WHEREAS under the powers of “The Municipal Corporations Act, 1867,” and “The City of Christchurch Loan Act, 1871,” the Council of the City of Christchurch have borrowed three several amounts of eight thousand pounds and six thousand pounds and also one thousand four hundred pounds, part of a proposed loan of twelve thousand pounds, for the purpose of meeting the expenses of the works in connection with the drainage of the said city, upon security of three several special rates made or intended to be made by the said Council on the eleventh day of March, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, the fifth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, and the seventh day of April, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, and have issued debentures charged upon the said rates for the said several amounts to lenders thereof respectively: And whereas it is apprehended that the validity of the said rates is liable to be questioned by reason of the proposition for borrowing the said sums having been considered by the Council before a sufficient number of days had elapsed subsequent to the second publication of the notice thereof in a newspaper circulating in the said city, pursuant to the directions of the said Acts in that behalf, and by reason also of the said special rates having been made, and the resolution for borrowing the said several loans on the security thereof respectively having been adopted by the same special order, instead of by consecutive special orders as directed by the said Acts: And whereas it is apprehended that the validity of the said rate made on the fifth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, is further liable to be questioned by reason of twenty-seven days only instead of four weeks having elapsed between the first and second of the special meetings of the said Council held for the making thereof as directed by the said Acts: And whereas the minutes of the special meetings of the said Council held on the fifth day of February, and the eleventh day of March, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, on the seventh day of April and the fifth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, and the ninth day of March and the seventh day of April, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, at which the proceedings incidental to the matters aforesaid were taken, appear to have been confirmed by the Council at the ordinary meeting of the said Council held in the weeks following the said days respectively, but do not appear to have been signed by the Mayor, as directed by the said Acts; and it is apprehended that the same are not admissible in evidence in manner provided by the said Acts: And whereas it is expedient that notwithstanding the matters aforesaid the said rates should be declared valid, and the said minutes made admissible in evidence to the extent hereinafter set forth: