BOROUGH COUNCILS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1009, 19 September 1877, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCILS.

LYTTELTON.

Monday, September 17,

Present —His Worship the Mayor, Cra. McDonald, Holmes, Willcox, Parsons, AII- - Cunningham, Hawkins. The Clerk stated that £6B Is 4d had been received since last meeting. Cr. Cunningham asked if it was the opinion of the solicitor that they had the power to conduct the business that evening. His Worship replied it was the solicitor’s opinion that the present Council held office till the new one was elected. Correspondence was read from Mr H. J. Edwards, applying for situation as engineer at the Heathcote Valley works. Erom the town clerk, Napier, asking information re Lyttelton fire brigade. From Mr Wm. Conyers, regarding steam fire engine. From Mr John Knowles, Undersecretary for Public Works as follows :

The Hon. the Minister for Public Works directs me to state -with reference to the interview you had with him the other day that he consents to your two following requests, vix. : Ist. That the repair of the pumping engines may when necessary be*executed in the Government railway workshops at the expense of the Borough Council, always provided the workshops are at the time in a position to execute the work required. 2nd. That the duplicate parts of machinery he handed over to the Borough Council, and such spare pipes as are not required to provide for accidents on the Government portion of the works and railway station; as these pipes will, however, he required for extension at the railway station, the Council will he good enough to replace them out of those shortly expected to arrive for borough use. Copies of this letter and that of 24th August have been sent to Mr Duncan, the Crown Solicitor at Christchurch, with instructions to prepare the formal deed of agreement. Be good enough, therefore, to direct the Council’s solicitor to place himself in communication with Mr Duncan.

From the Town Clerk, Thames, enclosing petition of House of Representatives regarding powers of Borough Councils, and requesting co-operation of the Lyttelton Council in the matter. From Mr J. L. Wilson re supplying metal to the Council. From Mr S. C. Farr, making formal application to have the necessary water-pipes laid on from the main to Messrs Mills, Hassal and Co’s new buildings, Norwich quay. From Mr F. Crowley, asking for water to fill Loan and Mercantile Agency Company’s tanks. From Mr G. S. Cooper, stating for the Mayor’s information that a New Zealand “Gazette” of the 6th inst., contained an order under the hand of his Excellency the Governor in Council, extending the time for holding elections for councillors of the borough. From Mr George Baker, requesting permission to erect a siding gate at the junction of the old and new Governor’s Bay road tor the purpose of preventing his cattlo from straying off his run. From A. Mclntosh, T. N. Clarkson, and seven other residents in Joyce Town, praying the Council to make a footpath in front of their houses. Two telegrams were also read from railway authorities re water-pipes from spring in tunnel, stating they would be taken up by permanent way staff. Mr H. J. Edward’s application was ordered to stand over for the present. The clerk was. instructed to send to the town clerk, Napier, the information he required regarding the fire brigade. Respecting the communication from Mr Conyers, re the steam fire engine, the clerk was instructed to acknowledge it, stating that the Council are of opinion the Government had not carried out their promise of having the locomotive and the steam fire engine stationed constantly in Lyttelton, though both were necessary. The letter from the Government re handing over the waterworks, was considered, and the clerk instructed (o acknowledge it, stating that the Council wished the Government would forward the duplicate parts of machinery spoken of to the Heathcoto Valley works. The letter from the Thames Council was discussed, and it was resolved that the communication should be forwarded to the member for Lyttelton, saying that the Council see the force of the argument used, and that in their opinion no other body should have the power of appointing an officer within the borough. Mr Farr’s letter was next considered, and it was resolved to reply, stating that at present the Council wove not in a position to connect with iliß Qw wjcy'B letWr wus

read, and the clerk stated the request had been complied with. Mr George Baker’s application was granted, provided he erected the gate to the satisfaction of the foreman of works, the Council having no objection to offer. The petition of the residents in Joyce town was referred to the works committee, with power to act. The following report ol the estates committee was read :

Your committee report that having considered the request of the Colonists’ Society Committee as expressed in the president’s letter of July 9th, they see no reason for recommending the refusal of that request, provided that in the deed of grant the sites be secured for a public library for Lyttelton in per pel no, and that a proportion of the trustees be appointed by or from the Borough Council. After discussion it was resolved —“ That the borough solicitor should be asked if the Council had the power to vest the site of the Colonists’ Hall in trustees for the purpose of a public library, and that the further consideration of the report be deferred till next meeting.” The following report from the inspector of the fire brigade was read : —■ 1 find that it will be necessary for the efficient working of the brigade to procure another hosereel, more especially when the new hose that is ordered from England arrives. The reel is urgently required, as the hose gets damaged very considerably by being dragged over the metalled streets, and in addition to that can be run off a reel in considerably shorter time. One of the same size as that at present used by us will suffice for all purposes, and I believe there will be no difficulty in getting it manufactured in Christchurch. At the late fire in London street the brigade were quickly on the spot, and thanks to the water supply, managed to stop what might have been a great calamity to the town. Having now proper appliances, the brigade hope to be able to cope with any fire that may occur. I also beg to hand in a resolution passed at the last meeting of the brigade. In reference to it I may say that at both the Mitre and goods’ sheds fire several of the members had their hoots rendered useless by the fire.— John Sowden.

