CITY COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 9985, 15 March 1898, Page 6

CITY COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting of the City Council was held last night. Present—His'Worship the Mayor (Mr Chas. Louisson), and Crs. Gray, Samuels, Woods, Hamilton, Morris, Stapleton, Kmcaid, Sorensen, Prudhoe, Smith, Payling, Andrews, Appleby. The accounts showed, debit balance in the bank £6795 53 lOd. Receipts since last meeting—General account £360 18s sd, cemetery account £18 16s, suspense account £29 18s 6d, interest account (drainage rate) £22 lis 6d ; expenditure—General account £1031 9s lid, Richmond loan account £67 19s 4d, suspense account £110s. The Christchurch Beautifying Association wrote thanking the Council for the Mill Island, explaining how it intended planting the island, and asking the Counoil whether it would grant a sum towards the work. Cr. Gray proposed that £20should be voted towards it. This was carried after some discussion.

The Chairman of the Geraldine Domain Board wrote asking to be supplied with a pair of swans. It was decided to grant a pair of blaok ones if they would be suitable.

It was decided to accede to the request of the W.C.T.U. for drinking cups at the deep stratum well opposite the Theatre Royal. The City Surveyor rieported on the following tenders, which he recommended for acceptance for the yearly supplies :— Horse feed, Robinson Bros.; fuel, White and Co.; cement (imported), Ashby, Bergh and Co.; iron culverts, John Anderson: hardware and oils, Aitken and Roberts; brushware, Jas. Miller. The work of repairing the footpaths and crossings had been very much delayed by the showers of rain that had occurred almost nightly for -the last ten days. The Richmond channelling work was progressing satisfactorily and being hurried on as fast as possible compatible with economy. He hoped to make a start with the erection of the iron work of the clock tower this week, everything being ready. Mr H. B. fork's tender for colonial cement was held over by the Council, and the remainder of the report was adopted. The Finance Committee reported that it had advised the Town Clerk to make certain objections to the values in the valuation lists, and recommended the Council to instruct its solicitors to appear for the Council at the Assessment Court.

The Chairman (Cr. Smith) in moving the adoption of the report, said he was only sorry they could not object to the rate roll as a whole.

Cr. Gray, in seconding the motion, said he had calculated that the course of action laid down by the valuer would mean a loss of £750 a year to the city. In course of time he would move that an alteration in the valuer should be made, and they should revert to the old system of advertising for a valuer every few years. The report was adopted. Cr. Samuels moved—" That the Inspector of Nuisances visit the fish market every morning." Ho had heard many complaints of late regarding it. No food was more easily vitiated than fish.

Cr. Andrews, in seconding the motion, said complaints had frequently been made regarding fights and bad language which went on there.

After discussion the motion was carried with the slight modification that the Inspector should attend if possible. The Council adjourned at 9.15 p.m.