CITY COUNCIL.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7357, 9 July 1889, Page 6

CITY COUNCIL.

I Monday, Jolt & JFhe usual meeting of the C&ancil was hid at 7 jxm. Present—His Worship the major (presiding), Crs. Patrick, Crooks, I Manning, Goes, Cooper. Scott. Gray, Brice, : McLaren, Prudhoe, Keese and Holbert. ■ *The amounts received since last meeting t frere stated as follows :—General account, P £1436 5s 9d; cemetery account, £8 12s; {wuspense account, £6614s 2d; interest ac*Bfeount, £6712s Bd. The following accounts Msrtxe passed for payment:—General acXcount, £635 11s 7d; suspense account, £251 Jflßs 9d; cemetery account, £11 lls Bd. The f overdraft at the Bank was stated as being I £380116s 9d. 3 The Mayor said that, in accordance with the wish of the Council, in company with Cγ. Gray he had proceeded to Wellington in connection with the Corporation Gas BILL This was rendered necessary by the opposition of the Gas Company to the Bill. On reaching Wellington they found that in the ordinary way the Bill would have passed the House. This being so, the' mends of the Gas Company raised all kinds of technical objections, and the Company had employed legal advice. They had not intended to do this, but were advised by members, friends of the Bill, to do so. The question was raised that the Bill was a private Bill. This Committee -would have decided that it was a local jßtll, but then it would again be raised in ithe House. The Speaker decided that the jnatter should go before the Joint Coni.tnittee of the two Houses, and, as they jfrould see by the telegram before the they had decided that it was a private Bill. There was no blame attached eto any one, as precisely the same Bill had *been passed two years ago in connection *with Sydenham, and Sir Robert Stout, then the Chairman of the Local Bill Committee, had decided that it was so. In addition to the Gas Company petition a ■second petition was presented signed by some Gfcy residents of Christchurch. On dissecting the signatures they found that a large number of them were dependent on shareholders, and others were some who had signed the guarantee to the Council to take seas from it. The papers were all before the Committee, who could form their own estimate of the value of these signatures. They had also found out that several persons who had previously been with them had become purchasers of shares, aud had written to members of the House urging them to vote against the Bill. Their journey had not been in any sense a vain one, as they had acquired a good deal of information which they would be prepared to irapait to the Councillors in a more confidential manner than at the open Council meeting, as it was probable; \tixej might have to take advantage of it. * Cγ. Gray called attention to the untrue ] statements contained in the petition of the {citizens referred to by his worship as to j! !.,the probable loss of the greater portion of f Ithe capital which might be borrowed by sthe Council to establish gas works in the.: '•city. It had been proved by them most iconcJusively, and bad never been contra--Vdicted, that so far from a loss being made? |[t would be a gain to the city revenue. Her tnight say that some of the members had ' suggested the bringing in of a Bill to pre-' vent the charge of meter rents by any; Company. The Mayor said Cγ. Gray had reminded I him of something he had forgotten, and \ that was, that some of the members had } suggested that a general Act should be introduced repealing the monopoly clause! throughout New Zealand. ,\ t Cr. Patrick presented a petition certain residents in Purdie street, that it be taken over by the Council. $?& The Mayor pointed out that the streeaSj ■in question was not yet a public stree&jl s the requisite proportion not having been?! ■ paid by the residents. 1 ? The matter was referred to the Works;] Committee. j

A letter was read from the Sydenham Borough Council asking for the co-opera-tion of the Council in opposing the Charitable Aid Bill. ;

The Mayor pointed out that the House had agreed to postpone the second reading of the Bill until ample time had been given to local bodies to express their opinion on it. He thought it would be as well to refer the matter to the By-law Committee to bring up a report as soon as possible, and then a special meeting of the Council might be called to consider such a report. Cγ. Reese moved —*' That the matter be referred to the By-Law Committee to report, and that the representatives of the Council on the Charitable Aid Board — Crs. Prudhoe and Crooks—be associated with the Committee."

Cr. Scott seconded the motion, which , was carried.

The following report of the Cemetery and Reserves Committee was read :— " Your Committee has been offered a bier suitable for the Corporation Cemetery. It is desirable that one should be procured, therefore the Council ia asked to sanction the purchase of the one offered. As the reserves were visited so recently by the Council, your Committee submits the letter of Mr Dudley for an extended lease of the Bottle Lake reserve for its consideration and decision."

The offer of Mr Dudley for a lease of the Bottle Lake reserve was read, asking for an extension of his lease for ten years. Cr. Crooks objected to the locking up of so important a reserve for ten years. He moved—"That the application for an [extended lease be declined."

' Cγ. Reese seconded the motion, which iwas carried.

s On the motion of Cr. Htjxbebt, it was tesolved that the patronage of the Council J»e accorded to the forthcoming costume concert in connection with the St. John Ambulance Association.

Cγ. Gray gave notice of motion as F follows:—" That this Council is st-ongly [ opposed to the proposal contained in the 'Charitable Aid Bill, which relegates to| City Councils the functions at presents exercised by Charitable Aid Boards." J

The Council then adjourned.