BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 609, 1 June 1876, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

LYTTELTON.

The Council met at the usual hour on Monday night. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Crs McDonald, W. Graham, H. Allwright, P. Cunningham, and T. A, W. Parsons.

The clerk stated he had received £154 17s. Correspondence was read : From the town clerk, Christchurch, running as follows : —" I received your letter of the 23rd instant re the alterations to Municipal Corporations Act. The bye-law committee are considering the matter, and have had one sitting, but the only suggested alteration made at present 'is the cutting out of that part of the Act referring to the burgess list, and in lieu to make an alphabetical list of the rate roll of those who have paid their rates to be sufficient evidence of their right to vote, and also the production of a receipt cf rates paid by the holder thereof. I shall be glad to give you (when the committee have completed their labors) what suggested alterations have been made." From the Secretary for Public Works, in reply to Council's letter re Lyttelton waterworks, stating that the engineer in charge reports that the first contract (including erection of engine house, boiler house, engineers' quarters, and reservoir on the hill) is ready to lot as 6oon as the land for tne last-mentioned work is settled for; this is now in course of completion. From Mr James Malcolmson, again reminding Council that he had received no answer to his letter of the Ist instant. It was resolved that the letter of Mr Maloolmson be sent to the Borough Solicitor. Tne following report of the foreman of works was read :—" I have examined the footpath in Donald street, as requested last week, and I recommend before forming the footpath the necessary branch drains should be put down from the cottages owned by Warne ; and also from the urinal at the back of the Victoria Dining-rooms. I have served notices on the parties concerned to have their drainage completed within fourteen days. When the drains are laid down the cost of forming the footpath would be about £2 10s, as the clay is within easy distance to cart. I have also served notice on Mr Inwood, London street, to lay down a drain from the premises occupied by him, and also on Mr Mutton, Oxford and Winchester ! streets, to have the drainage from his proi perty connected with the Oxford street

I sewer. I think it would be advisable to try and procure from the Government a copy of the plans of the sewers lately built by them, as they would be very useful to the c ouncil to find the traps built in for house drainage and the same plans would do to complete the main drains at some future time, and save a great expense to the town. (Signed) John Sowden, Foreman of Works." The Mayor said it was of course necessary to make people drain into the brick culverts who live within the proscribed distance, otherwise the main drains were of little U3e, It was resolved that the Government be applied to, asking for plans and specifications of the sewerage work recently done in Lyttelton. Accounts were passed for payment amounting to £27 5s 6d. The Mayor said that he must ask the Council to elect a returning officer for the election oa Wednesday next, as he should be unable to attend.

Mr Woledge was appointed returning officer.

Cr W. Graham said that it appeared to him that several of their fellow townsmen had DBen put lo great inconvenience by the late raid that had beeu made upon them by the inspector of weights and measures ; he knew that it was difficult for many to have to go to Christchurch and get their weights corrected, and even if they did go, the inspector might not be there. He thought the inspector should visit Lyttelton periodically. The Mayor said that he believed that in every borough in England, however small, there was an inspector of weights and measures. He thought they should write to the Minister of Justice on the matter, asking that an inspector be appointed ; in the meantime the Commissioner of Police might be written, asking him to appoint a day for the inspector to come over and correct the Lyttelton weights and scales. Cr Allwright moved—" That the Commissioner of Poiice be written to, asking that the inspector of weights and measures might come to Lyttelton once a month, that the tradesmen might have an opportunity of getting their weights and scales corrected." Crs Cunningham and Pardons also spoke strongly on the subject. Cr Cunningham seconded Cr Allwright's proposition, which was carried. It was resolved—" That the completion of Donald street be left in the hands of the foreman of works."

With reference to the bridge in Salt's Gully, Cr Allwright said that he wished to hear what was the matter with it.

The foreman of works said that to all appearance the bridge was quite safe now, but the light was bad, It would be useless to expend much mosey on the bridge, as in a short time the gully would be culyerted, which would do away with the necessity for this and the other bridge. He]would examine the place and report next week. Cr Parsons said that he thought more light was required there. The foreman replied that the light at the upper bridge was not powerful. He certainly thought more light was required. After further discussion, it was resolved—- " That the foreman of works be requested to report on the bridges in Salt's Gully, and the lighting of that portion of the road." Cr Allwright asked the Councillors to look at the Timaru building regulations. He thought that the time had arrived when there ought to be a better class of buildings in Lyttelton. It was his intention to move a resolution as to adopting the Timaru building regulations. It was a mistake not to have had such a law passed after the fire, if so they would have had a more sightly town. He hoped members of the Council would consider the subjest before next w *ek. After oiscussion, Cr Allwright moved—- " That the Borough Solicitor be consulted as to the interpretation of clause 2 of the Building Regulations, 1870." Seconded by Cr Cunningham and carried. The Council then adjourned.

