CITY COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9789, 27 July 1897, Page 6

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, July 26. The Council met at 7.30 p.m. Presenters. Gray, J. T. Smith, Samuels, Woods, Sandstein, Stapleton, Kincaid, Sorensen, Prudhoe, Andrews, and Payling. Apologies were received from Crs. Loughnan, Stewart, and Appleby. The Towk Clerk apologised for the absence of his Worship the Mayor, and asked the Council to appoint a Chairman. On the motion of Cr. J. T. Smith Cr. Gray was voted to the chair. The receipts since last meeting were stated as being—General account £1008 13s 9d, cemetery account £22 6s, suspense account £59 13s 7d, interest account £800 9s 6d. V

Accounts were passed for. payment as under—General account £598 12s Id, cemetery account £470 7s 6d, interest account £300.

The debtor balance at the Bank was stated as being £7533 Is, of which the general account was £4616, and cemetery account £1543 14s 2d.

The Council adopted a resolution making a consolidated by-law dealing with various subjects connected with the city, which comes into force on August 9tb, 1897. The Chaieman said that the Council would agree with him in sympathising with his Worship the Mayor in the bereavement which he had suffered in the death of his mother. ,

Cr. Sandstein moved— " That a letter of condolence be sent to his Worship the Mayor, expressing the sympathy of the Council with him in the loss of his mother." Cr. Prudhoe seconded the motion, which was carried. . . V - ■

A petition was read from seventy-one ratepayers, asking the Council.to change the name of Market square to Victoria square. Cr. Sandstein moved —" That the request be acceded to."

Cr. Sorknsen seconded the motion.

The Chairman pointed out that there were two lots in the reserve referred to as the Market Square Reserve. It would perhaps be better if the matter were referred to the By-law Committee to see whether there were any difficulties in the way. '"' ■ Cr. J. T. Smith moved—"That the matter be referred to the By-law Committee."

Cr. Sorenson seconded the motion.

A letter was read from the Colonial Secretary forwarding the reply , of her Majesty to the address of the City Council on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee.

The letter was received,

A letter was received from Mr G.. R. Fail, asking the Council to take the control of the fish market. \ Cr. Samuels moved— *• That the letter be referred to the By-law Committee." Cr. Payling seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A letter was read from Mr Jones, the Secretary of the Chrysanthemum Society, asking the Council to erect the dog proof fance round the Market square as soon as possible. * Cr. Sorensbn moved—"That the Works Committee be requested to carry out the work as soon as possible." Cr. Andrews seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Council went into Committee to consider certain correspondence with reference to Lane's mill. X . The Council resumed. A letter was read from Mr W. H. Lane, stating that he was willing to sell the island free of buildings, &c, for £200. The report ot the Works Committee on the subject was read recommending the acceptance of the offer of Mr Lane. Cr. Prudhoe moved the adoption of the report. The Committee had been in correspondence with Mr Lane for some time and had come to the conclusion that it would be better to acquire the island. Cr. Samuels seconded the motion. Cr. Sorenson thought that the city did not want the island, and he was not quite sure that the expenditure of £200 was a wise one. He would move as amendment— "That £200 be offered for the island and the mill." Cr- Stapleton seconded the amendment. After some discussion, in which the Chairman Crs. Sorensen, Sandstein, Payling, J. T. Smith and Samuels took part, the amendment was put and lost, and the original resolution agreed to. The report of the Reserves Committee was read as under :—" The Committee in considering the question of planting the reserves visited the Smalieox Hospital site, and recommends the Council to plant ten acres thereof, as the site is Very suitable for the purpose. The Committee further, recommends that the balance of the amount od the estimates for expenditure on reserves be used for extending the fence and planting of that part of the Bottle Lake reserve fronting the Bea on the New Brighton beach. The Committee has had a further letter from Messrs E. Recce and Sons relative to fencing the road boundary of the Bottle Lake reserve, opposite Mr W. Recce's property, referring the Council to tbe Fencing Act, 1895, section 23. After considering the section your Committee recommends the Council to fence the road boundary of its reserve, about forty-eight chains." . Cr. Kincatd moved the adoption of the report. After a lengthy discussion, the report was adopted.

On the motion of Cr. Samuels, the Council decided to grant their patronage to the concert for the benefit of the late C. Baker.

A lengthened discussion ensued as to the question of the stone used on the roads, and ultimately, on the motion of Cr. Smith, it was resolved that the test applied was a fair one and that tbe report of the Works Committee was warranted under the circumstances of the case. j«J jyThe Council then adjourned. *Jr