CITY COUNCIL.

The newly elected City Council held a special meeting yesterday afternoon at three *o clock. Present —Messrs. Ruddenklau, CalTert, Tombs, Thomson, HMop, Duncan, Anderson, and W. Wilson. The Town Clerk read the list of the names of the new members, as furnished by the late chairman. Mr E. B. Bishop. Mr Ruddenklau proposed, and Mr Thomson seconded, that Mr Duncan take the chair pro tern. Mr Duncan said their first duty would be to elect a chairman for the ensuing twelve months. Mr Anderson proposed Mr Wm. Wilson. He was a gentleman thoroughly acquainted with the duties of the office, and well known to all, and no doubt would carry out the duties efficiently. Mr Ruddenklau seconded the nomination of Mr Wilson, and there being no further proposition, Mr W. Wilson was declared duly elected. The Chairman announced that Mr Wilson was duly elected. Mr Duncan then vacated the chair, which was taked by the newly elected chairman, Mr Wilson. Mr Wilson returned thanks for the high honor conferred upon him, and hoped the experience he had obtained as a previous member would assist their deliberations during the next year. He considered it the duty of all to conduct the affairs of the city in the strictest way of honor and integrity, and whether they reoeived censure or praise they would know that they had done their duty. He knew that all who had been elected had no personal feelings at heart, but had taken office in order to do their best for the welfare of all. He hoped that all their deliberations might be carried out with forbearance, and that they would mutually support each other. For his own part he should be most happy to be corrected by any member. They had the health of the citizens at large in their hands, and he hoped that all their deliberations would tend to that object. He had again to thank them for the high honor they had conferred upon him. The Town Clerk then read the minutes of the last meeting, which were confirmed. The Chairman stated that the main object for which the meeting had been called was the deciding of what steps the Council woulc t take on the occasion of the visit of his' Excellency the Governor. Mr Thomson proposed that a sub-com-mittee, consisting of the Chairman and Messrs Anderson and Duncan, be appointed to draw up an address of welcome for presentation to his Excellency. I Mr Hislop seoonded the motion. Mr Ruddenklau thought that the place at which the address shpuld be presented should be decided upon. The Chairman said the custom was to have the copy written upon vellum, and a draft copy forwarded to his Excellency's private secretary, who would settle when and where the address should be received. Mr Wilson then explained the course to be pursued on the occasion of the visit. Mr Thomson said that in appointing a subcommittee he meant that the whole of the arrangements should be deputed to them. Mr Duncan said that he believed that on all such occasions it was usual that a certain amount of money should be voted out of the funds for the purpose. He should like to hear the minutes read of previous meetings, so as to learn what it had been intended to do on the occasion of his Excellency's proposing to visit Christchurch two years ago. Mr Duncan moved—" That in the event of the Christchurch Corporation Bill not being piissed by the Provincial Council during this session, ifc i« resolved by this Council to memorialise the Government to pass a short Act to enable this Council to sell the drain pipes now lying in tho Council yard, and to Bpend tho funds accruing from such Bale on the surface drainage of the city." A great deal had been said as to the power of the Council to sell the pipes; but they were oblige*! to abide by the opinion of the legal adviser to the Council, who had given it as hjs opinion that as long as one ralepayer held put it would be impossible to sell the pipes. The BUI need not be a long one : a single clause would do all that was required, Mssion eaßil7 be Paßßed during *"* P reße °t Mr Calvert seconded the motion. . Mr Buddenklau supported the motion. He hoped that something might be done before toe winter. - Mr Thomson hoped that the resolution

might be amended so as not to restrict the purposes for which the money was to be devoted. Mr Duncan considered that that tho money had jbeen raised for drainage purposes, and therefore must be devoted for drainage purposes. Mr Thomson said that the Act might be so framed as to legalise the appropriation of the money for other purposes than that of drainage. Mr Anderson was sorry to see bo much money locked up, and agreed with Mr Thomson that an Act could be passed legalising the us 6of the money for other than drainage purposes. He hoped that the following words would be inserted after the word drainage, " and other necessary*purposes." Mr Duncan agreed, and the motion as amended was carried. It was decided that Mr William Wilson should bo requested to apply to the Provincial Council for a sum of £100, to be handed to the City Council, for the purpose of improving the Cathedral square prior to the approaching visit of his Excellency and prior to the erection of the Godley statue. Mr Wilson said that he would give notice to the effect that eTening in the Provincial Council. The Council then adjourned.