KAIAPOI.

The fortnightly meeting for the despatch of ordinary business was held on Tuesday evening. Present —The Mayor, Crs Parnham. Milsom, Ellen, Blackwell, and Smetburst. A circular from town cletk, Adelaide, asking the amount of bunded debt and interest of the Council was read, and the town clerk stated he had furnished an answer.

Letters were read from the Provincial Eng'neer, stating he had furnished the contractor with plans to carry out the embankment without its interfering with Mr Matthews' wharf ; and had received the resolution of the Council relative to the footpath and kerbing of Charles street. The Mayor reported the protective works committee had made a satisfactory arrangement to place the embankment on the north side of the river across the river reserves, the details of which he explained. In reference to Birch and Co's portion, that firm had promised to contribute towards the cost of the work. The Provincial Engineer had approved of the arrangements made, and the contractors had agreed to the alterations. This would have the effect of doing away with the proposed raising of Charles street, and effect a considerable saving in the amount of the contract. Complaints had been made that Band was used for a portion of the embankment, but he had to inform the Council this was the only material available, and had to be well encased with clay. He had to say the contractors had met the embankments committee and carried out its views in a manner highly satisfactory to the committee.

Cr Blackwell moved, Or Smethurat seconded—" That the actiou of the Mayor be approved of." Carried. In accrdance with the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act a statement of estimated receipts and expenditurefortheyear 1876-7 was laid before the Council by the public works committee. The estimated expenditure was roads, £500; drainage, £250; sanitary, £100; foreman, £126: town clerk, £6O ; office expenses, £l5O ; protective works, £150; fire brigade, £75 ; total, £l4lO. Estimated receipts—rates, £350 j rents, £3O; court fines, £45 ; license, £4 ; General Government contribution, £350: publicans' licenses, £l6O ; dog fees, £SO ; total, £989 ; deficiency, £421. Cr Ellen moved, Cr Milsom seconded — " That the estimate be adopted." Carried. The statement sheet showed a balance in hand of £lB3 15s 3d. Accounts to the amount of £54 9a were passed. Cr Blackwell moved, Cr Parnham seconded — " The the Council make and levy a iate of I Is in the £ on all the rateable property in the town, to be made payable on July Ist, as per ratepayers' list 1876-7." Carried. ] The Council then adjourned.

MR GLADSTONE ON ADVERTISING

Mr Gladstone attended the annual meeting of the supporters of the Society for the Distribution of Charity to Distressed Persons, held in London lately, and, in moving the adoption of the report, after recommending the necessities of the society, said the institution operated directly in the formation of eharacter, and what but that was the end for which they lived. It was not to erect great and splendid works, it was not even to constitute civilised societies, it was to build up individual characters that they came into the world. All other reasons were but means to an end. Referring to the report, he said : -" We perceive here that you are not deemed unworthy of the valuable, or I may say rather the invaluable, assistance of the press ; but in the present time, whether it be owing to the absorption of human energy in other directions which seem to have a greater spontaneous attraction, or to whatever due, it would seem that even the effective reporting of the proceedings of such an institution do not avail to give it its proper place in the mind of the public, unless it takes advantage of the machinery of what is called advertising. Now this advertising is undoubtedly a very effective instrument, but it is one very difficult to handle. It is scarcely very possible to handle it without going to a very great expense, and if it cannot be handled without going to a very great expense, it at once appears that it cannot be used effectively on behalf of a small institution. The power of this mode of gaining publicity is enormoirs. It seems, if we consult those who have been most accustomed to work successfully this very extraordinary instrument, that it depends wholly upon producing an impression on the public mind by iteration, by repetition of the same thing. To see the growth of this very singular vehicle we must observe what has struck the eye of every one in these late years as an entire novelty—that now it is a common thir.g to repeat, not only at intervals and from day to day, but to repeat absolutely many times over, in succession, the very same thing in the same newspaper, with the prominent word printed in large letters. This betokens a very singular state of the public mind. It shows that there is, relatively, a certain amount of dulness with reference to these matters, and a great keenness of attention which no one expects to get unless by, as it were, a great many strokes of the hammer, which compels people to notice what is going on. This machine has been used lately with enormous effect in certain great religious movements, and there are even those not adversely disposed who think of those remarkable operations of Messrs Moody and Sankey last year in London that they could have had no considerable success, nor could have obtained a place in the general view of the public, unless sustained with the same energy and pertinacity of wholesale advertising which, until quite recently, was better known to the inventors of certain descriptions of blacking and certain kinds of medicine. [Laughter.]