BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 418, 14 October 1875, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

LYTTELTON. The weekly meeting was held on Tuc-d iy night. Present—His Worship the Muyoi (in the chair), Crs Hawkins, Buist, W. Grab itn, T. A. \V. Parsons, P. Graham, H. Aliwright, and P. Cunningham. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, Correspondence was read from the Secretary for Public Works, informing the Council that the Government had entered into the following contracts with Mr J. Stinson for drainage works in Lyttelton—Salt’s Gully sewer, £695 ; oxford street sewer, £7Ol, with manholes £lO each, and that the work would be at once proceeded with. From the same, stating that a voucher for 25 per cent of the grant for drainage, amounting to £625, had gone forward for payment on the understanding conveyed in the Council’s letter.

From Mr D. Craig, hon secretary insurance association, stating that the companies were still prepared to contribute the sum of £IOO towards the purchase of a steam fire engine for Lyttelton, and that they had voted £4O towards fire prevention purposes for Lyttelton; and no doubt as long as the brigade remained efficient, a similar sum would be voted annually, and that they took this opportunity of thanking the brigade for their late valuable services.

From Mr J. D. McPherson, agent for South British Insurance Company, giving list of claims that had been paid by insurance companies in consequence of the late fire at the Mitre, including £5 5s to Mr Robinson, and mentioning besides that a grant of £5 5s had been made by the associated insurance companies to the Lyttleton fire police, and speaking highly of the efficiency of the brigade, police, inspector, and the manner in which they, and indeed the public generally, worked at the late fire.

From Messrs Joynt aud O’Neill, stating Captain H. McLellan had instructed them to give the Council notice not to remove the S.B. peg of section 41, situate at junction of bridle path aud Ticehurst road, informing them that the foreman of the Council had threatened to do so in making certain alterations directed by the Council; further giving notice that if the pegs were interfered with in such a manner as to damage the property, Captain McLellan would hold the Council responsible. From Mrs Buchanan, asking to be excused paying her rates. From Mr J. S. Willcox, stating that a portion of Mr Mitchell’s run, on rural section No 206, had been assessed twice. Prom Mr C, H. Turner, asking permission to pnt up an advertising board 9ft x 7ft on the land near Matheson’s Agency. From Mr Thomas Hester, running as follows ■“ To his Worship the Mayor, Sir, I beg to acknowledge the receipt of an account from the town clerk for a balance for work done to a house I owned in Oxford street, Lyttelton. I have the honor to beg the consideration of the Council of the following circumstances :—l. I have already paid the Council the sum of £25. 2. The alteration of the levels of Oxford street which occasioned an outlay on my premises was not through any wish of mine ; on the contrary, I was perfectly satisfied with the road as it was before the alteration. I should never have given my consent to any alteration whatever, but was told by the foreman of works that the cost should not exceed thirty or thirty-five pounds. 3. The chairman of the works committee has led me to believe that I should never be called on to pay the balance jof the sum the Council allege to have been expended, aud on these representations I sold the property to him for the sum of £IOO. 4. I consider the property, before the alteration of the road, to have been worth £l5O. 5. The work the Council did was perfectly useless. I beg the Council to look upon the matter in a just and equitable manner. I have not consulted any solicitor on the subject, preferring that the Council should, with the facts before them, give me the relief 1 From Mr C. Cuff, stating that he had received note re Captain McLellan’s laud, stating section pegged out by him had been altered in the original Government maps, and it was possible they had never altered the sections on the other side of the Bridlepath, thereby causing the road to be too narrow. E’rom Edwards, Bennett and Co, enclosing cheque for rates. In reference to the letter from the Insurance Association and from Mr S. D. Macpherson, Cr Allwright proposed a voteef thanks should be recorded in both instances.

This was seconded by Or Cunningham, and carried.

