CITY COUNCIL.

Press, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4991, 16 August 1881, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

« The ordinary meeting of the City Counoil was held last evening. Present —His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Hulbert, King, England, Treleaven, Cuff, Cherrill, Vincent, Ayers, Lambert, Thomson and Taylor. The accounts for the past fortnight were as follows: — Receipts, on general account, £1203, lis sd; suspense account, £165 10s; bills to be .paid, £561 2s lOd and £190 ss; other receipts, £163. Tbe credit at the Bank was reported to be £2374 5b 2d.

The correspondence was then read and considered. The following letters, among others, were then dealt with:-From Mr James Hicks, drawing attention to inconvenience and expense to himself arising out of the alteration in the leases of the shops in the Victoria market. Referred to reserves committee to take action. —From the hon. sec. of the Druids centenary oommittee, asking for the Council's patronage on the occasion of the celebration to take place on Thursday, August 25th.—Cr. Ayers moved—" That the request be acceded to." The motion found no seconder, and, on the suggestion of Cr. Taylor, the town clerk was instructed to write informing applicant of a former resolution of the Council, to the effect that the patronage of the Council should only be granted on behalf of charitable purposes. — From the Drainage Board, stating that the Board was not prepared to pay more than 5 per cent, commission for the collection of the drainage rate 1881.—Cr. Vincent moved, Cr. Cuff seconded, and it was agreed that the offer of 5 per cent, be accepted.—From the Canterbury Fire Insurance Association, enclosing a oopy of the analysis of gas oil made by Professor Bickerton.—On the motion of Or. Ayers, the letter was referred to the bylaw committee to take action immediately.— One or two letters on the subject of valuation were also dealt with. ■

The city surveyor's report was read as fol lows:—

In consequence of what waa said at the last meeting of the Council, relative to the exits from the Theatre, I beg now to place before the Council a copy of my notes taken at my last examination.previous to this year's license being granted. Exits from stalls—one "sft sliding door, one 3ft hinge door; exits from pit—one 10ft sliding door, one sft hinge do; exits from circle—one 6ft hinge door (double), one 3ft hinge door to Cathedral square; exit from orchestra —one 3ft hinge door. From the above it will be seen that the exits from the Theatre are ample in number and dimensions, but the sft sliding door from the stalls is objectionable, owing to a practice indulged in by the doorkeeper of placing a wedge under the door to prevent its being opened beyond a certain width, aud in the event of a panic in the Theatre there ia no guarantee that the wedge would be removed in time to stay a crush —king place at that spot, and consequently I would recommend that instead of the sliding door there should be placed folding hinge doors opening outwards. The above remarks will also apply to the sliding door from the pit, but I cannot say whether the same practice of wedging that door prevails or not. 2. The formation of that part of Cambridge terrace between Montreal and Cashel streets is finished, and aa soon as the weather permits will be shingled. 3. The formation of Oxford terrace East ia being proceeded with.— C. Wal_i>_n, City Surveyor. Cr. Cuff moved—"That the alterations suggested by the surveyor be carried out immediately." Seconded by Or. Tincent and oarried. The remaining clauses of the report were considered satisfactory, and the report as a whole was then passed. The sanitary committee reported that Mr A. Duncan had agreed to the cancelling of his contract, and had been paid £76 16* 2d, in full of all demands. Mr firightling had been paid his account for work done on the contract, whioh he reduced to £50. The work was now being done by Mr Jno. Brightling, and his contract for eleven months, from the Ist August, at the rate of £2000, was being prepared by the city surveyor. The report was approved. A letter was read from a person named Dann, making certain charges (in a declaration before a J.P.) against Mr _. Hennley, contractor for the removal of rubbish.—A discussion took place, in the course of which Or. Thomson pointed out that the Council wero scarcely responsible or required to deal with the accusation, and other Councillors were of opinion that the statements contained in Mr. Dann's letter should be received cautiously, seeing that he was a discharged servant of the man whom he accused. The terms of the contract with the contractor in-question were read, from whioh it appeared that he (the dustman) was responsible to the Council for " good behaviour." It was ultimately agreed that the matter be referred to the sanitary commit—c to inquire into and report to the Council. Cr. Taylor asked the ohair_an of the works committee whether that committee would take into consideration the formation of the South belt between Selwyn street and the Lincoln road.—Or. Lambert said they (the committee) would be very happy to do so. Or. Hulbert, in accordance with notice, moved—" That this Council does not approve of the action of his Worship the Mayor and the departmental committee in giving notioe of dismissal to the two inspectors and the ganger without the knowledge or consent of theOounoil; and that in future no offioer appointed by the Council shall be discharged except by resolution of a majority of the members in Council assembled." In speaking to the motion, Or. Hulbert pointed out that, in addition to the eeemi] ing slight on the Council, the aoJ tion of the committee was calculated toi damage the reputation of the officers concereted, as the fact of their being privately and 1 secretly discharge, would, no doubt, cause 1 doubts and suspicions of them to arise in the • public mind. At the same time, he wished to be understood as not desiring to censure the committee,—Or. Ayers seconded the motion, and said he fully concurred in what had fallen from the mover.—The Mayor explained the circumstances of the steps taken by the committee. He had been asked to sign the notices of dismissal, and asked the reason. It was then pointed out that the alteration in the staff had been contemplated on certain work being done, and union the notices were issued at once there would be a month's loss of time.—Or. Thomson, chairman of the'departna—<tal committee, said that being extremely unwell he should aot have been present at __ meeting except that he a__cipated same capital would* be made out of the affair under notice. He regarded the motion as a direct attempt to pass a vote of censure on the Mayor and the committee. As a matter of fait, the departmental committee r'commended that the decision arrived at by them should be reported to the Council, and the Mayor should have reported that

