CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 133, 3 November 1874, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, November 2. The usual weekly meeting was held in the" Council Chambers. Present —His Worship • the Mayor, Crs Calvert, Bishop, Hobbs,. Ick, Jones, Gapes, Fair, and Raphael. The minutes of the previous meeting were' read and confirmed. Cr Bishop desired to formally move, beforethe business of the evening was proceeded; with—" That the rules of the Council beread, and that the town clerk furnish a copy' of the rules to each member of the Council."' He did so because some of the members' might not know that these rules were in; existence, and a great deal of laxity perhaps among them all had obtained in the courseof debate. Cr Jones seconded the motion, which waa ; agreed to. The rules of the Council were then read by the town clerk. The town clerk reported receipts for the 1 - week to be as follows : —From rate collector,, account general city rates, 1874, £169 17s ;: Waimakariri do, £2B 6s 2d ; from Provincial Government (third instalment), £750 : fromi Provincial Government, proportion agreedupon for employment of immigrant labor,, £333 6s 8d ; fines from R.M. Court, £3 ;: rent from market place, 7s ; total receipts,. £1284 16s lOd ; drainage account, creditor,. £4237 12s 2d; drainage rate account, creditor, £1093 Is 7d ; wages, &c, to be paid, on general account, £325 19s Id ; wages, Sec, . on drainage account, £239 15s3d ; credit at* bank on general account, £BOI 17s-Bd. The Mayor said he was very happy to* inform the Council that 17 chains of the brick culvert were completed at a cost of £IOOO. Possibly that amount might appear ■ large, but experience had been gained, and. when more of this work was constructed,, it would doubtless be at a less cost. He •• was glad to see that the subject of drainage had lately been taken up by the press*. and he did hope that that subject would be ■ fairly considered by the papers. He felt assured that the members of the Council would • do everything to facilitate the drainage of : the city. There v» ere several other important; matters which required the attention of the : Council, notably one, and which he would! like to call the attention of the ratepayers to; through the press—he referred to the drainage from the railway. Some members of the Council had occasion a few days since to visit the East town belt to see the effect of the drainage of the South town belt, and they had been surprised to see that that part of the belt connected with the Provincial Government, was in a more disgraceful state: than any other portion of the city. Ashe said before, that portion where the water flowed from the railway was in a most dis--graceful state, and he felt certain the Government could not be aware of this. Aa attempt had been made to drain the water from the gasworks by a drain made there. Whosoever fault it was he did not know; but the bottom of the drain was higher than the water level. It should have been the duty of those who had this matter in hand to have provided for carrying away the water both from the gasworks and the railway. One other matter he desired to mention* was, viz, that the provisions of the Local Board of Health had been brought into operation ; and while the press were so ready to blame the satellites, as they called them, they omitted to lay any blame on the Central Board of Health, which was a permanent body, having the power to remove the nuisances that had been com-

plained of. The Provincial Government constituted the Central Board of Health, with his Honor the Superintendent as chairman, and if it had been found that the Act was imperfect, who was in a better, position to have it amended than the Provincial Government 1 If the Government fouud they did not possess the power, then they should have applied to the General Government and have obtained it to carry out work so badly required to be done. He, hdwever, was under the impression that the necessary power was possessed by the Central Board of Health, and if this was pointed out to the ratepayers it would, he felt, do good. He was sure every member of that Council would do all he possibly could to assist in carrying to completion the drainage of the city and suburbs on fair and equitable terms—[hear, hear] and he hoped the day was not far distant when a resolution passed in that Council would be carried into effect; that was—- " That a meeting of the district Boards and Council should beheld to carry out a proper system of drainage." He had felt it to be his duty to make these remarks, and he hoped that the ratepayers, through the press, would have this matter laid before them in its proper lighter Hobbs said that the Council ought to be very much obliged to his Worship for his very lucid remarks. Undoubtedly the tone of the press had been against the Council, and blaming them for a state of things that existed, and was altogether beyond their control. The surveyor's report was read as follows : " 1. The works committee recommend that the concrete channelling should be commenced at once in Tuam and Lichfield streets; that it should be eighteen inches wide ; that as tarred timber kerbing would considerably expedite the laying in of the work it should be adopted instead of a concrete kerb ; and that the outside of the channel should have a course of stone instead of wood if it can be obtained, If the Council decide to carry on this work, as well as the South town belt sewer, it would be advisable to order more cement, so that the work may not be stopped for want of it. "2. I have read a letter frcm Mr Smart concerning channelling, and I think it would be as well to give the bitumen a trial. " 3. I could not obtain material from the front of the Supreme Court to make up the