CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1491, 26 November 1878, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

An adjourned meeting of the City Council was hold lust evening. Present, his Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Ick, Gapes, Ayers, Cass, Tremayno, Clifford, EinsLead, Jenkins, and Wilson, BY-LAWS. The Council proceeded to the further consideration of ttic by-laws in reference to hackney carriages. Several clauses were referred back to the by-law committee, and it was resolved to confirm the by-laws at a future meeting. carter’s lane. Cr. Ick informed the Council that he held in his hand a letter from Dr. Foster, in which that, gentleman gave it us his opinion that the cost of forming Carter’s lane could bo recovered from the parties interested who had expressed a desire to have the work done. The works committee, however, had not yet seen the letter. Ho did not think it would bo desirable to read it in open Council, as it set forth the method to be employed for the recovery of the money. Cr. Wilson thought that as reflections had been cast upon Cr. Ick, the letter ought to be read, and ho moved a resolution to that effect. The Mayor said the letter was obtained for the guidance of the works committee, and not for the Council. He did not consider it would bo judicious to read it then, although he had no feeling in the matter. Cr. Ick thought, as the letter pointed out the mode of obtaining money in the legal form, perhaps it would be as well that it should not bo read in open Council. Still he would prefer the Council to take the responsibility of the matter, and not lot it go to the works committee. He should take very good care in the future what responsibility he took upon hrmself. Cr. Gapes had seen the letter, and said it cast no reflections upon anyone, and removed none. He thought it would be inadvisable to read the letter in open Council. He would move—“ That the Council go into committee at the next meeting to go into the whole matter.” The consideration of the letter was then ordered to stand over until the next meeting. CITY COUNCIL EMPLOYES AND MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. The Mayor having now to leave, Cr. Gapes took the chair. Cr. Ick also withdrew, stating that under the circumstances ho had a delicacy in remaining. Cr. Gapes moved —“ That all officers and employes of the City Council he requested to take no part in the Christchuroh municipal elections other than to record their own votes, except to give such information as may be required by the returning officer.” In moving this resolution Or. Gapes said he east no reflection upon the officers of the Council. Had ho been a candidate himself he should not have brought forward his motion. Ho thought the officers of the Council should abstain from using their influence one way or the other. The foreman of the works, Mr O’Malley, had acknowledged that he had slandered him (Cr. Gapes) at the last election, stating that he had given instructions to him (Mr O’Malley) not to employ any Catholic under him on pain of instant dismissal. For this statement, which was entirely untrue, Mr O’Malley afterwards apologised, and admitted that it was a falsehood. For this reason and others he thought the officers and employes of the Council should take no other part in the election than simply recording their votes. Councillors were excluded from taking part in the polling booths, and he thought that officers of the Council should also be excluded At the last election for Mayor an elector went into the booth who could not read. The returning officer then told him which were the names—who at the top and who at the bottom — when one of the officers struck out his (Mr Gapes’) name, although the man intended to vote for him. Much a thing some day might happen intentionally, though ho did not say it was so on that occasion. Ho had a great respect for the ballot, hut he was very much afraid if. was somewhat abused. Cr. Wilson seconded the motion, and said there was no doubt that the last Mayoral election was swayed through the influence brought to bear by a mere day labourer of the Council, who had misrepresented facts to the great detriment of one of the candidates. Cr. Cass supported the resolution, and regretted that it had not been brought forward at an earlier date.

Cr. Gapes explained that it had stood over for nearly a month, Cr. Ayers also supported the motion, which he thought was a step in the right direction. Ho hoped the time wnulcl come when it should be considered criminal to ask for a single vote either personally or by means of an agent, the only proper way of influencing the ratepayers being by means of a printed address, or an advertisement in the newspapers. Cr. Binstcid also supported the motion, Cr. Tremavne thought the motion was a step in the right direction.

Cr. Clifford also spoke in favor of the resolution.

Mr Walkclen said as a certain person had been referred to as having done a certain tiling in that room when it was a polling booth, ho wished to stale that it was not him.

The Towm Clerk would also like to state that he w r as not the person alluded to. They were bound by oath not to divulge what took place in the voting room, and ho thought that lie was too much of a gentleman to .break his word, let alone his oath.

The motion was then put and carried unanimously. After some business had been transacted the Council ad journed until Monday.