CITY CO UNCIL.

Tuesday, Januaby 2. The Council met at 4 p.m. Present-His Worship the Mayor, and Cre Hawkes, Hobbs, Turner, Nathan, Thomson, Jones, Bird, and Ick.

FINANCIAL. Receipts for the fortnight, £4348 7s lid, including General Government 5s grant, JM472 143 3d ; and balance of Provincial Government grant, £2500 ; credit to dramaee loan account, £4246 17s 3d ; credit to general account, £7353 Us 9d -credit to drainage rate account, £3242 16s 2d ; wages £C to be paid—general account, £1128 16s lOi; drainage account, £630 4e 6tJ. DECLAKATIOS. The Mayor Elect (Mr Gapes) made the formal declaration required by the Act, and -thereupon took bis seat. PBIVATK STREETS.

The Mayor stated that a letter, referring *o urivate street*, would be read at the meetine that afternoon. He thought the time bad now arrived when the Council should undertake the formation of private streets. Hitherto, persons had been allowed to make and form these etieete without reference to the Conncil, but be thought this should not "be allowed. The Act provided that the Council should be consulted, but this had not been done. Consequently, in come instances streets were formed and buildings erected'the positions of which could not be properly described in the rate lists, owing to the streets not being made. He might also add while addressing tbe Council now, that it would be necessary for them to appoml a jetnrning-officer to conduct the elections relating to the City Council. BETURSTNG OFFICES. It was resolved—" That in accordance with clause 6 of the Regulation of Local Elections Act, 1876, this Council hereby appoints Mr G. Leelie, returning officer, to hold all elections within the city; that the .j fee shall be £3 3s for each election." OFFICIAL PAPER. It wa* resolved—" That the Peess newspaper be the official paper for the next six tix months." CITY StfBYEV OB'S BEPOBT. The city surveyor reported as follows : — "1. The bell tower and look out on the Fire Brigade Btation, Lichfield street, are in a thoroughly decayed state, and require rebuilding. , ... "2 The stables at the new station are finished, and occapied by the Council horses. " 3. The old fire brigade bnildmgs on the Market square I have advertised for sale by auction, by direction of the works comfsittee. "4. A contract for 4000 cubic yards of broken boulders hae been entered into with Mr J. L. Wilson. M 5. The contractor for building the swimming ehed has completed hie contract." The report of the city surveyor wae approved as a whole. DBAIKACE BOARD. The following letter fiom the Drainage Board was read:— •' Christchnrch District Drainage Board, " Hereford street, •* December 19th, 1876. -" To hie Worship the Mayor and Gentlemen of the City Council. " Gentlemen, —I am directed by the chairman to inform you that the powers of the 'Local Board of Health * have been vested in the ' Cbristchurch District Drainage Board,' and that no provision ia made in the Act for levying a rate by the Board to cover the •expenses required annually for the purpose of the said Act. The Board has communicated with the President of tbe Central Board in Wellington for information as to how the necessary revenue was to be ob iained, and, in reply, the Hon Dr Pollen <President of the Central Board) suggested that the BoaTd ehould apply to the City Council and Boad Boards within the Christ■chHrch drainage district. Clause 16, enbsection 4, eeems to imply that the local bodies should supply the necessary funds, pro rota. According to a calculation made, the coat for 1877 would only entail a rate of from one penny to one peony farthing in the pound upon the annual valuation, to cover the expenditure. In anpport of the appeal, I beg to refer you to clause 7S of the Christchurch District Drainage Act, wherein it . states that the Board is only empowered to rates' for defraying the costs, charges, and expenses of any work or works executed, -or to be executed by the Board under the authority of this Act, &c, &c,' consequently the Drainage Board is debarred levying rates for the working of the Public Health Act, such, powers being vested in tbe City Council end bead Boards. "I have tbe honor to be, tc, " Kdwd. H. Palmkb, " Clerk to the Local Board of Health."

Cr Tamer mo*ed—" That the town clerk reply that this Council cannot vote funds to te expended by a body over whoee acts they can have no control." Cr Ick hoped the City Council would xesist any attempt that was made to take from them certain duties that more properly belonged to them than to any other body He thought that the eanitary affaire of the ■city should be left to the City Council. The -Council must have an Inspector of Nuisances, and he thought that if they had to pay for attending to f aaitary matters in the city, the -Council should have the direction of any measures that were to be taken. The Drainage Board, as now constituted, might very properly look after the eanitary matters connected with the drainage district, leaving out the city of Chrietchurch. Cγ Nathan disagreed with the laet speaker. He did not regret that the charge of eanitary matters had been left in the hands of a *ody whose operatione would extend over a larger area than the powers of the City -Council conferiei. Cr Hobbs pointed out that the whole question resolved itself into this—which body was to collect the necessary rates ? If the City Council did not attend to the eani tery affairs of the city, of course they would be enabled to reduce their rates, while the 'Drainage Board would have to increase theirs proportionately Cr Jones expressed a hope that the mover of the resolution would withdraw it. It was a financial matter of great importance, and he should be exceedingly sorry to see the City Council refuse to subscribe to the necee?aiy expenses of the officers that had been appointed. He did not suppose that eanitary matters were going to cost them any more than at present, because they were transferred to the Drairaga Board. Cγ Thomson reminded the Council that individually they had consented to the Drainage Board taking over the powers of the Local Board of Health (the City Council.) It was uue this decision had not been ■come to at a meeting of the Council, but membere had individually consented to .it. {Cγ Turner—7 out of 9.] He did not think, however, that the motion before the Council would have any other effect than that of bringing the City Council and Drainage Board at loggerheads with each other, ao<i then asking the Government to step in. Ht thought the wiser course to pursue would b*> to postpone consideration of the subject for , foriu'ght, j r* Hawkes said he wonld support Cr ii'urner'e motion, in the hope that it would lead to the Drainage Board taking active eteps which would result in their being provided with the necessary funds. If the eanitary matters of the district were pliced in tie hands of different bodies he believed that where one district would do the work well, another would not carry it out so efficiently. Therefore he believed in the wht 1 tail g d ing placed in the bands of one body. After some further diseuesion, the motion "Was withdrawn, in order that a fortnight's consideration might be given to the subject. Another letter was read from the Drainage Board, asking the Council if they would *mdertake the collection of the drainage rate in connection with the ordinary iates

