CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, Decembeb 4. The usual forlnightly held in theCouncil Chambers. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Ore Ick, Nathan, Thomson, Turner, Bird, Gapes, and Jones, ~~Tho minutes of the previous .meeting were read and confirmed. The Mayor said tbat the election of Mayor for the ensuing year would be .made under the~ordXctrwhicb: fixe-Tlbe date at Decern--ber 29th, the third Wednesdajr«in December, and this was also in accordance -with clause 11 of the Act, 1875, which was still io force. Under this clause the Mayor was elected b£ the Council, and the election would .com© -ofr this year in accordance with this clause. Under the Local Elections Act, which would be in force this year,-the election of Mayor would be in tha hands of the ratepayers. The oVject of the Legislature in passing the Act appeared to him to be a desire to secure uniformity in all tbe elections throughout New Zealand. He desired to ask the Council to appoint a returning officer at the coming election of Mayor, as he di* not feel very strong, and as it would ben neces-* Bary to appoint a returning ofircer, fCr the district, he would suggest tbat Mr George Leslie Lee, who bad acted I as returning officer a*, the general elections should be asked to act at the election of Mayor, with a view to the appointment being made permanent. He had taken the liberty to speak to Mr Lee on this subject, and that gentleman had consented to act if appointed. In conversation with the hon Mr Bichardson the subject ot fee in connection with this office had been referred to, and the amount of £3 3s for each election mentioned, had been spoken of as a very reasonable amount. As he had previously mentioned he felt hardly strong* enough to undertake the dutiep, and would ask the Council to decide on a returning officer at that meeting, as it would be necessary that the appointment should appear in the following morning's papers. '■...., _,?_ Cr Thomson moved—"That Mr G. L. Lee be appointed returning officer at the coming election of Mayor." . ... Cr Ick seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. I His Worship said that there was a matter connected with the making up of the electoral roll on which the town clerk was anxious to have the ruling of .the Couucil. T&ere was no" provision last year for payment of this work, and lest' year, though a very great deal of trouble had been taken in makidg up the returns; they were pronounced by* Mr Hamilton to be informal, and they were thrown out. ' l '"'* - J ! Considerable discussion took place on the necessities insisted upon by Mr Hamilton, among other instances it being mentioned that Ma, Blac; and Mc, had *W be placed in distinct columns to please that gentleman under his reading of the requirements of--the Act, and it was generally expressed tbat tbe Council could not an*ord to spend ratepayers' money to comply with what bad been found by .experience to be merely official whims. Eventually, it was deoidtd that the Attorney - General should be written to for bis opinion as to whether Mr Hamilton's dictum was a jiecesßity by law, or whether it would not be cheaper to pension th at gentleman off to prevent his acting as an obstructionist in the new order of things. Some other remarks followed and the matter dropped. The .town, clerk ..reported as follows : — Bieceived for week ending .25ih November—On account of general rates for year, £303 98 i Waimakariri do, £50 lis fid ; watering /ate do,-*-19 Ob 7d j fines from B. M. Court, £110s ; rent of market plhce, 7s"; received from Gas Co, -04 12a ; licenses, £2- Total receipts, £381 10s Id. Beceived for week ending 2nd December—Acconnt of general rates, 1876, £116 2s ; Waimakariri do, £19 3_Bd; fines from B. M. Oonrt, £11 ss; watering rate, 1876,* £50 9a v 6d j quarter's :rent of weighbridge, £1 ; of market place, 7a; deposit Brighting on shingle, £12 10a; licenses, £2. Total receipt?, * .4217 17s 6a. Grand total for Ihe £599 7s Si. Or, at bank on general account, £8n49 4s 9d ; drainage loan account;, Cr, £6027 7s 3d ; drainage rate account Or, £2893 18s 3»; sinking fand account, Ct, £148 10s 2J ; bills, kc, paid and to be paid by works committee, £621 9a lid ; on drainage loan, Ac, £2lT7s. ■■;'■■■ 7 .;■;■•.■■;.:.*.;.: ■•. ii'■:>)'

