ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

Press, Volume VII, Issue 687, 11 January 1865, Page 4

ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

A very numerouriy-attended meeting of the ratepayers of Christchurch wae held at the Town Hall for the purpose of nominating fire members in the place of ,Mesers. Ollivier, Bishop, Luck, Pavitt and Tribe—the three first gentlemen retiring by rotation, the latter resigning. The chair was occupied by J. Ollivier, Esq., who explained the purpose for which the meeting had been called. On such occasions it was usual to give some account of the proceedings of the City Council during the paat year. He believed that during that time the Council might pride themselves on the work that had been accomplished. At the end of last year they entered into negotiations with the Kowai Coal Company in order to secure their boring-rods; they had been procured, and of pleasing result was now to be seen in the supply of water which the numerous artesian wells brought to the city. It was through the thoughtfulness to the Council that an enormous expense—£3o,ooo perhaps, had been avoided, for had these wells not been sunk, it would have been an impossibility to have procured a similar supply of water without bringing it from the source of the Avon itself. The project had at first been opposed ; people said it would fail, but his own ideas and those of the City Surveyor had proved correct, and if they chose water got from the bowels of the earth could be obtained in sufficient quantities to wash half the city away. During the past year too, a committee of the Council have been considering the New Buildings Ordinance. They worked at it with the utmost devotion, and with untiring patience. The Ordinance was drafted, and he (Mr. Ollirier) had introduced it into the Provincial Council during the late session; it was, however, very lengthy, and the Council got frightened at it, and it was abandoned when it had been got ha.f through. Next session, should he still hold a seat in the Provincial Council, he would carry the Bill through. The Bill was to put a stop to the erection of timber houses in the thickest part of the city, and when they considered the comparative cheapness in stone buildings when the safety from fire and their durability are considered, the measure would meet with little opposition. The Fire Brigade Ordinance, framed by the City Council, had become law during the past year. The subject was taken up cordially, and the result had been the establishment of a Fire ;Brigade, and one with great powers in the case of fire, and of a corresponding usefulness. The' bill also gives a recognised status to every member of the Brigade. The Hackney Carriages Ordinance has also been framed. By it the carriages plying for hire -will have to be duly licensed, and to prevent any but proper and well-conducted persons from engaging in this calling the drivers will be licensed as well. The last subject —one of the greatest importance, which had occupied more of the tune and consideration of the Council than any other—was that of the drainage of Christchurch. On this subject they had now come to a decision. Their Surveyor had prepared plans and specifications of a system which they had adopted ; but **if you want the mare to go you must feed her," and the proverb applies to the Council, for without money the works could not be carried on. The streets also had been lighted. It was not right that persons could not be able to walk through the principal thoroughfares at night without danger from various causes. Kerosene had been used for this purpose, and now that the establishment of a Gas Company has taken place, gas will be used instead. Mr Ollivier then referred to an article which had appeared in yesterday's issue of the Lyttelton Times, which referred to the balance-sheet of the Council. The sheet, in the opinion of the Council, was easy to understand, and was simple in its arrangement, and had the writer, instead of dipping hie pen in gall, asked for information ou the subject from the Town Clerk it would have been readily granted. He was accustomed to read uncharitable allusions in the newspapers, and there was one in the Times that called for especial notice. He referred to the remark made about the " office expenses." Similar remarks had been made before,and were intended to insinuate that the money of the city was frittered away in what has 'been termed "feeds." Now no such feeds had been given. The sum was made up by various items, without which the work of the office could not be carried on. It was true that when the members of the Council were obliged to sit for six or seven hours in a cold office discussing the Hackney Carriages or the Building Ordinance they did no* consider itasking too much to be allowed a fire, and in some instances refreshments, and they had occasionally a glass of wine, or a cup of tea or coffee, the expenses of which daring the whole year was £15. A proposition had, however, been carried last night in the Council, to give a civic entertainment to his Excellency the Governor on his arrival here, the cost of which, would, perhaps, exceed £150. In retiring he begged to thank his colleagues for the courtesy that had always b_een shown him whilst in office and to express bis satisfaction at the support he had received from the ratepayers during his term of office, during which he could say that, to the best of his abiluy.he had endeavoured to advance their interests He would now call on. those who wished to nominate candidates, as members of the Council. Mr. Tribe proposed Mr. Luck, seconded by Mr Samuels. J Mr. Beece proposed Mr. S. Allen, seconded by Mr. J. C. Aikman. J Mr. Anderson proposed Mr. Fair, seconded by Mr Stringer. ■ j :^S^» WO ti prOpMed ODiTier « seconded by sgpr. xlv idenklau. *

Mr. Montgomery proposed Mr. W. H. Lane, seconded by Mr. Oswald. Mr. Tribe proposed Mr. 3. C. Brooke, seconded by Mr. Anderson. Mr. Luck proposed Mr. E. B- Bishop, seconded by Mr. Worth. The various candidates then addressed the meeting and answered the questions put to them, which principally referred to the drainage of the town, and its division into wards. A show of hands was then taken with the following result:— Mr. Ollivier, all; Mr. E. B. Bishop, 54; Mr. Rutland, 50 ; Mr. Allen, 47 ; Mr. Luck, 39 ; Mr. Lane, 31; Mr. Farr, 28 ; Mr. Brooke, 15. A poll was demanded by Mr. Lane, which will take place to-day, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Town Hall. An unanimous vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the meeting.