CITY COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6085, 15 November 1887, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting of the City Council took place last evening; present — His Worship the Mayor (Chairman), and Councillors Prudhoe, Tait, Blanning. Crooks, M'Laren, Hulbert, Scott, Judge, Grinated, Gray, and Goss. finance. The receipts since the last meeting had been— general account, .£l3l lla 2d ; suspense account, .£46 19s 2d ; interest account, J8219 13a 2d; cemetery account, £2 9s 6d; and the expenditure, wages, &c, and hospital, £1080 Is Id. There was a credit balance of £223 Os lid. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr Landery wrote on behalf of the Band Eotunda, pointing out that lighting and [ cleaning the rotunda cost money, and ask- ! ing the Council to appoint someone to light the lamps. The letter also stated that the bands had decided to give an amalgamated performance on Friday, Nov. 18. Councillor Manning suggested that the letter should be referred to the Work6and Lighting Committee. This course was adopted. THE JITJIUCIPAIi CONFERENCE. Mr Hulbert made a statement in reference to the Conference lately held at Wellington. He said the first question 1 discussed was indemnifying the disallow- , ances made by the Auditor-General. A resolution was passed to the effect that i discretionary power should be given them, j so that any emergencies arising might be ', provided for. He believed that a Bill providing for this would be got through this session, as many had expressed themselves satisfied, including the Auditor-General. The second question discussed waß that of slaughter-houses, which did not affect them very much. The next question was one referring to auctioneers' fees. The Bill provided that the fees should be collected and put into one pot and placed in the hands of the Colonial Treasurer to he distributed. He pointed out at the Conference the danger of taking this course, as the Treasurer, with £30,000 or £40,000, would perhaps sink it with the other f undß, and they would get nothing at all out of the distribution. In regard to the Cemeteries Act he was opposed to the Bill before the Legislature end the Conference upheld his views, that it was desirable to give power not only to Local Bodies but to individuals to lay out cemeteries. He pointed out the absurdity of this Bill. Another subject discussed was the question of the Chinese, who were preventing fruiterers and others in Wellington from getting a living by lowering the price of their stuff. _ They lived very cheaply and in a lump in one room, and monopolised certain markets. Mr Ballance wished to legislate in the direction of enabling Local Bodies to tax these people to any extent. He (Hr Hulbert) did not agree with this, but as the question was serious, he thought the poll-tax should be increased. An important subject discussed was that of the election of Mayor. There were some very old members, who understood municipal matters as well as anybody, that held very strong opinions that the present system was not desirable. They thought the Council should elect their own Chairman. There were several propositions made, and resolutions passed, in reference to Municipalities collecting their rates from absentees. A resolution, making mortgagees liable, was also moved, and one for allowing Boroughs to elect their own auditors if they so desired, waß also carried. A resolution was also passed — "That the tax for the hospitals and charitable aid ought to be put on a broader basis." He thought it should be upon all property, and not on rateable property only. In regard to the Fire Brigade and the Insurance Companies, the majority of the Conference were of opinion that it was not the province of the Association to suppress fire. There were several other matters discussed by the Conference which he had not referred to. The Conference was indebted to the Mayor and Councillors of Wellington for the handsome manner they had treated them. Councillor Grinsted moved a very hearty vote of thanks to Councillor Hulbert for the services rendered in connection with the Conference. Carried unanimously. Councillor Gray, in order to find out the feeling of the Council in the matter of the mode of electing Mayors, moved the following resolution : — "That this Council desires to express its disagreement with the recommendation of the Municipal Conference to the effect that the election of Mayor be taken out of the hands of the ratepayers and placed in the hands of the Council." He asked, taking up a negative position, where was the harm in the present system of electing the Mayor ? Councillor Tait seconded the resolution. CouciUor Scott opposed it. Councillor Prudhoe supported it, and did not see why the election should be taken from the ratepayers. Councillor Manning opposed the resolution, and did not know why they should elect their Mayor differently from all other bodies. The Mayor agreed with the Conference on the question, and thought if they had only brought this forward they had done well. On the resolution being put it was lost on the show of hands by 4 to 8. THE " CORPORATION HEARSE." Councillor Gray moved— "That the. Works Committee be instructed to make enquiries as to the possibility, or otherwise, of practically utilising the tram-car known as the ' Corporation Hearse.' " He thought as it was the hearse was useless, and it might be sold or utilised as a dust-cart. Councillor Manning seconded the motion pro form&. Councillor Crooks moved as an amendment—" That the matter be referred to the Cemetery Committee." This was seconded and carried. After granting some licenses the Council adjourned.