BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 567, 12 April 1876, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

LYTTBLTO*r. Monday, Apxil io. Present—His Worship, theJMayor, CrsHawkins, Buist, W. Graham, H. Allwright, P. Cunningham, and F. Graham. The clerk stated he had received £l4 13a 6d since last meeting. Correspondence vvns rep.d— From Mr G. Thornton, Provincial Engineer. certifying that the sums of £lfj is and £225 wore clue respectively to Messrs J. Scott and Hollis and Williams, on account of Lyttelton drainage works. Ordered to be paid. The report of the foreman of works was then read. It first referred to Mr Malcolrasou'e drain on the Sumner road, and then ran as follows :—'«Hawkhurst road : I have been over the road petitioned for last week, aud estimate the cost of forming aud metalline ten chains at «39 10s. It will be necessary for owners of property to cut and burn the goree before the Council does anything to the road. Bridge on Godley Quay : I have examined this bridge, and I estimate the cost of making it fit for dray traffic at £4O 10s The only part that could bemade available for reconstruction would be the top, as the bottom structure is all rotten. I consider it would be much more economical to at once put down about 30ft of brick culvert, as thai would form a part of the main drainage at some future time when the drain is put down in Voelas road, and the cost would be but a very little more than to repair the bridge. Mr Collier has asked me to lay before the Council a sample of trap for main culver^,

which he is prepared to supply in any quantity, lam not prepared to report as to the state of the culvert at the Orphanage

until next week, as it will involve a certain amount of labor to open it before I can give a satisfactory report on it.—John Sowden." In reference to Mr Maleolmeon's request re drain, original correspondence on the matter was read, and after deliberation it was determined to leave the matter in the Mayor's hands, it being understood he would consult the solicitor on the subject. With regard to the forming the upper part of Hawkhurst road, it v»as determined that the foreman of works should ascertain what the residents would contribute either in money or labour. The bridge on Godley Quay was next spoken of, and it was determined to keep the bridge closed for dray traffic until permanent repairs could be effected. Respecting the traps for the culverts, it was resolved that Mr Collier should be informed that the Council would support him should they require anything of the sort. In the matter of repairs for the Council Chamber, the Mayor said that he had inspected the back part with Messrs Sutton and Weastall, and fonnd that it was rotten throughout. The foreman of works was instructed to have that part of the building removed. Accounts amounting to £3OB 7s 6d (including drainage accounts) were passed for payment. A statement of rates outstanding was placed on the table. Cr F. Graham said that Mr Sowden had requested him to bring the following letter of Mr Sedcole's, the secretary of the fire brigade, and lay it before the Council. [The letter contained a request from the brigade to the Council asking them to procure 1000 feet of hose for the fire engine.] Mr Sowden had told him that the brigade did not want the Council to give them the hose required, but merely wanted their guarantee. £4O & year was received from the insurance companies' association, and the next yearly pay* ment was due in three months' time. He begged to move—" That the amount be guaranteed."

Seconded by Cr Hawking, and unanimously agreed to, Cr F. Graham being authorised to order the hose.

Cr Cunningham moved—" That the plan of the southern boundary of section 68 be handed to the borough solicitor, with instructions to give the occupier of rural section 258 notice that he is encroaching on section 68."

Seconded by Cr F. Graham, and carried unanimously. Cr Allwright culled attention to the disgraceful scene that occurred on the Gladstone pier on Sunday last—more than twenty men were employed hammering iron. He wondered the town authorities did not at once put a stop to such things. It was merely to bring a toy-railway through to port a day before it could otherwise be done, and was no necessity at all. It was a most disgraceful thing, and if the Government tolerated it it was simply shameful. They were bound, as guardians of the town, to see that such a thing did not occur again. Cr Buist said over 100 men had beets working in the Heathcote Valley. It was disgraceful.

Or Cunningham moved—" That a letter should be written to the Government protesting against Sunday labor, and drawing attention to the disgraceful scene that occurred last Sabbath on the Gladstone Pier." They had now been three years or more bringing the narrow gauge into Lyttelton. No doubt it was a disgrace to the • engineer, and a worse to the Government. that employed them, that such a thing had;' been allowed.

Cr Allwright seconded Cr Cunningham'Bresolution, which was carried. Or Cunningham asked on what basis the Government paid the last grant, and waa informed that 6s 8d in the pound on rates collected between March and October, 1875, had been paid. It was arranged that the next meeting should take place on Wednesday, the 19th instant, Monday being Easter Monday. Cr Cunningham said the object he had ia asking for the account of all outstanding rates had been to see what portion of them could be collected, and moved—" hia Worship the Mayor and Cr All"- rig ht be appointed a sub-committee ir t a k e action the matter, and sue all t> joße there waß ~ hope of recovering f- rates hom » If th * , tenants were una> ie to they should at . once get the mo from freenolders . he , believed that £6O or £7Q would be iu th ig , way colle«*' ie( j ( ec ? r xded by Cr F. Graham and carried. ■n. Bouse reported to the Local Board of r'ealth that Dr McDonald had informed him - that he was attending two or three mild ( cases of scarlatina. He himself had only ' one case of diphtheria to report. The Council then adjourned.