BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 561, 5 April 1876, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

LYTTELTON. The weekly meeting took place, as usual, on Monday night last. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Crs Buist, \V. Graham, 11. Allwright, P. Cunningham, H. Hawkins, aud T. A, W. Parsons. The clerk stated he had received since last meeting £l2O Is. Leave of absence was granted to Or F. Graham. Correspondence was read from the Secretary for Public Works as follows : —“ The vote for the Lyttelton drainage being now exhausted, I have the honor to forward Provincial Engineer’s certificate for a progress payment to J Stinson of £157 10s, under contract for Grubb’s Gully sewer, and to request that you will be good enough to cause the same to be paid out of the £625 advanced by the Government to the Lyttelton Borough Council in October last. Please refer to your letter of sth October, 1875, on the subicct. J. T. Peacock, Secretary fer Public Works.” (Mr Thornton’s certificate was enclosed.) ITroni the Provincial Engineer, running as under :—“ I have the honor to call your attention to the balance of the vote for the drainage of Lyttelton being less than was anticipated when Messrs Hollis and Williams signed their contract. I now find from the auditor’s books, that instead of the £550 being available for the work, there is a balance of vote of £451 6s for the work in St David street sewer, aud the contract for the work will be reduced to this amount in order that the vote may not be exceeded. The amount of their tender for the work was £6lB, and the difference required to complete the work jis £166 14s, and I shall be glad to know if you can arrange that the balance of the work, amounting to this sura, can be carried out, “G. Thornton, “ Provincial Engineer.”

Prom the manager of the Bank of New Zealand, stating that their Lyttelton agent had been instructed to pay the Council £IOO, being a third of the cost, of culverting the bank section on Norwich Quay. From Messrs John Bowden, George P, Smith, T. Gleeson, and eight others, resident in Hawkhurst road, respectfully begging the Council’s attention to the bad state of the said road, and stating they were afraid that when winter set in it would be almost impassable. From Mr James Malcolmson, stating that the storm water from the hill above his property as far as the Cemetery was all turned on his section. The drain put down by the Borough Council was almost useless, the water doing great damage to his property,

From Mr Adam Chalmers, acknowledging town clerk’s letter of March 28th, and saying that he could not alter his determination of resigning his office, even wele such a course admissible. At the same time he by no means failed to appreciate the action of the Council towards himself in passing the resolution conveyed in the town clerk’s letter. From Mr J, King, stating he should not be rated for shop at corner of London and Canterbury streets, as before the rate was struck he had given up possession to Messrs Harman and Stevens.

From Dr H. McDonald, drawing Council’s attention to state of footpath on west side of Oxford street, between Loudon and Winchester streets, as during heavy rain a large amount of water ran over the footpath on to his section.

From Mrs Elizabeth Warno, stating property on section 34, leased from the Council, was insured in the Standard for £IOO. From Mr John Illingworth, with reference to a horse of his killed on the Sumner road. It was resolved—“ That a copy of Mr Illingworth’s letter be sent to the Government, with a request that they would take immediate action in communicating with the contractors, in order that further damage might be prevented.” In reference to Dr McDonald’s letter, the matter was left in the hands of the foreman. With reference to Cr Chalmers’ letter, the Mayor stated that the election would take place on the 19th, the nominations to be sent in on the 10th, and the actual nomination to take place on the 11th. With regard to Mr Malcolmson’s communication, the foreman of works was requested to have a good look at the section, and suggest the best means of improvement, and the clerk was instructed to look up any prior correspondence on the subject. The petition from the inhabitants on Hawkhurst road was considered, and the foreman instructed to see the inhabitants and find if they would contribute any labour towards the required work, and what the probable cost would beRegarding Mr J. King’s letter, it was resolved that Messrs Harman and Stevens be written to, informing them that the name of Mrs Wormald had been substituted for Mr J. King’s in the rate roll for the property referred to.

The letters from the Government were next considered at great length. Or Allwright moved—“ That the Government be written to, informing them that the Council were prepared to meet the order of the Government up to £625, the sum borrowed from the Government, but that they (the Council) were notin a financial position to complete the St David street sewer beyond the £43 already authorised.’’ Tenders were opened for the alteration in the nightsoil shoot. Mr Illingworth’s tender, for £ls, was accepted. The following report from the foreman of works was then read :—“ I beg to lay before the Council an approximate estimate of the c "t of completing the whole of the main tewers as far as the boundary of the town proper, as requested last week. I estimate the cost of completing the Salt’s Gully sewer, as per plan of Government Surveyor, the whole distance of 16£ chains, at £1363 Is 6d; to Oxford street, as per plan, at £663 6s ; to Grubb’s Gully, as far as the upper side of Exeter street, £1142 6s; to St David street, £l4B 11 s : total, £3317 4s 6d. I also beg to draw the Council’s attention to the state that the back of the Council Chamber is in, the roof being in such a condition that the water runs under the building when it rains, and the floor, with the plates and joists, is more or less decayed, and unless something is done shortly the whole of the bottom of the building will be destroyed.” Cr Graham moved, “ That the finance committee be requested to report on the best means of raising the money.” After some discussion, Cr Graham withdrew his motion for the present. In regard to the repairs of the Council Chamber, the matter was left in the hands of the Mayor. Accounts were passed fxr payment, amounting to £2lB 16s. Cr Cunningham proposed —“ That the rates be advertised as due on May Ist, and that if they are not paid by May 80th, they should be recovered without further notice.” Seconded by Cr Hawkins, and carried. The Mayor said that the Superintendent had informed him that the Resident Magistrate’s court and police barracks would not be erected in Salt’s Gully till full enquiry had been made into the matter. He had seen the plans for the buildings for the water supply on the Heathcote side, and was told that Mr Higgenson anticipated they would be completed in four months. He was glad to say that he had no cases of illness to bring before the Board of Health. Or W. Graham moved—“ That Or Chalmers should have a vote of thanks for his services in the Council engrossed on vellum and presented to him.” Cr Buist was happy to second the resolution. Cr Cunningham said he understood Cr Chalmers had a horror of testimonials. They had become so common that he had heard Cr Chalmers express an opinion that he would do all he could to suppress them. A man who held these opinions would naturally dislike to receive anything of the sort, and for that reason he opposed the resolution. Cr Hawkins was of Cr Cunningham’s opinion; while recognising Cr Chalmer’s great claims on them, he thought they should please him best by not passing the resolution. Cr Cunningham thought that Cr Chalmers had been one of their best members, but he believed he was so averse to display that he would really not like to have any fuss made ; it would be better in answering Or Chalraer’s letter to thank him for Lis past services, Cr Graham’s motion was withdrawn, and it was resolved to carry out Cr Cunningham’s suggestion. Cr Buist called attention to the holes on the Governor’s Bay road opposite the Orphanage, and also to the rotten state of a culvert there. Cr Hawkins said the bridge between Mr Fergusson’s and Mr Fyfe’s was in a very bad state. He had noticed some drays loaded with sand passing over it, and expected that some day an accident would occur. The foreman of works was instructed to inspect these places, and report to the Council on Monday next; a placard, stating the bridge was unsafe for dray traffic, to be put up ad interim. In reference to the rates still uncollected, Cr Cunningham urged the necessity of prompt action. In answer to a question of Cr Cunningham’s, the foreman of works stated that the lamps were being fitted with gas, and would be all ready for lighting this week.