CITY COUNCIL,

Star (Christchurch), Issue 894, 12 April 1871, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL,

Tuesday, April 11. The weekly meeting of the City Council was held this evening. Present — His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Anderson, Calvert, Pratt, Hobbs, Sawtell, Jones, Bishop, and Hart. His Worship said that this was a special meeting to confirm a by-law about city drainage, passed on the 6th of March last. On the motion of Councillor Anderson, the by-law in question was confirmed. The ordinary meeting of the Couucil was then held. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Clerk reported that the credit at the Bank amounted to £514 14s 8d ; that he had received from the Rate Collector, City Rates, 1870, £20 9s ; quarter's rent of Post-office, £67 15s ; quarter's rent of Resident Magistrate's Court, £31 5s ; carriers' license, £1 10s ; rent from the Market Place, 7s ; total, £121 6s. Balance last week, .£393 8s 8d ; receipts, £121 6s. The following accounts were passed : — Waees, £20 19s 3d ; H. Jackson, £19 15s lOd ; Treleaven, £18 14s 6d ; J. Steel, £3 4s ; total, £62 13s 7d. The City Surveyor reported as follows : — " The Works Committee recommend that a new tip-cart be made, as now that the watering season is nearly over, we can use the third cart in shingling. &c. " I have completed the sections and plan of the new line of drainage, and after tbe same have been to Mr Bray, they will be laid before the Council. The labour gang for the past week have been employed carting road scrapings, shingle for footpaths, and side-drain rubbish, shingling the footpaths in Chester street east, Madras street north, and Armagh street ; laying out footpaths in Chester street and Cranmer Square, clearing out side-drains in various parts of the city, and other minor works. It was decided that tenders should be invited for a new tip-cart. The other portions of the Surveyor 's report were approved. Councillor Jones desired some information with regard to the new tank in High street. He had read a paragraph in the newspapers, which he was very sorry to say was incorrect. He expected that the Surveyor would have said something about the tank in his report. Councillor Anderson said that the Snrveyor would mention the matter in his next report, in order that he might test whether the work was perfectly satisfactory or not. A letter was read from the Chief Postmaster, pointing out the necessity that existed for enclosing with doors the southeast and south-west ends of the veranda of the Jf ost Office, and thus guard the public when applying for letters from the strong draughts which at present run through it. The cost would not be great, and the work, when done, would prove a great boon both to the public and the clerks at the windows. On the motion of Councillor Hart, the request was acceded to. The following letter was read from Mr J. C. Wilson, C.8..— " Cashmere, April 5, 1871. " To the Town Clerk, Christchurch,— " Sir, — I have seen both in the Press and Lyttelton Times oi yesterday's date a report of the City Council at a meeting held on Monday, the 3rd inst. " Jj. that report it is stated that a letter had been received from Andrews and Findlay, the contractors for the new tank in Cathedral Square, to the effect that - endeavours had been made to obtain the coping stones from Mr J. C. Wilson's qurrry, but in consequence of the exhorbitant price demanded — a price much above the value of the stone— they had been unable to take the stone, and requested permission to use stone from the Heathcote qnarry. The letter further stated that Mr Wilson had said publicly 'so long as the specifications compelled the use of Hoon Hay stone, the masons of Christchurch should pay very dearly for it.' "The above letter contains wilful falsehoods throughout. The price demanded for the coping stones from Andrews was 2s 3d per superficial foot, the same price which is invariably charged, and which price was paid by Mr Bailey for the coping stones used in the construction of tbe new tank opposite the offices of Messrs Cobb and Sawtell. I produce a letter addressed to Andrews, and the quarry order book, in proof of the correct- ' ness of the above assertion. So much for the exhorbitant price of Andrews and Findlay. " As for the speech put into my mouth by i Andrews and Findlay, I trust that the City ■ Council will not believe that lam such a : fool as the utterance of such a speech would l prove me to be, more particularly (and this fact is well known to several members of the , Council and yourself) as my constant endea- : tout has been to supply the Town Council

with stone at as cheap a rate as possible, an ' aim which militates against the views of some of the quarrymen of Canterbury. " The whole cost of Andrews' order for the coping, at 2s 3d the superficial foot, amounts to £10 19a. "In conclusion, I beg to express the hope that you will give the same publicity to this letter which you have given to the false statements of Andrews and Findlay. " I have the honour to be, " Sir, " Your most obedt. servt., " J. Cracroft Wilson. "P.S.— I beg that the letter and the book may be returned at your earliest convenience." [Copy.] " Cashmere, March 17, 1871. " Mr J. R. Andrews— " Sir, — I endeavoured to find you in Christchurch yesterday, with a view of arranging about the coping for the tank in Cathedral Square. Failing, however, to see you, I i write to say that you can be supplied with the stone you require ; that is to say, 73 feet of coping stone 16 inches broad and five inches thick, at the rate of 2s 3d per superficial foot, terms cash on delivery at the City Council yard. " Should you agree to the above condition, write across this letter to that effect, and return it forthwith. " I remain yours faithfully, " F. Herbert Wilson." Councillor Hart moved — *• That a general rate of Is in the pound for the year 1871 on all rateable property within the city of Christchurch, be made under the provisions of clause 203 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1867. That the Town Clerk be intructed to have the rate book made out with as little delay as possible in accordance with clause 210." From the estimates that were laid before the Council at the previous meeting, he (Councillor Hart) was convinced that they could not get on with a less rate than one shilling in the pound. Indeed, he feared that at the end of the year there would be an excess of expenditure over income. He considered that the affairs of the city would have to be managed more economically than they had hitherto been. Councillor Pratt said he would have pleasure in moving a reduction of the rate, if that were advisable, but he must confess that the Council could not carry on the affairs of the city with a less rate than ls in the pound. Councillors Hobbs and Jones protested against the proposed rate. The latter moved, as an amendment, that the rate be 9d in the pound. The Mayor informed Councillor Hobbs that his amendment was out of order. The subject was discussed at the previous meeting, and an amendment for a tenpenny rate was negatived. Consequently, the question, according to the Act, could not be reopened. Councillor Hobbs said that in this case, he could only make his views known through the public press. After some further discussion, the motion for striking a shilling rate was carried, Councillors Hobbs, Jones, and Bishop dissenting. The Rate Collector's report was read. It stated that a summons had been taken out against R. M. Row, who had since given a consent to judgment with a promise to pay the amount by the 3rd of June. Knowing that a bill of sale over the furniture was in existence, he (the Collector) thought it was the best course he could adopt. Councillor Bishop moved — " That the Finance Committee be requested to report upon the present system of collecting and paying rates, with a view to improvement; to report by next Monday." Councillor Hart seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The report of the Inspector of Nuisances was read and approved. Councillor Sawtell gave notice of the following motion for Monday next: — " That the City Surveyor be instructed to advertise for tenders for forming Worcester street, from Barbadoes street to the East Town Belt, according to plans and specifications to be seen at his office." i The Council then adjourned."