The Conncil resolved itself into committee, and among other matters ~the question-of charitable aid, in its futdre relation with the Council, was considered.. The responsibility., of the Qeneral Government until the end of the year was'gone into, When, tbe Oily Council wonld have to accept and prepare for taking over that responsibility. Under the new' system; eacb inmate of tbe hoßpjtaVand every one receiving charitable aid, wonld be-allocated to their Individual district, in the same way that the maintenance of each person at home was charged to his or her parish when necessity compelled _heirj**rprying for this aid. An opinion was expressed that the Council would be aesuraing very heavy responsibilities in accepting those of Other portions of the district. A difficulty might be experienced in collecting the" proportionate . charges from outlying districts.-such as from Timarn and other places. At the end of the year, after the new Act bad been 1n force, the Government could deduct the amount found not to have been provided'by the various districts. Borne fnrther remarks were- made ai to the responsibility that would have to be assumed by the CouncH, and as to the desirableness of their facing the question at once, when Cr Turner moved--"That his Wor-, ship the Mayor, and Crs Nathan, Bird, and Gapes be appointed a committee to confer with the authorities on this matter and report to tbe Council.'' He (Cr Turner) considered that their feelings of humanity would not allow them to See people starve in Christchurch, no matter from what portion of the district they might have arrived. He thought if this ' matter were ventilated through the 1 sgency of the ladies of tho various parishes and the clergymen (who might first be asked to bold a meeting to consider the proposed state of affairs), that very valuable suggestions' as to the "best means of. giving aid would be received; From.his experience gome years ago,on a committee for ia similar purpose, he felt that these suggestions would be invaluable, as on that occasion the modes of applying those charities had been altered with good benefit under the various exigencies'. Crick having seconded the motion, quite endorsed Cr Turner's remarks, and after further observations from councillors, with a remark, as to. the "Thanner in which Mr Bolleston was at present considering the question of charities in their relation to Uhristchurcb, the motion was pot and carried.

-Mr T. M. Hassal wrote, enclosing a cheque for £42, estimated cost of the workof forming Baton place, with a request that it might be carried oat at'once. f p

Works committee authorised to proceed with the work. " *—

Mr H. B. Alport wrote, applying on bebalif of the anniversary sports committee for permission to use Latimer square for the annual sports on i"?sto-day, the 16th instant. Request granted

The following Tetter,"addressed to the Mayor, was read frohi Cr 'Baf^es^—'«As I shall.be unable tabe present at today's mpeting of the Council, in the first place will you kindly have mc placed on Jeive ; in the second;-; place wilt yow kindly mare, the resolution stand ing in my name tt. rcSthc Bast belt bridge. .In company wittilhe surveyor I went over tbe whole of the ground between .Barbadoes street, and the J-aet beit, and I quite concur in hia opinion' that the sitae is for a -badgeof Uhy iirioulmer. a*de reasons. In the first place, from life lowness of the approaches jand from the fact that it connects with a street that can never

be thickly populated, in fact, the only rest advantage of a bridge at that spot would ha affording a means of approach to the from the Soislan Catholic Ohu re h/x£ siteftt the rear of the boat sheds seems torn* to be out of the question, through reason of tbat portion of%e terrace being so low as to be'under water wjtfen the river is at all hirii On the other band; a bridge over the tver at ihe belt would be an immense service*toa large district, andt would perfect the drive round the city, aud I imagine that the snuM amount of land required could be obtained from Mr Bowron at uo great cost, and I have reason to'believe that many of the residents in the neighborhood would be willing to lend a hand if the Council determine on erecting the bridge at that spot. Will job kindly get the clerk to look up i n the minutes a.discussion which took place on tha subject at the time tbe first grant was tamed from the Provincial Government, I think you will find that a sum of money' was "determined to" be spent on a the belt and a foot, bridge at Barbadoea street. These are a few rough ideas written, in great haste, and for yourself 1 know-yon are in favor of the scheme, and I trait tljufc you will combat the idea that the worn should depend on the co-operation of tha Avon Boad Board, as I think the t mc haa come when we should cease to be bound down by the idea that no work should bo done which will benefit an adjoining district at the same time as ourselves without their paying their share. At the same time I think in this caso tbat the Avon Road Bosrd " ought to contribute liberally. Excuse haste." Some diecu«sion followed on the motion moved by the Mayor, after whioh it wa| * decided to allow the matter to stand over ? for a fortnight. 7'

