CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1938, 11 May 1880, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The usual meeting of the City Council was hold last evening. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs. Gapes, Ayers, King, Bishop, Hulbert, Ohcrrill, Cuff, Wyatt, Lambert, Taylor, and-England. The weekly statement of accounts gave the following totals :— Receipts for the week ending Bth instant —General account, £643 5s Id; drainage rate, 1879, 16s 8d ; drainage rate 1880, £63 2s; bills to be paid, £646 18s. Tho debit balance at the Bank was £4614 8s lid.

The accounts were passed as read. Cr. Cuff gave notice of motion for next meeting as follows —“That the resolution passed on the 26fch of April, voting the sum of £IOO for the improvement of Latimer squaro and a like amount on Cranmer square next year, bo rescinded, as the action taken by the ratepayers in refusing to vote eupplio makes it imperative on this Council to stop any works but those of the utmost necessity.” Cr. Bishop asked if the town clerk was in possession of a correct copy of the Street Tramway Concession Deed ? The Mayor explained that the chairman of the Tramway Company had informed him that the draft deed on the table at the meeting on Friday was not the agreement at issue between the Council and the company. Ho (the Mayor) also stated that he was in possession of information to the effect that the company sought no power to erect a glass verandah in Cathedral square. Mr Bishop expressed an opinion that the Council had been grossly misled in the matter. They ought to have been placed in possession of the proper information on a question before them, instead of which they had been laboring under a ridiculous mistake, which had placed them in a most humiliating position. Some discussion ensued, during which the town clerk stated that he know of no other document except that referred to, and the Mayor suggesting that the company would no doubt furnish a correct copy of the deed of concession, the subject was allowed to drop. Several questions in relation to the progress of municipal work, &0., were put and duly responded to. Correspondence was read as follows : From Mr E.C. J. Stevens a letter was received adverting to the subject of amendment in the Municipal Corporations Act, saying that he would be glad if the proposed conference could be arranged to take place early next week, as he was obliged to go to Otago next Thursday on the Native Industries Commission, and should be absent about a week. The Mayor said he had seen Mr Richardson, M.H.R., who expressed willingness to meet the Council at the conference proposed to be held before Parliament met. The town clerk was instructed to write the city members inquiring what time would suit their convenience to meet the Council. Subsequently an understanding was arrived at that the matter should be further considered by the Council before meeting in conference. From Mr Henry J. Ross, on behalf of the Canterbury Sunday School Union (which represents sixty-seven schools and nearly 900 teachers), acknowledging the cordial support accorded by the Council to the movement introduced by Cr. Lambert towards obtaining legislative action to prevent Sunday trading, and requesting that prompt action should be taken to bring the matter to a successful issue. From Mr J. B. Chisholm, on behalf of the Sabbath School Teachers’ Institute, in relation to the same subject, expressing strong sympathy with the Council iu its efforts to suppress Sunday trading, and stating that the committee would pledge themselves to support the Council in the endeavor to get a law passed which would effectually put a stop to Sabbath desecration in this city. From Garrick and Cowlishaw, as follows : “ Referring to your letter of 28th April, wo beg to say that in any matters of dispute between the Council and the Tramway Company, we shall be prepared to represent the Council. With reference to any dispute in which the Council may become involved with any other public body, by which wo understand any Road Board, Borough Council, or Board of the like nature, we will bo prepared to represent the Council, except against the Christchurch Drainage Board.” A depu'ation waited on the Council to represent the views of a meeting of citizens hold last week, in reference to the question of Sunday trading. Mr Twentyman introduced the deputation, and presented a memorial against the practice of Sunday trading, and suggesting the desirability of inducing legislative action to secure the general recognition of the Sabbath as a day of rest.

The Mayor staled what had been done by the Council in the matter, and mentioned that twenty-one communications from local governing bodies in various parts of the colony had been received, nineteen of which were decidedly of opinion that the Legislature should interfere to prevent Sunday trading. Mr Twentyman, in remarking on the decision of the magistrate in the case of Marks, said it would be desirable to ascertain definitely how tho law stood on the subject, and then take whatever action might seem necessary. The deputation having been assured by the Mayor of tho sympathy of the Council, then withdrew. Tho report of tho city surveyor was read as follows : Christchurch, 10th May, 1880. 1. Three informations have been laid against persons for breaking the building by-law, and several more will he laid this week. 2. Now that the Waimaka'-iri water scheme is thrown out I suppose the air lock, pumps, &c., borrowed from the Government had better bo re-carted to Christchurch. 3. Annexed hereto is an account of money due from street channelling to general account amounting to .£l2lO 5s ; also an account showing what those streets will cost for channelling where notices have been served, but

np work as yet commenced. 4. The works committee have made an arrangement with Mr Smart, subject to the Council’s approval, that if the Council will channel Lyttelton street, Mr Smart will form and metal it with broken stone, as he believes the asphalt will not bear the boiling soap suds and other refuse which is constantly thrown on to it. C. Walkden, City Surveyor. The clauses of the report wore considered seriatim. No. X was approved. With respect to clause 2, the surveyor was instructed to return the air-lock, pumps, &a. In reply to a question, the surveyor read a statement giving the details of the first account mentioned in clause 3 ; also a list of those as to which notices had been served, but no work as yet commenced, the cost for channelling which was estimated at £741.

Or. England moved—“ That the works committee be instructed to continue the formation and channelling of those private streets alrerdy in hand ; and also those streets asto which notices have been sent and money taken by the Council from residents in response to tho said notices, bo formed and channelled in the usual way.” Seconded by Cr. Taylor. A d’seussion ensued, dealing with tho financial position of the Council as bearing upon the proposed expenditure, Cr. Bishop pointing out that tho Council would bo committed to an outlay of nearly £SOOO, as shown by an explanation given by the town clerk. Cr. Taylor withdrew as seconder of the motion, he having acted under the impression that the liability to bo undertaken would be much loss. Cr. Gapes then seconded Cr. England’s motion.

Some discussion ensued, after which

Cr. England withdrew his resolution, it being understood that the matter should stand over for one week, and that in tho meantime the Mayor would take an opportunity of obtaining the advice of tho city solicitors as to whether tho Council wore legally liable to proceed with tho formation of streets in which tho residents had paid tho Council money in view of such work being undertaken. Tho subject dealt with in clause 4 of the report was also allowed to stand over till next meeting. At this stage the Council resolved to consider immediately the motion given notice of by Or. Cuff, to tho effect that a resolution of the Council bo rescinded which authorised expenditure on Latimer and Cranmcr squares, but the resolution found no seconder, and was therefore thrown out.

Cr. Bishop moved —“That tho town clerk write to the Resident Magistrate informing him that the Council will require him to vocate the promises used as Courthouse and offices at tho expiration of the time mentioned in his notice.”

Or. Gapes seconded tho motion, which was carried unanimously. In relation to a letter from Mr J. B. Brown as to the misunderstanding existing between tho Tramway Company and tho Council, it was resolved that the board of directors be asked to appoint a committee to wait upon the Council and represent tho company’s views.

On the motion of Or. Bishop, tho surveyor was instructed to prepare an estimate of the cost of converting the present offices and tho Resident Magistrates’ Court into suitable municipal offices. The Council then went into committee to consider the inspector’s report, and on resuming adjourned.