City Council.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5219, 27 January 1885, Page 3

City Council.

♦ , The City Council held an ordinary meet- ( ing last night ; present — His Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Hosking, Kiver, Crooks, Prudhoe, Ayers, Vincent, Lambert, Bowman, Brice and Andrews. j apologies. ' The Mayor announced that he had received apologies for non-attendance from Councillors Louisson and Reese. j FINANCE. The receipts for the fortnight were -£18-4 3s 4d, and the expenditure £386 18s lOd. The debit balance at the Bank was £9 3s. Councillor Hosking gave notice that he would move — " That road engines be pro- j hibited from working on the streets from sunrise to sunset." He intended this to apply to traction engines, as on Saturday several casualties had arisen from their use in business hours. This was not allowed in other civilised places. 1 CORBESPONDENCE. | A letter from Mr Whitelaw was road, Btating that the valuation of the city for 1885 was as follows: — North-west Ward, I £51,868 ; North-east Ward, .£53,(335 ; South-west Ward, J&17,G61 ; South-east i Ward, £92,732 ; total, £215,896, or £10,000 ' less than last year, although buildings had increased. A letter was read from the Returning- ',

Officer, announcing the result of the recent ballot for a loan. / The Mayor said it must be very satisfactory that euch a result should have taken place, especially when many citizens were opposed to some of the details of the schedule. The Council, in his opinion, was indebted to the Press for explaining the proposal to the citizens and advocating the ' loan ; also to those gentlemen, ex-May( rs and others, who had roused the citizens ' from their apathy. He suggested that the | Finance Committee should be instructed to take the necessary steps to place the loan on the market, and report to the Council. Councillor Ayers had a resolution to support at the proper time. A letter was read from the Town Clerk of Auckland, suggesting that the Council should take into consideration the desirability of the fines and penalties under the Police Offences Act being paid into the Borough Funds. The matter was referred to the Finance Committee. • A letter was read from the Chairman of the Benevolent Association Committee, asking that the old Post-office building might be allowed them free of rent, in consideration of their putting the premises into repair, which they very much needed. Councillor Ayers suggested that the Chairman of the Reserves Committee had something to say. Councillor Hosking knew two bodies who •would take the building at a higher rent. The matter was referred to the Reserves Committee. REPORTS. The City Surveyor's report was read' as ; follows :— " The Works Committee recomj mend that tenders be invited for 5000 . cubic yards of broken metal for repairing • roads. During the month of December j last there were eight building permits issued, and the amount taken in fees for the same period was £5." The report was approved. The By-law Committee's report was read, as follows :— " Your Committee begs to report that, having considered the petition of Mr Gain and 18 other citizens, asking the Council to reconsider the renewal of James Brown's license as a cab driver l and, under all the circumstances of the case, recommends that a permit be granted to him for one month, and after that time, if his conduct Bhall prove satisfactory, that his license be renewed." The report was approved. The Reserves Committee's report was read, as follows : — " Your Committee begs to report that the question of re-letting the Market sites for another year has been carefully considered, and it has decided that, in the expectation of a Bill being passed next session, it would be inadvisable to re-let them except on a weekly tenancy. Your Committee therefore considers that the said sites should be let weekly at £5 yearly per foot frontage on Victoria street, payable in advance. The present occupants have received notice to that effect. Your Committee has been obliged to invite tenders for re-letting the Weighbridge, in consequence of the late tenant being ejected for non-payment of rent, having only paid two months' rent out of a seven months' tenancy. The tenders will be opened this week, and your Committee desires authority to accept one." ! The report was approved. I QUESTIONS. Councillor Brice asked if a constable could not be put on duty at the Lyttelton Times rigljt-of-way. • j The Mayor said he thought a urinal should be erected near the Theatre Royal. Councillor Brice moved, and Councillor Prudhoe seconded, a resolution to the effect that the Police be communicated with on the subject. This was agreed to. In reply to Councillor Bowman, the Mayor Baid the hoardings on the river •would be removed. NEW BUSINESS. Councillor Vincent moved— "That the Works and Finance Committees be a combined Committee, with power to carry out the permanent works under the loan iust authorised by the ratepayers." The works intended to be begun immediately were those most pressing, viz., the Worcester and Victoria bridges, the tanks for fire prevention, and the wells connected with them, and the kerbing as required. If there was any delay in getting the loan, a draft could, he had no doubt, be made. Councillor Ayers was exceedingly pleased with the result of the vote, and though not running about on the day of voting, had induced as many to vote as he could. He thought the works should be undertaken so as to provide work for the unemployed, and, if possible, to dove-tail with the West Coast railway construction. He had much pleasure in seconding the resolution. Councillor Bowman supported it, and asked if the money was to be raised in the Colony. j The Mayor thought this would depend ( upon the advice received. If the Finance Committee could report earlier than next meeting, he would call the Council together. Councillor Bowman could find one person who would advance '£4000 at 5 per cent. | Councillor Andrews could not approve of , the resolution. He thought it would be premature to go on with some of the works. i It was inopportune to pass 6uch a resolu- ! tion at the present time. | The Mayor explained that the object of , the resolution was \o save time. The ! Combined Committees wore the majority I of the Council. I Councillor Vincent assured the Council , that the Committees would never do | j anything without previously reporting to i the Council. | j Councillor Ayers understood that plans, I ! &c, would come before the Council. i j Councillor Vincent thought that would '. delay the thing for some months. If the . Council could not leave the matter in the hands of the Combined Committees let them negative the resolution. i i The Mayor again explained that tho resolution was intended to obviate long discussion of details in the Council. . j ! Councillor Prudhoe thought it had been ' definitely fixed what the style of the bridges were to be. He understood they i were to be similar to that at Armagh ; street. , ! i Councillor Lambert thought the bridges had been fully argued out. I The Mayor was in hopes that at the next meeting tenders for one or both of these bridges would be before the Council Councillor Andrews did not wish to cavi | about a bridge, but objected to the Committees anticipating the loan. He thought the work should not be carried out. Commencing was one thing and carrying out another. The resolution was put and carried, Councillor Andrews dissenting. I Councillor Hosking desired to give honour where honour was due. At halfpast 5 o'clock on Saturday attomoon a fire was raging in a two-storey house in Lichfield street, and the Brigade put the fire out in the shortest time ever knov-n. It was very satisfactory to know that the citizens had such a smart and energetic Fire Brigade. ' Councillor Lambert and Councillor Kivcr confirmed what Councillor Hosking had said. j LATIMER SQUARE. •! A deputation waited on the Council, re- , lative to the erection of a band rotunda on Latimor ( square. The deputation askefl for a vote from the Council. The bands had" afforded the citizens much enjoyment in Cathedral square, but had Icon under disadvantages on account of the weather. The Mayor thought the first step would be to obtain permission from the Council to erect a rotunda in the square. j Mr Russell said that the bands were prepared to give a performance once v week. If the Council could not see its way to erect a rotunda, he believed the citizens would contribute; liberally to it. He be-r lieved,. at the present time, a suitable structure could bo erected for .£IOO. The Mayor said the Council would consider the matter, and send the deputation an answer. The matter* was referred to th.t Reserves Committeq to report to the Coumil upon. , LICENSES. The Council dealt with souie ap]>l::; iions : for licenses, and then went into Com- : inittee. , , On resuming, the Council adjourmed. j