CITY COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 5006, 6 March 1877, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the City Council was held at 5 o’clock yesterday afternoon, there being present Councillors Jones, Hobbs, Bird, Hawkes, Turner, Thomson, and Nathan. In the absence of his Worship the Mayor, Councillor Jones was voted to the chair. WADKEE SIEEET. On the motion of Councillor Hobbs, it was resolved that Walker street be taken over as a public street, and that a special order be advertised as to the same. •WIDENING COLOMBO STEEET, Councillor Hobbs moved, “ That this Council do now confirm the resolution moved by Councillor Hobbs at a previous special meeting,held on Feb.slast,minuteNo 2, as follows: —That this Council authorise the taking of the necescary steps under clauses 179 and 180 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876, and clauses 21, 22, and 23 of the Public Works Act, 1876, to acquire possession of town section 733 for the purpose of providing and maintaining public offices within the city, in which to hold the meetings and transact the business of the Council, and for the use of its officers, and for holding public meetings and transacting public business relating to the city, and for the further purpose of widening that portion of Colombo street which lies immediately opposite to the Bank of New Zealand. And that the Council causes a survey to be made and plans to be prepared, showing generally the purposes for which it is intended to apply the land, and the nature of the works proposed to be executed, as re quired by section 21 of the Public Works Act, 1876. And further, to consider the desirability of borrowing a sum not exceeding £30,000 to be expended in the purchase of the said laud and in the erection of.the said buildings.” The motion was seconded by Councillor Thomson. Councillor Nathan wished to know whether it was worth while to go on with the subject, when they knew that the public were opposi d to it. He bad opposed the matter from the first, and should certainly vote against it. Ho thought it was impolitic to go on with this matter, and he trusted Councillor Hobbs would withdraw the motion. Councillor Hobbs did not know that there bad been any expression of public opinion on the subject. He had certainly seen some resolutions by a society calling itself a ratepayers’ association, of which Mr Treadwell was secretary. They were opposing a scheme of which they knew very little. At all events he had put his shoulder to the wheel, and he would not shrink from what he considered to be a public duty. Councillor Hawkes hoped the motion would not be withdrawn. There had been no expression of public opinion as far as ho knew. The matter should be allowed to go to the ratepayers to decide. It it did not, they would regret the opportunity they had lost of doing a great public good. Councillor Bird had supported the resolution at first, and he saw no reason to alter his opinion. He hoped the matter would be allowed to go to the ratepayers. If he found it entailed an additional rate, he should vote against it. Councillor Thomson supported the motion, as he felt that it would be a great public benefit. In years to come, if they now neglected the opportunity presented to them, they would regret it. Councillor Jones regretted that Councillor Hobbs did not withdraw tbs motion. He had been opposed to it from the first, and he was quite sure that public opinion was. The motion was then put and carried, i Ayes: Councillors Hobbs, Turner, Hawkes, Thomson, and Bird. Noes : Councillors Jones and Nathan. On the motion of Councillor Turner the Surveyor was instructed to have a large plan : prepared to be used at the public meeting; and also to employ a man to take the number of vehicles passing Colombo street at Morteu’a comer during the week. The Council then adjourned until 4 o’clock to-day.