BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 137, 7 November 1874, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

LYTTELTON. Monday, November 2. The usual weekly meeting was held. Pregent—His Worship the Mayor, andCrs Hawkins, Graham, Murray, Young, Kenner, Grange, and Buist. The minutes of last meeting read and confirmed. The following correspondence was then read : From Mr Hargreaves, calling attention to the step ladder approach to his premises in London street. The M>yor stated the repairs could be easily remedied. From Mr Edwin Salt, calling attention to the dangerous condition of the steps leading from Dublin street to his residence.

The Mayor stated this matter also could be easily seen to, and that with regard to these two applications re broken down steps, he supposed there was no necessity for formal resolutions, Cr Hawkins said that it was a matter for the works committee, and it was accordingly left to that body. From the Secretary for Public Works, referring to interview with the town clerk on the subject of trollies, stating that the trollies would be placed under the control of the piermasters, that they Were only built for use between the railway gate and the boat jetties, and that if the Council contemplated initiating a system of licensed porters, sug gesting that band carts should be used for delivering goods in town. From the same, staling that the third instalment of the grant to municipalities was payable to the Borough Council. Fresh tenders for the valuation of the borough were then read from Messrs Cuff, Huddleston, and Willcox. Cr Graham said that since the last meeting of the Council he had spent much time in considering the matter, and had come to the conclusion that if they wanted a good article they must give a good price for it. He did not think that the price asked by Mr Cuff was at all excessive. He would therefore beg to move chat that gentleman’s tender be accepted. Cr Buist agreed with Cr Graham. It was abad system when tenders were once opened to let them go again before the public. He thought that such a job as ibe one they were now contemplating should be done well or not at all. He begged to second Cr Graham’s motion.

Cr Grange pointed out that Mr Cuff had made two tenders of different values, and wanted to know which Cr Graham recommended. Cr Graham said that he recommended the tender for surveying the town in blocks. Cr Hawkins asked his Worship to read Mr Willcox’s tender again. Cr Grange said he did not clearly understand how the blocking system was carried out.

His Worship stated that in Christchurch, where all the blocks were laid off, it was a comparatively easy matter ; but that in Lyttelton it would be far more difficult, owing to the subuibau section", and would certainly require somebody acquainted with surveying to do it at all satisfactorily. Cr Grange asked what sureties Mr Cuff had given, and it then aj peared that there was only one formal tender, that of Mr Willcox.

Cr Grange said that it must be understood he did yot wish to throw any slur on Mr Cuff's qualifications for the valuation. Mr Willcox had a great knowledge of the localities, but he contended that there was really only one tender before the Council, Mr Cuff having failed to comply with the conditions of the advertisement; it was therefore not necessary to mave an amendment, Messrs Cuff’s and Huddleston’s tenders being both invalid.

Cr Graham said that he could not press his resolution, as certainly, the terms mentioned in the advertisement had not been complied with. The Mayor ruled that Messrs Cuff and Huddleston’s tenders were informal.

Cr Grange moved—“ That Mr Willcox’s tender be accepted.” After some further discussion, the resolution was seconded by Cr Kenner.

The motion was then put to the meeting, when Crs Hawkins, Grange, Murray, and Kenner voted for the motion, and Crs Buist, Graham, Young, and the Mayor against it. The Mayor said he must exercise his prerogative, and use his casting vote on this occasion, or else it would be a dead lock; he had been placed once before in this awkward predicament. He should therefore give his casting vote against the resolution, which was consequently lost. Several Crs wished to re-open the subject, but the Mayor pointed out that it was unusual to have a discussion on a subject after the votes had passed. The weekly paysheet, amounting to £6O 18s 9d. was then passed for payment. The town clerk stated that he had collected during the week, £B4 Is 6d. Cr Hawkins stated that there was some good metal being taken out at the site of the excavations of the Gas Company, and showed a sample, informing the Council that it could be supplied at 4s per yard. After some little discussion, Cr Grange moved that £SO be expended in the purchase of the metal from the Gas ('ompany. Cr Kenner seconded the motion, which was carried.

Cr Hawkins asked whether the Council had had any communication with the Government with reference to the boundaries of the Sumner toad.

m The Mayor replied in the negative. ’ Cr Graham said that as there appeared to be no immediate prospect of the proposed water supply, and the dry season was approaching, the Council would, no doubt, get some more tanks for the public benefit. Cr Grange asked whether anything further with regard to the proposed water supply was known.

The Mayor replied in the negative. Cr Graham asked if the custodian of the bathing house had yet vacated it. The Mayor said that yesterday there were no symptoms of his removal. The town clerk then made a statement, with regard to a certain deficiency in the accounts of the late town clerk. The Mayor said that before the minutes were read he should like to call the attention of councillors to the fact that the matter of the valuation of the borough was at a dead lock.

Cr Grange then moved—“ That fresh tenders be invi'ed for the valuation of the borough, the tenderer to prepare a map of the municipality upon the bl ck system, such map to be the properly of ibe Lylteiun Borough Council,"

Cr Kenner seconded the motion, which was car ril'd.

Cr Hawkins tlion moved —“That the estates committee report at next meeting on the let and unlet property <>f the Coiine.il.” This was seconded hy Cr Young, anil carried.

Cr Graham wished to say a few words with regard to the free library. He thought such an institution would he of great benefit to the town, and he understood the Council had the power of levying a rate of Id in the £1 for such a purpose. He had brought forward this matter at the annual meeting of the Colonists’ Society, but they had not received his idea favorably. He thought it would be a good thing to ventilate the matter at a public meeting. At the next meeting of the Council he should ask the .Mayor to call a public meeting for the purpose. If the matter was taken up warmly hy the Council, it might induce the Colonists’ Society to give it further consideration. Some further discussion, in which several couuci'lors joined, ensued on this matter. Cr Buist spoke of the length of time that had elapsed between the death and burial of the child that had died from fever in the immigration ward. He thought that such a thing was very injurious to those in the same place. Several councillors spoke strongly against such a practice being repeated. The Council then adjourned.