BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 469, 15 December 1875, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

LYTTELTON

The Council met at the usual hour on Monday last. Present —His Worship the Mayor, Crs Hawkins, W. Graham, T. A. W. Parsons, P. Cunningham, Theminutesof the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the clerk stated he had received during the week £34 10s.

Cr W. Graham called attention to the meeting of the Council not having taken place exactly at 7 30 p.m. Correspondence was read—From Mr S. C. Farr, stating that he had no more maps in his possession belonging to the Council. From Mr G. Brittain, church steward, enclosing cheque for rate?, and asking for a new lease for section 125. It was resolved that the letter should be placed in the hands of the borough solicitor, and that ho be requested to draw a fresh lease.

From Mr C. Cuff in reference to bridle path. From Mr Thornton, Provincial Engineer, stating he had surveyed site of proposed diversion of water course in Winchester street, aud recommended that a two feet brick barrel culvert be constructed from the bottom of the eastern to the western watercourse, a distance of 140 fe.t, at a regular gradient of 1 in 5. Heeslimated the cost at H l4O.

The Mayor said that he had seen Mi Thornton on ihe subject, and exoi n'ned it fully As one gent' >man had olj.,cted, it perhaps would be better to carry an invert through h'.s grounds

Cr W. Graham said that he w;ir hardly ; s favorable to the diversion of the water Rin'e ha had seen the storm water come down t'-e gully. The Mayor said no doubt Mr Thornton would write him dnrieg the week, telling him what ihecosi of n invert weuld be. The matter was deferred for a week. From Mr W. M'Keever, calling attention to the roujrh metal in Lond <■< ftreet. The m-'tt' r was left in the hands of the foreman of works

From Mr T. Si.oswell, asking to have his fenee repaired, the damage having been done by the bursting of the culvert. The foreman of wo k* was instructed to see to the matter.

From the Lyttelton Gas, Coal, and Coke Company, requesting permission to erect a galvanised iron fence fronting their section on the Sumner road, and calling: attention to the, dangerous state of an old eul vert crossing the road.

His Worship explained that the youth of Lyttelton were given to thiowing stones, and that the gasholder might bo seriously injured if the section were not fenced. Cr Cunningham proposed '• That permission be granted to the Gas Company to erect the fence and tj fill in the cu vert, Council labor to be employed, but the cost to defrayed by the Gas Company. This was seconded by Cr Parsons, and carried.

Thefollowing report of thefinancecomroittee was read :—"The committee met and have considered the advisableuess of raising funds for the distribu'ion of water through out the town of Lyttelton, nnd beg to report the following as the result of their labors — We cannot at present recommend the Council to borrow so large a sum as that required —viz ; £4OOO, at so short a date as the law now allows —viz, fifteen years, but would prefer waiting till the next session of the General Assembly have met, when we trust some such Bill as that proposed last session by Mr Ballance will be brought in, and pass both Houses of Parliament shortly after their meeting, failing which we would sugeest to the Council to place a Bill in the hands of the member for Lyttelton, the object of which should bo to get for the borough extended time for payment of debentures from fifteen to fifty years. The interest and sinking fund on a loan at fifteen years would be a greater tax than the committee can advise being put upon the present ratepayers for so permanent a work. We also advise that Mr Donkin be instructed to furnish the Council with a detailed list of length of piping, number and sizes of valves, fire plugs, and any other fittings which may be. necessary for completing the works proposed by him." The Mayor said that the finance committee considered that, taking the present limitfifteen years—the tax, which would only be

paid by those who reaped an immediate benefit, would amount-, to a rate of 9d to Is in the &. This was too heavy a tax, and no doubt next session Mr Ballance's Bill would pass, which would give them more extended borrowing powers. He thought six months was a very low estimate of the time the Government work wordd be finished, as although Mr Maakell informed him that a firm bottom had been reached in the well, and that the pipes would shortly be sunk, yet there was the reservoir in the side of the hill to make, and the pipes to lay through the tunnel, &c. The report was adopted unanimously, Accounts were pas3ed amounting to £ls Os 6d. An. account from the Provincial Government, for fittiug tanks, wa3 left for further consideration.

The Mayor said that there were no other nominations on Thursday but his own, and he felt; it a great compliment on the part of the ratepayers to elect him twice, Their annual meeting was on the 15th, at noon, when the accounts would be passed, and on the 17th he (the Mayor) would be declared duly elected.

The town clerk was appointed to act as returning officer. His Worship Raid there was one more question which he had promised to bring before them, and that was that it had been customary to give a small sum for prizes for the Borough school children. After deliberation, it was determined that in the present financial state of the Council, it was unwise to devote any money for that purpose. The Mayor said Calo's house had now been put in tenantable repair ; and it was determined, after discussion, that steps should be taken to let it at once, and that it should be disposed of as speedily as possible. The Council then adjourned.