LYTTELTON NEWS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19164, 22 November 1927, Page 15

LYTTELTON NEWS.

Becicatlon Ground. At last night's meeting of the Lyttelton Borough Council the Special Committee set up, for tho purpose reported having inspected tho recreation ground on tho rcclairaod land and submitted the following proposals: (1) That the ground bo enclosed with a 7-foot galvanised irou fence, concrete posts, jarrah rails, with tho necessary gates, etc., nnd to be covered" with Gin .scoria and topdrossed with six inches of soil levelled, and sown in graßS. (2) That dressing-room -nnd lavatory accommodation be provided, and the building to be erected to fit in with a pavilion and seating accommodation that may be erected later. The Borough Engineer's estimate of the cost of this work was as follows:—Fencing, otc., £885; covering with scoria, £900; covering with soil, £1575; levelling and sowing, £150; dressing-rooms and lavatories, £400; contingencies, £390; total £4300. The committee recommended the Council to take the necessary steps to raise a loan of £SOOO to carry out the work. On the motion of Or. Toy, seconded by Cr. Miller the report and recommendation were adopted without discussion. Borough Council. The Lyttelton Borough Council met lost evening. Present—The Mayor (Mr P. E. Sutton), Ors. W. Wales, W. T. Foster, C. P. Bell, M. 3. Miller, E. Fenton, L. G. Matthews, W. D. Gower, A. McDonald, and W. W. Toy. Mr T. A. Small, of Governor's Bay, wrote offering his services to the Council as a water-diviner, and stating that there were strong indications of water in the paddock next to the tanks at Heathcote. The letter was received, and it was decided to reply that the Council had now secured a satisfactory supply of water. • The Chief Inspector of Explosives wrote in reference to the application of the Explosives and Dangerous Goods Act, 1920, as regards the bulk storage of benzine in underground tanks, and the license fees for same. Cr. Foster said he was not in favour of tho license fees being trebled, as was suggested in the letter. He moved that the Council be in favour of the prjsent fees being increased by 100 per cent. only. The motion was seconded by Cr. Gower and carried. A letter from Mr F. W. Furkert, Engineer-in-Chief to the Public Works Department, inviting suggestions for regulations under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1924, was referred to the By-laws and Legal Committee. A circular letter was received from the Wanganui City Council conveying a copy of a resolution by' that Council protesting to the Government against the proposed petrol tax of 4d per gallon as being excessive. "As long as they .give us better roads," said Or. Miller, "we don't mind paying the extra." The Mayor remarked that if the roads were put in good order motorists would soon Bave tho extra cost of petrol. The letter was received. The Borough Motor Inspector, Mr'T. D. Holder, reported that he had had occasion to interview some car and lorry-owner for carrying passengers in unlicensed vehicles, and two of them had since taken out licenses for their cars. When interviewed, soma of the drivers said that they made no charge, but that the passengers made up a collection for expenses. The report pointed out the seriousness of this action on the part of owners, for, not only were the owners avoiding paying license fees, bnt in the case of an accident, the passengers were not protected by any insurance.

The report was received. The Te Whaka Tennis Club wots stating that at a special general meeting of the club it was unanimously decided to open the club courts at West Lyttelton, whjeh are situated on Council property, for t Sunday play, and asking the Council to receive a s deputation, consisting of Messrs A. Stanley, C. D. McKenzie, B. H. Mcßeath, and G. Shepheard, to discuss the question with the Council. Or. Foster moved that the deputation be received at the next meeting of the Council in four weeks' time. The motion was seconded by Or. Miller and carried.

A petition was received from bix residents of.. Park terrace asking that certain trees in the Domain be cut down or topped, on the ground that the trees obscured the view .of the harbour, and decreased the value of petitioners' properties. The petition was signed by G. S. Morris, A. Miller, S. E. Shnyle-George, "W. H. Goddard, A. Webb, and Agnes Webb. Or. Tov said lie would object to trees in the Domain being topped just to let a few people have a look down the harbour. The view of the signal station, from the speaker s house, was obscured by trees on another of the Council's reserves, and he had just ns much right to ask the Council to cut down these trees. . , . Cr. Foster said the trees in the plantation at the time-ball shut out the sunlight from his house in the winter, and if the Council was going to start cutting down trees it would probnblv have difficulty in deciding where to stop. He was strongly against the cutting of the trees in. the Domain. It might mean that 20 or 30 trees would have to be topped, which would spoil the whole Domain. . . It was decided to refer the petition to the chairman of the Estates Committee to report. The Lighting- Committee recommended that Mr R. X: Thomas, chief electrician, be appointed electrical engineer in charge. The recommendation was adopted.