MUNICIPAL COUNCILS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3212, 24 July 1878, Page 3

MUNICIPAL COUNCILS.

CHRISTCHURCH. A special meeting of the City Council was held yesterday afternoon, to take into consideration the recommendations to bo proposed at the Conference ; present — His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), and Messrs Ick, Ruddenklau, Toomer, Bird, an I Briggs. The following were the suggestions brought before the Council : — "Width of Streets.— Cla-ise 199 should he altered so as to make the widtli of private btreets 40ft. instead of Ctitt. Steps to he takon hy Dv "Foster to enable the Council to gf>t those jv.-erves in uhristrhurch which arc rcs.rved for special purposes altered for general Municipal purposes That the delegate to the Conference be requested to assist in having the proviso in clause 14 of the Public Health Act amended as far as regards Christchurch. Deductions from Government subsidy. — Action to be l aken. Clause 61.— That sub-section 4 be altered to read " Not more than 7," similarly to qualification for member to General Assembly. » Clause Bt.— That the Miyor bo ex officio membnr of all Committees. After clause 267, add a clause exempting all waterworks from local or county rates, or taxes at a higher rate than the tuiiiu proved value of the land. The Government sho-.ild be asked to guaiMutee County and Borough limn*. Tliat the l-'jth uection of the Bankruptcy Act, 1878, be re-enacted. That owners should te made liable for all rates. Cattle market reserves.— Site at Addington to be looked after. Weights and Measures. — The Inspector should be under the control of the Council. Municipal Corporations *• et.— Clause 188. Boundary Roads. — B >ivii_-hs should pay half the cost of work done on boundary roads. Endowment of the City Cattle Market Beserve. As to advisableness of i-n-vmg a paid agent in Wellington to see that the recommendation s of the C- inference are carried into effect. The expenses attending tlw Conference should he divided amongst the municipalities according to the revenue. In the matter of owners' liability to rates, it was resolved — " Tliat the time of notice to be given De extended from four months to six months." The remaining suggestions were approved of. Councillor Ick said fe e time had arrived when it would be to the benefit of the city to have a Mayor's Court. Cases of assault, drunkenness, and petty cases generally (small debt cases excepted) could be dealt with by the Mayor's Court, presided over by the Mayor and J.P.'s. This would relieve tlie Resident Magistrate's Court of an immense amount of business, and would be a relief to the bar as well as to tlie Bench, he should imagine. Besides, the chances were that their by-laws would be better enforced. The suggestion was agreed to. The matter of the system under which the Mayor should be elected was then brought forward, and it was resolved to be recommended that the Council should have the election of the Mayor. The Council having agreed upon their recommendations, Mr Moor.Louse then entered the room, and conferred with them for an hour and a half. He undertook to represent the Council at the Municipal Conference, and to renew his exertions in Parliament, in the matter of obtaining an endowment for the city. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Moorhouso for attending, and for his- offer to represent the Council at the Conference. On the recommendation of Mr Moorhouse, the clause relating to Municipal borrowing was struck out. Mr Moorhouse in replying to tho vote of thanks, stated tliat there were many Canterbury members disposed- to assist Christ church, and he also enumerated other quarters from which assistance was to be obtained.