BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 620, 14 June 1876, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

LYTTELTON. Monday, June 12. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Crs McDonald, W. Holmes, W. Graham, T. A, W. Parsons, H. Allwright. The clerk stated he had received £IOO 12s 6d during the past week. Correspondence was read from Mr John Cole as follows “ I beg to bring before your notice the difficulty at the present time of procuring water, It was formerly the custom for the water to be brought from Christchurch and placed in tanks convenient of access to the carters ; that custom has been discontinued, and the only way of obtaining it is by carrying across the rails from the tanks that supply the locomotives. It would not be of so ranch consequence if it was not that the wells in the town are almost useless, Tht one at the west end of London street is so muddy that it is unfit for use, and the one at the east end is nearly empty. I earnestly request the attention of the Council to this matter, as it is almost impossible in my trade to provide sufficient tanks myself to carry on my business." From the Secretary for Public Works, stating that copies of the plans and specifications of the sewerage in Lyttelton would be forwarded to the Council.

From Cameron Bros, asking the Council to repair the footpath in front of the Mitre Hotel, as it was in a very bad state for pedestrians. From Mr C. Cuff, stating that he would attend to the survey through the church property trustees’ land as speedily as possible. From Mr J. S. Willcox, the valuator, re rates.

From the Secretary for Public Works, enclosing advertisement for tenders for No 1 contract Lyttelton waterworks. With reference to Mr Cole’s letter, the foreman of works said that he had been to the railway authorities, and it had been arranged to forward the water through the tunnel as usual. It was resolved that in reference to the letter from the Government, re copies of plans of main sewerage, a letter of thanks be sent to the Secretary for Public Works. Regarding the application from Cameron Bros, for the footpath in front of the Mitre Hotel, the foreman stated that though the path could hardly be asphalted at this season of the year, yet it could be put in fair repair. Cr Parsons moved, and Cr McDonald seconded—“ That Messrs Cameron Bros be written to, informing them that their request should be acceded to.”

With reference to Mr Cuff’s letter, the Mayor said that as the Church Property Trustees had dedicated the road to the Council, he had given instructions to Mr Cuff to have it surveyed at once.

It wag resolved that Mr Ockford be written to telling him that the rate on his property had been amended.

The Mayor stated that the road to the. cemetery up Canterbury street was in a. disgraceful state. The Rev Mr Lloyd hadt written to him on the subject, stating that:; the footpath above Captain Sprouts to the.cemetery was almost impassable. Rethought the foreman of works should be instructed to report on the matter, and see what the cost would be of putting it in decent order. Cr W. Graham said that the road was one •• f the most painful to walk on in Lyttelton. The metal was exceedingly large, and should be dug up and broken smaller. He moved —•* That the foreman of works’ report on the expense of doing this, in addition to the. upper part being repaired.” Agreed to. The following report of the foreman of’ works was then read: —“ I have the honor toreport that I have examined the drain at theback of the cemetery, and find that the stormwater from that part of the reserve can be conveyed down the Cemetery road by cutting: an open ditch by the side of Mr Child’s fence, and then through a wooden box drain past Mr Child’s entrance, and conveyed down the St David street side channel to the Sumner road ; by carrying out this work it would relieve the drain through Mr Malcolmson’s property of about one-third of the water that now flows that way. I estimate the cost of this work at about £7 10a. I consider this money could be more judiciously spent if arrangements could be made to take a culvert under ground through one of the sections, and let the water flow as it does now, as there would be a difficulty in keeping an open ditch clear through Mr Illingworth’s stockyard when the cows are trampling about. John Sowden, Foreman of Works.”

The foreman said there would be great difficulty in keeping a drain open through Mr Illingworth’s stockyard ; he thought that it would be much better to make an arrangement with the owners of one of the sections on the Sumner road, to bring the water straight on to the road. Fully two-thirds of the water must come that way in any case.

Cr Allwright asked if a box drain could not be made through Mr Illingworth’s stockyard, The foreman said even if (that could be done the greater portion of the water would come Sumner road way, No doubt a box drain could be placed there.

The Mayor thought that it was possible the Freemasons might consent to have the drain through their section.

Or Allwright asked if it were not poseible to take the whole of the water to the

Cemetery road by catting a drain diagonally. He would more that a letter be written to M. Illingworth, informing him complaints had been made with regard to the water running off his land on lower sections, and asking if he had any objection to the Council cutting a diagonal drain through his property. The Mayer said he bad been spoken to by an occupier at the head of Salt’s Gully, with reference to making a road there. He had been there at 3 a.m. that day, and could testify to the wretched state of the road. The gorse was cut, but the road was fearful. Several of the residents had subscribed £1 a piece, but it seemed there was great difficulty in getting the rest of the people to do likewise. He understood another gentleman had given £2. All the things the people living there required they had to carry up on their backs. He thought the Council might do something in the matter. The foreman of works said that he had understood that the £lO, which was the subscription asked by the Council from the inhabitants, had been subscribed, but several of the people had since drawn back, saying they could manage without a road. The inhabitants had cleared away the gorse themselves, and |also filled up a dangerous ditch* After further discussion it was resolved that Mr Bowden be written to asking him to collect all the subscriptions possible from the residents in the neighborhood, and informing him the Council were quite reacy to go on with the work. The Mayor said he had to speak of the bad state of another road leading from Voelai road to the back of Mr Dransfield’s propetty. He heard it was a public road belonging to the borough. From the discussion, it appeared the road was a private one, and the matter was allowed to drop for the present. Accounts, amounting to £25 7s 6d, were passed for payment. Or Holmes said a lip trough should be placed at the tank at Miles’s, for horses. He thought this would be a great benefit, and would cost little or nothing ; the water was running away, and might as well bo made use of. Cr Parsons said there was another trough close by. Cr Holmes said it such a trough were put np it would repay the Council in a week, as the roads were cut up by drays going from the passenger railway station to the present drinking place. The Mayor thought a concrete trough might be made on one side of the tank. The foreman of works said great care must be taken, or such a tank would-be n nuisance to the public, as the cattle would go there to drink. Or Holmes proposed—" That a trough be erected at a cost not exceeding £2,

Seconded by Or Parsons and carried. The foreman of works said he was afraid that the trough might be broken by the carters backing their drays on to it ; the bars of the fence surrounding the tank had been broken, and he heard this had been done maliciously by throwing large stones against it. Or Graham asked if anything had been done in reference to the section now rented by Mr Fitzgerald. Or Macdonald spoke as to the desirableness of making carts and equestrians keep on the metal on the Dampier’s Bay road. The foreman said he would do all he could in this matter.

The Mayor said that there was one other question, and that was the continuation of the fence near the Oddfellows’ Hall in Winchester street. As the gas lamps were at present a stranger would be liable to tumble into a deep gully. The only way to rectify this was by having a fence erected round the gap in the road. It was agreed this work should be at once done. The Mayor asked the Council for leave of absence for four nights. Cr Allwright moved, and Cr Parsons seconded —'* That the Mayor’s request be granted. Carried” Mr Parsons said he heard that owing to the bad state of the bridge on Godley quay, the people carting sand and bricks were put to great inconvenience. The foreman of works, in reply to a question from the Mayor, said that it would not be possible to make this place fit for dray traffic under £6O.

It was determined that nothing could be done in the present state of the Council’s finances, but that immediately the Council Were in funds, this should be seen to. The Council then adjourned.