CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1613, 22 April 1879, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, April 21. The usual weekly meeting of the City Council was held at the Council Chambers at seven o’clock. Present —His Whrabip the Mayor, and Cra. Gapes, Ayers, t Lezard, Clifford, Tremayne, Binstead, Cass, Jenkins, and Wilson. PINANOfI. The Town Hlerk reported the debtor balance at the Bank £1275 2a 3d ; receipts since last meeting, £154 ; drainage rate at Bank, £853 16s Id ; drainage rate account No. 2, bills to be paid Drainage Board, £B5l 17s 4d ; City Council bills to be paid, £547. QUESTIONS. Cr. Lezard asked how it was that the asphalting had not been dona in Bedford row, as most of the money promised had been contributed. Cr. Jenkins said the work would not be done until next spring. The whole of the money had not yet been paid in to the town clerk. Cr. Ayers thmglit it rather hard that the general body of contributors should suffer because one or two persons had not paid their money. The Mayor agreed with Or. Ayers. In answer to a question from Or. Lezard the Mayor said he had not yet taken legal advice on the subject of Messrs Heywood carrying parcels throughout the city. Or. Gapes brought the case of the man Hillyer, who had fallen down dead last week, before the notice of the Council. He had made inquiries and found that his wife and family were left in very straightened circumstances. If the Council could do anything in the way of relief it behoved them to do it. Ho thought they might make a small grant from their funds, for no greater case of distress could come under their consideration than that now before them. The Mayor would point out to the Council that they had a Charitable Aid Board, and no doubt a recommendation from the Councillors would have the effect of inducing them to give assistance to the poor woman. He very much questionsd whether that body (the Council) had power to give a grant. When he had mentioned the subject before he had done so with a view of the members of the Council contributing privately. He _ might say that he had just seen a subscription list amounting to about £l3 or £l4, Ho had just received a cheque for £2 from Mr Isaac Allen, commission agent, on behalf of the widow. Or. Clifford asked if the chairman of the works committee had any power to veto or interfere with any work ordered to be done by the Council. The Mayor thought that any member could answer that question for himself. Of course the ruling of the Council was supreme. Cr. Clifford said he had a reason for asking the question. He should refer to the matter more tully at a later period of the evening. A letter was read from Mr James Rowe, asking that night soil might be deposited on his land across the river near Mr Laney’s property opposite to the Sandhills. After some discussion the application was granted on the motion of Or. Wilson, seconded by Cr, Cass. HAGLEY BARK TRUST. A letter was read from Mr R. J. S. Harman, the chairman of the Domain Board, expressing his readiness to meet a sub-com-mittee of the City Council, and referring the Council to a Gazette referring to the matter. The letter was received with thanks. THE ADDINGTON WORKSHOPS. A letter w»s received from Messrs E. 0. J. Stevens, Edward Richardson, and W. S. Mourhousa, M.fl.R.’s, acknowledging the receipt of a copy of the resolution passed at a late meeting on the subject of the Addington workshops, and stating that they had placed themselves in communication with the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce. SUB-COLLEOTOB. The resignation of Mr J. W. H. Gordon, the sub-collector, was received and accepted. OPEN AIB AUCTION. An application was made by Mr R. Ogden to hold a Dutch auction in Cathedral square on Saturday nights. After a good deal of discussion, it was resolved not to grant the application. THE LATE SUDDEN DEATH. Cr. Wilson moved —“ That the Council subscribe the sum of £lO from the funds for the widow and family of the late Fredk. Hillyer, one of the City Council’s workmen.” Seconded by Or. Gapes. The Mayor said he was very doubtful whether the Council had power to vote money from its funds for such a purpose as that proposed. After some discussion, the motion was agreed to unanimously. PETERBOROUGH STREET. A letter was read from Mr Atkinson, of Peterborough street West, asking that a lamp might be placed in that street. The letter was referred to the lighting committee to bring up a report. BABBADOES STREET BRIDGE. Cr, Ayers said he had great pleasure to hand in the sum of £145 towards the expense of erecting the Barbadoes street bridge. Some of the contributors were present as a deputation, and they thought they would be able to collect from £3O to £SO more in the course of the next week. In answer to a question, the City Surveyor said the estimate for the bridge was £1350. Mr Toovey, acting as spokesman of the deputation, pressed the claims of the proposed bridge in question. He said it was very hard to collect money at the present time. He himself had subscribed the sum of £IOO. Ho did not think they would be able to make up more than £2OO. The amount originally required by the Council was £250, but ho was afraid it would be impossible to collect that sum, Or. Wilson moved—“ That the time for the collection of the sum of £250 be extended by one month, and that in the event of its being collected within that time the work be commenced forthwith.” Seconded by Or. Jenkins. Or, Gapes moved, as an amendment—- “ That the former resolution requiring the sum of £250 being collected be rescinded, and that on £2OO being collected the work bo commenced.”