marketplace, and have therefore commenced to form Chester street, where I think I can obtain sufficient material for the present need." Paragraphs No 1 and 2 were referred back to the works committee to report next Monday. The other paragraph was approved. Two tenders for the supply of bricks were opened, and referred to the works committee, with power to take action. Seven tenders for weighbridge were opened, and one accepted. Letters were read from the Provincial Secretary stating that the third instalment of £750 of grant to municipalities was payable, also £333 6s 8d for employment of immigrants on special works, and expressing •willingness to continue the contribution for this object. The town cleik reported that he had received the above amounts. Another letter was read from the Provincial Secretary's office informing the Council that an Order in Council had been issued by His Excellency the Governor renewing the order of the 18th September, 1873, by which sections 21 to 45 inclusive of the Public Health Act, 1872, were brought into force in certain districts of the province. A letter was read from the Commissioner of Police, stating that every effort would be made to abate the nuisance of butchers' boys and others riding upon the footpaths of the city. Deemed to be very satisfactory. A letter was read from the Auckland Corporation asking the Council's permission to allow the printed conditions for tenders for ■waterworks to lie at the Council's offices for inspection. Permission granted. jt letter was read from the town clerk, tHofci/i&ka, asking if the City Council ap.pointed /J medical officer under the Public Health Mk, 1872, and if so, what were his • duties and ;Eto3uneration. Thi3 letter evas left in the hands of the • town clerk to reply to. A letter was read from Mr J. W. Treadwell, asking to be informed of the law respecting the- forming of streets within the borough. Referreif to the surveyor to report upon. A letter was read from Mr Thomas Suart, Britannia. Hotel, asking that the footpath in front of his premises might be levelled, as he proposed to have it asphalted. Beferred to the works committee. A letter was read from the Heathcote Boad Board, expressing willingness to pay half the cost of forming and metalling that portion of the East town belt, from the Old Stanmore road to Ferry road, if the Council would furnish the Board with an estimate of the profcable cost. Referred to the surveyor. A letter was read from Thomas Hickland, applying for permission to have a coffee stand in the streets of the city. Cr Ick said that several members of the Council had examined the stall, and found it a very respectable one. If fish hawkers were permitted to stand in the street he thought the present applicant ought also. He ■would move that permission be granted to Mr Hickland to have this stall in the streets, so long as he did not obstruct the thoroughfare. Cr Farr seconded the motion. The motion was put and carried, Cr Jones -.alone dissenting. A letter was read from Mr Newton, stating i that he is prepared to telegraph to Mr Mareden for stone breaking and road-rolling i machinery ou any terms most suitable to the i Council's requirements if they are prepared < to entertain the order. Order to lie on the table. A letter was read from Mrs Elizabeth •Brooks thanking the Council for remitting ;her rates. Cr Hobbs, as chairman of the finance com--.mittee, said that Cr Bishop's motion had been under the consideration of the finance ■ committee, and they considered it somewhat too vague. If the Council determined to carry out all the works mentioned in the resolution they would cost £BOOO, and for that purpose the committee would have to borrow imney on debentures under clause ■239 of the Act. They would require •to know what stated amount would have to be raised, so that the •committee might know what arrangements 'they would have to make for that purpose. They considered the resolution not sutli■ciently definite, and would like some further

instructions. Ultimately the matter was referred back to the finance committee to report more fully ou Monday next. The sanitary committee reported ou Mr S. Collett's letter, complaining that he had received a notice to fill up a vault on his premises, and stated that on visiting that and other premises on which notices had been served they found the cesspools to be in no way offensive, the notices having been complied with so far as to abate the nuisance complained of, but strongly recommended the use of earth closets in preference. The report was received and adopted. A letter was read from Mrs Campbell, asking that time might be permitted her, in her present circumstances, to pay her rates. The rate collector stated that with a knowledge of (he circumstances of the applicant he had granted an extension of time. Approved. An opinion was read from Dr Foster on Cr Jones' motion—" Whether or not the Mayor can attend committee meetings of this Council, and take his seat therein legally as chairmau." Dr Foster held that there was no doubt that the Act did not make the Mayor chairman or member of a committee, unless expressly so appointed. The weekly report of the inspector of nuisances was read and approved ; one portion of the report being referred to the sanitary committee. Carriers' licenses were granted to W. A. Clifford and A. Walkden. Cr Jones moved—" That in consequence of the breakage of city lamps a reward of £5 be given to any person or persons who shall give such information as will lead to the conviction of the offender or offenders." Cr Farr seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Cr Raphael obtained leave to withdraw two motions standing in his name. Cr Jones obtained leave to withdraw a motion of which he had given notice. The Council then adjourned.