CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1632, 14 May 1879, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Tuesday, May 13, The annual meeting of (he City Council was held at 4 p.m., for the purpose of passing the accounts for the past year. Present—His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Councillors Ayers, Cass, Clifford, Wilson, Tremayne, Jenkins, and Gapes. THE MAYOR'S STATEMENT. The Mayor said that this was the annual meeting held under clause 133 of the Municipal Corporations Act for passing the accounts as audited by the city auditor. Under the clause, if the Council were of opinion that the accounts truly disclosed the dealings with the city funds, they could pass a resolution adopting the accounts, and authorising the Mayor to sign them. Cr. Jenkins asked if any report had been received from the auditors. The Town Clerk said no report had been received from the auditors. Cr. Jenkins said that the clause provided that the report of the auditors should bo published with the statement of the accounts. Could the Mayor say whether the auditors were in the habit of making a report. The Mayor said that the auditors had appended their certificate to the accounts that they were correct. Ho took it that this was all the report (he auditors had sent, or thought they were entitled to do. Cr. Jenkins Then that means that wo are within our revenue in our expenditure. I see that there is channelling taken out of ordinary revenue, which should have been taken out of loan. Ought not the auditors to have taken notice of that ? Cr. Ayers—l take it that it docs nob come within the province of the auditors to say how we shall spend our money. All that they have to do is to see that there are vouchers to account for the expenditure, and that it is in accordance with the resolutions of the Council, The Mayor—The report last year was a merely formal document, drawing attention to the uncollected rates. Cr. Ayers—l will move —"That the accounts for the year ending 31at March, 1879, in compliance with clause 133 of the Municipal Corporation Act, 1878, be certified as correct, and that His Worship the Mayor bo requested to sign the same.” Cr. Cass seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Cr. Jenkins —I do not see the reserves valued in this statement. It is not usual to do so ?

The Mayor—We have only just got the Crown grunt of the 2000 acres, so that does not appear in the valuations.

CONDOLENCE. The Mayor said he desired to bring before the Council a matter which had been omitted on the previous evening. This was condoling with ex Mayor Sawtell on the severe bereavement which he had sustained in the loss of his wife. He trusted the Council would agree with him in eenning a letter of condolence to ex Mayor Sawtell on the subject. Mr Sawtell was a gentleman who had the respect not only of the City Council but of all the citizens generally, Cr. Ayers would move “ That the Mayor forward a letter to cx Mayor Sawtell, condoling with him on his recent bereavement.” Or. Cass seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Council then adjourned.