(the same notices to do for both), and also «o what terms the Council would undertake tie work. Cγ Turner moved—"That the letter be zcferred to the fioar.ee committee, io conaider and report ,. Crick opposed the motion. He considered that the Drainage Board ought to do its own "•ode. At proent the City OouacU'e rate

collector-bad quite enough to 4», without having to collect the rates of anofcer^body. ;; Cr Thomson would postpone aiy remarks be had to make until the commit!* reported. He might say that he heped theSex-Mayor would not, as he had declared, abjtain from voting on questions in which Board and City Council were interested, because if he did co the citizens fould not bs represented. He believed that if Cr Hobbs voted exactly as he thoughthe would ba equally appreciated, by whicheier Board be sat on and by those whom he represented. He hoped, therefore, he would to* from votiDg wherever a question wtf pot to the Drainage Board or the City Council. Cγ Nathan hoped the Council would agree to co-operate with the Drainage Board in this matter. It meant economy indirectly, and therefore he trusted the Council would endeavor to meet the views of the Drainage Board.

After some farther discussion, theinotion was agreed to. : A letter was read from Messrs VI. Gray and Dowde, calling attention to the necessity of forming and dra ning the right-of-*&y belonging to Mr Chudiey, between Tuam and St Asaph streets. The writers stated that they had repeatedly asked Mr Chudiey to attend to it, but be would not do so, and they had no power in the matter. The letter was referred to the works committee, to report generally on what should ba done in the matter of private streets. A letter was from Dγ Deamer (late health officer to the Board of Heil'h), acknowledging receipt of vote of thanke passed by the Board. A letter was read from tne Under-Secretary for Justice, Wellington, stating that the Mayor (Mr Gapes) had been appointed a Justice of the Peace. A letter was read from residents in Whately road, stating that it had been proposed to take up certain aephalte which they had subscribed to, have pnt down come time ago, and requesting that such a proceeding would not be allowed. No action was taken. ENDOWMENT. On the motion ot Cγ Hobbs, it was teeolved—" That a sub-committee, consisting of Crs Nathan, Thomson, and the mover, be requested to consider and report what steps it is desirable for the Council to take under clause 350 Municipal Council Act, 1876. to obtain an endowment of land for tte city." ALDBED STREET. Tt was decided that this street should be taken over by the Council. THE CABMEN. Or Turner, before the question of granting licenses was gone into, said he feU indignant that the Cab Inspector had not afforded the Council the information which the Council directed him to give with reference to the character of the applicants for licenses. The clerk stated that the Cab Inspector had reported that the licenses of two appli cants ehould be withheld. Cγ Turner said the whole thing was a farce. It was well known that some cabmen in thie city were lining on the infamy of relatives. It was currently reported in town that at least twenty cabmen obtained their living, directly or indirectly, by assisting prostitution. The information was in the hands of the police, and he thought steps should be taken to compel the police to f urnieh it. He begged to move—" That a letter be addressed to the Commissioner of Police, enclosing the names of all the applicants for cab licenses for the ensuing year, with a request that the police will report to thie Council upon the character of each of these applicants." If this letter had not the desired effect, he would recommend that a letter be sent to the Attorney-General, asking for information as to what the duties of the police were. He thought that pending inquiries, permits for" one month ehould be granted.

After some discussion, the motion was agreed to, and it was decided that permits for one month should be granted to the applicants pending enquiries.

Notices of Motion

Cγ Hobba to move on January 15th—"That the Council authorise the taking of the necessary steps under clauses 179, 180, M.C. Act, 1876, and clauses 21, 22 and 23 of the Public Works Act, 1876, to acquire possession of town eection No 733 " " That notice be published in accordance with clause 140 M.O. Act, 1876, to the effect 1. That this Council propose to widen that portion of Colombo street opposite the Bank of New Zealand. 2. That a sum not exceeding £25 000 be borrowed for the purchase of town section No 733. 3, That ihe rents of the said property shall be pledged as security for the paid loan, and (if necessary) a SDecial rate of Id in the & on the rateable v.due of property in Christchurch, 4. That the Mayor be requested to take the necesaryaten to convene a public meeting to consider the above proposals, in accordance with clause 141."