BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 339, 14 July 1875, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

LYTTELTON. Monday, July 12. The meeting took place at the usual hour. Present —His Worship the Mayor, Crs Chalmers, Hawkins, Buist, Graham, Murray, Young, and Grange. . . The minutes of the former meeting having been confirmed, the clerk stated he had re* ceived £42 6sduring the week. Correspondence was read— From Mr A. Sproul, calling attention to the neglected state of the footpath leading from Exeter street to his property, The matter was referred to the works committee. .... A ■ From Mrs Gregson, objecting to pay rates for her house in St David street, as she had ceased to occupy. Referred to the Mayor. From Mr Thomas Ockford, objecting to the assessment of his two-roomed cottage on the Sumner road. After a careful consideration of Mr Ockford’s request, it was determined that it could not be entertained by the Council. The Mayor said that the estates committee bad met Mr Jenkins, and seen the portion of land that he required for building a boat shed. The estates committee were of opinion that he could be allowed to do so on the understanding that he was liable to have the building removed at any moment. The committee thought as it was a piece of local industry they had better not obstruct, as it did not interfere with the road, and he could make arrangements with Matheson’s Agency, who owned the adjacent land, Crs Hawkins and Grange said it must be clearly understood that the land would be ■vacated whenever the Council required it. Or Grange having seconded the motion, it was carried, Cr Chalmers being the only dissentient. With reference to the nuisance of Canterbury street, it was determined to leave the matter to the inspector of nuisances. With reference to Mr George Pierce’s apSlication for a piece of land to build on, the [ayor stated the estates committee had agreed to let Mr Pierce have it ; the section had a frontage of 52 feet. A report was read from the lighting committee, as to lighting the town with gas, running as follows :—“ Your committee do not recommend any alterations in the mode of lighting the town at present, as such will recommend itself when the Gas Company is in a position to state the price per lamp per annum. The number of iron lamp posts will be contingent upon the price of gas, and we do not think it will be necessary to send out of the province, as they are supplied at a price satisfactory to the Christchurch Council, who have procured them both from colonial and foreign sources ; price of lamp posts complete, £ll 14s ; lamp posts alone, £B. The price charged the Christchurch Council for gas per lamp per annum, of 293 nights, is £8 10s. This is at the rate of 6d 96-100th per night, or nearly 7d. The price of kerosene per lamp per night is s|d, or £6 14s per annum.” Or Grange gave a further account of the manner in which the Christchurch City Council managed their lighting. He said that the difference between the price of lamp posts procured from home and here was only 10s. He moved that the report should be received. Cr Buist seconded this, and after some remarks from Cr Murray the motion was carried.

The discussion on the Municipal Corporations Amendment Act was renewed, Cr Chalmers said that, in continuing the debate, he would confine himself to the amendment mentioned at last meeting re rates. He would therefore move the following:—“ That in this borough the highest rate leviable—viz, Is in;the £, —is inadequate to the duties prescribed, or to the actual requirements, being barely sufficient to defray the expense of management and keep existing works in repair; that therefore failing permanent assistance from outside, it is desirable that Councils should have power to levy additional rates, either general or over the areas benefited, as the case may be, for the following and other purposes: fire prevention, lighting, scavengering, and the fulfilment of duties imposed by the Public Health Act. The whole not to exceed a certain limit, viz, Is in the pound additional. Also large powers to enforce rateable contribution to local works, such as joint drainage, the first formation of private roads dedicated to the public, &c.” The whole of the present rates were ■wallowed up in merely keeping things in repair and official expenses. He had no great faith in the proposed endowment, as he thought that the present Government would hardly be able to gather a majority around them next session. Lighting was a thing that could not be afforded out of the rates. Time was when it cost £l2O or £l3O a year, and though now it only cost £6O or £7O, yet it could not be done under £l5O a year if the town were properly lighted with gas. Scavengering work ought to be done by the servants of the Council to be done effectually, and if it were not, the would come in the shape of a death rate, which was worse than a money rate. It was necessary there should be a limit to the powers of borrowing, or there might be a wasteful expenditure. He enlarged at great length on the subject of drains and private roads. He thought it was their duty to urge this matter upon their member in the General Assembly, as he was sure that the increased rating power would be a great boon to the public. Cr Hawkins, as seconder of the original motion, would second the amendment. It was impossible to carry out the ordinary work of the town without the rate was increased.

Cm Buist and Graham both agreed that the present rates were not sufficient, and the latter said that there was no doubt that every improvement benefited the freeholder as well as the householder, and he thought some means might be devised for making them contribute. With regard to the election of Mayors, people outside spoke in a way that showed they were desirous of taking this power from the Council and assuming it themselves. The election was far better confined to the Council, as they could then elect a man who had hadsomelittle experience in these matters. The public had been just as unlucky in choosing couh-t oillors as they had been in selecting Mayors. The Mayors should be chosen from the\ Council, as they should be selected from those who had experience in these matters. Cr Grange was of epinion that the matter was of such mighty import that it should be deferred fora week ; he would move this: Or Murray seconded the motion. The amendment was put and lost, only Ora and Money Toting for it, and the

original motion, with amendment, was then put and carried. With regard to the properties leased by Messrs Illingworth and Forester, it was ascertained that they had not carried out the improvements specified in their leases ; and that notice warning them to do so within three months, or forfeit the lease, should be given. With regard to the culvert in Oxford street and Winchester street, the Mayor said he had seen the Secretary for Public Works on the subject, and he bad promised to give the matter his best attention, The Mayor announced that two Burgesses had applied to be nominated —viz, Messrs H. Allwright and W. Holmes, and that they would be duly nominated on the following day (Tuesday), at noon. Cr Murray proposed, and Cr Young seconded, that Mr Woledge be requested to act as returning officer in the place of the Mayor, Cr Chalmers proposed, as an amendment —“ That Mr H. N. Nalder be asked to act.” Cr Buist seconded this. The amendment that Mr H. N. Nalder be requested to act, was carried. Accounts were passed amounting to £4B 11s 9d, and the Council adjourned.