BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 902, 16 May 1877, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

LYTTELTON. Monday, May 14. Present —His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Macdonald, Willcox, Allwright, Cunningham. Hawkins, Parsons, and Holmes. The clerk stated he had received £2OB 14s 8d since last meeting. Correspondence was read—From the town clerk, Akaroa, rr. communication regarding subsidies for maintenance of hospitals and charitable institutions, stating that that Council woidd support any steps in furtherance of the object in question that might be taken by the Lyttelton Council. From the town clerk, Kaiapoi, and from the Mayor of Timaru, also concerning the action taken by the Lyttelton Council, and promising cooperation. From Mr Robert Laurie, requesting to know acreage of land selected by the Council at Rakaia previous to sending in account for his services in connection witli this matter. From the Under Secretary for Public Works, in reply to Council’s letter of 17th April, stating the Hon. the Minister for Public Works had directed him to state that Mr Higgonson had been instructed to report on the Lyttelton water supply, and when that report had been received the Council would be further communicated with. From Mr Henderson Wilson, asking to be appointed engineer to the Council. h roin Mr James, asking for same appointment. The consideration of these applications were deferred. The Mayor said that in reference to the letters from the various municipalities regarding control over funds for hospitals and charitable institutions, no doubt if anything was to be effected it must be by united action. They had as yet received no communication from the City Council, but probably would in a short space of time. It was agreed that Mr Laurie be paid a bonus of fid per acre on the land selected for the Council. A report of the foreman of works was read, giving an account of trip to Timaru for the purpose of inspecting land proposed to bo purchased by tho Council. From the clerk of works, reporting that the contractor had completed the Oxford street channelling satisfactorily. The Mayor read the following report from the committee appointed to investigate rv water bye laws, and other matters concerning watersupply to borough : —“ Your committee have, with the assistance of the borough engineer and solicitor, investigated all documents bearing upon the subject, and estimated to tho best of their ability the income likely to bo derived from the supply of water to the borough. They have also carefully considered tho charges to be made for water used as extraordinary supply, as laid down in the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876, and which arc detailed in tho draft bye laws submitted herewith. In recommending those charges they have taken into consideration those made in other parts of tho colony and in Melbourne. It is of course impossible to form an exact estimate of the consumption under the various headings, as until the water is supplied the committee cannot do more than make an approximate calculation as the proportion of those witliin the range of the pipes laid down who will avail themselves of the supply. With regard to the shipping, they have only the statistics of the water supplied by tho Government during the year 1876, and have taken the quantity as tho same, reducing tho charge from £1 12s fid per 1000 gallons to£l, as recommended in the draft bye-law. It may, however, be fairly assumed that the consumption will be considerably increased. In the matter of the service pipes and fittings, tho borough engineer has prepared specifications as to strength and quantities of the various pipes, and quality and character of fittings, and your committee recommend that advertisements be issued forthwith for competent plumbers, to be licensed by the Council. The town clerk has prepared from the rate roll a list of the rateable value of tho hotels, and also of the places of business within the area of the supply, and of houses and land within the distance from it prescribed by the Act, and upon these data the committee have based their estimate as to tho income to be derived from the town itself, viz.— Hotels, £l3l 19s 4d; dwelling houses, say £5150 at 5 per cent., £257 10s ; business places in town and land and houses within 100 yards, £320 — total, £709 9s 4d. Extraordinary supply — manufacturing purposes, £80; urinals, £24; temporary taps, £SO; shipping, as 1876, £3o3—total, £457. Grand total, £1166 9s 4d. The committee have not considered it advis-

