CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1650, 4 June 1879, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Tuesday, June 3. Tho fortnightly meeting of tho City Council was held in the Council Chamber at seven o’clock. Present —His Worship the Mayor and Crs. Gapes, Biustead, Ayers, Lezard, Tremayne, Jenkins, Cass, and Wilson. APOLOGY. An apology was made by the Mayor on behalf of Cr. Clifford, who was unable to be present.

FINANCE. The Town Clerk reported a debtor balance at the Bank, £2399 14s 2d ; receipts during the week, £279 17s 2d : drainage rate account, Cr. balance, £859 Is Id; receipts, rates, 17s 3d; bills to be paid, £1266 2s 6d.

* THE MAYOR’S REMARKS. The Mayor stated that he had during the day interviewed tho Hon. the Minister for Public Works. [ The town clerk hero read the letter sent by Mr March to the Mayor, and which was referred to in our yesterday's issue.] He had done that in compmy with the Mayor of Sydenham, in reference to the unemployed. He (the speaker) was then surprised to learn that the letter which he had sent the day after the public meeting at tho Oddfellows’ Hall had not reached Mr Macandrew. He gathered, however, that tho Cabinet had had a meeting on the subject, the result of which was tho letter just read. The Mini-ter of Public Works seemed to think that the local bodies should find work for tho unemployed, but the Government was prepared, as already stated, to employ a certain number of them. It was pointed out to the Minister of Public Works that it would be impossible for some of tbe married men to proceed to tbe site of tho proposed work, and that 6s a day would bo utterly inadequate to provide themselves and their families with the necessaries of life Numbers of such men would sooner have 5s a day nearer to Christchurch than Gs or 7s forty or fifty miles away Tho Minister of Public Works had then promised that on his return to Wellington he would again consult the Cabinet with a view to give effect to the general feeling in this matter. The Mayor then stated that he had had an interview with Mr Booth on the subject of the South Town Belt, and at the close of the ordinary business he would ask the Council to go into committee to consider this matter. THE TOWN HALL. It was resolved that the advertisement in reference to the Town Hall should be continued for the present. QUESTIONS. Cr. Ayers asked if the money had been paid in towards tbe enlargement of tbe Colombo street bridge P Tbe Town Clerk replied in the negative. In answer to another question, the Town Clerk stated that no reply had been received from Auckland with regard to the Municipal Act. NOTICES OF MOTION. Several notices of motion we-e given to come on at a later stage of the proceedings. LETTER FROM MR SAWTELL. A letter was received from Mr H. Sawtell, conveying hia beat thanks for the vote of condolence passed’by the Council on the occasion of tho death of his wife. EAST BELT BRIDGE. A letter was read from Mr McNamara on tho subject of the East belt foot bridge. The Surveyor said the whole bridge was out of gear, there was not one part that fitted tho other. Cr. Cass moved—“ That the surveyor bo instructed to describe to the contractor in writing all tho essential particulars not fulfilled by him.” Cr. Gapes seconded the resolution. Cr. Binstead said Mr McNamara was outside, and desired to make some explanation. He would suggest that he bo admitted, After some discussion the motion was put and carried unanimously. HORATIO STREET. Mr Crofts and another gentleman waited v.pon the Council, and compl-doed of the condition of the side channels in Horatio street, and asked the Council to take some steps to abate tho nuisance. It was stated by the Mayor that the matter had been referred to tbe sanitary committee, who would take it into their consideration at their next meeting. The deputation then thanked the Council and withdrew. COLLECTION OF RATES. Cr, Cess moved—“ That the collector he requested to use tho utmost despatch to recover arrears of rates, and in issuing notices of rates for tho present year ” Cr. Ayers seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. SURVEYOR’S RETORT. 1. The works committee have accepted the following tendersV/hite and Co., 400 barrels cement; Montgomery and Co., timber for fencing; Casserley, for laying concrete channel. North belt. 2. Tho channelling of South belt, Park street, and Carlton street is finished.

