THE CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 7168, 23 March 1887, Page 4

THE CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the City Council was held yesterday evening. Present—The Mayor (Mr It. 11. Leary), Cra Carroll, Esther, llislop, Cramond, Lee Smith, Dawson, Barron, Murray, and Fish. THE MINUTES. On the minutes being read, Cr Hisloi* moved that the reference to the Mayor calling Cr Fish to order three times be deleted.—The motion was carried unanimously. CORRESPONDENCE. The Zingari Football Club applied for permission to play on the Oval during the approaching season.—Referred to the Reserves Committee. It was pointed out that the permission requested was prohibited by by-law 20. Herbert, Haynes, and Co. wrote complaining of the offensive smell from the boiling-down establishments in Cumberland and Custlc streets.—Referred to the inspector to report. The Montrose Football Club applied for permission to play on a portion of Montccillo. After tailing possession of the ground last year the White Star Club had ousted them, —Referred to the Reserves Committee, A memorandum from the Mayor was read, suggesting that the Gas and Works Committees be appointed to report jointly upon Mr Au!ifl’s patent automatic lamp-lighter and extinguisher. The suggestion was adopted. The Maniototo County Council forwarded a series of lengthy resolutions passed by that body on the subject of the Otago Central Railway, requesting co-operation in urging on the Government a more satisfactory progress of the works. Cr Sinclair, in moving that the circular be received, said he thought the Government were doing all they could to forward the construction of the line. Cr Murray seconded the motion. Cr Fish said a communication from such a body should be received with all respect, and no Council could afford to ignore any proposal involving a question of such great importance. Ho believed it was impossible, and even illegal, for the Council to incur any expenditure in the direction suggested; but they might bring such pressure to bear upon the Government as would induce them to fulfil the pledges made by succeeding Ministries year after year. He moved as an amendment that the circular be referred to the Works Committee to report. Cr Barron seconded the amendment, which was carried, Cr Sinclair withdrawing his motion. Dr do Zouchc sent in an account for LI 17s fid for reporting cases of infectious fevers. The account, he stated, had been rendered from time to time, but ho had been unable to obtain payment on the ground that the Council had no funds available for meeting such a demand. Ho made the charge oeeaHse he believed the Corporation to be as much bound by the Public Health Act as medical practitioners were.—lt was decided to decline payment, the Council having no funds for that purpose. GAS SUPPLY COMMITTEE. The Gas Supply Committee reported that with reference to a clause in their report re the disposal of ammonia water, which was referred back io them for reconsideration, they had decided after careful inquiry to adhere to their former recommendation. Several applications having been recently received for a gas supply to premises outside the present system, the secretary had been instructed to ascertain the consumption likely to arise if the application be granted, and, if desirable, to carry out the same with the sanction of His Worship the Mayor. Pay-sheets and accounts amounting to L3.14114s 8d had been passed for payment.— The clause relating to outside gas supply was referred back to the Committee, and the report was adopted as amended. , . FIRE BRIGADE COMMITTEE. Tl}o Fine Brigade Committee reported having passed for payment accounts amount- > ing td LlO2 14« 6d. The quarterly report

from the superintendent of the Fire Brigade showed that there had been twelve calls on the Brigade during the quarter, only two of which wore of any consequence. The same members continue in the Brigade, and, as usual, good feeling existed.—The report was adopted. WORKS COMMITTEE. The Works Committee recommended that the Council authorise the preparation of plans for extension of the sewer at Stuart street, rendered necessary by the progress of the Harbor Board’s reclammation works. The inspector of nuisances had been instructed to take action to stop the practice of painting advertisements on the footpaths. Accounts amounting to L 295 19s lOd had been passed for payment.—Adopted. WATER SUPPLY COMMITTEE. The Water Supply Committee reported that they had resolved to stop the supply of water to all machinery, in view of the present low state of the water supply, and had authorised the Town Clerk and City Surveyor to act in the matter where necessary. Pay-sheets and accounts had been passed for payment, including the half-yearly payment into tho consolidated loan acount, amounting to L 2,946 15s 9d.