In reference to the bridle path, the Mayor said the foreman had stated the road would be better if six feet were taken. Mr M'Lellan had met him and told him he would place the matter in the hands of Messrs Joynt and O’Neill. Or Cunningham said the matter should be set at rest at once. For years the question of the exact boundary of the bridle path had been discussed, and it was time it should be finally set at rest. Cr F. Graham would be happy to second such a proposition. Cr Cunningham said he would propose that Mr Cuff be written to, asking him to make an accurate survey of the bridlepath. Cr Allwright supported the motion, which was carried. In reference to Mr Turner’s request, Mr T. A. W. Parsons moved that the request should not be granted, as the town might be disfigured with placards if it were once allowed. Cr Buist seconded the resolution, which was carried. In reference to Mr Hester’s letter, Cr W, Graham said [that H be ever lu< * him to be ‘ lieve that the Council would not press him for the sum due it was unconsciously. The work had been done at Mr Hester’s own request, and the accident had happened through the bad culvert Mr Hester had put in. He thought it his duty, as he was personally interested in the matter, to retire, that the question might be discussed in his absence. He might have stated to Mr Hester that he did not think the Council would be hard upon him, but if so he did not say it in his official capacity.

Gr Aliwright said this was nothing uew. Tli' l matter was another embarrassment an.'-it.g from the Heavenly road, and he sli ii <i not be surprised at more claims being urged. He would move that a committee should be formed to communicate with Mr llns'er, and see into the matter, and afterwards report to the Council. As to Mr Hester being blamed for the culvert, he never expected thousands of tons of earth would be placed on it. The matter should he investigated that the Council might be cleared and the blame thrown on the rigat shoulders. He wished the committee to consist of the Mayor and Crs P. Cunningham and F. Graham. Cr W. Graham seconded the motion.

Crs Cunningham and F. Graham objected to acting on the committee. Cr W. Graham moved for a committee of the whole Council to investigate the matter, and asked Cr Aliwright if he had seen the letter before

Cr Aliwright denied emphatically ever having seen it. Cr Buist having seconded Cr W. Graham’s amendment, it was resolved upon, it bein 6 understood that the investigation take place next Monday night, and that both Mr Hester and the late chairman of the works committee should be present. Tire report of the foreman of works was read. It stated the widening and metalling of the bridle path up to Mr Cunningham’s gate had been completed at a cost of £l7 6s. The estimated cost of a concrete channel and footpath in connection with the bridle track was also given, and the question asked if the waggons, rails, etc, lying in St David and liipon streets should be got in. Also stating that 500 or 600 yards of clay had been left by the prisoners in liipon street, and wanted removing, which could be done by tramway into St David street. To remove all would cost £35, but the loose clay could be shifted so as to allow for dray traffic at a cost of £lO. The clay placed in St David street by the prisoners had caused a dam in the gully, which, unless filled up, would be an offensive receptacle for filth and storm water daring the summer months. Cr Aliwright proposed that £2 should be spent in making Kipon street passable, and that a hole should be made in the culvert to let off the accumulation of storm water in St David street. Cr Buist moved as an amendment—That all the loose clay be removed.” The amendment was lost, and Cr Cunningham moved another, to the effect that the Mayor and Crs Hawkins and Aliwright view the streets referred to, and report next Monday night. This was seconded by Cr F. Graham, and carried.

A report from the Fire Brigade was read. It stated the new hose lent by the Railway Department had been tried, and found to answer well, and that the brigade required new suction hose, which would cost about £lO, and also some axes, &c. Cr Cunningham moved—“ That the £4O voted by the Insurance Association should be hande i over to the fire brigade, and that the superintendent, Mr JSowden, should be requested to procure the necessary hose, &c, out of this money.” This was seconded by Cr Allwright, on the understanding that the helmets required should also be paid for out of the same sum. Carried.

The Mayor said the committee to report on unoccupied estates of the Council had not yet met.

Accounts were passed amounting to £5 16s, and the clerk stated he had received during the week £l2l 16s 6d. In reference to the bathing-shed there was some discussion, Cr Parsons stating the present baths were a disgrace to the town, and that something ought to be done in the matter.

Or Parsons’ name having been added to the bathing committee, it was determined that a report should be brought up next Monday night as to the present bathing shed, and .also respecting a more suitable site. Or Buist asked why the men working at the well for the Lyttelton water supply had been knocked off ?

The Mayor said they were waiting for a new steam pump from Dunedin, as the water came so fast that The men could not sink the well deeper without more appliances. The Mayor stated twenty people had been summoned for borough rates during the week, and the same number would be summoned weekly until the whole rates due were paid.

The foreman of works was ordered to see to the culvert in Ripon and Oxford streets, some bricks in the crown of which were reported loose. The Council then adjourned.