BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 204, 3 February 1875, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

LYTTELTON.

A meeting of the Council was held on Monday last. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Crs Buist, Graham, Murray, Grange, Hawkins.

The minutes of former meeting were read and confirmed. The clerk stated he had received since last meeting £l4 2s 6d. The following correspondence was then read

To H. N. Nalder, Bsq, about disputed boundaries of botanical reserve.

To H. R. Webb, re Lyttelton Borough School.

From Mr Neighbours, stating that the bricks ordered by the Council were ready for deliver;. From Mr A. Carrick, of the National Insurance Company, drawing attention to the insurances upon the cottages in Oxford street, which were nearly run out. The clerk was instructed to pay the amount necessary to renew the insurance. From T. A. W. Parsons, Bunker and Son, and other inhabitants of Canterbury street, praying to have a portion of the footpath repaired, The Mayor said he did not know the exact spot referred to. Or Buist said it referred to the footpath opposite Mr Parsons’ shop. The works’ committee could deal with the matter. Cr Graham said that it would be done in the course of a week in the regular order of things.

The matter was referred to the works committee.

From the Secretary for Public Works, enclosing copy of a telegram from Mr Higgenson, regarding the height at which the water would be delivered in the town.

The Mayor read a portion of a private letter to him from the Minister for Public Works, concerning the employment of Mr Eiggenson, and laying off the plans for the distribution of the water through the town, and stating that the Government had consulted Mr Eiggenson, and that he found it impossible to attend to the matter. He would see the plans when they were finished and give his advice. The clerk laid the rent book upon the table; also particulars of the insurances effected upon the different properties belonging to the Council, and it was decided that Mr Childs should be written to requesting him to insure in terms of his lease.

Or Graham asked if there were any leases in which they were not bound to insure. The Mayor said one building,, that of Messrs Sutton and Weastall, was not insured, and that there was no clause to that effect in their lease. Cr Graham said that the matter was one of most vital importance.

Or Buist said that the solicitor should be requested to insert insurance clauses in all the leases in future.

After jome more discussion, it was moved by Cr Graham and seconded by Or Grange—- “ That the matter of the leases be referred to the estates committee to report upon.” Accounts amounting jto £53 14s 8d were passed for payment. The Mayor brought forward the resolution standing in his name, adjourned from the previous meeting—“ That a prize of £2O be offered for the best plan, with accompanying estimates, for the storing and distribution through the town of the water to be supplied under the system known as Higgenson’s. Plans to be sent to the Borough Council office on or before day of February, 1875.” The Mayor was sorry there was not a full Council there that night, as every member should give an opinion on such a very important question. As far as the work on the other side of the hill was concerned, it was progressing as fast and as well as could be expected, and the plant that had been ordered by the Provincial Council was now on its way from England; and itdevolved upon them to make proper preparations for conveying the water through the town- He was uncertain as to whether he bad named a sufficient sum to induce men of standing and ability to send plans, but one thing that would induce them to do so, would be the probability that the gentleman taking the prize would be employed by the Council to carry out the work if the cost was at all reasonable. No doubt several sets of plans would be sent in, and it would then be the duty of the Council to examine them carefully, at the same time bearing in mind what expense the borough was capable of standing, and be ready to take up the scheme as soon as the water could be supplied. He would beg to move the resolution standing in his name. Or Hawkins would second the Mayor’s proposition pro forma, but would suggest as an addition that they should call for plans and specifications for a comprehensive scheme of drainage for the town. They were all aware that the borough could not afford to drain the town without assistance, and he would propose that the two plans be called for together. The Provincial Council were very liberal, and if plans and specifications for a proper scheme of drainage for Lyttelton were laid before them they would no doubt act generously. He would suggest that a premium of £IOO be offered for the two plans and specifications combined, and that they should lay the drainage scheme before their members, previous to the next meeeting of the Provincial Council. They were not able themselves to pay for the drainage which had become an urgent necessity, as the sewerage could not much longer be allowed to flow into its present receptacle. The present time was a good one to bring the matter forward, and he hoped the Council would take it up. Cr Murray also spoke in favor of this place. Cr Graham saw the necessity of preparing at once for the reception of the water in Lyttelton, and thought that the drainage scheme should be considered at the same time. It was evident that any engineer could spend more time and give them more value for their money by preparing both plans at once than by proceeding with them separately. By giving such a sum as Cr Hawkins mentioned they made it worth the while of a good man to undertake it, and the £IOO would be well spent in getting good plans and specifications at once. Although the Government had talked about employing prison labor in this matter, he was of opinion that they would have to wait a long time before they could carry out anything by that means, and he was of opinion that prison labor was not so valuable as it was som times considered to be. He warmly supported both the Mayor’s proposition and Cr Hawkins.