Seconded by Or. Ayers. Cr. Cass drew the attention of the Council to the fact that no motion to rescind could be moved without notice, unless the whole of tho Council were unanimous.

O. Wilson would not consent to Or. Gapes moving his resolution without notice. A lively discussion ensued, in the course of which Or. Wilson was called to order for accusing Crs. Q-apes and Ayers with gross inconsistency. Or. Wilson thought he knew what points of order were after his long connection with public affairs, and having sat for seven years in the Provincial Council, Or. Wilson's motion was carried, with two dissentients, Crs. Qapes and Ayers, Mr Toovoy here re entered the room, and having been informed of the result of the debate, demanded to have the money returned. Cr. Cass was surprised at such a demand, and questioned whether the money could now bo returned. It was in the hands of the Council on behalf of the subscribers. The Mayor thought they must clearly return the money if it was demanded. After some discussion, The Mayor said it would be very shabby to keep the money, and he would be no party to such a proceeding. It was, in his opinion, very much like obtaining money under false pretences. Cr. Cass said that if the Mayor handed the money back he would be doing what was manifestly wrong. Cr. Ayers said before formally handing over the money ho distinctly stated that only £2OO could bo collected. The Mayor did not consider the money was the property of the Council. It was a question for them to decide, but for his own part ho would wash his hands of all responsibility. Cr. Gapes proposed that the money be returned to the subscribers. Cr. Wilson hold that it would bo illegal to hand the money back for at least a month. Cr. Ayers seconded the motion of Or. Gapes. Or. Cass, as the chairman of the finance committee, objected to the money in question

being paid over to anybody until the expiration of a month. . The motion was then put and lost, the only members voting for it being Crs. Gapes and Ayers, the Mayor not voting. Mr Toovey was then informed that the money would be well cared for, and the cheque not cashed. , Mr Toovey then thanked the Council and withdrew. SURVEYOR’S REPORT. 1. The works committee have approved of the estimate of expenditure for the current year, and handed them to the town clerk. 2. A letter from Mr Smart relating to Lyttelton street is annexed hereto. 3. The East belt bridge is drawing near to a finished state, but I am sorry to say that when it is completed I shall not be able to accept it, as it is not built in accordance with the drawing. 4. The works committee accepted the tender of Mr Clarkson for the 300 barrels of cement advertised for. 5. The plans and conditions in connexion with the Municipal buildings are completed, and designs have been advertif-ed for. 6. A large number of rights of way m . the city are now in need of proper iron culverts at the end of them. Tt has been the custom to place wooden bridges at those places at the Couucil’s expense. I therefore wish for instructions from the Council whether I am to follow the same rule with regard to placing iron culverts. C. Walkden, City Surveyor. Considerable discussion took place on the subject of certain artesian water flowing in Lyttelton street, in the course of which a very smart passage of arms took place between Crs, Clifford and Wilson, the former accusing the latter of acting in an improper manner as chairman of the sanitary committee. Clause 3 was left to the works committee to deal with. The last clause was struck out, pending further consideration. The report, as a whole, was then approved. REPORTS. The inspector’s, the collector’s, and the city ranger’s reports were read and adopted. THE NEW TOWN HALL. Or. Wilson moved—“ That one month’s longer time be allowed for the competing architects for the designs of the new town hall .and municipal buildings, viz, until the 14th of July, the time low mentioned being too short.” Seconded by Cr. Jenkins, and agreed to. DAY OE MEETING. Or. Cass gave notice that the next meetings of the Council be held fortnightly as heretofore, the objects contemplated by the weekly meetings not having been attained. The Council adjourned at half-past ton o’eloek.