CITY COUNCIL.

» ORDINARY MEETING. An ordinary meeting of the Christchurch City Council was held yesterday evening ; present— The Mayor, and Councillors Goss, Bonnington, E. Smith, Swarm, Gray, Calder, Flesher, Gapes, J. T. Smith, Cooper, Thomson, Wood and Appleby. An apology was received for the absence of Councillor Widdowson. FINANCE. The financial report stated that the debtor balance at last meeting was £4485 14a 3d. Since then the following amounts had been received : — General account JEIOI9 133 Ud, cemetery account .£l6 19a, suspense account £182 19s sd, interest account £114 183 9d. The payments had been : — General account £1720 0j 4d, cemetery account £100 12s 2d, suspense account £029 4s Id, interest account £7G2; leaving the banking account overdrawn £5192 O3 Bd. The report was adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read — From Councillor Kowe, asking for bix weeks' leave of absence, to enable him to visit Sydney on business. The request was granted. From Messrs Jovnt and Andrews, regarding suggestions made by the Chrißtchurch Drainage Board as to liability for accidents caused by the Board breaking up streets or footpaths. Councillor Appleby thought that the Council should not agree to be joined with the Board in such actions. On the motion of Councillor Gapes, it was decided not to grant the request. CITY SURVEYOR'S REPORT. The City Surveyor presented the following report :— I An application has been sent in from Mr Payling, of IGS, North Belt, for a license to store fifty cases of kerosene in his garden, at the back of the house. It will be stored in- the open air, and a good distance from any buildiny, so that I do not think any danger need be apprehended from granting the license. An application has been sent in to tho Council to taka over a private street turning out of Taylor'a lane. It is 20ft wide and 200 ft long, and has no exit except into Taylor's lane. This street ought to have a concrete channel on one side at least, and the road should be formed and shingled, and an iron culvert put in at the end. The cost would ba about £31 10a. Baker's lane, now called Gladstone terrace. — This street was formed, channelled and shingled at the expense of those having frontages on ib in the year 1877, and has since been kept in order by the Council. The inhabitants now ask to have it taken over by the Council. A plan of it is annexed hereto. The report on Alcester street is beine held over until a plan of it is sent in. Five thousand yards of stone were advertised for, and the following tenders were accepted, subject to the approval of the Council :— Priek, 1000 yds; S. P. Andrew?, 1000 yds stone and 1000 yds screening's; Halawell Quarry Company, 3000 yds. The report was adopted with the exception of clause 2, the request in which was not acceded to. FIBS BRIGADE COMMITTEE. The Fire Brigade Committee reported that there had been nineteen alarms of fire during the past quarter, and sixtythrae during the past twelve months. The report Btated that the engines would require to be overhauled during the present quarter, and suggested that further facilities should be given to the Brigade to dry the engine hoße. The report was adopted. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The Finance Committee reported that it had considered " The Local Authorities Accounts and Audit Bill, 1892," and was of opinion that the Bill waß an arbitrary measure, and from the stringent nature of its provisions would deter gentlemen from coming forward to represent the city. The Committee could not see any benefit to be derived from its becoming law, and recommended the Council to ask the city members to oppose it. The report was adopted. RATES. The Town Clerk reported with regard to the rate roll for 1891, that the assessment had amounted to £194,G82, that the ratea were £10,545 as 6d, of which £10,531 153 9d was collected, leaving £13 9s 9d outstanding. The Drainage rates were £2433 10a 6d, of which £2430 8s 3d had been collected, leaving £3 2s 3d outstanding. The Waimakariri rate amounted to J51419 lla l£d, of which there had been collected £1423 £s 4d, showing an overplus of £0 11s 7}d. ! On the motion of Councillor Goss, seconded by Councillor Cfoper, it was ; decided to close the rate roll for 1891. j UCEN6K. One license was granted, and the Council adjourned for three weeks.