Or Buist was of opinion that, although the work was requisite, and he did not want to

deter it in any way, the fall Council should be present to assist in deliberating on a matter of such great importance. Or Hawkins, while agreeing with what had fallen from Cr Buist, thought the matter was one of immediate importance, as the Provincial Council would meet in March, and the Borough Council must be ready to ask for some specific amount before that date, or it would be no good. He, therefore, thought they should lose no time in getting an estimate ready.

Cr Grange thought it premature to amalgamate the two schemes. He thought the drainage must necessarily follow the water supply. They should ask the works committee to point out the particular spots where drainage was ui gently needed, such as the completion of the Salt’s Gully drain where the Government would leave it off, and the drain in Oxford street. By thus doing the work in detail they would be more likely to procure Government grants. A comprehensive scheme of drainage would cost a large sum, and he thought they should not compromise their water supply by introducing it. Once let them get the water and the drainage must follow.

Cr Hawkins said it was evident from what they had heard that the distribution of the water in Lyttelton would be laid on the shoulders of the Borough Council. They had nothing to ask from the Provincial Council this session that he was aware of, and they might well request a grant for the drainage of the town, as this was the port for the province.

Cr Grange would move that the debate should be adjourned till next Monday night, and that in the interim the works’ committee should prepare estimates of the moat important works necessary. These estimates they could get from those prepared by Mr Farr. At the same time they might take the opportunity of asking the Government when they were going to commence the work in Salt’s Gully. He understood there was a great deal of illness there. The Mayor said most of the fever cases were amongst those living high up the hills, and he attributed this to the fact that the sewer gases were driven up the culverts. With regard to what Cr Hawkins and others said as to combining the drainage scheme with the water supply scheme, he almost thought they had better be kept separate, as they knew they would have to pay themselves for the distribution of the water, while in the matter of the drainage they hoped f or assistance from the Provincial Council. It would be better to carry on the two works concurrently, as a portion of the water would be wanted to flush the drains, and provision for this must be made in the scheme for the distribution of the water. The same engineer could make the two plans cheaper and better at once than at separate times. He thought that the two should be advertised for simultaneously but separately, and in addition to the bonus offered for the best plan for the distribution of water, there should be an additional one for the drainage scheme, provided that they would not be absolutely losing time; he concurred in thinking that the matter should be left till next Monday, if between this and that, the works committee could form some estimate of the principal drainage works required.

Or Buist said that what was wanted was a comprehensive drainage scheme for the whole town.

Cr Grange said that, as soon as Mr Willcox had completed the map, they would have a plan of the present drainage of the town to guide them in the matter. Or Buist would second Or Grange’s motion, that the debate should be adjourned for a week. Cr Hawkins said there could not be a better time than the present for carrying out the drainage of the town; the reclaimed land through which they would have to run the main drain, was at present bare, but would soon be occupied. The Mayor said that it was certain something must be done to carry the drainage into the sea, beyond the pool enclosed by the two breakwaters. In Rio Janeiro harbor there was a basin enclosed by chains of islands, into which the sewerage of that town ran, and the bottom of that basin must be seen and smelt to be conceived. Immense loss of life resulted from this, and the same thing would occur here if they did not carry their drainage into the open sea, discharging it outside the enclosure formed by the two breakwaters. The spare water must be used to wash out the drains

The motion, that the matter stand over for a week, was then put and carried. His Worship asked the chairman of the works committee what was proposed to be done to give entrance to certain land owned byJMr Josling, fronting on Oxford street.

The chairman of the works committee said the committee had .'put themselves in communication with Mr Josling in regard to this matter prior to making the cutting, and that they offered to make a road to the stable, but that no definite answer had been received, and that the committee did not feel justified in going upon private property without first obtaining the owner’s consent. They had already made the usual means of access to his house. Or Graham asked how the rates were coming in

The clerk stated that about £2OO v ere still outstanding, and that he was preparing a detailed report, which he would lay before the next meeting. The Council then adjourned.