CITY COUNCIL.

The weekly meeting of the City Council was held last evening. Present—Messrs. E. B. Bishop (chairman), I. Luck, Barnard, Macfarlan, Alport, Fair, Euddentlau and Woodford. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The Chairman announced that the balance to the credit of the Council was £335 16s Bd. A drainage account had also been opened, and £38 16s 8d paid into it, leaving a debit to that account of £592.

The weekly pay sheet, amounting to £1012s, and some other accounts were passed and ordered to be paid. The amount of rates colle3ted during the week had been £81 15e.

The Chairman said, that in accordance with the resolution passed at the last sitting of the Council, notice had been given to Mr. Hadfield to discontinue his contract. He could however carry on afresh contract by making private arrangements with parties for clearing away the soil; although of course Mr. Hadfield would have to receive an increased charge for collection. He also alluded to a matter which had been urged outside, viz., the calling of a public meeting, but he did not think it would be advisable for the Council to take any action in the matter, unless requested to do so by a requisition.

■ A letter was read from Mr. Bailey, the con- N tractor for building the Bank of New Zealand, asking permission to be allowed to carry ' on the work as at present, and that he should nbt be compelled to put up boarding. j Permission was granted, provided all material was moved on to the footpath every evening after work.

A request from Mr. Clarkson, to be allowed to put up a movable stall for the sale of butcher's meat in the Market-place was then considered.

Mr. Barnard thong! t that bjfore Jetting any site for stalls, intimation should be given to the public generally, as no doubt many of the ratepayers would be glad to obtain a stand if they were let on equitable terms. If the Council were decided to let the ground it should be marked off, and the sites put up for public tender.

Mr. Alport thought the matter might be postponed for a week, and in the meantime the City Surveyor should be requested to bring up some plan for laying oat the unoccupied ground.

Mr. Luck said that he considered the best ■way of advertising that the Council were willing to let the land would be to allow two or three stalls to be put up upon it at a tenure which could be ended at any time. Hβ thought that by allowing the request they would be taking a step in the right direction. The application -was granted—the tenant to clear off the ground whenever required by the Council.

A letter was read from Mr. W. H. Newman, offering to collect the rates of the City Council for £100 a year. The consideration of the lettor wae postponed.

A letter woe road from Mr AIW "~~* that he would hnod in hie for inspection befora the next ml J d Council. He had not had at irSel? " f the time to make up Ins accounts Bu( Bciet,* A letter was ivi.{ from Mr.'s n v- „ plying fur the olli™ of rato «.n!!p ctep " ■i? ' S P" bideration of t!>.. letter was postpone'] A letter was read from Messrs O • Cowlishaw, requesting that the Conn -i and at once sign the bill u°t 00 d,v° J.U dram pipes, ex Cisev and Victory' and the freight and other expen.es, feiHiS whLW" a3 the legal advisers of g*. nett and Sprot, would furtlier adri. . clients in the matter. tll9 'r Mr. Luck said that at the lasf ™ *.- letter had been received fr Om TnotW £ gentleman requesting payment, and seemed that another action was tn k« rt against them. °* rai »ed Mr. Fair said that the contract fc.j been fulfilled; some of the pUntW!?., l,o * board the Japanese ' ' ,tUI °n Mr. Barnard did not see how the* ,« v get out of the difficulty. The late cfi™■ name was at the back of the Z, ' and Messrs. Bumell, Bennett and S ' know he vraa answerable for the debt * >tOtt Mr. Luck objected to Mr. Banurf'. «. marks. u » reMr. Barnard said that although he had «X jected to the contract at the time he n« for one moment wished to throw the respond bihty upon Mr. Luck'e or any other meabe£ shoulders. «vors Mr. Alport did not think the present Couuca desirous of shirking the responsibilitr of> predecessors. If they had a rate collect!* at work he should not be opposed to th Chairman signing the bill at sight, but unfor! tunately such was not the case, and theymngt therefore only lay their heads together and do the best they could. He was iv favor of rate collector being at once appointed with full powers to sue in case of refusal H would propose :—" That a copy of the ret*. lution passed relative to the matter at the W meeting be at once forwarded to Mesert Garriek and Cowlishaw." The motion was seconded by Mr. Baddcnklau.

