CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Post, Volume XIII, Issue 5, 7 January 1876, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The adjourned meeting of the .Council was held yesterday afternoon. There were present, his Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Councillors Pharazyn, Gillon, Moss, Greenfield, Cleland, George, Mills, and Ramie. The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed. THE WHARF. A' letter from Mr. W. V. Jackson, requesting that he might be allowed to continue lessee of the Wharf till the Ist April, was referred to the Wharf Committee. TRAMWAYS. A letter from. Messrs. Henderson and O'Neill, stating that operations in respect to the tramways would have to be begun anew, in consequence of some informality, was read, and referred to the Public Works Committee, with power to act. PUBLIC WORKS. The Public Works Committee reported that — (1) The City Surveyor had accepted a price for about two tons of iron gratings, which would probably be here in May next ; (2) That the Surveyor would attend to all works as they appeared in the order book, urgent works excepted ; (3) That tenders would be called for the formation of Haiaing-street ; (4) That Davis-street should not be formed at present ; (5) That the footpath in Boulcott-street should be attended to. SANITARY INSPECTOR'S REPORT. This officer reported that the practice of removing night soil surreptiously was on the increase ; that the drainage of Willisstreet should be extended; that Alma-lane, off Tory-street, should be drained. The report, which dealt with one or two other matters of minor importance, was referred to the Public Works Committee. WHARF COMMITTEE. This committee brought up the following < interim report : — "Your committee have the honor to report that they have devoted their atten- ' tion to the question of the best mode of i managing the Queen's Wharf during the { next year, and they are decidedly of opinion that it is desirable that the Council /should take into its own hands the ' collection of wharf charges, under schedules 1 and 11 of Wharf Regulations.

"They also recommend that the weigh - mdge should be kept in the hands of the Council. 4 ' With reference to the Queen's warelouse and sheds, the committee recommend that the tolls and charges for these shall be let as heretofore, by public auction In one lot. " The committee farther recommend that the right of supplying the water to the shipping at the wharf be let by auction. "They are of opinion that the stem hoists, cranes, and plant generally should be kept in the hands of the Council, and under their entire management and control. "The committee are now carefully considering the Wharf Regulations, with a view to their revision and amendment* and they propose to take evidence in relation thereto. At the earliest possible opportunity the committee will report fully to a special meeting of the Council on the -whole subject. Meanwhile the committee ask for authority to advertise for applications for the several situations which will have to be filled in connection with the Council assuming oharge of the 1 wharf, and also for authority to advertise * the letting of the Queen's bond and shedß and water supply. 'The committee do not recommend a renewal of the Piermaster's engagement, which expires on the 31st instant." l The Mayor thought this report deserved the serious consideration of the Conncil. Councillor Mills moved that the report as read be adopted. Councillor Gillon seconded the motion, and said that the Committee would confer with the persons who had the greatest interest in shipping' before they recommended any reforms. Councillor Cleland would support the motion, although personally he objected to the Council having the management of the wharf. He would prefer to see the wharf dealt with as previously, namely, let by tender. He thought they would suffer a serious loss by taking it into their own hands. * The Mayor said that circulars had been sent to those who had most to do with the wharf, asking them to meet the Committee and consider what arrangements should be made. Councillor Moss would support the motion, so leng as its adoption did not bind the Council. The report was then adopted. THE ANNUAL ACCOUNTS. The following report from the Committee appointed to consider the annual accounts was read :—: — " The committee have gone into the matter of accounts remitted to them, and have conferred with the auditors on the subject. "The committee premise, to avoid any possibility of misconception, that* there is no question of improper dealings with the funds involved in the discussion. The character of the city officials is not impugned by the auditors. The question resolves itself purely into one of booik-keep-ing, on the merits of which there \s room for a difference of opinion. "The auditors, in the exercise of the powers conferred upon them by the Municipal Corporations Act, have only discharged their duty, and the suggestions made by them are entitled to consideration "Satisfied, however, of the . substantial accuracy of the accounts, you£ 'cdmrfiittee recommend to the Council that these accounts shall be allowed and certified, in the usual manner, under the hand of tho Mayor ; but the committee would suggest that several improvements be introduced in the Council's system of book-keeping, and for this purpose they suggest the reappointment of the- committee, with power to see these improvements carried out, and that they shall embrace book-keeping by double entry." Councillor Gillon thought the com* mittee should inform the Council what changes they recommended. He was of opinion that very much larger changes were required than the committee antioipated. He thought they had a splendid opportunity of effecting a thorough reform. For his own part he would", when the proper time arrived, give notice of a motion for a much more sweeping change than was suggested in the report. The Mayor explained that the report only professed to deal with the report of the auditors upon last years accounts. Councillor Gillon moved, "That the words, ' with power to see these improvements carried into effect at once,' be omitted, and that the words 'to report on the improvements required,' be inserted instead thereof." Councillor Ramie seconded the motion. He was in favor of introducing some system of bookkeeping by which the state of the accounts could be ascertained at any moment. The motion was then carried. The committee was re-appointed, with Councillor Kainie's name added. PAYMENTS. The usual fortnightly payments were made. -. SURVEY. Councillor Gillon asked the City Surveyor when the survey of the City, which was being made by the Provincial Government) would be available. The City Surveyor replied that during the past two weeks he had heard nothing of the matter. He had been told tha£ it would v be available by the Ist January? He promised to make enquiries on the subject. PRESS V. CORPORATION. The Mayor said, in reference to the refusal of the Town Clerk to give the Press a copy of the Auditor's Report at the previous meeting, that he did not like to order the Clerk peremptorily to do so, because he thought it would have been unbecoming on first taking his seat to assume a high bearing towards the officera. He would, however, in future see that the reporters had any document which the public were interested in. ' A " SWEEPING " MOTION. Councillor Gillon gave notice, tha€ at next meeting he would- move :— " That in order to secure the efficient and economical administration of the affairs of the city, it is necessary that the departmental arrangements should be entirely reorganised, and that in order to leave this Council perfectly free in making such arrangements, it is desirable that three months' notice of the termination of their existing engagements r should forthwith- be given to all the permanent officers of the Corporation." SHOULD THE MAYOR BE PAID ? > Councillor Pharazyn would like to be-, informed by his Worship the Mayors whether he thought the Mayor should be » remunerated. Mr. Moorhouse, who had-, previously held the office, received no salary, and he (Councillor Pharazyti) . thought that, considering the present financial position of the Corporation, the Council would not be justified in paying a salary of £200 per annum. The Mayor had always held the opinion : ¦ that the Mayor should be remunerated foe his services. At the same time, the matter was in the hands of the Council. . . Councillor Phabazyn gave notice of motion as follows :— " That, considering the financial position of the corporation,, no salary should be voted for the Mayor » during the current year." This terminated the proceedings.