CITY COUNCIL.

Press, Volume XLVIL, Issue 7730, 9 December 1890, Page 6

CITY COUNCIL.

An ordinary fortnightly meeting of the i City Council was held at 7 p.m. ywterday, i when there were present—His Worship I the Mayor CMr S. Manning), Crs. Prudhoe. Gray, Rowe, Thomson, Gape 3£ Barns, \ Cochrane, Swarm. Smith, Wood, Bonning-, ton,-Cooper and Reese. The receipts since last meeting; was stated to be—General account £477 03 °d, cemetery account JBl_ 19s, suspense ao-coun^-__-3s Id, interest account £68 Ss 6d. The payments had been —General account £796 7s Bd, suspense account £5, cemetery account £8 6s Bd. The debtor balance was Mlol los lid. His WoasHiP said that as that waa the last meeting of the Council at which he would have the honor to preside, he would like to make one or two remarks. In tbe first place, he wished to thank the Councillors forthe kind and courteous manner In which they had assisted him in the position he had had the honor to hold. He could say without egotism or flattery that it had been a pleasure to him to preside, and there had not been, so far as he could remember, a personal word used. He was in something of the same position as his predecessor, having nothing in the way "or public works to talk about. There had, been no loan money to spend, and they bad simply been going on with the routine work of the Council. The debtor balance was slightly less than at the same period last year. The deep wells had resulted in' a saving of some £400 a year to the city; the aspnalting was done at a cheaper rate than formerly; and the collection of the dust and refuse by tbe Council had resulted in a saving of £300 or £4UO per annum, and the work was done much more effectively. He had to thank the OJfficers Of the Council for their courtesy and the assistance they had rendered him in every possible way. As a ratepayer he would like to warn thaCouucillors not toiu* jure 1 au old servant, and v would ask ..hem to pause before doing so. He also wished to thank the press for their kindness to him. He hoped the ratepayers of Richmond would see no reason to regret their amalgamation with the city, as he considered ■, Chat a step in the right direction. He referred to the formation of the Avon Steam Packet Company, and trusted that the steamer and dredge would result in improving the state of tbe river. He wished Or. Gray, his successor, every success; during his term of office. A petition was read, signed by seventy cabdrivers, asking the Council to grant licenses for six days only, and do away with the practice now existing of hiring cabs on Sunday, whicb it was feared would become general. The petition' was referred to the By-law Committee co consider and report. Correspondence was read—From the Cabmen's Union, asking the Council, in the face of the competition on the part of drags, horse-cars, and expresses, to make a reduction of os in the amount of the cabmen's licenses. The letter was referred to the By-Law Committee. A letter was read from Mr D. Crate, suggesting that the Mayor (Mr S. Manning) be elected a Sinking Fund Commissioner. ■ -.'

Or. G«a.r moved, and Cr. Swakn seconded—" That the suggestion be acted upon." His Worship said be would only be too happy to be of service to the CounciL b'rom tbe Sydenham Borough Council, askiug for a reduction in the amount charged for the use of the chemical engine. On the motion of Cr.? Gray, it was res lved that the Council could not see its way to agree to the request. A letter was read from Mr E. H. Banks, on behalf of the corn dealers of Christchurcb, drawing attention to the fact that the by-laws were not being carried out with respect to the city weighbridge. Tbe letter was referred to the By-laws Committee.

Prow the Sydenham Borough Council, asking that representatives be sent to a conference of local bodies, with a view to suggesting uniform by-laws with reapecfj to the sale of milk. ' '

It was- resolved that the < request be complied with. A petition was read from the ratepayers of the Richmond Ward asking that the weekly collection of rubbish be resumed. Consideration of the matter was deferred for a fortnight. •■ A letter was"read from the AuditorGeneral's Department .enclosing ' the balance-sheets, duly audited and certified to.

Received.

A letter was read from the Department of Justice forwarding a copy of the proclamation altering the boundaries of the licensing districts of Avon, Lincoln, and Little River, and constituting tbe licensing district of Richmond. The letter was received.

From Mr Superintendent Turton, asking permission to use the Fire Brigade plant on the occasion of the popular sports, on December 16th.

The request was granted. On the motion of Cr. Prudhoe, seconded by Cr. GuAY, the name of Henry T. Smith was inserted on the burgess in place of that of Wm. Newton.

On the motion of Cr. Prudhoe 'the Works Committee were authorised to sign for and on behalf of the Council, the following contracts:—Feuciug material (for Geraldine), Tarawera Saw Mills Company; labor, fehciug part of Geraldine reserve,' Wm. Hands; dog collars for 1891, M. Sklaark ; clearing road round No. 1 Reserve, Robert Coleman.

Cr. Reese moved a hearty vote of thanks to his Worship the Mayor for the manner in which he had carried out the duties of his office during tbe year. He hoped soon to see a return of the good times, so that they might be enabled to go in for further public works. The amalgamation of the suburbs of the city had been commenced during his Worship's term of office, and he hoped this good work would go on. Cr. G»A_ seconded the motion, which was supported by rs. .Prudhoe and Bonnlngton, and carried unanimously. His Worship said it was gratifying to him to dud his services had been appreciated. He bad always endeavoured to carry out his duties faithfully and Impartially, and he thanked the Councillors for their kind acknowledgment. The Council then adjourned,