CITY COUNCIL.

LAST EVENING'S MEETING. The Christchurch City Council met last evening ; present — The Mayor (Mr G Pavling), and Councillors T. Gapes, T. N. Horsley, C. Allison, W. H. Cooper, J. D. Hall, C. Taylor, G. W. J. Parsons, J. Forrester, G. Hyde, H. 3. Otley and H. B. Sorensen. The financial statement showed that the general rate levied was £35,721 lis, of which £35,475 14s 2d had been collected, leaving a balance outstanding of £245 16s lOd. The receipts since the previous meeting had been £8839 12s, and the accounts authorised Tor payment £7797 14s 4d. Special account were as follow: — Debit — District fund account, general £38,677 9s 6d; electrical plant, £15,128 16s sd; Sydenham waterworks loan account, £1370 and temporary loans £6060, total, £7430; St Albans Ward channelling loan acount, £33 7s 9d. Credit— I District fund account, Bromley cem*.- j tery, £676 6s lid ; Sydenham cemetery £101 4s 10d; Linwood publio ] works loan account, £526 14s 7d ; St l Albans eastern loan account, £12 0s 4d ; Sydenham channelling and asphalt loan account £133 16s and fixed deposit £2250, total £2.83 16s; Sydenham Ward public works loan account £301 Is bd, fixed deposit £500, total £801 Is 6d ; Beckenham loan account, £27 16s 3d: public baths loan account, £2403 ss. THE CITY'S ORGAN. The Mayor stated that the city's organ had been insured for £3750, which, at theatre rates, would cost £93 15s a year. The rate was high, and in the near future the Council would Aave to do something to properly house i % °i rgan for tne municipality. He had thought of bringing down a propo-sal that the Council should build a Town Hall, but he would not do so at present. It was necessary, however, that something should be done, for in the case of the organ the amount of insurance would not be half of what it was now if it was municipally housed. Speaking in regard to the removal and re-erection of the orean, he might say that Messrs Ingram Bros., of Hereford, had repudiated the terms of the contract signed by the firm's representative in Christchurch, Mr H. Brett. Mr Brett had resigned his position, and was prepared to enter into a contract with the Council on the terms previously arranged. The Council agreed to cancel the contract with Messrs Ingram Bros., and authorised the Organ Committee to entor into a contract with Mr Brett. Councillor Sorensen said that in view of the heavy rate of insurance the committee niight consider the po<-6ibil-ity of erecting a building alongside the Council Chambers or in "Victoria Square. , The town clerk said that the City Council had power to build on its reserves nothing more than a chain square. Councillor Sorensen said that a very commodious building could be built on a square chain section, and it would house the organ comfortably. Councillor Allison said that the Council could get power to build on -lore than one square chain of the scc:ions. A building would not cost mor© ilia 'i £20.000. Tho Mayor said that a municipal hall ivas necessary, for the Council had a poor prospect if it was to pay over £90 for injuring the organ at only twothirds of its value. The organ at that rate would be eaten up with expenses. THE TEPID BAlrl. The Baths Committee asked permission to accept tenders for the supply of towels and bathing costumes. The committee recommended that Messrs VV. E. D. Bishorj and "VV. Johnson should be appointed members of the Baths Committee for two years, without power to vote on financial questions. The report was adopted. WORki COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Works Committee reported that it was of opinion that the claim of Mr G. Simpson for £6 17s 6d for damage done to his electric lamps owing to irregular current should not be recognised. The committee was unable to supply electric current for the workshops" of tho Technical College, as requested. The committee recommended • that the Council should accept the de-. dication of Chanter Street, St Albans, Fisher Street, Beckenham, Norwood Avenue, Martin Avenue, Corson Avenue and Malcolm Avenue, Fn-her-ton. The report was adopted. MISCELLANEOUS. The Kaiapoi Woolh.n Manufacturing Company wrote aski-ig permission to build a. warehouse avx'i clothing iacto.y on a section recently purchased in Manchester Street and Allen Street rig.it up to both frontages. The Mayor stated that under the bylaw it was impossible to build right ip ,to the frontage on Allen Street on recount of its narrowness. The matter was referred to the Bylaw Committee lor consideration. The St Albans Burgesses Association forwarded a resolution asking the Council to make provision for better lighting on "so-called moonlight nights." The letter was referred to the Works and Lighting Committee. I Nine holders of property in Chester Street West wrote protesting against the erection of any more stables in that street, as the present stables created a nuisance. The trustees of the Durham Street Methodist Church wrote urging that permission to erect the proposed stables should not be granted., Mr B. H. Burns wrote stating that the stables already erected in Chester Street were 'a serious nuisance, and n_d depreciated the value of adjacent properties. The Town Clerk said that the permit for the building had been issued before any protest had been received. The letters were referred to the Sanitary Committee. A-special meeting of the Council was . held to consider the balance-sheet and financial statement, and the auditor's report thereon ; but on tlie motion of Councillors Allison and Sorensen it was adjourned for a fortnight in order th.it Councillors might have time to consider the statement.