CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1980, 29 June 1880, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The usual weekly meeting of the Municipal Council was held last evening. Present —His Worship the Mayor (presiding), Cra. Gapes, King, Vincent, Oherrill, Cuff, Hulbert, England, Lambert, Ayers and Thomson. The receipts for the week were stated to be £832 4s 9d, and the bank overdraft £4259 17e 6d.

Apologies for the absence of Ors. Bishop and Taylor were made.

The Mayor reported the result of the Conference held during the week with the Local Board of Health, and pointed out that it would be desirable for the Council to ratify what had been done. He further stated that there was a Bill before the Assembly giving powers to the Council to levy a rate of not more than Id in the £ for fire prevention purposes. It was promoted by Mr Harris, of the Eire Brigade, and was in the bands of Mr Stevens. He had no objection to the Bill itself, but did not think it should hsve been introduced in the manner in which it had been. The Council should have been consulted beforehand.

In reply to Cr. Ayers, The Mayor stated that only one summons had been issued against a ratepayer, and that was withdrawn.

A ratepayer wrote, enquiring whether the Fire Prevention Bill before Parliament had received the sanction of the Council. A negative answer was given. Mr Oookson, proprietor of the City Hotel, wrote complaining of the urinal erected by the Council in front of his hotel being an eyesore and a nuisance. He offered to pay any cost involved in its removal. The matter was referred to the sanitary committee. Notice of motion was given by Or. King—- “ That it is not desirable to borrow for fire prevention purposes, and, further, that the Bill introduced by Mr Stevens was never sanctioned by the Council, although promoted by one of its officers.” The clerk of the Resident Magistrate’s Court was accorded permission to beep papers in the Council Chambers, pending other arrangements. Mr Dodd appeared before the Council to urge that Milne, an ex-cabdriver, who had had his licence taken away for misconduct, should be allewed a renewal. He explained that Milne had reformed in his habits, and he (Mr Dodd) was willing to take him into his employ. On the motion of Cr. Thomson, a license was granted to Milne. Robert Ruben applied for leave to establish a coffee stall in the town. The matter was left in the hands of the Mayor. The following report from the surveyor was read 1. I have laid nine more informations against persona for having built contrary to the provisions of the building by-law. 2. Part of Manchester street and Madras street South have been repaired with broken metal, and Barhadoes street South is now being done._ 3. The works committee recommend that the right of way through block No. 13, South-east ward, applied for by Messrs Harman and_ Stevens, should be granted, subject to its being paved and channelled. 4. I have prepared a plan showing all the lamps at present in existence, and the places where lamps appear to be now most needed, which are as follows: —No. 1, Latimer square, east side; No. 2, Cranmer square, west side; No. 3, Oxford terrace, between Manchester and Madras streets; No. 4, Manchester street, between Salisbury street and North belt; No. 5, Durham street, between St. Asaph street and South belt j Noa. 6 and 7, Lincoln road, corner of Selwyn street and South belt respectively. 5. So lowering of Lincoln road, I find that if this road is lowered to suit the concrete channels, it will involve shifting 4000 cubic yards of earth, and the coat will be as follows: —Work of lowering, .£500; 740 yards of broken metal, £407 ; total, £907. Consideration of clauses 3 and 4 was postponed. Or. Gapes moved—“ That the finance committee take the necessary steps to raise a loan of £IO,OOO, for the purpose of paying off money borrowed from the general account for permanent works, viz., concrete channelling, and also to provide funds to complete the channelling of the remainder of the unchannolled streets within the city.” Cr. Oherrill regarded the motion as premature, as one for a larger amount must be raised shortly. Cr. Cuff considered that, as the Council could not go beyond seven per cent., it would be impossible to raise it at the present time. Or. King supported the motion, but suggested the loan should be for a larger amount. Or. Thomson opposed the motion, it would bo unwise to increase taxation during the existing depression, and probably the money could not be raised at or under seven per cent. Ors. Lambert, Ayers, and Hulbert having opposed the motion, leave was given to withdraw it. Or. Lambert moved—“ That the_ works committee advertise or make inquiries it miniog rods can be obtained ; it so, that they be empowered to hire such and tools to grapple the rods, &c., now in the bottom of pipes in the Victoria street attempted well, and also to drill or bore the bottom so as to reach the water-bearing stratum.” The City Surveyor gave it as his opinion that the rods could not be so recovered. After a lengthy discussion the motion was 1 withdrawn.

In the absence of Cr. Taylor, Cr. Oherrill moved—“ That a gas lamp be erected on tho Lincoln road, at the junction of Belwyn street.”

An amendment was moved by Cr. Hulbert —“ That the Council erect the six lamps in their possession at the most convenient places.” Carried, after the withdrawal of tho original motion. Or. England moved—" That this Council is of opinion that as the Bill at present before Parliament, proposing to empower city or municipal councils to raise and maintain fire brigades, has never been considered by this Council, the said Bill should bo withdrawn until the various local bodies have had an opportunity of expressing their opinion on tho desirability of said Bill.” The motion was seconded by Cr. Hulbert, and carried unanimously. Cr. Chen-ill moved—“ That the Council approve of the action taken by members of the Council and Local Board of Health in conference.” Carried.

Or. King moved—“ That the finance committee report on this night week as to whether or not interest and sinking fund on £IO,OOO will be paid out of the general rates of the city.” The motion was lost.

On the motion of Or. Vincent, the name of Or. Thomson was placed on the fire brigade committee, and Or. Thomson’s name was also placed on the by-law committee. A number of licences were granted. Tho Council then adjourned.