The following is the resolution enclosed:— “That the Lyttelton Borough Council be respectfully requested to complete the uniform of the brigade by supplying the members with suitable boots.” His Worship the Mayor spoke in terms of eulogy of the great services rendered to the town by the fire brigade on the occasion of the late lire. He was sure the application for the boots would be favorably considered. Cr. Willcox thought it would be better if a certain fixed sum were annually given by the Council to the Brigade, After further discussion, it was resolved the Brigade should be informed that their request was acceded to, and that £25 should be placed at the disposal of the Brigade for the purpose named. Regarding the hose reel, it was resolved that the Fire Inspector should be authorised to ascertain the cost at which a hose reel could be made in Christchurch, Accounts amounting to £l4l 6s 3d were passed for payment. The clerk laid on the table a list of unpaid rates which were considered. Six tenders were opened for the construction of the proposed reservoir, and Messrs Dix and Collier’s, at £598 18s 6d, with a charge of 3s 6d per cube yard for excavation of rock, was accepted. Cr. Allwright pointed out the absolute necessity of the appointment of a thoroughly competent clerk of works to superintend this work. Cr. Willcox said he had seen in the report of the annual meeting of the Lyttelton Gas Company that it had been stated that he had full power to disclose all that he knew of the accounts of the Gas Company at the late public meeting. Such was not the case. He distinctly understood from those directors of the Gas Company he had conferred with, that though they (the committee appointed) were at liberty to inspect the whole accounts of the company, they were not to make them public till negotiations had reached a further stage. Cr. Parsons said he was of the same opinion as Cr. Willcox, and was much surprised when he saw the report of the Gas Company’s meeting in the papers. Cr. Hawkins said that the whole of the accounts of the Gas Company had been laid before the committee appointed by the Council. There had been no reservation whatever, everything being done to show the committee the true position of the company. What the Gas Company complained of was that the matter had not been fairly placed before the ratepayers. There was nothing at all brought forward at the public meeting to show the ratepayers the j true financial position of the company. Cr. ! Allwright said there was one other matter on j which he wished to make a few remarks. | They all knew the efforts that had been made i by that Council to procure a water supply for Lyttelton, and now when their efforts had at j last been crowned with success, another body, I or rather the deputy-chairman of that body, ' had tried to take the credit to himself of having the water turned on to Lyttelton. In I the remarks of the acting-chairman of the ] Lyttelton Harbor Board, made at a meeting held at the Government Buildings on Friday j last, the following sentence appeared : It is satisfactory to know that the efforts ol the Board in getting the railway authorities to turn on the water to the Lyttelton end of the tunnel have already contributed to the prevention of what might have been a serious lire in that town. How he, as a member of that Council, could not allow such a statement to go forth to the world unchallenged. It was monstrous that any one in Christchurch should take the credit of preventing that lire. They had labored for years to endeavor to procure the water, and he and others had been laughed at and accused of having water on the brain, and now, when at last the matter was successfully accomplished, others took the credit. His Worship coincided with what had fallen from Cr Allwright. Cr. Allwright said ho wished the reporters to notice what he had said, as he considered a great slight had been put upon the Council. If the Harbor Board had really got the water he should have been ready to thank them, but he knew they had not. He should like to ask the Mayor if there was any probability of the waterworks being handed over to the town before the present Council went out of ollice, as he thought it was hard that those who had toiled to bring the water _ through should not participate in celebrating the success of the scheme. Cr. Willcox said they were aware he did not intend to seek re-election. He thanked them for their courtesy to him during his term of oillee. His Worship the Mayor said he too must take this opportunity of thanking them all for the kindly consideration and cordial assistance they had rendered him during his term of office. He hoped that the new Council would include most of those he saw around him. He begged them to accept his heartfelt thanks. Cr. Holmes said he was heartily and truly thankful for the consideration they had 'shown him, and if elected he would try not to disgrace them in the future any more than he had in the past. So ended the last sitting of the present Lyttelton Council.