—Adopted. RESERVES COMMITTEE. The Reserves Committee asked that they be given authority to visit the Corporation reserves at Kaitangata. Mr Boyd Bennie hud applied for the ripht to prospect for coal over sections 2 and 3, block 3, North Molyaeux district, leased to Mr William Kelly.—Adopted. FINANCE committee. The Finance Committee reported that accounts amounting to L 1,756 7s 5d had been passed for payment.—The report was adopted. ORDERLINESS IN COUNCIL, Cr Hislop moved, in accordance with notice given—“ That this Council hereby declares and resolves that it is essential to the maintenance of the dignity of the Council, and of order and decorum in its proceedings, that the ruling of the Worshipful the Mayor, or tho chairman for the time being, on points of order or questions of procedure, be accepted as final, in pursuance of section 21, part XI. of by-law No. 2 \ and that if any councillor demur to such ruling he shall explain his reasons for so doing in temperate language, and preserve a respectful demeanor towards the chair and the Council.” He believed he expressed the sentiment of the whole of tho Council in hoping that the motion would be carried unanimously. Cr Fish seconded the motion, not because he deemed it necessary, as it practically affirmed what was already the law as regarded the proceedings in Council. His motive was to promote the peace and cordiality which he was sure all the councillors wished to maintain between themselves and tho Mayor. He also took the opportunity of seconding this motion because it enabled him to make a few remarks as to what occurred on a previous occasion, which he thought necessary for the justification of himself and the Mayor. He had been induced to take this course from the fact that at a personal interview between himself and the Mayor it had become apparent that each had misconstrued the other’s meaning. Nothing could be further from his desire than to do anything to weaken the authority of the Mayor in the position he occupied, and he was quite sure that neither now nor on any other occasion would His Worship be actuated by anything in the shape of personal feeling towards the speaker or any other member of the Council. He further thought that his long service and general conduct in tho Council protected him from an accusation of desiring to improperly dispute the ruling of the Mayor. At the same time, he wished to maintain—he hoped without exception being taken to the remark—that the councillors had also privileges, and were able to challenge the ruling of the Mayor in an orderly manner. He resumed his scat with the hope that the most cordial relations would exist between the Mayor and tho Council during Ilia Worship’s term of office. The Mayor expressed his gratification at Cr Fish having seconded the motion, as it seemed a simple way out of the difficulty. He deemed it his duty to seek an interview with Cr Fish after the last meeting of Council, and was satisfied from the result that there had been a misapprehension on cither side. As regarded Cr Fish’s remark about the Council having privileges, he fully recognised it, and he was there in fact for the purpose of maintaining the dignity of the Council, not his own dignity. Ho invited councillors to assist him in determining points of order upon which he might be in doubt, and had not the smallest intention of forcing his own views upon the Council and refusing to allow his ruling to be challenged in a respectful way. The motion was carried unanimously, motions. Cr Flsii moved—“ That the Resident Magistrate having decided that the by-law giving the Mayor power to cancel cabmen’s licenses is ‘ unreasonable,’ and therefore ‘ inoperative,’ it be remitted to the Legislative Committee to take legal advice upon the matter, and if necessary frame a new by-law and take such steps as may bo required for getting legislative authority for same,” —Carried. Cr Fish moved—" That it be remitted to the Reserves Committee to prepare and submit to the Council a plan for the permanent improvement of the site known as the Triangle, in order that any partial improvement made from time to time may be done on properly-defined lines.” “ That the Works Committee be instructed to erect a screen round the urinal on tho Triangle site.” —The motion was carried. Cr Murray moved—‘‘That a committee of the Council be appointed to consider and report as to the beat method for celebrating the jubilee of Her Majesty’s reign.” Cr Lee Smith objected to the motion, not from want of loyalty, but on account of the expense and the unsatisfactory position of tho Corporation’s finances. He believed Her Majesty would be better pleased, if she know the circumstances, with a single resolution passed by the Council. Cr Fish supported CrLee Smith’s suggestion. The motion was carried.