BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 878, 18 April 1877, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

LYTTELTON. Monday, Aran 16. Present —His Worship the Mayor; Crs. Hawkins, Holmes, Willcox, T. A. W. Parsons, H. Allwright, P. Cunningham. The clerk stated he had received £697 13s 9d since last meeting. Correspondence was read -From the Secretary to the Treasury enclosing Treasury voucher for the Government grant for half-year ending 30th June. The total subsidy 'of 10s in the £ on £IOB3 16s 3d (as per return of Mayor, being receipts for general rates for year ending 31st March, 1876), was £sll 18s 2d, but from this had been deducted borough contribution towards the maintenance of the hospitals and charitable institutions of the district amounting to £126; leaving a balance of £lls 18s 2d, voucher for which was enclosed. In reply to a letter which the Mayor had sent to the Treasury, asking for further information on the matter, the following had been received: —" I have the honor by direction of the Honorable the Colonial Treasurer to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th inst., enquiring as to a sum of £126, deducted from the subsidy payable to the borough fund of Lyttelton, and in reply to inform you that the deduction is made in terms of section 13 of the Financial Arrangements Act, and is the proportion contributablo by the borough of Lyttelton to the cost of the hospitals and charitable institutions within the Canterbury provincial district. The computation is made as follows: —As the total subsidies to counties and boroughs in the provincial district (£7486 7s lOd) is to the total appropriations (vote 49) for hospitals, &c, within the district (£6210) ; so is the amount of subsidy payable to the borough (£541 18s Id) to it's proportion, £426. —C. F. Batkin, Secretary to the Treasury." From Mr Wra, Austin, asking the Council to appoint him a licensed plumber for the borough. From Messrs HolLis and Williams, requesting permission to erect a verandah ill front of Mr Hildyard's new shop in Canterbury street. From Captain John Wood, asking Council to improve road to bis section on Jackson's road. From Mr T. Bruce, applying for situation as engineer of the Lyttelton Waterworks, and enclosing testimonials. From the Lyttelton Gas, Coal and Coke Company, acknowledging receipt of town clerk's letter of the sthinstant, and informing Council that the directors were willing to enter into negotiations for the sale of the plant and property of th© company, and that Messrs Peacock, Webb, and Nalder had been appointed to confer with the Council in reference to the matter. From the Town Clerk, Akaroa, asking for information regarding street lamps. From the Lyttelton Harbor Board, running as follows: —"'With reference to the interview which I had with you on the 13th instant, on the subject of the' time-ball site, I have the honor now to state that as the Government have asked the Harbor Board to carry out the agreement made by the late Provincial Executive, and have signified their willingness to hand over the balance of the vote now remaining at its disposal to the Harbor Board, and also to grant the services of the hard labor gang as far as they can be used, I am prepared to recommend the Board to accept the responsibility on the following conditions, viz.: That the Borough Council will agree to support a measure in the next session of Parliament, which will enable the Borough to convey the site of the present time-ball tower and i'lagstaff to the Board; such site to include an area of half an acre, and to be conveyed on the passing of the Act. As there appears to be some doubt as to the boundaries of the section proposed to be fenced, I now have the honor to enclose you a tracing, showing the boundaries which I pointed out to you on the ground, and I shall be glad to be informed if the Borough will agree to the boundaries as now proposed, as in that case a survey can immediately be made, definitely fixing both the external boundaries as well as those! of the half-acre proposed to be conveyed. The Harbor Board meet on Friday, and I shall be glad o,f an answer to lay before them if convenient to the Council to send it i by that date. Edward Richardson, Chairman Lyttelton Harbor Board." Regarding the letters from the Secretary to the Treasury with respect to Government subsidy to tlic borough, the Mayor explained that on receiving the first he had at once written to them on the subject, and had received the reply they had heard read. Ho was of opinion that the borough would be far better off if it supported its own institutions of the sort. In fact if they had the management they could do it equally well for much less money. He hoped to hear an expression of feeling on the matter from the Council. Cr Allwright said lie thought there was no doubt that if they had