CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4331, 5 February 1875, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Council was held yesterday at the Provincial Buildings. Present—The Mayor (in the chair). Councillors Moss, Burrett, Dransfield, Kainie, George, and Greenfield. TENDERS. The following tenders for the maintenance of Ohiro-road were received: —J. F. E. Wright, £9O ; R. Lyon, £B7. There being no deposit enclosed with Mr. Lyon’s tender, as required, Mr. Wright’s was accepted. THE MANURE DEPOT. A petition from certain residents in the locality of the site upon which Mr. Ivor James 'proposes to deposit manure, protesting against the adoption of the site, was referred to the Sanitary Committee. PIERM ASTER. A letter from Mr. G. Mundle was received, acknowledging his appointment as piermaster. REGARDING A LOAN.

The Manager of the Trust and Loan Company addressed the Council regarding the waterworks mortgage of £25,000, and informing his Worship the Mayor that the money would be required on the Ist of May next. The Mayor said there was no doubt about the fact that the affairs of the Corporation were not in the most comfortable position. At the present time they were overdrawn to the extent of £15,000 in one way and another, and this £25,000 would have to be met, for Sir. Levy, the manager of the Trust Company, meant all he said as to the money being required. At the next meeting of the Council, he should give for what it was worth, his idea of the present condition of the Corporation finances. In that statement he would embrace a motion, which would give opportunity for any amendments that might suggest themselves to Councillors. Councillor Dransfield said he hoped there would be no misunderstanding as to the position of the Corporation. The statement of his Worship as to there being an overdraft of £15,000 made things appear to be worse than they actually were. He would like the clerk to state the amount overdrawn on account of the waterworks, and how much upon ordinary account. The Clerk, at the request of the Mayor, stated that the waterworks account was overdrawn £9OOO, and the general account £6OOO. Councillor Dransfield , thought it right that these things should be understood. According to the power vested in them by Act, they had issued debentures to the extent of £IO,OOO, so that the waterworks account was in reality not overdrawn, the overdraft which the Council had to keep in view being the £6OOO, and that, he thought, could easily be provided for. There was no necessity, therefore, for making things really worse than they were. The Mayor said he was not making things worse than they really were, but he was bound to look at things exactly as they were, and it was beyond doubt that they would do no harm by taking these things into consideration at the earliest possible date. On the motion of Councillor George, the letter of Mr. Levy was referred to the Finance Committee. CHURCH-STREET. A letter from Mr. IV. Heaps complained of Church-street being overrun with gorse. Upon the statement of the Surveyor that he intended to furnish the Council with a general statement upon such matters, no action was taken upon the letter. A BAD DRAIN. Miss Greenwood addressed the Council in regard to the state of the drain running from her premises. The Mayor explained that upon receipt of the letter of Miss Greenwood, he and .the Surveyor took steps to. remedy the matter complained of, and further action was, therefore, unnecessary. , ’ AETHUB-STREET. Certain residents of Arthur-street petitioned the Council in regard to the drainage of the street. The Surveyor, in opposition to a statement of Councillor George, stated that not a single resident of, Arthur-street had asked him for -the levels. The Clerk was instructed to inform the •petitioners that the Council saw no reason to alter the decision already communicated to them by letter. WATERWORKS DEBENTURES. A letter from the manager of the Bank of New Zealand, acknowledged the receipt of £IO,OOO worth of waterworks debentures, and stated that he would be happy to comply with the instructions of the Council. THE WHARF PURCHASE. Mr. "W. V. Jackson, the lessee of the wharf tolls, tendered the names of Messrs. O. W. Schultz and J. McDowell as sureties under the wharf lease. The sureties were approved. MB. WORTH AGAIN. Mr. "Worth addressed a letter to the Council regarding the disputed measurement of section 70, reclaimed land. Mr. Worth expressed his willingness to assent to an alteration of his lease provided the Council were willing to reduce his rent for the smaller quantity of land instead of the thirty feet charged for. Councillor Dransfield said he did not wish to throw any opposition in the way, but he did ‘ not see how the Council could depart from its former decisions in regard to this matter. ■ Councillor .George , then gave notice that at the next meeting ho would move that all previous resolutions respecting Mr. Worth’s claim bo rescinded, and that Mr. Worth’s request be complied with. . , WATERWORKS COMMITTEE. Councillor George’s motion appointing tho Whole of the members of tbe Council as members of the Waterworks Committee, was put and "agreed to. REPORTS, Reports from the Surveyor and Inspector of Nuisances were lead.. The Surveyor’s report dealt with matters affecting various portions of .the town, and alluded at length to tho necessity of clearing gorse from many of tho street® of the town, and laying concrete in.the principal thoroughfares. ■ ... ■ It woe decided that concrete should ho laid down in accordance with the suggestion of tho Surveyor, "namely, that the work should be at once proceeded with upon the application of any person who was willing to pay half the coat. In reference to the gorse nuisance, tho

Surveyor was instructed to take such steps as he thought best for eradicating the plant, the Surveyor having explained that the best course wouhb be to employ two men for a year to clear the gorse from the streets, and then compel owners of adjoining property to clear away any gorse fences and eradicate the gorse from their land, tho Council having power to enforce this decision under clause o 4 of the bye-laws. RECLAIMED LAND BENTS. A letter was received from the Secretary of the Treasury regarding the reclaimed land Tho Clerk was instructed to take immediate steps for the recovery of the rents. , , CITY RATES. Councillor George’s metion relative to obtaining power to increase the rating power of the Corporation was postponed till' next meeting. NOTICE OF MOTION. The Mayor gave notice that at the next meeting he would.move that the Council do resolve itself into committee of the whole to consider the financial position of tho municipality. The Council then adjourned.