CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1619, 29 April 1879, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, Apeil 29.

The usual weekly meeting of the Council was held at the Council Chambers at a quarter to seven o’clock. Present —His Worship the Mayor and Crs. Gapes, Ayers, Cass, Lezard, Clifford, Jenkins, Tremayne, Binstead, and Wilson. THE BARBA DOES STREET BRIDGE. On the minutes being read over, Or. Wilson said ho should object to their being confirmed, as they did not state that it had been promised to Mr Toovoy that the cheque which he had handed to the Council should not be paid into the bank. The officer had certainly not acted as he ought to have done upon tho occasion. The omission was a very serious one. The Mayor quite agreed with Or. Wilson. The Mayor said he had been waited upon by Mr Toovey that morning on the subject, and he (the speaker) had promised to bring the matter before the Council. He had stated that an assurance had been given him that the cheque should not be made use of. He (the speaker) had stated in that chamber that the cheque should be locked up in the safe until the expiration of one month. Toovey had told him that tho money had been paid into tho Bank that morning, and that when ho had afterwards gone to draw money which he supposed he had lying to his credit in tho Bank ho found he could not do so. He (the Mayor) was of opinion that the Council had broken faith with Mr Toovey, and if the town clerk had paid this money into the Bank after the expression of opinion by tho Council he had exceeded his duty and done what he had no right to do. He again said they had broken faith with Mr Toovey. After some further discussion, the minutes wore amended and then agreed to. buhoebs boll. The Mayor said the first business of the Council would bo to consider the burgess-roll, in accordance with clause 45 of tho Act. The Town Clerk stated that there had not been a single objection. Certain formalities were then gone through, and the business in connection with the burgess roll was concluded, and the same declared to be correct, and was certified to. FINANCE. The Town Clerk reported tho debtor balance at the bank, at £1495 16s Id ; receipts during the week, £3OB 19s 7d ; drainage rate account, £853 16s Id; sinking fund account

balance, £2B 15s 81 ; interest on G 'vernmr nt debentures, £27 15s; bills to be paid, £251 5s 7d.

mayor’s remarks

ITis Worship the Mayor said he had receivid a telegram that the Governor would arrive in Christchurch about 4 o’clock on Saturday afternoon. His reception in Dunedin had been of a right royal character, and he should ask the Council to do something similar to what had been done in that city. He might state that in addition to the banquet to his Hxcelleney on Tuesday, there would bo a public ball at the Oddfellows’ hall. He had issued circulars to a number of gentlemen in town to meet him at three o’clock on the following afternoon to make the necessary arrangements. He was glad to say that the subscription-lists for Mrs Hillroy had been well filled up. The tiine had now arrived when it would be necessary to take into consideration the appointments of a city solicitor, an assistant inspector of nuisances, and a foreman of works. For the appointment of the latter the city surveyor ought to be held responsible, the Council determining the amount of wages ho was to receive. Before they proceeded with the business of the evening, it would perhaps be as well to hear a deputation that was present. NIGHTSOIL. A deputation, consisting of Messrs J, Hebden, Craddock, Brice, and Seares waited on the Council to ask them to reconsider the permission they gave at the last meeting to Mr Brightling to deposit nightsoil on land owned by Mr Rowe, Dudley’s Creek, on the Now Brighton road. A petition on the same subject, bearing fifteen signatures, was also read. Mr Hebden and other members of the deputation spoke strongly against tho action of Mr Brightling, and stated that where the soil was deposited was at the junction of four roads, and that some dozen families resided within three hundred yards of tho spot. It was stated tl at the only person who had refused to sign the petition was Mr De Bourbel, who lived a mile from the spot. Mr Rowe said he had no wish to create a nuisance or annoy anybody. Mr Pearce, the inspector of nuisances, had visited the place and said there was no nuisance there. The nearest house was about seven chains.

Cr. Wilson, the chairman of the sanitary committee, said they had visited the spot complained of and found no disagreeable smell whatever. The nearest house was eight chains distant ; that of Mr Hebden was twelve chains. That gentleman admitted that at the present time he smelt nothing, but was afraid tho place would become a nuisance next summer if the wind should happen to blow that way. The sanitary committee considered the petition was utterly unfounded and utterly unjust. He delivered these utterances as tho report of the sanitary committee. He would move that the petition bo laid upon the table.