3. The channelling of Cambridge terrace is being proceeded with. 4. The fencing that was erected to prevent cart traffic in Lyttelton street has been knocked down and the asphalt damaged. Is it the wish of the Council that proceedings should he taken against tho person having done it ? 5. One of the Council's horses is no longer fit to do the required work. I am, therefore, one horse short of tho usual number. 6. I have now fifty-two of tho unemployed engaged in stone breaking. C. "Walkden, City Surveyor. With regard to tho fourth clause it was resolved that proceedings should bo taken under legal advice against the offender, and with regard to the next clan?e, tho works committee was empowered to sell the horse in question, and purchase another one. The report was then adopted. inspector’s report. This report was read. It stated that the inspector had received several complaints rc Green’s Bacon Factory, and had submitted them to Messrs Garrick and Cowlishaw. A complaint had also been made by the “ Times ” proprietors with regard to tho alterations_ made by Mr Hiorn’s to the urinal in the right of way between Hiorn’s hotel and the ” Times ” office. A letter was read from Mr W. Reeves on the same subject. The matter was referred to the sanitary committee and the surveyor, with power to act. The report was then adopted. ranger’s report. This report was also adopted. CITY SOLICITOR. Cr. Jenkins moved--” That clause 1 of tho report of the committee of inquiry into the office staff, re appointment of a city solicitor, adopted by the Council at its meeting on the IGth April last, be revoked.” Seconded by Cr. Tremayno, and agreed to. DRAINAGE WORKS. Cr. Gapes moved —‘‘That the works committee be requested to consider the use, in connection with the Drainage Board works, of all the brick sewers constructed within the city by this Council; also the whole of each of the said sewers, and report to the next meeting of the Council.” The motion was seconded pro forma by Cr. Jenkins, On the resolution being put, the only councillor who voted for it was the mover. THE UNEMPLOYED. Cr. Gapes moved—” That as there are a largo number of workmen at present out of employment in Christchurch and tho surrounding districts, and in fall probability the numbers will rapidly increase, and by far the largest proportion locate themselves in tho city ; it is therefore desirable that this Council urge upon all the surrounding public bodies, in conjunction with the City of Christchurch and the Sydenham Borough Councils, to immediately inaugurate all works within their means, for the purpose of absorbing the surplus labor, thereby averting tho largo amount of distress that will otherwise prevail. That the Mayor be requested to communicate with the adjoining Road Boards, the Lyttelton Harbor Board, the Selwyn County Council, and the Domain Board ; also tho Canterbury railway authorities upon the subject.” The mover thought it absolutely necessary that all the local bodies should do the utmost in their power to alleviate the present distress by giving work to the unemployed. Cr. Gapes instanced a case of where he had seen a man in the playground of one of the public schools picking up the scraps that remained on the ground after the children had had their luncheon and had gone back into the school. The motion was seconded by Cr, Wilson. The Mayor reminded the Council that the various public bodies, including the Selwyn County Council, the Harbor Board, and the Drainage Board had already taken action in the matter. The motion ho therefore thought had come rather late. Cr. Ayers was of opinion that Cr. Gapes should indicate those particular bodies which had not expressed their intention of giving work to the unemployed. Ultimately it was resolved to communicate with such local bodies ns had not already taken action in tho matter, THE COLOMBO STREET BRIDGE. Cr. Ayers moved—” That as the money promised towards the enlargement of Colombo street bridge has not been paid according to promise, and seeing that this Council has been put to considerable expense on account of the same, the Mayor be requested to obtain legal opinion as to whether the Council can recover the same ill a Court of law.”

In moving the resolution the speaker referred to the great necessity that existed for the work of the bridge being proceeded with. Cr. Lezard seconded the motion, and said he would have preferred that some name had been mentioned. _ . The Mayor presumed it was intended for Cr. Wilson.

Cr. Ayers said that was so. Cr. Jenkins wished to know whether Cr. Wilson repudiated the guarantee. Cr. Wilson said he had been assured that the money would be collected, but he had not given a guarantee. It was true a guarantee had been recorded on tho minutes, but it was not correct. Cr. Ayers would object to Cr. Wilson saying the minutes were wrong when they had been confirmed. Cr. Wilson again stated that ho had not given a guarantee. It was a bad time to collect money, but he was quite sure it could be obtained before long. .£SO of it had been already assured. He thought the Council should have more patience in the matter, and they might have a really good bridge made. , Cr. Tremaync stated most distinctly that Cr. Wilson had given a guarantee. At the present time the bridge was not in a safe condition. Cr. Gapes wonld like tho motion to embody the name of Cr. Wilson. If ho were asked a question on his oath as to whether there was a guarantee, ho must say that Cr. Wilson had made a promise to guarantee .£IOO. The bridge had brought ridicule on the Connell ns a body, and it was absolutely necessary that something should be done to it at once. Cr. Binstead would like Cr. Wilson to withdraw his denial of a guarantee, and he would then be prepared to move on the subject. Cr. Cass asked whether Cr. Wilson would give a written guarantee if the time was still further extended.

Cr. Wilson said certainly pot. Cr. Ayers replied, and said he was surprised the Mayor had allowed Cr. Wilson to repudiate the minutes, and state they were false when they had been confirmed, and all the councillors knew they were correct. Cr. Wilson said he had cast no reflection on tho Town Clerk. The motion was then put, the only “ No’ being that of Cr. Wilson himself. He, however, immediately withdrew it. Cr. Ayers drew the attention of the chairman to the fact that Cr. Wilson had rendered himself liable to a penalty of £SO for voting on a matter in which he was monetarily concerned. Cr. Wilson said he had withdrawn his vote, and the remarks of Cr. Ayers only showed his vindictive spirit. Cr. Ayers would protest against such language being used. The Mayor asked Cr. Wilson to withdraw his remarks, which that gentleman at once did. THE COLLECTOR. Cr. Cass gave notice of motion for tho next meeting—“ That, in view of the infirmity of Mr Tribe, the collector, and tho absolute necessity that tho utmost activity should be shown in collecting the rates, it is desirable that Mr Tribe should r iceive a month’s notice to quit his office, and in consideration of that gentleman’s long services he be pensioned by this Council on a salary of £6O per annum.” This was all tho business, and tho Council adjourned.