CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 426, 10 April 1880, Page 11

CITY COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held on April 1, at the Corporation Office. Present —His Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Danks, Allen, Maginnity, Logan, Brown, Miller, Stafford, Young, and •Diver.

BEPOBT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE. 1. The committee beg to report tbat they have carefully considered the accompanying estimates of income and expenditure for the ensuing 12 months, as ranged under the respective heads of General Rate, Water Rate, and Improvements Loan Rate, and recommend them for adoption by the Council. 2. The committee consider it will be necessary to levy the usual general rate of Is. in the £, also the usual water rate of 5 per cent, and 2J per cent in rateable value, and a further special rate of 3d. in the £ towards payment of the interest on the City improvements Loan. 3. By resolutions of the passed when the Waterworks Loan and City Improvements Loan were decided to be raised, power was taken for raising special rates of 3d. and 7d. in the £ respectively for payments of the interest in the said loans ; but it will be seen that it is not deemed necessary to go to the full extent of these powers. 4. As the above special rate requires, in terms of the Act, to be raised in half-yearly instalments, the committee recommend that the other rates be levied in a similar manner. -5. The committee also recommend that a number of arrears due for formation of sundry streets which accrued some years back, but which it has been found impossible to collect, amounting to £B5l lis. 10d., be written off the books, it being of no use carrying the amount forward as an nsset from year to year. 6. The committee beg strongly to urge upon the Council the necessity for exercising the utmost economy in the administration of every department, and recommend that a special committee of the whole Council be appointed, with a quorum of five to meet at an early date and consider as to the most efficient means of reducing the present expenditure without efficiency. William Hutchison, Chairman.

The report was adopted. REPORT OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE,

The committee beg to report—

1. That as the proprietors of the land on the slope of the Terrace are not all willing to contribute towards the expense of cutting the gorse thereon, no further steps have been taken in the matter.

2. That the continuation of Aro-street being through private property, the work cannot be undertaken by the Council. 3. That the Government have granted to the Corporation the right of occupation of Town Reserve No. 13. 4. That a copy of the licensed victuallers' petition, in reference to the suppression of sly grog selling, has been forwarded to the police authorities, with a request that they will take active steps in the matter. 5. That I. Pake has entered an action against the Corporation, claiming £2OOO damages, and that the City Solicitor has entered the necessary pleas thereon. 6. That the estimated cost of the extension of Constable-street through the Town Belt is £4OO, and tbat the committee cannot recommend such an expenditure at present. 7. That the City Surveyor has been authorised to have the wooden drain in Brook-

-treet covered in with earth as opportunity offers.

The committee beg further to recommend—8. That Mr. Thomas Stephens' fence in Mein-street, partly buried by the alteration of levels, be raised to the proper level of the street.

9. That Mr. -T. McLean's application to compromise the action brought by him against the Corporation be nr>t acceded to. 10. That all buildings the property of the Corporation be at once insured against fire, and that the various insurance offices be invited to tender for same.

11. That a water service be laid on to Scar-borough-terrace. 12. That the drain in Pirie-street be continued up the hill for about a chain further. 13. Ihat tenders be called for bix months' supply of sand and gravel for concrete and other purposes. 14. Also, for 100 casks cement. 15. That the footpaths in College-street be kerbed and gravelled and the roadway metalled, at a cost not exceeding £IOO. 16. That accounts amounting to £3O 7s. 9d. be passed for payment. After some discussion the report was adopted.