Cr. Treraayne would second the motion pro forma , and would bear out most of the remarks of Cr. Wilson.

Cr. Gapes moved, as an amendment, “That the depositing of the nightsoil in the place in question be discontinued.” Cr. Ayers seconded the amendment. Crs. Cass, Jenkins, and Binstead would vote for the motion.

His Worship said he should vote against it, as he took it that if the matter complained of had not been a nuiunce, so numerouslysigned a petition would not have come before them. One of the deputation had told them that when he ope? ed his door at six o’clock in the morning the smell was so great that he had to immediately close it again. The speaker continued to speak strongly in favour of the amendment, and said he felt so strongly on the subject that he should use his prerogative of giving his deliberative and, if necessary, his casting vote. On the amendment being put the following voted for it: —His Worship, and Crs. Gapes, Ayers, Lezard, and Clifford. For the resolution—Crs. Cass, Jenkins, Tremayne, Binstead, and Wilson.

The amendment was carried by the casting vote of the Mayor. Crs. Wilson and Cass thought it would have been much better taste if his Worship had not voted on it.

His Worship said that he had a right to use his own discretion, and with regard to such remarks he would not put up with them. Ho would ask that such observations should be dropped, or he would take the sense of the Council on the subject. [Hear, hear.] The deputation were then called in and informed of the result of their application.

Mr Hebden said he knew it was not regular, but he should like to have had an opportunity of replying to some mis-state-ments that had been made in their absence.

Cr, Wilson remarked that it appeared then that he had been eavesdropping. Mr Hebden said he had been doing nothing of the kind. Ho had had the information conveyed to him. Cr, Wilson was about to make some further remarks, when The Mayor said the matter had better drop; such observations were better unsaid. The deputation then thanked the Council and withdrew. KAITANGATA BELIE? FUND. A letter of receipt and thanks was received from Mr J. L. Gillies, the Otago hon. sec. of this fund. The Council empowered the Mayor to forward a further sum of £2l ss, the proceeds of an entertainment at Dunsandel. THE GAS. A letter was read from the Gas Company in reference to the quality of the gas supplied. The letter stated that the gas on the night complained of was 30 per cent, above the English standard, and that the fault of the bad gas found in the City Council was due to the bad fittings. After some discussion,

His Worship said there had been too much gas in the Council for some time past. [Hear, hear.]. Cr. Clifford said if his Worship was referring to him he would ask Cr. Wilson to say a word on the subject. Cr. Wilson thought they had more gas from Cr. Clifford than from any other member of the Council. On the motion of Cr. Gapes, seconded by Cr. Lezard, it was resolved that the necessary alterations be made in the fittings. paeliament in Christchurch. The receipt of the resolutions passed at a late public meeting on this subject was briefly acknowledged. surveyor’s report. No. I—The works committee recommend that a lamp should be placed at the junction of Peterborough and Montreal streets. No. 2—The expense of forming and shingling Oxford terrace, from Avon street to Ward’s brewery, would be £622. No. 3—On the 15th of last month I went to Messrs Garrick and Cowlishaw, and requested them to commence proceedings against a person who had built a house in violation of tho bylaw, and I have to-day received their answer, which I have handed to the town clerk. C. Walkdin, City Surveyor. The works committee recommended that the work referred to in the 2nd clause stand over till the spring. With regard to tho 2nd clause it was resolved that the surveyor should report upon the cost of a portion of the work to bo done before the winter set in. Tho letter of Messrs Garrick and Cowlishaw was then read. It stated that the penalty could not bo enforced, as the offence had been committed upwards of six months ago. Some discussion took place, in the course of which Cr. Cass said ho very much regretted that the Mayor could not appreciate the fine points of his (Cr. Cass’s) logic. The Mayor replied that he very much regretted that Cr. Cass was so dull that he could not understand plain English. A nuisance. A letter from Mr James Booth, of Tuam street, complaining of smoking chimnios was referred to the inspector. REPORTS. Tho report of the inspector and the ranger wore read and adopted. REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE. In furnishing the Council with a balancesheet showing the estimated receipts and expenditure for the financial year 1879-80, your committee have been guided by tho sound commercial principle of living within one’s means.