Mr. Luck thought that the contract had heen faithfully carried out. They were only asked to accept for that portion of the pipes which had already arrived. They would pro. bably be put to a very great expeuse if some prompt action was not at once taken in the matter. The ship Victory was already bo iai discharged that the pipes were in the way of her being discharged, and' probably within a few days the goods would be landed and stored at the expense of the Council. It was necessary that something should be at once done. He had no fear that ultimataly, although euch a course was openly spoken of at present, that he should not have to pay a penny of the debt. Arrangements might possibly be made with Messrs. Burnell, Bennett and Sprot that if they accepted and at maturity found that they were not able to meet the whole amount, they might meet a part, and renew the remainder. He thought it would be advisable to hold a meeting specially to consider the subject. The Chairman said that he had had an inter* view with the Bank manager, and he had refused to advance freight and cartage on the security of the goods. It waa possible that they might make satisfactory arrangements with a private firm. Mr. Luck suggested that the Government might assist them by paying the grant. The Chairman eaid that if stored the storage would alone amount to £50 per week. After some further discuseion it was decided that a committee, consisting of Messrs. Alport and E. B. Bishop, be appointed to wait upon all parties, and report at a meeting to be called specially for the purpose on Wednesday evening. The report of the City Surveyor was re»i Mr. Ruddenklau had understood that all public works were to be stopped, and yet he found a weekly pay sheet going on. Ai regards the lighting, he thought that some arrangement might be made with the Gai Company for at once putting out thelightt. It was very evident that the Council mast exercise great economy. Mr. Alport hoped the experiment of ap« pointing a proper rate collector would be tried before putting out the lights. - • The Town Clerk reported that he believed many persons wero willing to pay their, rate*, and would have done so had they been waited on. He said that daring the time he had been collecting some objections had 'been made to payment on the ground that the last assessment had been excessive. He euggeeted that the better way would be.to appoint two collectors, and get in the rates at once. ■ : .:; Mr. Luck said that, after hearing the report of the Town Clerk, he was fully convinced* that the sooner a rate collector was apjiohitej, the better, and thought that they should' It once advertise for one. No doubt if an energetic man was appointed he would have $ie collection of the rates for the present year put into their hands. Hβ would propose, "That a rate collector be advertised for, and that the answers received should be considered on Monday evening next." Mr. Farr seconded the motion, although he thought that two collectors would be better.,, Mr. Barnard was of opinion that Mr. Gordon would collect the rates sooner then any other man, and if he would undertake the task, he would not be opposed to granting him additional assistance. He did not tee ho* they could, in the face of the resolutions pawed at their previous meeting, at once appoint additional officers. , ', ." Mr. Alport thought that they were W wasting time by advertising. He wouldpM- ,- pose as an amendment, —" That Mr. Fv v> Tribe bo appointed at a salary of £15O<$£ annum, to assist Mr. Q-ordon in getting in W rates." If they advertised, Mr. Tribe wooß probably apply, and in that case hewtt«» to be elected. Mr. Woodford seconded the amendment. It was almost word for word the same a* one he had brought forward at' tbeir last •meetingMr. Luck did not see why they ebouM depart from their usual, method of ao«r> tieing. The Town Clerk said that he would rather be released from the office. Hei-bid'OMJ taken it to test the manner in whioh w» previous collector had carried out hie dtttMJ. He would,, however, have no objection W carry it on until a rate collecto? wm <¥■' pointed. van*' Mr. Luck, after some dUcueeion; wiwarew the resolution, and the amendment waecenwo* The report of the Inspector of Nmsauoe* was read

The Town Clerk was instructed to reply # the gentlemen who had applied for the otm» » rate collector, that the olHoe had been temporarily filled. . Mr. Fan-moved—"That the labor gang" at once discharged, as the Council are not» funds to pay for their labor." Mr. Buddenklau eeconded the reeolal«»»» which was carried. The Council then adjourned. , .-