CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1572, 4 March 1879, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, Mabch 3. The City Council held its first weekly meet- \ ing last evening at 7 o'clock. Present—His W« rship the Mayor, and Crs. Tremayne, Gapes, Clifford, Binstead, Wilson, Jenkins, | L'Z»ul, Ayrs. The minutes r>ftt,eh*t special meeting were read and confirmed FINANCIAL. Tho Town Clerk reported that the Cr. balances at the Bank were, general account, £-168 Oh lid ; drainage rale account, £1283 14s. Receipts for the week—General account, £227 j lid; drainage rate account, £4 13s 4d ; Drainage Board rate, £7 63 Bd. Accounts to the amount of £7OO 13s were passed for payment. THE MATOB'S EEMABKS. The Mayor said that since the Council last met he had telegraphed to the AttorneyGeneral, the Hon. R. Stout, asking if the Government had consented to give the reserve in the Market Place as a site for the future town hall and municipal buildings. On S*turday last he received the following telegram :—" Order in Council changing purpose of reserve for site of Town Hall and Municipal Buildings will appear in next 'Gazette.' " He had only now to congratulate the Oounoil on at hist obtaining an eligible site for the new Civic Offices. Regarding tho question of calling a public meeting to disouss the necessary measures to be taken for affording relief to the Kaitangata Bufferers, he had telegraphed to the Mayor of Dunedin to ask what amount would be required. Of course the local bodies had provided sufficient funds to afford temporary relief; hut the question was how much would be sufficient to afford the sufferers permanent relief. He had received a telegram from the Mayor of Dunedin stating, '• Not less than £10,000." Last week he had spoken to many of the leading citizens of Christchurch, asking their opinion as to the advisability of calling a public meeting on their own action, or whether it would be more de sirable to wait for a public requisition. He had advertised for subscriptions in the daily papers, and the appeal, he was glad to say, had been very handsomely responded to. Some very handsome sums had been subscribed. He mentioned this now in order that the matter might have every publicity through the medium of the public press. He would be very glad, on receiving an expression of opinion from the Council, or if it was the wish of the citizens, to call a public meeting to see what steps could be taken. Ho might mention that he had secured eighteen or twentv seats at the concert to be given in the Oddfe'llows' Hall by Miss Marion Robinson, for the benefit of the Kaitangata relief fund, and he hoped that every councillor would be present. He had also received a letter from the hon. secretary of the Muff Cricketerß, challenging the Council to a Muff match. In reply, he had intimated hJB willingness to accept the challenge, on the condition that all the money taken at the gate should go to the Kaitangata fund. The gentleman he had spoken to had acquiesced in this, and all he (the Mayor) had to say now was, that he Bhould be glad to handle the willow in company with the brethren of the Council. He had also received two letters from Dr. Foster, but as they referred to questions yet undisposed of, ho considered it would be premature to make them public. The position of the Council with regard to Dr. Foßter hud been very freely commented on by one of the evening papers, but he would not be so ill-natured as the paper in question, but would give it oredit for writing in the interest of the public. NOTICES OF MOTION. Or. Clifford said that at the last meeting of the Council he had given notice of motion that, as they now met every week, it would be advisable not to introduce any business after ten o'clock. His Worship said that Cr. Clifford could bring on his motion later in the evening. Or. Cass to move—" That Dr. Foster be requested to hand over to the town clerk all books and documents in his possession belonging to this Council." Or. Lezard to move—" That in the opinion of this Oounoil the city auditors be requested in future to audit the city accounts at as early a date aB possible after the close of each financial quarter." His Worship here remarked that it would be a gracious act on the part of the Council to congratulate Mrs Conyers on the recovery of Mr Oonyers from his recent severe accident, not only for his value as a public servant, but also for his kindness and courtesy in giving invitations to the Council for the trip when he met with his painful and dangerous accident. AUDITING ACCOUNTS. Cr. Leeard asked when the last audit had taken place ? His Worship said the last audit had taken place three months ago, and the town olerk informed him that the papers were all now ready to be audited. TIME OP BEOBIVING LBTTBBS. Or. Tremayne wished to know what was the rule of the Council regarding the receiving of letters on the Council's day of meeting. The Mayor said as a general rule business letters should be reoeived not later than four o'clock p.m. OBSTBUCTION AT ODDFELLOWS' HALL. Or. Lezard wished to know whether any steps had been taken with regard to the obstruction in front of the Oddfellows' Hall ? Or. Jenkins said an information had been laid against the proprietors of the hall. DOMAIN BBSBBVB. Or. Tremayne asked if anything had been done with reference to a motion passed some months ago in the Oounoil with regard to the Domain reserve P The Mayor said that changes had since taken place in the Council, but the matter had not been loat sight of, and would receive Attention in due oourse. LAMP