BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 451, 24 November 1875, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

LYTTELTON. Monday, November 22nd. Present—His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Councillors Chalmers, Hawkins, Bnist, W. Graham, T. A. W. Parsons, AUwright, F. Graham. The minutes were read and confirmed. The Mayor here vacated the cbair, being called away on urgent business, Cr Chalmers was voted to the chair. Correspondence was read from the Secretary for Public Works, forwarding report of the progress of the works in the Heathcote Valley, for supplying Lyttelton with water. From the Secretary for Public Works, stating that the Government had accepted the tender of Mr Stinson for the construction of a brick sewer in Grubb'a gully, for the sam of £571. From G. N. Phillips, hon secretary of the church school committee, stating that in their opinion they had no power in the matter of the diversion of a watercourse, and that the proper parties to be referred to were the Church Property Trustees. From Mr J. Grubb, objecting to the Borough Council altering the present eastern watercourse running through the back premises of the Albion Hotel, and stating that if expenses occurred he should hold the Council responsible. Cr Allwright moved, and Cr Graham seconded, " That the letter from the Minister for Public Works, containing information as to the progress of the works in the Heathcote Valley, be acknowledged with thanks." Carried.

The auditors' report was read. It ran as follows: "We have audited the accounts of the Borough Council for the past year, and find them correct so far as it is possible to check them. We cannot check the amounts received for rates, &c, as under the present system we have to take the clerk's statement as to receipts being correct. We also find an amount of £335 16s 7d as being expended which does not appear in the minute book as being authorised by the Council, and would respectfully suggest that this amount be passed for payment. A statement of assets and liabilities has been put before us, of which we have not sufficient information to state if correct or not. We can append our testimony as to the correct manner in which the accounts appear to have been kept. "(Signed) " James Reston, Jun, " John S. Willcox,

" Auditors."

Cr F. Graham said there were certain grounds as to the auditors not being able to check the receipts fully, as the books were at present kept. Cr Allwright said this difficulty might have been avoided. The accounts unauthorised principally consisted of the £2OO expended on Calo's house. The committee appointed to buy Calo's property had never reported to the Council, and therefore it could not have been passed legally. The chairman said the items should have been specified; It had sometimes happened that cheques had been passed when a meeting had lapsed for want of a quorum, to meet present requirements.

The clerk produced the following statement of the unauthorised expenditure : Fire brigade, £4 10s ; Hawkins, £ll 7s 9d ; pay sheet, £23 4s ; Star and Times, 5s 6d ; insurance, £1 ss; fire prevention, £8 16s ; reception of Governor, £8 12s 9d ; Calo's house, £202 2s ; summonses, £8 12s ; overdraft, £39 10s Bd—total, £3OB 5s Bd. The chairman said it might be correct to pass the Bank interest in the Council, but during the eight years he had been in the Council it had never been done. Cr Buist said that there were several items in the account which he was surprised to see. Cr Allwright said the auditors should be oommended for the careful manner in which they had looked through the accounts. 'I he chairman said it showed the promiscuous manner in which their business waß sometimes done. He thought their proper course should be to vote an indemnity to the Mayor for the bud* expended,

Cr Allwright said the matter should be deferred till the Mayor was present, as he might throw some further light on the subject. From Mr H. N. Nalder, re appearing for the Council in summons cases.

The chairman said that the Council might well avail themselves of the services of their solicitor in each case.

Cr Allwright said the solicitor was an officer of the Council, and he would move — " That in all cases of the Council's in the Resident Magistrate's Court he should be requested to attend."

Cr T. A. W. Parsons seconded this resolution, which was carried unanimously. The following report from thesub-committee appointed to enquire into the proposed diversion of the watercourse in Winchester street was read:—

" Your committee report that they have enquired into this matter as fully as possible, and have taken the best information available.

