fish market should be provided for the city, subject to the following conditions, viz.. That h wkers of fish may r m their barrows or carts about the streets of tho city between the hours of eiaht and ten each tnoniing, staying not longer than ten minutes in front of any one banding, nor within 100 yards thereof, and that after the hour of 10 o'clock a.m they , hall remove to a building prepared by the ouncil within the market square, for the use of which they shall pay a fair and reasonable renal to the Council, and that any hawker of fish who violates these condition Bhall be suVij ct to such a penalty as a by-law made on that behalf may determine." . .. Cr. Tremnyne seconded the motion, but the other Councillors spoke agamst it. Ultimately the motion was withdrawn. COLOMBO STREET. Cr. Wilson moved-" Th t in the opinion of this Council it is most desirable and necessary that the present unsatisfactory combt on of Colombo street, from the Bank of New Zealand to Tuam street, be at once put in a similar state of repair to High street " Seeon'ed by Cr. Clifford, who snid he was afraid if all the motions of Cr. Wilson were ca ricd the City Council would soon become insolvent. _ The Mayor said they had not got a yard ot stone. Cr- "Wilson withdrew his resolution. DAMAGED FOOTFATHS. Cr. Wilson n.oved—" I hat in the opinion of thi< Conncil it is most desirable that the broken part of the footpath in front of Mr Heath's drapers shop, the M Hotel, and other portions of the footpaths within the city where damage has been done by the said owners or occupiers of prop rty, and' that such damago bo at ouce satisfactorily repaired." Cr. Ick said he had called the attention ot the surveyor to this matter only last week. It would be attended to as soon as rossible._ On the understanding th .t the work in question should be done at once the motion was withdrawn. . , . . it being now half-past eleven, and there being a number of motions still on the order paper, the Council adj urued until seven o'clock on Monday evening.