The City Surveyor reported :—

1. "The works committee recomotead that the small triangle (one of tbe Council's reserves) opposite the Junction Hotel Papanui road, be thrown into roadway. £ will furnish plan and estimate for the alteration next meeting of the Council.' 2, "They also recommend that the old. buildings occupied by the Fire Brigade fcjr the Market Place be sold.

3. " The channelling in Latimer square W now finished, and the road and footpaths ua being formed up to it. 4. *' The channelling of Cranmer square f« being proceeded with. That portion of High street between Tuam and St Aaaph etreeta ia being channelled, and several culverts a?a being laid in this neighborhood, which I hope will do.away.witb the iuoonvenieaiia hitherto felt in rainy weather.

•■' 0. Waikdeh, " City Barveyor.'* The report was approved.

The adjourned motion of Cr Nathan's, allocating £3000 from the grant to be received from the Provincial Government towards the cost of asphalting the footpaths was brought on and agreed to with thghfdiscussion, Cr Jones dissenting, as he objected to those ratepayers bsifag spih t&isM: who had already, contributed to this woik.

Cr Nathan then gave noticeof motion thatbe would move at next sitting, that tho Council resolve itself into committee of the whole, to consider a scheme for carrying out the above object. ■■">■'. 'Cr Nathan, after referring to tho wit*' existing of female servants, and the de_ir> ablenessof having more of this class intra* duced among the immigrants assisted to tha province by Government aid, Said he would move a resolution at next sitting asking t&a Council in the interests of the ratepayers to bring this necessity nnder the noticeof tho: General Government. p.

' On the motion of Cr Jones, a motion was carried expressing the Council's appreciation* of the manner in which Dr Deamer hm carried out his duties of health, officer of the city. . ! . ; Or Turner said he' - would movs at aexl sitting—" That a sum of money be appropriated for tbe purchase of 10ft of laud from Mr Morten for; the purpose; of widening Colombo street." p■■- -; ,< Cr Jonea, as chairman :of the fire brigade committee, invited the members of the Council, by desire of Mr Superintendent Harris, tb an experiment on Wednesday, apfe at the new fire brigade station, by Professor; Bickerton, with carbobio acid gas. The following reports of tbe finance ami works committees were then brongbs apsnd adopted:— -. ,-vpOp ANNUAL BBPOBT OP THB FIHAHOBr OOMMITTEB,

"Your committee beg to report that they have had under their.consideration the finances of the Oounci', and beg to report the following as the probable position for the current year.—- ' " Liabilities—Deposits due to contracts £192 ; rates collected and due to WaimsMriri Board, £308 ; salaries due on November I6tb, 1876, £196; contracts in progress* £3588; sundry small accounts, £50 ; total, £4329. '- ;: :'-'■-' *■'•

