CHRISTCUHRCH CITY COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1664, 17 April 1866, Page 2

CHRISTCUHRCH CITY COUNCIL.

4 ■ A meeting, of this Council was held last night. Present: Mr.E. B. Bishop (chairman), Messrs. Luck, Alport, Barnard, Macfarlan, Fan, Ruddenklau and Woodford. The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, The Chairman announced that the balance at the Bank to the credit of the Council was £335 lGs Bd. The drainage account had also been opened, and £3B 16s 8d paid into it. The weekly pay-sheet amounting to £lO 12s wan ordered to be paid, as were some other accounts. £Bl 15a was mentioned as having been received for rates, Tho'Chairman announced that notice had been given to Mr. Hadfleld of the termination of his contract. He could however' collect the money due from those parties willing to pay, but there would he a small extra charge upon the public for so doing. The Chairman also stated that it had been suggested that a public meeting should be allied witli reference to the trial now pending. He did not think that it was the province of the Council to interfere, but if a requisition were got up he should have no objection to lend his name to it; he mentioned this in order that there might bo no misunderstanding, or any 'supposition that the Council was reluctant that such a meeting should be convened.. The Town Clerk read a letter from the contractor for building the Bank of New Zealand statin? that it would he impossible for lumto continue the works unless the tame privileges accorded to the former contractor, were allowed to liim; namely, that of continuing the work without a hoarding. The application was granted on condition of the stones being moved on to the foot-path every evening. ■ A letter was read from Mr. Alfred Wheeler,

