CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 7429, 26 January 1888, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary met ting of the City Council was held last, evening ; present—the Mayor, Crs Carrol), Solomon, Sinclair, Itislop, Cramond, Smith, Leary, Hardy, Barron, Gourlcy, Fish, and Kimbell. LAST MEETINGS MINUTES. On the reading of the minutes of last Thursday's special meeting, held to consider the safety of tiie public places of amusement, a discussion arose as to their correctness, Cr Solomon remarking that the last clause was not correct. He thought that tho resolution which was ultimately carried with reference to the theatre was that the remaining clauses of the report be considered at the next meeting of tho Couucil. Cr Fish moved that the minutes be conlirmed. After discussion, Cr Leaky moved the following amendment—" That the last two paragraphs are an incorrect record of the proceedings, inasmuch as the motion passed was that consideration of the question be adjourned." Cr Solomon seconded the amendment. More discussion ensued, during the course of which Cr Flsii remarked that Cr Hislop evidently thought that his only duty was to follow Cr Leary's lead, and Cr Hislop then claimed the protection of the chair. Cr Fish then endeavored to speak, but in vain, nearly all the councillors drowning his voice with incessant cries of " Chair, chair." Ultimately the Mayor ruled Cr Fish out of order, and he sat down. The amendment was then put and carried, Cr Carroll moved—"That the minutes be confirmed as amended." Cr Solomon seconded the motion. Cr Fish asked, if the motion was carried, what would be the position of affairs ? He would ask that of Cr Leary, who appeared to "boss" the Council. Cr Carroll : We consider the question again. The motion for the confirmation of the minutes as amended was then put and car ried. Cr Smith : I would ask your Worship if, in anticipation of these minutes being onlirnied, a license has been given to Mr Sibbald ? The Mayor : A license has been given to Mr Sibbald. I instructed the Town Clerk, assuming that the minutes were correct, to give him his license. Cr Solomon said he was amazed to hear the reply to Cr Smith's question; instructions had been given that no license should be given except a temporary one. The May ok said that the carrying of Cr Gourley's motion at the previous meeting disposed of the whole report. After more discussion on this point Cr SiNOLAiKremarked that any councillor could bring up the matter of the theatre at any time by giving notice of motion. An enormous epiantity of time had been wasted in useless discussion, and they should now act like sensible men. His Worship then signed the minutes, notwithstanding that Cr Fish strongly advised him not to do so. (.'OJU'OKATIUN KENT'S. J. Aris wrote on behalf of himself and cotrustee, drawing attention to a great cause of hardship in connection with their current lease of Corporation property on which stands the Auld Scotland Hotel. They had been paying Ll2O per year in excess of the value of the lease. This at compound interest for twenty-one years would amount to over L 5,500, so that a fortune hud been paid away for nothing, H« prayed ti-at tho City might be brought under the provisions of ttie Public Bodies' Leaseholds Act, in order that they might be equitably dealt with. Cr Fish moved—"That the whole question of the position of the tenant referred to and other tenants be referred to the Finance Committee to report." He thought that this was a question of great moment; for this Corporation must, iu common with those of other cities in the Colony, modify its rents iu cases where excessive hardship is shown to exist—when the paying of heavy rents unduly pressed on leaseholders. Cr SiNCLAiKsaidherose to apoint of order; Cr Fish was travelling outside the subject matter of the motion. The Mayor asked Cr Fish to make his remarks as brief as possible. Cr Fish : God bless me, sir, I am not here to discuss matters at the length you like to fix ; I'll not be bound by you as to the length of time that I am to speak, or I shall beg leave to withdraw my motion and retire from the Council. I moved the motion in the interests of my constituents, and if I am to be of no use to them I may as well leave the Council. Cr Sinclair said he hoped the Council would not allow itself to be bullied by Cr Fish. Cr Fish said he would not be sat upon by Cr Sinclair or anyone else. The Mayor explained that he had not ruled Cr Fish out of order. He had only asked him to curtail his remarks. Cr Fish then continued his speech, but was interrupted by Cr Smith, who said he was travelling beyond the subject of the matter before the Council. Cr Fish : What is the subject, but that of our rents ? The Mayor said the subject was only Mr Aris's letter, and he would rule Cr Fi3h out of order in going beyond that. Cr Fish : Very well, I will say no more. I move no motion whatever. Cr Solomon : I rise to second Cr Fish's motion. Cr Fish said he had no motion before the chair, and 1< ft the room. The letter was referred to the Finance Committee. correspondence. A letter was received from the Public Works Department st '.ting that the Minister could not see his way to assist; in repairing the sea wall at St. Clair by means of unemployed labor.—Received. 'The iloslyu Council wrote requesting tho Council to repair roads through the Town Belt leading from the Robin Hood quarry to I'oslyn.— Referred to the Works Committee for report. John A. Barr wrote requesting tho Council to have Beach street, leading to Hanover street, reclaimed and formed, so as to give his tenants a means of reaching their houses when the railway line is fenced in.—Referred to the Works Committee to report, Charles R. Chapman wroto stating that ho was requested by his father to inform the Council that he had a piece of land (about 10.!, acres) situated on the Balmaecwan road, Maori Hill, which he could let the Council have for the purpose of a cemetery. The terms of pnrchase could be so arranged that the Council would not be required to pay any of the purchase money at present, provided fair interest was paid on the value, or Corporation bonds could be taken for the purchase-money.—Referred to the Reserves Committee for report. REPORTS. The valuation report, as published, was received. The reports of the Works, Gas, and General Committees were adopted as published. On the reading of the Finance Committee's report the clause with reference to instructing the Works Committee to expend no further money, except on works already authorisod, during the current year was deleted. On the reading of the Reserves Committee's report some discussion took place as to the Corporation's responsibility in case

of accident on the part of the Pelichet Bay rifle range which crosses thu Town Bolt; also with regard to the recommended removal of gorse from the Town Belt, and with regard to Mr Langlands's application to lease a reetion of the Cattle Market reserve. Ultimately the report was adopted as published. ADJOURNMENT. About ten o'clock the Order Paper was reached, but on the motion of Cr Goukley, seconded by Cr Barron, the Council adjourned the remaining business till next sitting.