CITY COUNCIL.

Colonist, Volume XXII, Issue 2551, 20 May 1879, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

A SPIOIAI MMtraCr of the Council was held last night for the purpose of considering the advisability of joining the County Oounoil.ii- taking over the management of the Hospital. Cr Levien was voted to the ohair, and Ore Everett, Johns, Little, Hounsell,. Cross, T. Harley, and Orewdson,were, al?©,present. The Chairman having stated the object of the meeting, ... ; ~■■'. •;/'■ Or Everett introduced the subject, stating that in accordance with the resolution passed at the last meeting a deputation had met some of, the members of the Waimea County'Council, when the subject of taking over the management of the Hospital conjointly had been disoussed. The City Council some time ago had' resolved to deoline taking upon itself the management of that institution, but he thought that when they heard the proposals now made to them, they would alter their previous decision. They bad been given to understand by the County Couooil that that body contemplated the erection of a small hospital in their County, and that the Government had promised to contribute half the cost of ereoting same, and the object they had in proposing suoh a step was that they tuight reoeive the whole amount of the Government subsidy and merely pay the ex? pen.es of their hospital themselves,' but before finally deciding they-had endeavored to see whether that Council would not modify its views and; con jointly with them take over the management of the present Hospital Upon the explanation given their, deputation they had thought it ad visible to call'that spec ial meeting to discuss the.matter, beoause if th* County erected a hospital the siim of £900 deducted from the subsidy, to that body towards the up-keep of-the Hospital would be lost, and they would be thrown entirely on their own resources when tbe present Government, subsidy expired, which it did in two years. At all events, it appeared1 to him they weuld probably only get the assistance from the Government of one pound for every pound in ; subscription?; received in its aid, jn aeeordanbe with the Act of last session. The whole subsidy to their Couneil next year would be £2600, and if they adopted the proposals of the Oouaty Council they would only have to contribute about £-50 to the Hospital, the Government subsidising that sum by an equal amount, and the County contributing, similarly; they would I has each only pay half the total cost. It was possible if they got all their subsidy they would have to take upon themselves the maintenance of the poor,, or this sum of -bout £500 would still be deducted, but they would then get a. dear £1600 from the Government for general purposes. Their taking this step would not in the slightest degree prejudice their osse in the event of any future arrangement, and i» the new year commenced after tbe 30th Jans it was desirable that they made up their minds at ones.- With reference to the working of the proposed arrangement, it was soggested by Messrs Barnicoat and Sbephard, of the County Council that the managing committee should consist of six members, three to be chosen by eaoh Council, and that payment should be made monthly to that board by eaoh body. He then spoke of tbe maintenance of poor, whioh o.st them £500 a year. He believed Mr Shallorass had the complete control of that maintenance, and he thought the oost might perhaps be lessened somewhat under their own management, but he added that question did not press upon them-then. It was for them to decide whether they should join ( the County in the management of the Hospital after the 30th June. Cr. Cross endorsed what Cr. Everett had said regarding the interview with the i members of 7the; County Council, added that that body had fully made ap its mind to build a separate Hospital if they did not join them. Cr. Everett had omitted to stata that the Collingwood County Council at present contributed £100 a year, to themaintenance of the Hospital.I' '• '*'■ '•*';'; Cr. Little asked what was the present tost of that institution, and whether outsiders contributed for the benefits they derived thereat.. .-..,,, i -■-, r.) . ...Cr Everett said its maintenance cost £1900 & year, and that nothing was charged for persons coining .from- the West Coast, and other, districts. ■'■■ Cr Harley said it was his opinion long ago that they should have taken Over the management of the Hospital, but he could get none to take the same view when he had moved in that direction. He thought the Council had made a great mistake in not having done so, and that they had been losing a large amount of their subsidy. He had brought 'the matter under their notice himself, and now, just as the subsidies were lapsing, they were ready to go in; with the County Council. After that body .had shown them it was; advisable, he did riot think it very creditable to them. f Cr Everett explained that the matter had assumed a different position since the County had. taken up the full powers under the Act. Cr Harley proposed that this Coune"! agrees to join the: County Council in taking over the temporary' management of the Nelson Hospital on such terms as shall he arranged between the two.:Councils, j. Cr Crewdson asked the present number of patients at the Hospital, and how many there were from the Waimeas andTown. vo.!. .'.•:.•; Cr Everett said there were 23 or 2 _ patients, and four or five- of these were from the Town., and. the same number'from the Waimeas.;" ; Cr C: ewdson seconded, the motion of,. Or Harley, which was carried, Cr Little alone voting against it. A largely signed requisition to the Mayor and Councillors, asking that Monday next be proclaimed a public holiday instead of Saturday, was then read. After some discussion it was resolved that, having ho power to. proclaim a.publio holiday; they, should, invite the citizens toobserve,the: anniversary of her Majesty's birthday, on Monday next' instead of Saturday. CrsLevien and Cross, however, voted against it. ; ,/]>:. >!.; ;■•■. ;;;.rV;>'-». ;.-<W; .in:-.-.' , The letter from Mr Shallorass denying the truth of certain statements made by Cr Harley, as to the prison labor, mentioned in our report, of the proceedings of last meeting of the Cowmul,. was again read, and Cr Harley said that if the words he used were not the exact wcrda uttered by Mr Shallorass they were so similar that the meaning was the same, and he again .reiterat_d v ith^t,4Mrri-balfcraßS.:said: r " that'bo long as j_e had charge, of the he would not let us have them if he could'help it," or words to that effect. Mr Shallorass also said in his letter that the prisoners hacTdone 41 days' work for the Counoil during the year... Waa-itUkely they bould.sitth'ere and allow Mr Sbiallcraaa to place his prisoners at any work without consulting them. Tha Town Clerk-was directed tp; reply,.acknowledging receipt'of Mr ShaUcf ass's letter, pointing out what Cr Harley had said in reply tfoeretcj;/and, asking that in future, when the prison _.bbr wsb1 at their service, to communicate with their surveyor as to the work that was required, if or otherwise they were unaware in what manner it was disposed. j: Cr Littleasked r permissiqn.toijshootishi^slfrom the banks ol theMaitai, as they were destroying the trout."' : '_'■■•.' '■■ ■_ :\ \ _ThaOouuoil did not caw to nuke aprwdin.-