Circumstances require (?) that one of us, the vice-mayor rif’atlu Zaki Effendi, to evaluate (?) the activities of the contractor Mûsa Hamûda and his brother Husâyn regarding the street repairs he was contracted for with the agreement (sind al muqâwala) which is now subject to a court action at the request of the municipality (?). In order to respond, we remain on our position (?) that Husayn and his brother, the two mentioned contractors, should conduct the repairs of the mentioned road. They asked for attribution by the council, but one forth of the value was found to be missing (?). He was appointed to compensate this missing part so that it can be obtained from him. The above mentioned started his attempts from the date and there was also support (?) from the writer of the agreement. Thus in order to accordingly provide an answer to the court from the side of the mentioned vice-mayor this decision was taken on the 11th of Mârt (1)308 (The 23rd of March 1892). [5 signatures]
Given the (approaching) end of the works in the public park and in order not to be late with planting the needed flowers and to take care (?) of the trees planted before, we find it urgent to nominate a gardener specifically (for this purpose?). Since Usbîrû Al Rûmi (the Latin?) has experience as a gardener, it was decided to nominate him as the gardener for the aforementioned park from the date written below with a monthly salary of five French liras. Additionally (?) in order to prepare the soil of the above-mentioned place and open the needed path / road (?) it is necessary to hire ten daily workers along with the above mentioned for thirty days. In order to proceed in this way (?) and pay the gardener’s monthly salary and hire the workers and pay their wages from the budget (?), this decision was taken on the 12th of Mârt (1)308 (The 24th of March 1892). [5 signatures]
Since the period of publication of the [public sale of] slaughter taxes (rusûm dhabhiyya) in Jerusalem itself expired, it was decided [to settle] for the gross (OR: secured ?) (sâgh al mîrî) sum of thirty-one thousand and five-hundred qirsh promised by Baha Al Dîn Al Aklîk with the guarantee of his father Khalîl Aklîk and Abdullatif Effendi Nusseibeh. Accordingly it was decided on the council-level to transfer [the task] for the mentioned sum to the pledging registered (marqûm) taxfarmer (multazim) with the guarantee of the registered [persons ] and to free the [responsible] officer (mâmûr) of this charge until the transfer [has taken place]. In order to confirm this [OR: the above] this decision was taken on the 12th of Mârt (1)308 (24th of March 1892). [4 signatures]
When one of the patients dies in the hospital, it is difficult to find persons to wash (the corpses), and because of that the burial is usually delayed. Therefore the council has decided to appoint an officer for this task. Ibrâhîm Zahbki has the necessary qualifications, and so he has been nominated from the 13th of the month of Mart (1)308 with a monthly salary of three Mecidi liras (riyâl majîdî). In order to confirm (?) this, this decision was reached on the 12th of Mârt (1)308 (24th of March 1892). [5 signatures]
We announce that the butchers tax (rusûm al dhabhiya), the livestock sales tax and the slaughterhouse tax in the city of Bethlehem are proposed for a public bid (muzâyada) for _____ (1)308. The butchers tax has been set at two thousand six hundred piasters, the livestock sales tax at two hundred piasters and the slaughterhouse fee at eight hundred piasters, for agreement by the bidders. The public bid for the mentioned taxes will be announced for eleven days from the 27th of March (1)308 at 10 o’clock, according to the rules. And non-working days during this period are considered part of it. So everyone who is interested should inform the municipal council in Jerusalem. And in order for this to be known, this matter was announced on the 16th of Mârt (1)308 (28th of March 1892). [2 signatures]
We announce that the rental agreement for the Hotel at Bâb al-Wad ‘Ali which belongs to the municipal council (is up for a public bid). This would be for one year from the beginning of Mart (1)308. And in agreement with the bidders (kaf yad) its amount has been determined at the level of thirteen thousand and fifty piasters according to the official currency (sâgh al khazîna). It has been decided to enact (?) this after four days starting from the 16th of Mart (1)308 at 10 o’clock. So everyone who is interested in this public sale should inform the city council in Jerusalem. And in order for this to be known, this matter was announced on the 16th of Mârt (1)308 (28th of March 1892). [2 signatures]
It has been understood from this letter that the aforementioned mine was here opened to bidding by the local administration. It is appropriate to take necessary action in respect thereof. The 17th of Mârt (1)308 (29th of March 1892). [2 signatures]
In consideration of the content of the telegrams sent by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, dated 3 December 1892 and 26 January 1893, there is no inconvenience for the construction of the said house. It is thus appropriate to write in response to the consulate in respect thereof. The 19th of Mârt (1)308 (31st of March 1892). [5 signatures]
It has been understood from the survey that the big bridge over the macadam located on the road leading to Ramla has collapsed due to a violent storm. As it would be impossible to pass through the road if the bridge is not repaired, it is appropriate to relegate the matter to the Directorate of Public Works Engineering for survey and notification of the estimated required cost. The 24th of Mârt (1)308 (5th of April 1892). [3 signatures]
In order to take the opinion of the said village directorate regarding this matter, it is appropriate to notify the directorate about the issue to be dealt with later. The 24th of Mârt (1)308 (5th of April 1892). [2 signatures]
