CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2625, 5 September 1882, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, Sbptestbeb 4. A special meeting was held at 6.40 p.m., at ■which the Tramway and Hackney carriage Iby-lawe were adopted, and a special meeting for confirming the s.ms fixed for October 9th •t 6.40 p.m. The usual meeting was held at 7 p.m. Present—His Worship the Mayor, On, Ayere, Bishop, Vincent, Bjorns, Louisson, Bowman, Kiver, Treleaven, Halbert, England and Lambert.

The receipts for the fortnight were announced as being £392 15s sd, the credit IbalaDce at tbe Bank being £6374 3s Bd. Wills to' tbe amount of £1263 Is Si were passed for p?ym«nt. A letter was read from Mr P. Hill, with ffeferonce to certain expenses incurred in (ejecting him from a stall held by him in the Market square, and asking the Council to bear him. The writer wished the Council to refund him the legal expenses. After a desultory discussion, it was resolved that the legal expenses referred to be remitted. A letter was received from the Board of Health, forwarding the resolutions arrived at the conference held recently between tbe representatives of local bodies. The first of the resolutions were read, when

Cr. Vincent moved—“ That the consideration or these resolutions ba deferred until next meeting, and that copies of them ba gent to each member of the Council.” Or. Lambert seconded the motion, which was carried.

1 The city surveyors report was read as C*Uows

-1. The asphalts contractor has been preparing • quantity of material, and will shortly commence laying tbe asphalte in New street and other places where repairs are required. 2. Mr Fnll.r, who was appointed to drive the Deluge fire engine, has also been appointed to drive the steam roller, and he will commence this week, as there are now a number of places that require rolling. 3. The work of building Manchester bridge was commenced this week, •ad if the material contracted for is delivered in contract time, the bridge will be finished in ten or twelve weeks’ time. 4. The trees oppo-

aits the streets opening on to Park terrace have boon cut down. 5. The second watar tank has been erected in the market place, and they are both now ready to supply the water carts. 6. The amount taken in building fees dnring the month of August was J2H, and there were nineteen new licenses granted. The whole of. the report was approved. The report of the works committee ap. pointed to consider the letter of the Cathedral Chapter was read as follows: ' Tour committee have considered the letter from the Cathedral Chapter for permission to remove the tank reserves fence to improve the appearance of the Cathedral sits. Tour committee thinks it would be desirable to make an exchange with the Cathedral Chapter for a piece of land elsewhere. Such exchange will be in the interests of the citizens, ns the site of the Cathedral will be beautified and the Council will obtain land which is much required as a depot for material to carry on city works. Tour committee recommends the Concoil to agree to the exchange on the following terms, viz.—The ■' Council to relinquish the two tank reserves adjoining the Cathedral site, and the Cathedral chapter to give in exchange the church section of land at the corner of Manchester street with the North town belt, or five acres, part of E.B. 2436 on the opposite side of the North belt. The Council to retain the right to use water from the existing tanks until such time as the city is provided with a high pressure water supply. Or. Ayers moved—“ That the Council go into committee on the subject.” Or, Bowman seconded. Or. Halbert strenuously opposed going into committee. They had no reason whatever to attempt to hide anything from the public. He would move—” That the report be adopted.” Or. England seconded Or. Halbert’s amendment. - After eoma discussion. Or. Ayers withdrew fare motion in *favor of Or. Halbert's amendent. Some farther discussion ensued, end ultimately the motion was agreed to. Or. Halbert said that ho wished to tender bis resignation as a member, of the Council. He did to now so as to save expense to the ratepayers, because the annual elections were coming on, and his successor could be elected at that time. He bad served tbe city for three years, and ha now thought it time to give place to some other ratepayer. In taking lesvo of his Worship the Mayor and the councillors, he did so with great regret, and with a most kindly feeling towards his brother councillors, who, he felt sure, were by one motive, viz., that of the boat Interests of the city. His Worship the Mayor said it was with groat regret that he heard the determination of Or. Hulbert to retire, because ho regarded his leaving them as a loss to the city and to the Council as a whole. Or. Halbert had been moot punctual in his attendance, and had given a great deal of time and attention to the business of the city, and he felt that by his retirement th y would lose one of their moat active and serious members. [Cheers, j Or. Hulbert said that he thanked his Worship for the kindly word* he had spoken, and when the ratepayers required hie services again he would be ready to give his services, [Hear, hear. - ) Or. liouisson said he desired to move a hearty vote of thank* to the retiring councillors, and in doing so he wished also to say that ho believed, however much they might doubt it, that they had the confidence of the majority of the ratepayers. He begged to move—“ That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to the retiring councillors.” Or. Hiorns seconded the motion, expressing the regret he felt at the retirement of the gentlemen spoken of, more particularly Or. Hulbert. Commendation of the gentlemen who retired that evening. His Worship the Mayor said he trusted some of the gentlemen at least would come forward again, and take their places once more at that table. On coming forward for the mayoralty he felt that be should be supported daring his term of office by the Council, and it had been so, and hit year of office bad bean a most pleasant one. He could only reiterate the statement that the city would lose the services of very good men. I Hear hear.] The resolution was then put and carried unanimously. Or. Bishop said that ho desired to disabuse the minds of the Councillors ai to the reasons of resigning. It was not the rejection of any pet schemes, but it was the very scant courtesy accorded to them by the meeting held to consider the water supply question, and the apathy shown by the commercial men of the place, who ought to have supported them. He did not feel annoyed at the rejection of their schemes, but the non-consideration by the public of the fact* brought before them. He felt that in this respect the Council had not been well treated in this matter. He thanked them for the very kindly manner in which they had been spoken of. Or. England also spoke in a similar strain to Or. Bishop. Or. Treleavea said that he did not intend to come forward for ro-eleotion at present, bat if he did come forward again ho hoped he should meet saoha good set of Councillors, and a Mayor who so thoroughly and completely deserved the good opinion of the Council and the public. Or. Halbert said it had been with great regret that he had made up his mind to retire, but be wished for a little rest, and thought perhaps that a little now blood would be advisable. Cr. Ayers said that ha desired to pay a tribute to Or. Hulbert for his zealous activity in connection with the works committoc. He was sorry that so many good Oonnoillors were leaving them, and could only say that ho trusted, if elected, he might meet so good a lot of members again to work with.

Or. Louisson called attention to tbe dangerous state of the tramway in Tuam street near Montreal street. The Mayor said the Tramway Company were proceeding with the work as speedily as possible. Or. Louieson said he desired to call the attention of the finance committee to the credit balance. Ha had worked it out, and found that at a very low rate of interest it would produce jCIOO, which wo* worth having. He did not sea the use of allowing £6OOO to lay idle in the Bank. He therefore moved—

“ That the finance committee be requested to consider the advisableness of temporarily investing the present surplus funds under the control of the Council, and any future su;-. plus that may arise.” Or. Kiver seconded the motion.

Or. Halbert said that the state of things was due to the care and economy of the Council. [Hoar, hear.] When he came into the Council there was an overdraft, and the

rate s were spent in paying this and improving the property of private persons. Now, this had been altered, and the present Council should receive the credit of it. A petition was road from certain ratepayers asking that a separate special watering rate of IJd in the £ should be mado. This was signed by 312 ratepayers, ! It was resolved that the rate as asked be struck, and that the town clerk give notice of the same. After granting some licenses, the Council adjourned.