They have carefully considered the various sources of income, and have set down the items generally rather within the mark than otherwise, and have curtailed the proposed works not fthsolut. lv necessary to ho done this year, so «a, with current liabilities, to bring the expenditure within the income, allowing but the small sum of ,£2OO for contingencies. At the same time, your committee respectfully remind the Council of the probability of a loan for water and otn;r works being floated this year, when, according to a pre-arrangement of the Council, the cost of sundry items of works performed will ho recouped, and may swell up the balance for contingencies to about ,£2OOO. The im ome from the city endowments being so ridiculously small, your committee regret to state that in the present state of trade they cannot hope, without extraneous aid, to make provision for that amount of public improvements within the city that may appear otherwise desirable.

Tho estimated income is >£10,931, and expenditure >£3i',o39, )e wing a deficit of <£10,107 to be secured by a general rate of la in the pound on the assessed property of the city, which will leave a credit balance of about >£ioo. B. Cass, Chairman.

April 28th, 1879. Cr. Cass said that all works which wero not considered urgent wore cut down. He moved tho adoption of tho report. Cr. Jenkina wanted to know if the finance committee could cut down items without consulting the works committee. Tho Mayor said it was customary fpr the finance committee to cut down items so as to bring tho expenditure within the income. After some further discussion the motion was agreed to, and the report adopted. TIME OF MEETING. Cr. Cass moved weekly meetings of the Council have failed to furnish that relief to councillors that was anticipated, it is desirable that for the future they should be fortnightly as. heretofore, and that the resolution (24th February, 1879) appointing weekly meetings be rescinded accordingly. ” In moving the resolution, Cr. Cass said tho reason of his doing so was because the weekly meetings had proved an utter failure. The object of tho alteration was that they should save time in their meetings, but ho would appeal to any of them whether this object had been attained. Ho then proceeded to explain at length that there was a double amount of time consumed in the work of the Council, and that there were no commensurate advantages to be gained thereby. He also spoke of the many contingent disadvantages which arose from tho weekly meetings of the Council, although it was true it might be to tho advantage of one I or two councillors who, as it were, came there primed full to the bung to deliver themselves of synonyms and discursive matter that could not possibly benefit the Council. Cr. Clifford seconded tho motion. He quite agreed with the mover that tho change had been for the benefit of one or two councillors who were very fond of airing their eloquence, which eloquence, however, never swerved him when his mind wag once made up. The Mayor would strongly oppose the motion. He used at one time to have a great respect for Cr. Cass’s ability, but that respect existed no longer. His speech had been most illogical. Cr. Cass had for a good many meetings past occupied more time than any other councillor save Cr. Wilson. Ho intended in future to take down the time occupied by the councillors. If gentlemen could not give time to represent the people they should not come forward, and if tho motion was carried he himself should have a motion brought forward to meet at 4 o’clock in the afternoon. It was delightful ihat Cr. Cass should have so much sympathy for tho gentlemen of tho Press after the very different opinion previously expressed by him. He was sorry to hear that Cr. Clifford made up his mind before he came to the Council, and could hardly believe him. Cr. Wilson opposed the motion, and said a more miserable failure as a speech had never been made than that just deliver! by Or Cass. It was illogical and untruthful. (Or. Wilson was here called to order and withdrew the word.) He would then say instead, grossly absurd. Why, in the Provincial Council he had seen three evenings taken up over the consideration of a single question. There was reason for his (Cr. Wilson’s) speaking at length, because he carried ten motions where Cr. Cass carried one. If the motion was carried it would lead to the resignation, no doubt, of members of that body. A more tedious speaker than Cr. Cass it was impossible to conceive. Words came from him as from a little school boy—in fact, they had to be so dragged from him that it was painful to listen to him. His eccentricity, too, of ideas quite grieved one, and although he might think, and try to prove, that the earth was fiat, it was no reason ——

Or. Wilson was here called to order, and after a few more remarks sat down.

