BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 406, 30 September 1875, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

LYTTELTON.

The usual meeting was held on’Monday night last. Present—Crs Chalmers, Buist, W. Graham, 11. Allwright, F. Graham, and P. Cunningham. In the absence of bis Worship, Cr Chalmers took the chair. The minutes having been read and confirmed, the clerk stated that he had received during the week £llß 11s. Correspondence was read from Messrs Wilson and Co, asking permission to have a drain laid from their premises in London streot Cr F. Graham moved that the request be granted, subject to the estimated cost being placed in the hands of the clerk. Cr Buist seconded the resolution, which was carried. The following report of the finance committee was then read :

“ Your committee report that, having gone through the rate roll of 1871 they find that a sum of £72 13s 6d appears as unpaid. Of this they consider that, say £6O, ought to be available, and recommend that proceedings be taken for its recovery forthwith. “ They have also inspected the rate roll of 1875, and find that upon this the sum of £558 8s is still due. Notice has been given that all these rates must be paid on or before October Ist, and your committee recommend that all remaining unpaid on that date be at once sued for, according to resolution passed in Council. “ The clerk has been instructed to apply at the Treasury for the grant of £IOO due from the Provincial Government for repairs to the Sumner road. “The committee recommend that the amount of £23 6s 2d due from Mr Hester, and that of £3 15s from Mr G. Ayres, be collected forthwith.

“ They also recommend that in future, before any work be entered upon for any private individual, the amount of the estimated cost be deposited with the clerk, and that all accounts for private works be debited to the individual concerned.

“The value of the property purchased from Mr Calo is estimated at £2OO : it can be let in its present condition at 10s per week, and when put in thorough repair at £l. The committee recommend that it should be let at once, a week’s notice to be given on either side. “ It will be seen that the total amount of assets stands at £IO3O 2s 2d. “ The liabilities are—Overdraft at Bank, £775 9s ; wages due to 31st October, £69 6s 8d ; outstanding accounts, about £45 ; interest on overdraft, say £2O. “ It will thus appear that the total liabilities up to October 31st are £909 15s Bd, and the assets £IO3O 2s 2d, leaving a balance to the credit of the Council of £l2O 6s 6d, “Your committee recommend that the Provincial Government be written to, asking whether they will place to the credit of the Council the grant of £2500 passed to be spent in the drainage of the town, to be expended under the direction of the Provincial Government or its engineer ; and in the event of this proposal being received unfavorably, that the Government be asked to place to the Council’s credit a sum of £625, a like amount to be expended by the Council in drainage, when required, and as directed by the Provincial Engineer. “ That the estates committee be requested to furnish a list of unoccupied properties belonging to the Council, and of any rents (if any) due upon them ; and that steps be taken at an early date for placing such properties in the market for letting. “ With regard to putting in force the borrowing powers of the Council, on debentures, your committee report that in the present unsatisfactory state of the law, they cannot recommend the Council to borrow ; but that the member for Lyttelton be requested to use his endeavors to get the borrowing powers of municipal bodies extended from five times to ten times the amount of their yearly income, and the time for repayment from fifteen to fifty years. “ The finance committee have figures prepared in support of this recommendation, but do not consider it advisable to embody them in this report.” Cr Cunningham moved that the report be received and adopted, aid spoke at length on the subject, saying that he considered every possible effort should be made to get in the rates. Cr Hawkins here entered and took his seat. Or Allwright seconded the motion, and in doing so said he thought the thanks of the Council were due to the finance committee for the elaborate report they had prepared. Carried. Or Allwright then moved —“ That Mr H. R. Webb be telegraphed to with regard to endeavoring to procure increased borrowing powers.” Cr P. Graham seconded the motion, which was carried. His Worship here entered and took the chair. He said that he thought a letter of condolence should be written to the widow of their late much respected fellow Councillor, Mr William Murray. This was seconded by Cr Hawkins, and carried. His Worship mentioned that the Amended Municipal Corporations Act had passed, and spoke of the election of the Mayor by ratepayers, stating that each person had only one vote. Crs Chalmers and F. Graham also spoke on this subject. Accounts were passed amounting to £7 Bs, Cr Cunningham called attention to the necessity of having a new set of books opened. Cr Allwright moved, and Cr Chalmers seconded—“ That a fresh set of books be procured by those gentlemen of the finance committee understanding bookkeeping, and the clerk,” Carried. Cr Chalmers moved—“ That the finance committee draw up a fresh form of instructions for the clerk to work upon re keeping the books.”

This was seconded by Cr Buist, and carried. Cr Hawkins asked if tenders had been accepted for the new Government culverts. Cr Cunningham said that nothing had yet been settled.