BOROUGH COUNCILS.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1225, 6 February 1878, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCILS.

LYTTELTON. Monday, Febeuaby 4. Present —His Worship the Mayor, Crs. McClatchie, R. Wood, Weyburne, Parsons, Chalmers, Macdonald, Macpherson, Cunningham, and Hawkins. —The Clerk stated that £246 Os 3d had been received since last meeting.—Correspondence was read from Treasury enclosing statement respecting grant from Government for half year ending [December 31st, 1877, under the provisions of the Financial Arrangements Act, 1876. From this it appeared that the subsidy for the halfyear amounted in all to £613 10s, but from this was deducted the borough’s contribution towards the maintenance of the hospitals and charitable institutions of the district for the period, which amounted to £574 8s lOd, thus leaving the balance of only £39 Is 2d to the credit of the Council for the half-year. The amount of £lO5 3s deducted in excess for hospitals, &c., for half-year ending 30th June was also forwarded. From Edwards, Bennett and Co., re overcharge on water supplied to Halcione in Lyttelton. From the Town Clerk, Auckland, asking information re Council’s relations with Fire Brigade and insurance companies. From John Parkyn, offering to supply good 21-in. metal at 8s per yard, to be delivered wherever required. From Mr George Agar, making application for a reduction in the charge of water supplied to the steam-launch Lyttelton. From John E. Rigg, reporting progress of reservoir works at Heathcote The Mayor stated that he was much astonished at the communication received from the Government respecting half-yearly grant. It would be seen that a sum of only £39 la 2d accrued to the Council, no less than £574 8s lOd being deducted for hospital, &c. It was rather an astonishing thing that this should be the case, for the borough had certainly been led to believe that they would receive a pound for every pound raised in the borough, whereas nearly all of the grant was taken from them. He did not know whether the Council were prepared to take any action in the matter. In answer to a question from a councillor, the Mayor said that owing to certain action on the part of the Road Boards, viz., letting the County Councils be in abeyance, the whole of the charitable institutions of the district of Canterbury had to be supported by the boroughs. A long discussion took place, and Cr. Cunningham moved—- “ That the Government be asked whether they would be prepared to hand oyer the management of the charitable institution and hospital of Lyttelton to the Borough Council, and whether their doing so would free the Council from deductions to their subsidy.” This was seconded by Or. Macdonald and carried. It was resolved that the overcharge on water supplied to the Halcione should be refunded in the case of water supplied after Dec. Bth. The clerk virus instructed to supply information asked for in letter from Auckland Town Clerk. The letter from John Parkyn offering to supply metal was referred to the works committee. Mr Agars’s application was next considered, and after a lengthy deliberation it was resolved that Mr Agar be written to informing him in the event of the by-laws being amended, his request will be taken into consideration, but that at present the Council can make no other charge than that authorised by the bye-laws. The following report of the Inspector of Nuisances was read: — I have the honor to report that I have inspected the urinal complained of at last meeting of the Council, and found it no worse than similar places at several of the other hotels, and unless a supply of water is laid on to keep them clean they will always bo a source of annoyance to those living in the neighborhood. Mr Parsons at the Eoyal Hotel has bad a concrete urinal built last week, and a good supply of water laid on. if the other publicans would have similar ones put up tbey would be a great convenience, and do away with the nuisance that now exists at all these corners. The proprietors of the tjanteibury and British Hotels have promised

mo to have the water laid on as soon as their services are connected from the mains. The Mayor said that it had been determined to place one of the urinals lately received from England at the corner of Matheson’s Agency, opposite the British Hotel. The committee had not yet decided where the other should be placed. The chairman of the water supply reported re works, and Mr Kent was authorised to connect artesian well with surface reservoir by means of pipes, if necessary. _ Mr Sowden’s report re extension of mains in the town, was read. It recommended ordering 277 Sin. pipes, and other necessary plant, at a cost of £ll6 7s 6d, without reckoning freight. The pipes were to bo used for extension of mains from Canterbury to Dublin street, Salt’s Gully, 450 ft. ; Gladstone Pier, 540 ft.; Sumner road, 1017 ft. He proposed to distribute water in Joyce Town by laying a 2in. wrought iron pipe up the main street between Cr. Cunningham’s property and Joyce Town, and taking lin. pipes along the back road ns far as the properties were built on. He further reported, on an application, to have water laid on to bank in Dublin street, near Mr Hawkins’s property. An inch pipe would suffice for this, with branch services. Persons having the water laid on to pay in proportion for the lin. pipe when the services were laid on to their property. It was- resolved —“ That 400 3in. pipes, and the other material mentioned in the report, should be at once ordered from home.” It was resolved— “ Messrs P. Cunningham and Co. should be requested to order the goods in question. ” Cr. Hawkins, as chairman of the fire brigade committee, reported re proposed new rules. He stated certain alterations had been made, and moved—- “ That the rules be approved of by the Council.” This, after discussion, was agreed to. A discussion took place regarding the advisableness of closing the well on the Dampier’s Bay road, and it was eventually agreed that this should be done. The Mayor asked an expression of opinion regarding the time for which the land belonging to the Council, situated at Sclwyn and Rakaia, should be let, and it was resolved that the estates committee be informed that the Council did not wish the land to be let for more than fourteen years. Cr. Wood called attention to the state of the Sumner road, and suggested some clay should be placed on the metal on the crown of the road. The matter was left in the hands of the works committee. Cr, Chalmers moved—“ That the Mayor be requested to communicate with the Government re encroachment of railway premises lately known as Matheson’s, on Norwich Quay.” He thought this a most suitable time to see to this matter. The Council agreed with him, and the Mayor promised to take the necessary steps. Cr. Cunningham moved—“ That the matter of a roll for the water rate be left in the hands of the Mayor to take immediate action.” Agreed to. Cr. Cunningham asked if any communication had yet been received from the Associated Insurance Companies respecting grant towards maintenance of water supply, and was answered in the negative. Accounts amounting to £l2l 16s 2d were passed for payment. Or. Cunningham called attention to* the state of the footpath to the railway station. Clay had now been placed over the metal, and the result in wet weather would be a mass of mud. It was resolved that the drains should be flushed. The Council then adjourned.