able to make any estimate as to revenue to bo derived from water-closets, either to hotels or private houses, as with the present system of drainage of the town it would obviously bo objectionable in the highest degree, that solid sewage should he allowed to enter the basin of the harbor, which would be detrimental both to the health of the town and the interests of the port. In the course of time, however, there is little doubt that some plan will be adopted which will render the use of water closets practicable, and in that case the revenue from the water supply will be considerably increased. The estimate by Mr Higgenson, of working expenses at the pumping station, is as follows : —Coal, tallow, oil, &(*., £l5O ; wages, driver and fireman, £420; repairs, £IOO ; total, £970. To this must be added interest and sinking fund upon the amount expended by the town upon purchase and laying down of plant and formation of reservoir on the Lyttelton side, with purchase of land for that purpose, the total of which may be estimated at from £3500 to £4OOO, and also repairs in the town itself, and wages of man to superintend stand pipes, &c. Your committee are happy to find that the pumping operations in the Valley have been successful so far as the raising water into the reservoir, and trust that within a few days at farthest the scheme will be proved a success.” The Mayor spoke at length regarding the report. He stated that there were several items of income not enumerated, for instance, it laid been proposed to erect a stand pipe in the Hcathcotc Valley, which would bo a source of considerable income. They did not think, however, that the first year’s income could be calculated at more than £I2OO. He moved the reception of the report. This was seconded by Or. Hawkins, who also spoke on the subject. After a discussion, the water supply bye-laws, as prepared byjborough engineer, were read. Or. Allwright said if the ratepayers were called upon to pay the immense amount named in the report lie thought they were better without the water, but he saw no reason for this. Mr Higgenson, when he estimated the expense of maintaining the water supply, he mentioned the utmost it would cost, and it could, lie understood, be done for less. It was thought at that time that the shipping would pay nearly all the money required for the maintenance. He thought the proposed rate much too high. If, for instance, an hotel rated at £3OO a year had to pay the enormous sum of £ls per annum, he thought they would not take the water. He hoped that something would bo done to render such a high rate being charged unnecessary. Or. Hawkins said the estimate they had made was the lowest possible one. He did not think the proposed rate excessive. Or. Allwright asked if those living beyond the block where the pipes were laid were to contribute nothing. His Worship said that the borough solicitor was of opinion that those more than 100 yards from the service pipes could not be charged. Cr. Willcox spoke at length on the subject. Cr. Allwright said if such a sum were charged it woidd be better to hand over the whole management to the Government. If the burgesses wore consulted he believed a great majority would vote for not having the water through at all rather than pay such an enormous price for it. After all these years and then getting the water at last, he was amazed to hear it would cost such a price as to render it a doubtful benefit after all. Cr. Cunningham said he thought they were wasting their time in discussing the matter to-night, the Government had not yet handed over the works to the Council, and till the Council had them entirely under their control nothing could be done. He was in favor of an entirely different system of rating for the water than that proposed by the cnmmitt.ec. He would move—“ That the discussion be adjourned to that day fortnight.” Agreed to. The plans for the proposed reservoir were laid on the table by the Borough Engineer, and explained by him. The Engineer reported re water supply works. The consideration of report from committee appointed to confer with fire prevention bodies rc water supply demonstration was deferred for a fortnight. Accounts amounting to £l7O 3s 2d were passed for payment. A letter from Mrs Moynihan, complaining of state of footpath in Winchester street, and offering to pay one-third if same were asphalted, was read, and the matter referred to the works committee. The report of the committee appointed to confer with the Gas, Coal, and Coke Company was brought up, it was as follows: —“Your committee have had an interview with delegates from the Lyttelton Gas, Coal, and Coke Company, The delegates expressed a willingness to sell on the following terms : The Lyttelton .Borough Council to pay 1500 shares at £7 10s per share, £11,250; stock, say £500; total, £ll,BlO. Your committee cannot recommend the Council to accept this offer; they ask to be reappointed to rcconfer with the Gas Company. — J. S. Willcox, Chairman.” Cr Willcox said the committee thought the price asked rather a large one ; at the same time they must recollect that the Council were in the position of buyers not sellers. The committee wished to bo authorised to rcconfer with the Gas Company, in order that they might make the Gas Company another offer on a different basis, which he thought might be more satisfactory. He moved the reception and adoption of the report. Seconded by Cr. Parsons. Cr. Allwright said that, however much he wished the borough to obtain possession of the gasworks, he must raise his Amice against such a sum as that asked being paid, The motion Avas then agreed to. The Mayor stated that he had received a letter from Mr Potts, recommending the putting up notice boards Avarning people from trespassing or damaging the trees in the plantation on the Governor’s Bay road. The matter Avas left in the hands of the Avorks committee. The Mayor said he had received an application from Mr Ross to have the Selwyn road metalled. He understood metal could be procured from the immediate neighborhood. Left in the hands of the works committee. Mr E. Fielder avus elected returning officer for the borough. Cr. Holmes called attention to the state of the Dampier’s Bay road, and moved—“ That the Avorks committee bo requested to continue the footpath round Dampier’s Bay road.” This was seconded by Cr. Parsons. Cr. Allwright opposed the resolution. The road Avas in admirable order, and more money had been spent on it than on any other road in Lyttelton. The motion, on being put, Avas lost-. Cr. Alhvright asked if anything Avould be undertaken with regard to planting the Time Ball toAver site. The Mayor said the matter Avas in the hands of the Harbour Board, who would see that everything possible would be done in the matter. Cr. Willcox asked the Mayor if he had made any enquiries regarding the question of auctioneers having the right to sell in Lyttelton without paying ‘special fees. After discussion, it was determined to ask the solicitor for his written opinion on the subject. It was resolved that

Mr Graham be requested to allow the offer of his section, on which it Avas proposed to build the reservoir, to stand over for another month. Cr. Cunningham moved that £SOO be invested at 7 per cent.—Agreed to. After some more routine business, the meeting adjourned.