tendering for the rent of the oldenginerljo.uje for the purpose of a green-grocer'! shop. '.' ■ A letter was also read from MrVClarkson, requesting to put up a stall for the sale of butcher's meat in the Market placeffl Mr, Barnard thought ;lkt the applications for these sites should':be 'notified to the public, and the fact 'published that the Council was desirous of letting them. He thought that it would be unwise to allow private individuals to have them on their own terms. The public ought to have an opportunity of tendering for them. He should like to see a market established, as he was sure that it would prove a great benefit to the citizens of Christchurch. He had been a member of a committee appointed to consider the subject, but the old City Council cry of " no funds" had been raised, and the report had been shelved. The Committee had ascertained that the cost of establishing a market would be about £I2OO. Mr. Alport thought as good a plan of advertising the usefulness of the sites would be to grant the application of the parties in question. They ought to have the tenure pf it. at a nominal rent, not to "be considered as a precedent, pending the arrangements to be made by the Council for the permanent laying out of the Market place, which he suggested should be done as soon as possible. The applications were granted during the will of the Council. A letter was read from Mr. W. H. Newman, applying for the situation of collector of rates for the City Council at a salary of £IOO per annum. The consideration of this letter was ordered to be postponed. A letter was read from the late Collector of Rates, Mr. AHbop stating that he would hand overall the books, papers, &c, in his possession to the City Council for inspection, previously to their next meeting, as he had not yet had time to do so. Mr. Barnard complained of the unnecessary delay on the part of Mr. Allsop. A letter was read from Mr. Noall, applying for the situation of collector of rates. A letter was read from Messrs. Garrick and Cowlishaw, stating that the drainage pipes ordered by the Council had arrived by the Cissy and Victory, and stating that if the terms of the contract were not carried out by Wednesday next, their clients would take such measures as they might be advised. Mr. Farr contended that the contract was an incomplete one, and that the Council were not bound to countenance it. The whole of the materials had not arrived; a portion was still to arrive by the Japanese. Mr. Barnard said that he was not clear that the City Council could avoid the payment of the contract; a good name was put to the contract, and the late chairman was responsible for the whole amount. Mr. Luck, with some warmth, denied his responsibility. He had put his name to the bill, at the bidding of his fellpw-members, as chairman of the City Council. _ Mr. Barnard denied that he had any intention either of evading the contract, or of throwing the responsibility on Mr. Luck; he had merely expressed au opinion, which he had formed on good authority. Mr. Alport thought if they had an active collector to get in the rates, he should propose that the claim of Messrs. Burnell, Bennett, and Sprott should be settled, and that the Chairman should give another bill for the freight, but lie did not see his way clear to do so until an efficient collector had been appointed. Such a collector should at once be nominated; if the rates were collected with rapidity and with certainty, there would be no difficulty in meeting the engagements entered into with Messrs. Burnell, Bennett, and Sprat. He suggested that a copy of the resolution lately passed should be forwarded to Messrs. Garrick and Cowlishaw. Mr. Ruddenklau seconded the proposition, Mr, Luck remarked that unless Messrs. Burnell, Bennett, and Sprot had included the pipes to arrive by the Japanese, they were entitled to have their contract settled; it was completed as far as it went, and they were entitled to be paid by a bill at 90 days' sight for the quantity of pipes ready for delivery. The Council were liable for the freight, and the shippers had the option either of storing the pipes at the expense of the Council or of selling them to pay the freight. He thought that the Council should take upon themselves the responsibility of the contract, namely, the acceptance of the bill. He was sure that if the circumstances under which the contract was taken, and those by which it was surrounded, were fairly considered, when the bill came to maturity, if the whole cannot be paid, a portion of it would be renewed. He should suggest that a special meeting should beheld to consider the subject. He would draw the attention of the Council to the fact that they had been applied to by two lawyers for one debt. The matter had been removed from the office of one solicitor to that of another firm in a manner, which to say the least of it, was extraordinary. After some further discussion Mr. Barnard moved that a committee consisting of Messrs. Alport and E. B. Bishop, should be appointed to consider the subject and to report to a special meeting of the Council to be held ou Wednesday afternoon next, at 5 p.m. The motion was agreed to, the former proposition being dropped. The report of the Surveyor was read. It alluded to the sinking of some Artesian wells, and to repairs executed in some of the streets. Mr, Ruddenklau gave notice of a motion at the next meeting with reference to extinguishing the gas-lights in the city. The contract had two months to run. Mr. Luck thought there would be no objection on the part of the Gas Company to treat the Council in a liberal spirit. The company would doubtless meet the Council half-wiy. Mr. Alport thought that the rates had not been applied for with sufficient diligence. As soon as this task was efficiently carried out, he hoped that there would be no necessity for extinguishing the lamps. The subject then dropped. The Town Clerk read the report with reference to the collection of the rates. From this document it appeared that there was not so much objection to the payment of the rates as had been stated. The rates would in many instances have been paid if a second application had been made. The report suggested that two collectors should be appointed, for although this would involve the payment of another salaried officer, the amount got in would defray the extra salary. The report mentioned some of the causes which served to obstruct the collection of the rates, such as weekly tenancy, frequent removals, and the attempts made in. many instances on the part of tenants to throw the burden of the payment of the rates upon former occupants, Mr. Luck moved that an advertisement should be published, inviting persons to send in applications for the office of additional col-, lector of rates, on Monday next. Mr. Farr seconded the motion pro firmi. He thought that by the aid of two Collectors the rates would be much sooner got in. Mr. Barnard must oppose the motion] Mr. Gordon was the most efficient person to get in the rates. If necessary, let him have assistance. But as the Council had come to the decision of discharging all their officials, it would be inconsistent to appoint another collector. Mr. Alport moved that the. collection of rates should be left in the bands of Mr. Gordon, and that Mr. F. C. Tribe should be appointed as his assistant, at a salary of £l5O per annum, the appointment to be atemporary one, and Mr. Tribe to find security. Mr. Woodford seconded the motion. He was acquainted with Mr. Tribe, and he was sure that he would prove a very efficient officer. Mr. Luck should prefer to Bee an advertisement issued i he thought that it was the fairest method for all parties. The candidates would have a fair chance of obtaining the situation, and the Council would have the power of selecting the man most fit for the office. He should put this suggestion as a motion 1 . Mr. Farr seconded the motion. Mr. Gordon had no objection to continue the work of collecting the rates until other measures had been adopted for the purpose. But he should he glad to be relieved from an office which he had only undertaken with the view °£. te3 ""8 *« deling of the ratepayers. That object had been obtained, and he hoped that I he had discharged the offices temporarily held

Sd££3 fac,ionbothofth^ After some further discussion, [ Mr; Luck obtained leave to withdraw m Jjg, andM,Alport's \ ■ Theieport of the Inspector of Nuisa™ ! was read and considered, nces Clerk was instructed to inform the candidates for the collection of rates tW the office was temporarily filled U p M uu an ,. m . oVed tliat tl,e la bour m „ \ should be discharged forthwith, theuS haying no funds to pay for their work Mr Ruddenklau seconded the motion which was carried. on ' Mr. Alport suggested that Dr. jw ! should be requested to urge on the JZ i *3T v ' Gity Council M vigoroUßl y as ! ' Mr. Farr could not see the advisability nf urging on Dr. Foster, who, he believed *!, proceeding with the case as quickiv „ possible. 3 8 The subject dropped,' after a few words ft f I explanation from the Chairman. The Council adjourned about 10 p. m