notices had been issue j, but omhted to -o so. As to the "verbal " report, of which so muoh bad been said, he remarked that there were very good reasons (as oounoillors would no doubt agree) why that report should have been verbal. These officers nolr _*j»ri» vately and secretly " stetiM|nr Cr. Hulbert, nor was it a facts«S— no r__—a' l had bee|spven for -the .—_og__,The _)ti-S» J issued 4Pp_d*t-ow being '"mjm owing Ifr&efOT—cs ity_clr a r#£fg—_atlori_? the ihai_*j-_, he prig-t point out thai®. Coi||ffimiu|el_ve Qpnte_-< plated the ajplS —ie_fiSy thee— suoh steps havM||fs—_ an_i«pate_'% them'in a report on finance, which \tho Council unanimously adopted. £Gr,^hoiJ— on spoke at some length further in reply I ;'—' Cr. Hulbert.] — The Mayor stated that two of the officers had admitted that they anticipated the dismissal of two of tbe staff.—A good deal of discussion followed, and Cr. Hulbert having replied, the motion was put to the Council and negatived by 7 to 4, those voting for it being Ora. Hulbert and Ayers (mover and seconder), and Crs. King and England. Or. Thomson then moved—"That the action of the Mayor in giving the necessary notices to the two collectors and the ranger that their services be dispensed with after the 31st August, be confirmed. —Or. Cuff seconded the motion. —An amendment was moved be Cr. Hulbert, that the matter of dismissing the inspectors and ranger be delayed till after next Council night.—Cr. Ayers seconded the amendment.—The amendment was lost, and the resolution carried, by seven to four. —It waa alto resolved that applications by invited for the offioe of inspector. j Cr. Lambert gave notioe of motion—" That Cranmer square be formed to a uniform surface, sown with grass seed, and paths formed on a line with Montreal street and Chester street—the euro of £100 having been plaoed on this year's estimates for the work." Or. Hulbert gave notice that he would move at next meeting—"That, in view of the reconstruction of the several departments of this Council, tbe present staff receive legal notioe of the Council's intention to dispense with their services -, and that applications be invited, through the Press, from persons competent to fulfil the duties of any of the following officers :—Town clerk, city surveyor, city treasurer, rate oolleotor, inspector of nuisanoes and cabs, and assistant inspector and rate collector. The following to be the salaries' attached to the several officers:— Town clerk, £400, ; if a solicitor or barrister, £700; oity surveyor, £400; city treasurer, £300; rate oolleetar, £200; inspector of nuisances and cabs, £200; assistant inspector and collector, £150."—This concluded tha business on the order paper. Cr. Cherrill rose to jjpeak on a matter personal to himself. He said that he was about proceeding to England, and ex. pressed tbe pleasure it would give him to be of any use to the Council when at Home. He had sent in his resignation in due form.—The town clerk read the letter in whioh Cr. Cherrill resigned. —Cr. Taylor moved that the resignation be accepted, and in doing so, spoke in complimentary terms of his (Or. Cherrill'b) worth as a citizen.—The resolution was seconded by Cr. Thomson, who testified ta Cr. CherriU's great usefulness as a councillor, especially as directed to Boientiflo questions that bad come before them. He suggested that the thanks of the Council were due to that gentleman. He hoped that Cr. Cherrill would see his way to return to the colony some day in the future time.—Several other councillors and the Mayor expressed regret at the loss which the Council sustained by the resignation of Cr. Cherrill.— The motion was then put, with the addition of the vote of thanks as suggested by Cr. Thomson.

Some applications for licenses were dealt with, after whioh (at 1015) the Council adjourned. _^