•'Estimated Expenditure—-Salaries: Towst clerk, £100; surveyor, £400; collected £200; inspector, £200; assistant clerk, filfiO ,* contingencies, £100; forage* £30 ;~ ~ election expenses, £60 ; Mayor's official exoenscß, £500? legal expenses, £2*o;-, • printing, kc,. £100 ;• &ta brigade, £5007, fire preventtdo, £500; lira insurance, £30; total, £7843; contingencies £2161; total, £10,000; for works, £16,580; grand; total, £26,580. ' 7 , "Estimated Assets—Balance in hsrid,£S(Jw 9a 9d;" Provincial Government,? £2WK>; General Government, £ÜBO, £3980j rates outstanding, £3800 ; total, £10,788 Urn"' " Licenses ■—Dogs, £1500; anetksMlffti £600 j publicans, £2000, £4 10 * j Go«wa« ment grants, £6500 ; less deductions, £8§0O» £3000; rates, 1877, £7000. '■ ' ■" H Incidental Beceipts — Fines, £253; r#sf4> 3550; licenses fees, £350, £1150; Board of Conservators and Drainage Board, £S-3#; Insurance Company and GuvernmOa(. £258 j total, £26,288 99 9J. "Annual Works Committee's Beport far 1876-7.—Your committee and city surveyor have had under their consideration the report of the finance committee, wherein it apprsrs that the balance available for public worts from the estimated receipts wonld bs tfes sum of £18,744. It will be seen that a v&y large Sum is required for shingle, much of which will bo required for streets that -M*9 already received a coating of gravel,-ha*. through the lowering of soma streets, aM distnrbing the surface of. others, eonseoaeab on the system of channelling being-eamca out throughout the ci y, will require.!® receive a considerable quantity of t&»* -material; also the shingling of several.stistte which hitherto haye been unsbingled absorbs a still larger quantity, and besides, there remains provision for repairs for tk* J*-®*' These/works necessitated the recommend** tion of the large amount pnt down. *»® committee have also put down the eats or £1500 for .munioipal offices, as, fro® the state of the present building**, and thei»«»' venienceexperieaced from insafficieatasgg-' modation, it is apparent that before long P**j**r sion must be made to meet the growing wMW*-* the city, in having suitable buildings to cmduct its business in an (flkieni Bsapa**-*** The sum of £3000 put down to a._pbaltifig ® considered by tho committee to be ©olj? ® grant in aid to meet any action the Cos* 3 "* may decide upon for asphalting the WW* paths of tbe city. The couamitteo recommend for adoption by the CoaDCjl !ff expenditure on the following *°r** lo ?cf current year :-Day labor, £3640 V W*"f stone (metal), £10(10; gravel lor £200 j shingle, £2000 ; forming aoff .«*«»£■. South Town belt (half width). £!<W;«®" tribation in aid for asphalting £3000; borsa. feed, ehooing. &d £%fll lighting, £1200; munioipal office, contingencies, £25i>4 ; fire brigade staDW £150 ; paving Cathedral eqUare, £80 { i&T ing river side, £.-10; total, £1»,7M. *»» expenditure is exclusive of the stock on »» as shown in tbe liabi 11 ties and a*?s* fc ,as m *«** in the annual balanca-shcet. The pfilV - e ( f"* recommends the-shingle to be placed a* the following streets *.-Durham street «."f south belt to "St Asaph, 18 chains cluster from Kilmore to west bolt, 31 Barbadoes from river to south belt, ■.««?- Madra. from High street to **"*,- square, 20 obalns; Montreal I/cm w*»V* road to north Mt, *8 rn*u«». <^ v^JZg t rivrrto Park terrace, SSohaiusj 40 chains ; east muo oi- l_*u.uer *q ua "; t j chuinji; wevv-Mrle of Cranmer s*l aMC »

St Asaph street from Barbadoes street bßlt, 18 chains; Tuam street from B * rb SS s rirW ,Mknt*eal vto Madras street, 40 chains; Greater, square to terrace, 10 chaintu| f9 <S.K?anw l to'the credit of the drainage . Is 6d) will be available, will about complete the -* 0 Sz onchannelled portions of the city. Inspector's report was read and ap-

, P r licenses were grant'd and others .mS** l . * ad the oonncU ad i QOtaed -