BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 74, 26 August 1874, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

LYTTELTON. The usual weekly meeting was held on Monday last. Present —His Worship the Mayor, Crs Allwright, Buist, Grange, Young, Kenner, Dr Rouse, and Hawkins. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The Mayor stated that the accounts of the Council were now squared as well as they could be, and that Mr Packard had taken them entirely under his control, and he (the Mayor) would ask them (the Council) to advise him how best the prison labor could be used.

The following correspondence was then read :

From the Secretary for Public Works, in reply to letter re Lyttelton water supply, stating that the information relative to the proposed scheme should be supplied to them.

From Mr Cuff, stating that he had surveyed the Dampier's Bay road from Dublin street to M'Clutchie's, and marked it out. From Mr Perrin, giving up all claim to salary due, and requesting Council to place it as a set-off against uncollected rates of 1873.

From W. and M. Miller, shipwrights, asking permission to erect a boat-shed on Dampier's Bay beach. From John Illingworth, the town scavenger, asking the Council to protect him, by forbidding others to infringe upon his rights by removing rubbish. From W. Graham, asking permission to take away the refuse small rubbish from the Bed Stone quarry, on the Sumner road.

There was considerable discussion relative to Mr Cuff's letter.

In reply to the application to erect a boatshed in Dampier's Bay, a resolution was passed to the effect that the Council had no objection to offer.

A discussion then ensued relative to the complaint of the town scavenger; and Cr Allwright moved and Cr Rouse seconded —" That the inspector be empowered to proceed against any one infringing on the town scavenger's right." Carried. Councillor Graham's request for metal was granted. The weekly report of the chairman of the works committee was then read. It ran as follows: —

" Sir, —I beg to report that the men have, been engaged during the week in getting, breaking, and spreading metal in Exeter street and Little Brenchley road, which is now completed as far as the works committee thought it necessary to metal. There have been about 118 yards of metal put in the two streets, and the total cost of getting, breaking, and putting on the metal and forming the two roads, has been £59 Os 6£d. Some of the men are • now engaged in re>forming the road in Salt's Gully, and others are quarrying metal on Sumner road for St. David's street, which is being broken by prison labor. ' • "George Buist." The Mayor said that during the past fortnight the prison labor had been employed in St. David's street. Their labor was only a doubtful advantage to the borough, as they had no right to order them about, as they were not actually in their service, and their employment caused a large expenditure. The authorities wished them to be placed in one gang, that they might be the more easily watched. If placed unreservedly at the disposal of the Council and separated, they might be of great service; but it was probable extra warders would have to be employed. He wished to be advised by the Council as to where the prison labor should be employed. He had written to the Government on the question. Cr Buist advised the removal of the large bank of earth in Oxford street.

Cr Allwright alluded to the state of Salt's Gully. ' '■■ Cr Rouse stated that it would take nearly the whole summer to finish the work in Oxford street, and thought that the drainage was- by far the most important point. As much as possible should be done before the warm weather to do away with the terrible stenches arising from Salt's Gully, and other places. The sanitary state of the town might be much improved by these means. The Mayor mentioned the Dampier's Bay road.

Cr Kenner thought they might be advantageously employed in breaking metal for all the roads in the Borough. Cr Grange agreed with Dr Rouse as to the importance of the drainage. The works committee's general report was then read.

His Worship informed the Council that Cr Graham requested leave of absence.

Cr Allwright moved—" That the Dampier Bay Road be at once proceeded with." In justice to the ratepayers it was really required. Cr Grange, in seconding the resolution, begged to point out that that portion of the town had never been neglected, much money had been spent on it. He hoped that now it would be done properly, as it was always in a wretched state in winter. The crown of the road should be raised properly. Thirty pounds should be expended on it. The motion was carried.

Cr Kenner said that if a footpath were formed more than that sum would be required. The Mayor hoped the Council would authorise some more work, as this was not sufficient to keep the labor employed long. Cr Allwright moved, and it was duly seconded—" That the work in Canterbury street be proceeded with." Carried.

Accounts to the amount of £B9 12s 6d were passed for payment. The Mayor informed the Council that the deputation appointed had met Mr Potcs, the chairman of the Victoria Road Board, and agreed upon the desirability of the line of road pointed out by Mr Potts. It was the Council's business to instruct him to put pressure on the Government in this matter.

Crs Grange and Allwright agreed that it would be a good thing, and Cr Grange moved — <l That the Mayor write to the Government concerning communication with Mr Potts relative to the Governor's Bay road."

The motion having been seconded and carried, the Council adjourned.