" While considering generally that the work proposed would be productive of considerable economy, in saving some two and a half chains of main sewer, they find that there will be several points involving difficulty, viz.:—ln the first place, they find from the borough solicitor that the work contemplated would come under the head of permanent works, and would require the usual forms to be gone through, of giving due notice to those parties who would be affected by it, and who might claim compensation, whether rightly or not. Letters have been sent to Mr J. Grubb, and to the chairman of the Church of England Sunday School committee, but up to the time of writing this report no replies have been received. Your committee are however informed that with regard to the school property, the consent of the church property trustees would be required, and that they have been communicated with by the secretary to the committee. A grave question arises, as to whether, if the proposed work were carried out before the water supply for the town is available, there would be sufficient flow of storm water to flush that culverted portion of the gully extending from the Albion Hotel, across London street, and at the back of the houses on the eastern side of Canterbury Btreer, the drainage entering along that line being considerable. " The appended report from the foreman of works shows the probable cost of executing the work, including that of inverting or of culverting the whole or a part of the distance.

" Your committee recommend that before taking any further steps in the matter, the Council apply to the Secretary for Public Works, requesting him to allow the Provincial Engineer to examine the site of the proposed diversion, and report as to his opinion in the matter. "John T. Rouse, ChairmaD. " 22nd November, 1876." His Worship here entered and took the chair.

The redort of the foreman of works was then read.

His Worship moved the reception of the report, which was seconded by Or Chalmers, and carried.

His Worship said the sanitary matters spoken of in the report were of great importance. There was now a full supply of water, but if the stream running down was cut off, he was afraid there would not be enough to flush the gully. The water supply from Heathcote looked hopeful, but it would not be ready till after the summer months, which were those when most danger was incurred through want of water and defective drainage. Cr Buist said the smell was fearful in parts of the present gully. The Mayor said the Provincial Engineer should be communicated with on the subject and his advice asked. He heard that he proposed doing the Oxford street culvert from end to end. He thought there was one work that they all knew in St David street that was more urgently needed than this. Cr Allwright asked if Salt's Gully were not the most important work; there was a large population there, and the stench from parts of the gully was bad. After long discussion, Cr Allwright moved —"That a letter should be written to Mr Hill, informing him of the dangerous state of the culvert under his property in Canterbury street, and informing him that the Council would hold him responsible for any damage done."

This was seconded by Cr Buist and carried.

His Worship then moved the adoption of the report, which was agreed to. The Mayor said that the next thing to consider was the repairs to Calo's house.

Cr Hawkins said that it was better to do it if the property could not be sold at once. Cr Allwright asked if anything like the sum expended could be got for the house in its present state, and if so, he hoped it would be sold without delay. Or Parsons moved—" That the necessary repairs be effected." He thought it would be unwise to dispose of it at present, as he thought it would not fetch full value.

Cr Chalmers seconded the resolution. He thought they should dispose of it when possible, but at the same time was of opinion that it would fetch a much higher price if put in tenantable repair. Cr Allwright moved as an amendment—- " That the property be advertised for sale ;" repairing it not only meant an expenditure of £3O, but no doubt other expenses would be incurred.

No one seconding the amendment, the resolution was put and carried. The Mayor said the next thing was to consider the disposal of the weighbridge office.

Or Parsons moved, and Cr Hawkins seconded—" That the old weighbridge office be sold at once, and that tenders be advertised for it for next Monday night." Carried.

In reference to those householders who refused to drain into the main drain iD London street, Cr P. Graham moved—" That the requirements of the Act be carried out. This was seconded by Cr Hawkins and carried.

The report of the auditors was then further considered in reference to the unauthorised expenditure. Mr J. Reston, who was present, said thai the auditors had seen vouchers for the whole amount expended. The sum they mentioned had simply not been sanctioned by the whole Council.

The Mayor moved that tbe unauthorised expenditure be passed by the Council. This was seconded by Or F. Graham, and carried unanimously. Cr Allwright moved—" That the usual fee be paid to the auditors." In doing so, he sj'oke highly of the way in which those gentlemen bad performed their duties,

Cr Hawkins seconded this, which was carried.

Accounts were passed amounting to £5 ss. Cr K. Grahsim asked if the rate roll had been dated. It would be a pity if another case were lost on such grounds as the last one.

The Mayor said that he had noted on the rate roll the minute which had been passed relative to the matter, and this could be referred to if necessary at any future time. The Council then adjourned.