AT LICHFIELD STBBBT. Or. Wilson asked for some information respecting respecting the removal of the lamp at the oorner of Lichfield street ? Or. Jenkins said that the lamp in question would be placed on the telegraph post instead of a lamp-post. NEW GOTKRNMBNT BUILDINGS. The followiag letter was read referring to the asphalting the approaches to the new Government Buildings : " Public Works Offioe, " Christchsroh, Feb. 25th, 1879. "F. T. Haskins, Esq., Town Clerk—- « gi r> —Will you kindly get the footpaths asphalted to east and north fronts of new Government Buildings, Cathedral square. " The work to be done in conformity to the City Council regulations. The full length and width of footpaths to be asphalted from the outside k*rb to face of buildings, and charge to Government the excess measurement of what is usually done by the Council. " I have the honor to be, Sir, " Your obedient servant, " M. HUBBELL, "Inspector of Government Works." Remitted to the works committee and surveyor to report at the next meeting of the Council. AUDITING ACCOUNTS. Cr. Leaard moved—" That, in the opinion of this Oounoil, the city auditors be re quested to audit the city accounts in th» terms of their agreement, without any delay whatever." Or. Cass seconded th« resolution, which was •greed to. DB. FOSTBB. Or. Cass moved —" That Dr. Foster be respectfully requested to hand over to the Town Clerk all books and documents in his possesssion belonging to this Council." Cr. Lezard seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Cr. Ayers moved —" That all books, pppers, and persons be at the call and service ot the committee of enquiry, in reference to the Council officials." Or. Jenkins seconded the motion, which was carried. Cr. Ayers moved—" That a letter of congratulation be forwarded to Mrs Conyers on the recovery of her husband, Buch letter to be submitted to his Worship the Mayor." Or. Wilson seconded the motion, whioh was carried unanimously. HAGLBT FABK COMMITTBB. On the motion of Cr. Cass, seconded by Or. Tremayne, Cr. Wilson was elected a member

of this oommi tee, and, on tho motion of Or. Tremayne, seconded by Or. Ayers, the Mayor was appointed chairman. KAITANQATA BELIEF FUND, Or Wilson brought forward the question of calling a public meeting at the Oddfellows’ , Hall for the purpose of augmenting the Kaitangatn relief fund. fhe Mayor end Crs. Cass, Binatead, and Gapes expressed t heir opinions on the question, but the Council was not unanimous as to its being the best means of raising a fund. The Mayor suggested that, in tho event of a public meeting not being called, that each Councillor should have a list of his own, the I same as he had, and much good might be done that way. It was ultimately determined that a special effort should bo made by each councillor in another direction. It was moved by Or, Gapes, seconded by Or. Wilson—“ That the Council form themselves into a committee for the purpose of raising subscriptions in aid of the sufferers by the late Kaitaugata colliery accident.” The resolution was agreed to. MUFF CBICKET MATCH. Cr Tremayna moved—“ That his Worship the Mayor and Crs. Gapes, Ayers, Lezard, Wilson, and the mover be appointed a committee for the purpose of carrying out a muff cricket match in connection with tho Kaitaugata relief fund.” THE BABIY CLOSING MOVEMENT. Cr. Clifford moved—“ That for the future tho meetings of the Council terminate not later than 10 p.m.” Cr. Wilson spoke against the resolution, and in the course of his remarks made a personal attack on the mover. Or. Cass supported Cr. Wilson in his opposition to the resolution. Or. Gapes was opposed to the resolution, at the same time deprecating the strong personalities indulged in by Or. Wilson, which he thought were partly the cause of tho action taken by Cr. Clifford. Cr. Ayers was averse to the motion, at the game time endorsing the remarks of Cr. Gapes. Cr. Binstead opposed the resolution. Or. Tremayne, while averse to the proposed change, thought a great deal of time was wasted, not only in unnecessary prolixity, but likewise by a disregard of the rules of the Council. He thought as the Council now assembled once a week the length of their meetings might be curtailed, but if they went on as they had been doing lately two meetings a week would soon be necessary. After a few remarks from the Mayor to the same purport, Cr. Clifford said that gagging a councillor while devoting his time to the public was the last thing in his thoughts; no one was more willing to give his time and ability than he was, but if they were to talk as much as ever now they met once a week, he should not be sorry to go back to the fortnightly meetings. By permission of the Council, Or. Clifford withdrew his motion. SCAVENGEBINQ. Cr. Ayers asked the town clerk what amount was due to the contractor for scavengering. The Town Clerk replied about £3OO. ÜBINAIS. 1 The Mayor asked tho Sanitary Committee what steps, if any, had been taken towards 1 increasing the number of urinals. 1 Or. Wilson replied that the Sanitary 1 Committee would obtain six or twelve new urinals as soon as practicable. The chief difficulty was the selection of sites, but when > that was overcome a report would be brought ’ before the Council at its next meeting. 3 CESSPITS. Or. Tremayne said, Inspector Hobbs was , doing his best towards the suppression of cesspits. j LICENSES. Some applications for licenses having been 1 dealt with, the Council went into Committee ■ on tho subject of the appointment of a ranger to the City Council, and subsequently ad- ( journed. ____________