CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 462, 7 December 1875, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, December 6

The usual weekly meeting was held in the Council Chamber at 4 o’clock. Present —His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Turner, Thomson, Schmidt, Ick, Jones, Hawkes, Gapes, and Wood. The Mayor said that a special meeting of the Council had been duly called for the purpose of electing a returning officer to act at the election of Mayor. He might say that the only nomination received had been the one for himself, whom the Council were good enough to nominate. There would consequently be no contest. He desired sincerely to thank the Council for the honor done him and this expression of their continued confidence, and he would use his best efforts to prove himself worthy of that confidence. His best exertions would also be used to advance the interests of the Council, and thus that of the ratepayers. It would be necessary to hold a special meeting on the morning of the 17th, to formally elect the Mayor, and Mr E. B. Bishop had consented to act as returning officer if such were the desire of the Council. On the motion of Cr Ick it was resolved—- “ That Mr B. B. Bishop be appointed returning officer to act at the election of Mayor. The minutes of’ the last special and adjourned meetings were read and confirmed. The town clerk reported—Received from rate collector during the week, account of general city rates, 1875, £l5B Is; Waimakariri do, £26 6s 10J ; fines irom Resident Magistrate’s Court, £lO ; rent from Market Place, 7s ; licenses, £2; weighbridge, £6 16s 9d ; deposits, £l6 ; total receipts, £219 11s 7d. Overdraft at bank on general account, £628 10s 6d; overdraft on drainage account, £4464 16s 9d. Drainage rate account —Or, £ 1820 Is 6d. Wages, See, to be paid on genera! account, £563 19s lid ; on drainage account, £625 17s 7d,

Mr J. W. Treadwell wrote requesting an interview that afternoon, to make a few remarks on the proposed tramway. Mr Treadwell attended, and was told that, the Council would first have to consider some letters in reference to the tramway before goiug into the question. The city surveyor reported : “ 1. The gravelling of the footpath on the East belt, between Ferry road and Stan more road, will cost. £1 per lineal chain. “ 2. Now that so many footpaths are being formed, it would be very desirable to have a roller for them. A suitable one could be made for about £25.

“ 3. By direcrion of the works committee, I have advertised for 2000 barrels more of cement for channelling. “ 4. Tenders for Hereford bridge will be laid before the Council this evening, “ 5. With regard to Colonel Packe’sletter, which was referred to me last week, it appears to me that the right-of-way is not laid out in accordance with the Act (see 291 and following clauses), and consequently ought to be closed up unless kept open under some special order of the Council.” On No 1 clause being read, it was resolved, on ihe motion of Cr Ick, seconded by Cr Jones—“ That the work be proceeded with after their proportion has been paid in by the Heathcote Road Board.”

On the motion of Cr Jones, the works committee were authorised to procure a roller as desired. The action of the works committee in advertising for cement was approved. Three tenders were opened for Hereford street bridge, and that of Mr James Tait, for £1277, was accepted, subject to finding satisfactory security if required With regard to clause 5 of the report, it was resolved that Colonel Packe be referred to the clauses of the Mu-icipal Councils Act. A letter was read from Mr R. W. Wood, Cambridge terrace, drawing attention to the very insecure state of the footbridge near the hospital. Referred to the surveyor to take the necessary action. A letter was read from Mr J. C. Watson objecting to the channel about to be cut through his property in Horatio street, if it is to be an open one, as being so near his house it would be injurious to the health of his family. Referred to the surveyor to report. A letter was read from Mr J. H. Bradford, Colombo road, complaining of the channelling in front of his house. This letter was peculiarly worded, and was ordered to lie on the table. Cr Hawkes drew the attention of the Council to the necessity for channelling the terrace from St. Michael’s to the corner of Montreal street. Cr Ick said that this matter had been under the consideration of the works committee, and they had proposed to make the channelling of the terraces a special work after the channelling of the streets from east to west had been completed. The town clerk was instructed to write to the Church Properly Trustees requesting an answer to the letter sent re drainage of Cathedral square.

Cr Turner moved the following motion, of which he had given notice :—“ That this Council is of opinion that it is desirable to acquire the freehold of town section No. 733, or a portion thereof, for the purpose of widening Colombo street, and for other public purposes.” He had given this matter a considerable amount of thought daring the past week, and had come to the conclusion that, if it were possible to come to an arrangement with Mr Morten for the 10ft required, it would be the wisest course, but failing that it would be advisable to take the whole section. Cr Turner after exposing the objection he would have to the Council acquiring the property simply for purposes of speculation, went into figures to shew the difference in the result of a payment with interest added, for the 10ft if obtained at an amount mentioned, and that of the whole section if purchased at a maximum price named, to be raised on an issue of debentures at fifty years interest at 6 per cent, and sinking fund at 1 per cent calculated; showing also an estimate of the returns anticipated from twenty-one years leases for building purposes, after allowing the value of the 10ft taken to widen the street. He would desire that the recommendation of the Finance Committee be adopted, and a small committee appointed to confer with Mr Morten; and if that gentleman would not accept a fair sum for the 10ft, then the Council to take the lot. He would move the adoption of the report of the Finance Committee read last week.

After remarks from councillors, the report was adopted. Cr Turner received permission to insert the words “or a portion thereof ” in his resolution. Cr Hawkes seconded the resolution, which was put and carried, the Mayor withdrawing the motion on this question originally moved by him. A resolution by Cr Jones—“ That the Finance Committee be authorised to negotiate with Mr Morten for the purchase of the 10ft frontage, and failing a satisfactory result, that a notice be served on him of the Council’s intention to take the whole section, was unanimously agreed to. In reply to Cr Thomson, the Mayor said that no reply had yet been received from the Government with reference to the representations of the deputation on the high carriage of coals charged on the railways. Cr Ick moved—“ That as the time is near at hand for granting drivers’ licences, the Commissioner of Police shall be asked to report in every case as to the character or fitness of the applicant.” Cr Turner seconded the motion, which was carried. Cr Gapes moved—“ That the city surveyor be instructed to asphalts the footpath from Mr Gould’s verandah to Kilmore street on the inhabitants paying in to this Council two-thirds of the cost of same.” Cr Thomson seconded the motion, which was agreed to. On the proposition of Cr Gapes, the recommendation of the works committee that a man named Beattie, who had been in the employ of the Council for two years but is now incapacitated from work, be given a gratuity of £lO, was approved. The weekly report of the inspector of nuisances was read and approved. The Council then adjourned. NOTICES OP MOTION, Cr Gapes to move on Monday next — “ That on and alter date no person under the age of eighteen years shall be granted a licence from this Council as driver of either a hawker’s cart or borough stage carriage.” , Cr J ires to move—“ That the city surveyor I e instructed to advertise for a suitable site for the erection of a fire brigade station; such land to be within a radius of 15 chains of the lire '>rigadc station in Market place.”