CITY COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIX, Issue 14681, 12 May 1908, Page 9

CITY COUNCIL.

ttaST EVENING’S MEETING

Tlio Christchurch City Council mot b.st evening; present—Tne May or (.Ur D. Allison; and Councillors •W. M. Cooper, J. D. Hall, j. Forrester, A. Williams, C. 1). morris, C. Taylor, T. Gapes, T. N. Horsley, H. B. Sorenson, G. W. J. Parsons and H. H. Boughnan.

Tho financial statement showed that the sum ot £39,679 4s 4d ol the general rates had been collected, leaving £ou2 15s outstanding. A sum ol £7457 Os 6d had been collected since tho previous meeting. Accounts for £s4os 18s 9d had been passed by tlio Finance Committee for payment. THE MAYOR’S STATEMENT.

Tho Mayor stated that as the next meeting day of the Council would lull oil May 25, which would probably bo observed as Empire Day, it would be for tho Council to consider tlio advisability of changing the date. _ He suggested in order to save the time of tho Council at its ordinary meetings that Councillors shouiu be provided with typewritten copies of tlio lengthy reports which occasionally extended tho minutes to an undue length. no promised the Council that he would not' take advantage of his position as Mayor to move anything except as a Councillor, taking his turn, and giving every member of tho Council an equal opportunity with himself, lie understood that some members of tne Council felt sore about his references to the matter of sewage connections, made in his installation address. At that time lie had not been aware that the Sanitary Committee had a Bill in hand to assist ratepayers in paying for connections, and lie was glad to know that the matter had at fast received attention.

The next meeting was fixed for Tuesday, May 26.

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

The chairman of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College wrote in reference to tho proposed conference with the City Council regarding tho Public Library, stating that ho desired to ■leave the matter of fixing a date for the conference in tho hands of the Mayor. The Mayor said that he preferred that the Council should fix tho date. Ho moved that the conference should be held at the Council Chambers at 7.30 p.m. on May 28. The motion was carried. SUNDAY CONCERTS.

The Christclnircli Band Contest Committee wrote asking permission to hold a series of sacred concerts in one of the city theatres on Sunday evenings, at which collections would bo taken up to help to meet tho expense of the Christchurch band contest, to he field during the year.

The Mayor said that though there was no resolution to that effect, lio believed the practice of the Council in the past had been to refuse permission lor all Sunday concerts except for cliaritable purposes. Councillor Forrester moved that the ref)nest should be refused. T>m motion was seconded by Councillor Williams and carried. PROPOSED LEGISLATION.

The By-laws Committee recommended that the Council should introduce a local Bill giving the Council the same powers a« were conferred bv the Wellington Betterment Act, 1900; and that I arlianient should be asked to give the Council similar powers to those in sections 7 and 8 of the Wellington City Empowering Act, 1897, and that power should bo taken to raiso special loans by special order without a poll for the purpose of paying compensation payable for land taken in order to widen streets under the Public Works Act, 1900, and the Municipal Corporations Act-, 1900. Councillor Hall, in moving the adoption- of the recommendations, said that the Wellington City Betterment Act provided that when a street was widened the people owning property on the other side of the street should pay compensation in proportion to the betterment- of their property by reason of the Widening. The recommendations wore adopted. THE SALE OF MILK. -On the question of licensing mafic chops, raised by the District Health Officer and referred to the By-laws Committee, the committee reported that it could not recommend the Council to make the by-law suggested by the officer, as it would entail considerable extra work without much benefit. Councillor Hall said that the committee regretted that it did not see its way to accept the Health Department’s suggestion for a by-law. Tho question whether the Council should ask for powers to bo conferred by legislation, enabling it to regulato the sale of milk, was a matter for future consideration. In the meantime,_ the Health Denartment was inspecting the shops and instituting prosecutions where necessary, so that there need be no fear on the score of health. Tho Mayor said that it would be a very good thing if tho City had the legal power indicated by Councillor Hall, and that the matter should he placed before the municipal conference. The report was adopted. DRAINAGE BOARD ABOLITION. In accordance with notice of motion tho Mayor moved that the Special Drainage Board Committee should be empowered to take the necessary steps to lay before Parliament next session a Bill to provide that tho Council should, with tho consent of the city ratepayers, obtained at a poll to bo taken for that purpose, take -over alf powers, duties and responsibilities of tho Christchurch Drainage Board in connection with sewage works and storm-water drains conducted by the Board for use of the city, the Bill to contain the provisions referred to in the report of the Special Drainage Board Committee which had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on October 15, 1906. The Mayor said that he had attempted to have the matter dealt with by the Royal Commission which had inquired into drainage matters, but bad been, unsuccessful. Thero was considerable friction between the Board and the Council, and an amalgamation would be for the benefit of the ratepayers.

The motion was seconded by Councillor Parsons, who said that between 80 per cent and 95 per cent of the Board’s revenue was derived from tho city, and it was unfair that tho Council should have a minority of ; representation. Councillor Morris said tliat he opposed the motion, on the grounds that the ratepayers of Christchurch could not decide the destinies of a drainage area which involved outside districts, and tho Council had enough work on its hands already. Councillor Loughnan said that no good cause had been shown for tho change, and the Council could only absorb the functions of the Board within Christchurch. The Board would have to "continue in existence to administer tho outlying districts.

Councillor Forrester quoted the finding of the Commission of Inquiry regarding the Board’s efficiency. He said that he was astonished at tho Mayor’s audacity in bringing down asuch a motion. He. hoped that ho would get such a knock that evening that ho would never bring the matter up again.

Councillor Sorensen said that ho

thought the time inopportune for a change, and he would vote against tho motion.

The Mayor, in reply, said that it was sought only to take over the Drainage Board’s powers in the city area. In any case, the matter would be left to a pail of the ratepayers.

Tho motion was lost. MISCELLANEOUS

The By-laws Committee recommended that the New Zealand Express Company’s application to be allowed to build within 33ft of the centre of Mortimer Place should bo granted, and that the by-law should be waived intho case of an application for permission to build a house for Dr Neeley, not having a frontage of the width required by the by-law. The recommendations were adopted. Tho Works Committee reported that it would be undesirable to- form the widened portion of Boundary Road during the winter.

Tho report was adopted. A resolution making a special order for a special rate of two and twentyseven thirty-seconds of a penny in St Albans Ward, No. 3 loan, special rating area, was confirmed. At tlio suggestion of tho .Mayor it was decided to circulate copies of remits alroady drawn uo for presentation to the Municipal Conference among members of the Council, and to consider any fresh remits at the next meeting. Tlie honorary secretary of the Sydenham Public Library forwarded a copy of the committee’s annual report and balance-sheet. The balance-sheet showed receipts amounting to £9-1 15s 7d, and a credit balance of £25 13s 3d. An apnlication was made for a grant in aid of the library funds. Tlie matter was referred to tlie Finance Committee.