these matters under their own supervision much greater economy might be exercised with equally beneficial results. He would move —" That this Council considers that the ratepayers, being called on to contribute so largely, should have the principal management of the charitable institutions in the provincial district of Canterbury." In support of that resolution he would say that lie thought if the boroughs had the power to appoint commissioners these institutions might be carried on more economically and yet as efficiently as at present. Each borough should have its one or two representatives in proportion to its rates, and of course the Road Boards also. If they contributed so largely to the support of these institutions, they should have a voice in seeing how the money was spent. Seconded by Cr Holmes. Considerable discussion ensued, councillors speaking generally in favour of Councillor Allwright's resolution, and the motion on being put was carried unanimously. Several councillors spoke in favor of united action with other local bodies to obtain this object, and the Mayor and Cr Cunningham were appointed a sub-committee to confer with the other municipalities and Road Boards on this matter. Mr Austin's application was held over till completion of bye-laws. Messrs llollis and Williams' request was granted subject to the usual conditions. Captain Wood's request was left in the hands of the foreman of works. Mr T. Brace's application was left over for future consideration. Regarding the communication from the Gas Company, Crs Wilcox, Parsons, and F. Graham were appointed a committee to confer with the Directors of the Gas Company and report to the Council next meeting, Cr Willcox to be chairman. The clerk was instructed to furnish the information required by the Borough Council of Akaroa. The letter from the Chairman of the Harbor Board was next considered, and the Mayor fully explained the matter, and after discussion Cr Hawkins moved—" That in the event of the Harbor Board carrying out the intention of the late provincial- executive in erecting a stone wall round the whole section, and laying out and

planting the ground as a public recreation ground the Council will raise no objection to the passing of a Bill investing the half-acre required by the Harbor Board in the Harbor Board, and agree to a survey being made of the two acres as shown in the plan forwarded by the Harbor Board, subject to sufficient roads being left to allow of access to the whole of the section. This was seconded by Or Willcox and carried. The following report of the Estates committee was read :—" Your committee having, with the Borough Engineer, examined the section belonging to Mr F. Graham, report that they consider the situation an eligible one for a reservoir; but that until a test has been made, proving the height to which the water will rise in Lyttelton, no action be taken. At the same time they consider the price asked for the section not|exeessivc." The report was received, and Or. Cunningham moved — " That Mr Graham be asked to leave the offer of the section open for a month." An offer from Mr T. Newton to deliver metal on the Danipier's Bay road at 5s 6d per cubic yard broken to 21-in, or unbroken at 3s 6d per yard, was next considered, and it being stated that it was the intention of the Council to metal a portion of the road to the Orphanage, it was resolved that 150 yards of the metal in question be ordered at os 6d per yard, to be broken to 2J in measure. Accounts amounting to £lO3 Is 4d were passed for payment. Tenders for the continuation of the St David street culvert were then opened, and Mr Ivilburn's accepted at £74. Mr Cathro waited on the Council to request that the St David streetculvert should be carried 15ft further than proposed, as it would be a great nuisance to him if left where at present- intended. It was resolved that the matter shoidd be left, in the hands of the works committee. Resolved — " That the meeting to hear objections to the burgess roll take place at 7.15 p.m. on the 30th instant." The chairman of the works committee said it was necessary to put in a sewer opposite Mr Bacon's house in Exeter street. He moved—" That the engineer be requested to take levels and prepare specifications for the formation of a sewer, about a chain in length, to cross the road." The work was a very necessary one;. Agreed to. Or. Cunningham moved the following resolution —" That the Government be requested to inform this Council when they will be prepared to convey the property and management of the Lyttelton Water AVorks to the borough, as the Council is about making arrangements for the maintenance and management of same." Seconded by Or. Allwright and carried. Cr. Willcox resigned his position as a member of the estates committee. After some further routine business the Council adjourned at 10,30 p.m.