Cr. Gapes would oppose the motion on the ground that the weekly meeting system had not had a fair trial.

Cr. Ayers would support the motion on the ground of the very great waste of time that took place at these weekly meetings. He had no obiection himself to come every week, but he was not prepared to waste a large amount of time. He could quite understand any motion in the Provincial Council taking up three nights if it had such members as Or. Wilson, who he had heard boast that he would move as an amendment that the Council should sit twice a week.

Cr. Binstead was not prepared to support the motion. The work of the Council was too much in quantity to bo got [through at fort' nightly meetings. Or. Tremayne would oppose the motion. He did not think the weekly meetings had had a fair trial.

Cr. Lfzard would also oppose the reso lution.

Cr, Cass replied, and in the course of doing so said it was all very well to twit him, but the fact of the matter was he was fifty years in advance of the] age. [Laughter.] Very high men at home held the very same views which he held on many important questions of the day. He had been so twitted by editors in this city, but yet not one of them had the moral courage to accept the challenge he had thrown out to them. They had not shown one atom of ability in coping with him on these great questions. One of them was so ignorant that he did not know the meaning of the word “infidel.” He said it was a person who did not believe in a God, but, on referring to a dictionary, he found that such a person was an atheist. Such an editor was as illogical as the Mayor, who, he had no hesitation in saying, was the cause of the fearful loss of time that took place. His Worship had no experience in the chair, but no doubt would pain it in the course of a short time. He allowed speakers to ramble on in a most irrelevant manner; that was the cause of so much of their time being taken up. The Mayor would remind Or. Cass that he had occupied exactly twenty-one minutes in his reply, in the course of which ho had gone into the questions of theology, astronomy, infidelity, and astrology. If this was not irrelevancy, he would very much like to know what was. The motion was then put, Crs. Cass, Ayers, Clifford, and Jenkins voting for it, the remainder against it. HOLIDAY POB EMPLOYES. Cr. Ayers moved—“ That this Council give their officers a holiday annually, and that a table bo prepared showing when each officer can be most conveniently spared. Such holiday to bo of a fortnight’s duration for each officer.” A considerable amount of discussion ensued. Cr, Wilson moved as an amendment — “ That this Council give their chief officers a holiday annually, such holiday to be of not lees than a fortnight for each officer, and in all eases both the officers’ and the Council’s convenience bo consulted.” Seconded Cr. Jenkins. The resolution was carried by G to 4. CAMBKIDOK TEUUACK EAST. Cr. Tremajno moved —“ That in the opinion of this Council the angle situated on Cambridge terrace east should at once bo channelled. That the nuisance arising out of the house slops that are carried into the unformed channel by those houses abutting on the same should be removed.” The motion was carried. CHEAP JACKS. Cr. moved —“ That as Mr Reuben Lad, ia defiance of the resolution of

' the Council, occupied a place a- <i caused an obsl,ruction in Cathedral square, the city ranger be instructed to proceed against him for a breach of the city by laws.” The rnotim was carried unanimously. Cr. Tremayne moved—“ That all permit* to stand in the square for the sale of goods of any kind bo withdrawn.” The motion was seconded by Cr. Wilson. Cr. Gapes opposed the motion. After some discussion the motion was carried, Cr. Gapes only opposing TAHHING A FENCE. Cr. Gapes called the attention of the Council to the tarring of a fence on the line of the footpath in High street, and also to a broken fence by the river in Eilmore street. The matters were referred to the surveyor, though that gentleman said the first,-named matter was quite beyond his jurisdiction. Cr. Gapes said the matter certainly was under the control of the Council. After some discussion, The matter was referred to the surveyor, as well as another small matter in reference to Martin street, brought forward by Cr. Wilson. CITY SOLICITOR, &C. It was resolved to advertise for a gentleman willing to hold office as city solicitor, all applicants to state their own terms, applications to be sent in within a fortnight. It was also resolved to advertise for an assistant inspector, applications to be in before next meeting. It was resolved to leave the question of tho appointment of a foreman of works to the city surveyor. LICENSES. The Council having considered the question of certain licenses, adjourned at half-past eleven o’clock.