BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 40, 16 July 1874, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

» LYTTELTON. Monday, Judy 14. The Council met at the usual hour. Present—Crs Buist, Graham, Grange, Young, Kenner, Allwright, Hawkins, his Worship the Mayor presiding. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the outgoing correspondence laid upon the table. The Clerk stated he had received during the week £37 Bs. The following letters were read and discussed. From Mr T. B. Craig, respecting the overlooking of the Council’s books, and stating he would attend Lyttelton to inspect them on Friday, His Worship said he had seen Mr Craig and had instructed him as to what was wanted. From Mr Craig giving an ad interim statement of how the books had been kept. His Worship considered that, as a full report would be brought up, it was not advisable to discuss the matter. A letter from Mr T. H. Potts, M.P.C., enclosing minutes of the Road Board meeting re the diversion of the Governor’s Bay road, was read and discussed at considerable length. Cr Grange moved, Cr Buist seconded, and it was carried, “ That Mr Potts be requested to forward a plan of the proposed deviation of the road, and that the Council would cooperate with the Road Board.” A report from the works committee, stating what works were required in the town, was read. The amount estimated was £832. Cr Kenner moved, Cr Graham seconded, and it was resolved—" That the report lie upon the table a fortnight, for the inspection of the councillors.” Accounts amounting to £4O Os sd, were passed for payment. Cr Grange brought before the notice of the Council the necessity of a lamp being erected near the bridge in Salt’s gully. After some explanation from Cr Kenner, the matter was left in the hands of the lighting committee. A discussion ensued respecting the tapping of the water from the tank near Miles’ store for Messrs Hawkins and Co. , Cr Buist moved, Cr Graham seconded, and it was carried—“ That Messrs Hawkins be allowed to take the water from the tank on the same level as Messrs Cameron and Talbot, and McClatchie.” The Council then adjourned, KAIAPOL Tuesday, Judy 16. The ordinary fortnightly meeting of this Council was held on Tuesday evening. Present —The Mayor, Crs McDonald, Blackwell, Beharrell, Wearing, Fuuston, Taylor, and Parnham. The poundkeeper’s return for the quarter, which the Mayor hinted was a problem for some councillor to solve, was laid on the table; The fire brigade committee reported that pending the preparation of plans for the new council chamber and fire brigade library, they recommend the roof of the present engine station should be raised 4 feet, the building lengthened 8 feet, and the floor laid with concrete. A special report was made by the same committee upon Mr Beharrell’s application to store kerosene. They had inspected the building intended to be used as the store, and considered that 100 cases might be allowed to be stored, provided the place was secured with lock and key, and a license might be granted according to the regulations made under the Dangerous Goods Act (except in reference to the quantity allowed to be stored under the regulations). Cr Wearing moved, and Cr Taylor seconded —“That the special report be adopted.” Carried. Cr Wearing moved, a id Cr McDonald seconded—“ That the fire brigade committee’s report be adopted, and they be authorised to have the work proposed to be carried out at the engine station done by public tender.” Carried. Cr Blackwell recommended that the floor of the station should be raised eighteen inches. The public works committee’s report stated that the foreman and workmen were

satisfactorily employed on works in different parts of the town. In accordance with the decision of the Council great pains had been taken so that the work of laying out Hilton street should be well carried out, and the committee were very much indebted to a gentleman in the town who had assisted them. A lamp was required at the north end of the footbridge, as it was a dangerous place. The footpath along the North road had not been included in the works offered to tender, as the Council had plenty of material at hand, and it had been carried out under the committee.

On the motion of Cr Taylor, seconded by Cr Reharrcll, the report was received and considered.

Cr Paruhara said the approach to the footbridge was very dangerous and it would be better to put up a lamp before any persona legs were broken. The Mayor replied the Council had nothing to do with the matter, it was the duty of the Government to make the approach safe, Cr Blackwell moved— “ That the clause of the report relating to placing a lamp on the footbridge be agreed to.” The Council would not be doing this for the convenience of the Government, but for that of the persons in the borough. There were lamps on the swing bridge and a lamp was more required on the footbridge than as proposed and agreed to some time ago for one at the Court-house corner. Cr Parnham seconded the motion.

The Mayor opposed it. The lamps on the swing bridge, he said, were necessary owing to the amount of traffic and vehicles crossing it, often at a rapid rate; and the lamp at the court house was required so that persons could see the time at night by the town clock. He believed the Government meant to widen the approach to the footbridge. The cost of the lamp would be very little, but it would be a great cost to employ a person to light it. Cr Funston said the footbridge on a dark right was little better than useless, as pei’sous were liable to miss it or fall down the approach. It would be better for the public to have a footpath lighted than to be able to sec the time by the town clock. A division took place on the motion—Crs Blackwell, Wearing, Funston, and Parnham voting for it; Crs McDonald, Taylor, and Beharrell against it. The Mayor said he should vote against it, and give his casting vote against it. Therefore the motion was negatived. The statement of accounts showed that the receipts of the fortnight were, by rents, £2O 7s ; the balance to the credit of the general account being £173 7s 9d. Cr McDonald moved, Cr Taylor seconded —“ That the accounts —T. Widdowson, labor, £3 7s ; R. Taylor, £3 7s ; Mathews, £2 10s ; foreman’s salary, £3 16s 14d; Hutchinson and Co, coal, £1 10s ; Birch and Co, £2 12s 9d ; B. Packwood, carting, £5 15s 6d ; T, Veysey, do, £1 2s ; Northern store, £4 18s 9d ; J. Francis, coach hire, £1 ; and H. Anderson, fi re brigade uniforms, &c, £3 17s 6d; total, £33 17s—be passed for payment.” Carried.

A claim for £6 15s from Mr J. Beswick for cartage of grain from his store to a vessel below the bridge at the time it was closed for repairs, was ordered to be referred to him for amendment, the Mayor stating that he had agreed that Mr Beswick should be paid on the first occasion; but a notice was advertised that the bridge was closed before the steamer came up the river the second time. Cr Blackwell pointed out that 14s a day had been charged by Mr Beswick for the teams employed. The town clerk said the secretary of the Insurance Association informed him that he would pay the contribution due to the maintenance of the Fire Brigade when the various companies had paid their contributions.

Tenders were opened for forming, claying, and metalling Hilton street, and forming footpath on south side. The highest was £215, the lowest £l2l 18s lOd, which latter was agreed to. The Mayor intimated that some steps should be taken to secure the grant of the Provincial Council, and also ascertain what was to be done in regard to the sum voted for the protective works. Or Wearing suggested it would be well to get on with the protective works at a time when labor was plentiful. Cr Blackwell moved, Or Funston seconded —“That the Mayor and Cr Wearing be appointed a deputation to wait upon the Government in reference to the several matters between it and the Council.” Agreed to.

It was stated in reference to the present condition of the swing bridge that Mr Thornton, Provincial Engineer, was understood to have sent in his report. Cr Blackwell wished to give notice of motion that a lamp be placed on the footbridge, but it was ruled by the Mayor that he could not do so, as the question had been decided for six months. The Council then adjourned.