CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2004, 27 July 1880, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The City Council held its usual weekly meeting last evening. There were present— His Worship the Mayor, Ors. Gapes, King, Bishop, Yinoent, Taylor, Cuff, Hulbert, Thomson, Lambert, Ayers, England, and Oherrill. The Mayor stated that the debit balance at the bank was £586 13s sd. The usual weekly statement of accounts gave the following totals Receipts —On general account, £917 Os 81; drainage rate, £lO7 2s 2d; Drainage Board rate, 1880, £37417s 7d. Expenditure—Bills to be paid, £B6B 13s Id ; Drainage Board, £l2Ol 18s. A quarterly statement of receipts and expenditure was laid on the table but not discussed.

In reply to Or, Taylor, The Surveyor said the price for use of the street roller was fixed by resolution of the Council. He thought it was a fair charge. In reply to Or. Hulbert, The Surveyor said he was not aware that the rail laid in High street in error had been used by the tramway for a siding. Or. Hulbert drew attention to the fact that he had been rated for properties he had sold long since, and also for property he had never owned, and wanted to know if this was owing to the ignorance of the Council’s officials.

The Town Clerk replied that if a person had received notice of such rating, and had not applied to have the matter set right, the usual process would follow. Or. Taylor said he had been told by a gentleman that afternoon that be had similarly suffered, and he (Or. Taylor) advised him to write to the town clerk. The Town Clerk said tho matter could he easily rectified when it became known. In reply to the Mayor, who said such mistakes seemed strange, The Town Clerk said the rate collector went round and enquired the owners of the property and whatever other information was necessary. The Mayor supposed then the error arose from incorrect information being furnished.

The Town Clerk said it was so in some instances, but the matter could be rectified, and the money obtained from the real owners.

The matter was then allowed to drop. An application was read from Charles "Ballard and Joseph Walfreys, pie vendors, for permission to stand off Gloucester street corner and Hereford street corner, for the purpose of carrying on their trade. The letter was referred to the Mayor to deal with.

Or. Gapes remarked that these piemen should be compelled to burn coke or charcoal, as be believed wood to be dangerous. The secretary of the Education Board wrote as follows: —

In reply to your application for payment of rate for the cottage occupied by the caretaker of the Normal school, I have the honour to inform yon that, as tha Board are advised, tho caretaker’s cottage is within tha exemption contained in the last section of the Education Act, 1877. The clause of the Act referred to was read, and the matter was not farther dealt with. Tho clerk of tho Sydenham Borough Council wrote: — I hove the honour, by direction of this Council, to ask you if yon will be so good as to specify tbe manner in which yonr Council will require the formation of the South town belt to be carried out, so that this Council may prepare to commence the work immediately after the Sydenham Borough Council Empowering Act comes into force. •

Referred to tho works committee, with power to act.

The city surveyor’s report was to the following effect: — Christchurch City Council Office, 26tb July, 1880. No. 1. I have furnished the works committee with an account of the shingle and broken metal had in since the making of the yearly estimate. All the streets specified to be sheeted are done, with the exception of the North belt, which is now being dona. No. 2. All the footpaths in the private streets which have been channelled have received a coating of fine shingle. , , ... . No. 3. The new Council Chamber will be ready for use by next Monday. No. 4. The following building licences have been granted during the month of June last:— Mr G. Winstona, Kilmora street; Mr Jensen, Kilmore street; Mr Roberts, Bedford row ;Mr Purday, St. Asaph street; Mr Parker, Cashel street; Mr Rogers, Cambridge terrace; Mr Cocks, William street ; Mr Brittan, Cashel street; Mr Eitchie, Colombo street; Messrs JLleyd and Co.. South belt; Mr Irvine, Packer’s street; Mr Maclannagan, Barhadoes street; Mr Evans, York street; Mr Caldwell, Victoria street; Mr Eeece, Lichfield street; Mr Venables, South belt; Mr Todd, Madras street; Mr Turton, South town belt. C. Walkden, City Surveyor.

The report was approved. The Town Clerk, in accordance with instructions, submitted a statement of the amount spent on account of vote for stone and shingle, from April Ist to Juno 30th, 1880, being £2103 15s Id, made up as follows :—Wilson and Hale’s contract, broken metal, £4lO 9j 6i ; boulders, £505 10s 7d ; stone breakers, £169 la 8d ; blinding, £l9 ; shingle, £707 8s ; private streets, £95 14a lOd; shingle for channels, £SO 6a 3d; Band for channels, £36 4a; total, £2103 15s Id. The surveyor also submitted a statement of sand and shingle delivered since the works committee’s estimate for the year 1880-1. Or. Taylor said the finance committee had met that morning, and decided to ask the Council to at once discontinue expenditure for boulder or broken metal, as the surveyor had advised them that there were 1000 yards of metal more than would be required this year. He moved, as chairman of the finance committee—“ That the expenditure on boulder metal cease.”

A discussion of some length ensued, certain councillors pointing out that the old men engaged on breaking the metal would be thrown out of employ in the worst of the winter months if the resolution were carried ; and the Mayor remarked that it would be necessary to rescind a resolution of the 3rd Mayi before the motion could be carried. Ultimately Or. Taylor agreed to withdraw his resolution, the effect being that the men will be kept at work till the vote is exhausted for metal.

The collector reported favorably on an application for tbe remission of rates, and the rate was allowed to stand over with others of the kind.

Or. Gapes informed Or. Taylor that a work he had suggested at the corner of Cashel and Colombo streets was receiving attention. After disposing of routine matter, the Council adjourned till 4 o’clock on Monday next.