BOROUGH COUNCILS.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1250, 21 March 1878, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCILS.

LYTTELTON. Monday, Mabch 18. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Cunningham, Parsons, Chalmers, Wood, Weyburne, Hawkins, McClatchie, and Macdonald. The clerk stated he had received £64 16* 9d since the previous meeting. Correspondence was read from the town clerk, Christchurch, asking the Mayor to attend the Conference of Majors to be held at Christchurch on Thursday next, to consider management of Hospital and charitable institutions. From Colonial Secretary's office, requesting the Council to have water laid on from the mains to the Lyttelton Orphanage. From Mr E. Giraud, requesting that the water should be hid on at the Orphanage at once, as there was a danger of scarcity of water there. From (he town clerk, Akaroa. thanking the Council for information they had forwarded re letting endowments of land. From Messrs Royse, Stead and Co., stating they were willing to pay the sum asked by the Council for water, and requesting that pipes might be laid at once. From Mr J. S. Willcox, informing Council that the appeals having been heard before the Assessment Court, he had completed his contract for the valuation of the borough. From the Town clerk, lhames, proposing formation of Municipal League, for the purpose of securing combined action on all matters affecting municipal bodies, and obtaining move extended powers of local government and proportionate revenue, together with careful supervision of all Bills of Parliament in any degree relating to theniatter. It was proposed that each Municipality should appoint one or two gentlemen, and that these should meet, say, twice a year, to consider the requirements of their several boroughs, and, it: necessarv, reduce these requirements to the draft cf a Bill, to be subnutted to Government before Parliament sat. One of the members of such conference, or its secretary, to remain at Wellington during the session and watch those Bills affecting Municipalities, communicating by telegraph anything affecting the League. J 1 .*}* Baliance asking early reply to letter ot sstft

February, on subject of hospital management, as appointment of successor of Dr. Donald depended on result of correspondence. From Mr P. Clinton asking if Council would let reserve at Rakaia. The Mayor requested that any councillor who had anything to brine; forward that would be of interest at the coming municipal conference would let him know that night. It was agreed after discussion, that the water piping should be at once hud to the Orphanage, as requested. Messrs Royse, Stead and Co.'s request was granted, and the work ordered to be at once proceeded with. The Mayor said in reference to Mr Willcox'a letter, that the Assessment Court had been held, and all the claims settled. Respecting the letter from the Thames Council, it was resolved that it should be placed in the hands of the Mayor, to make what use of it he thought proper during the coming conference, and that the letter be acknowledged. Mr Grange's letter was referred to the water supply committee, to ascertain what he wanted, and to grant license if they thought fit. Regarding Mr Balance's communication, the Mayor said it was evident that a successor to Dr. Donald as surgeon to the Orphanage, &c, was aboiit to be appointed, and the Government no doubt intended to make the appointment themselves in the event of the Council not undertaking management of same. He supposed the appointment would rest with the Council in the latter case. He could not help thinking that the borough would be benefited by taking over the management in the event of the various districts contributing towards the support of the Orphanage. Of course the matter would be fully discussed at the coming conference. Cr. Cunningham said he had spoken to several county councillors, and they seemed all to think it would be nothing but just that the various county districts should contribute towards the support of the Orphanage. It was agreed a telegram should be sent to Mr Ballance, informing him that the matter would be laid before a conference this week, when an answer would bo forwarded to him. Respecting the letter from Mr Clinton, it was resolved to inform him that in accordance with the Corporation Act the Council were bound to let all reserves by public auction. The following report to the chairman of the lighting committee was read : —" The Gas Company are now laying mains in Exeter street within radius of two street lamps at present lighted with kerosene. Is it the opinion of the Council that these lamps should be fitted for gas ? The mains have also been laid on the Sumner road, near to two lamps at present lighted with kerosene. Is the gas to be laid on in this instance ? John' Soavden, Foreman of Works." Cr. Parsons moved, and Cr. Maedonald seconded —" That these lamps be fitted for being lighted with gas." Agreed to. Leave of absence was granted to Cr. Macpherson. Cr. Cunningham, chairman of water supply committee, stated the foreman of works had during past fortnight laid on service to many town premises. He recommended the mains on the Gladstone Pier should be extended 550 feet with 4-inch pipes. This work should be done at once, as at present nearly all the hose used for fire prevention purposes had to be utilised to supply ships at the outer berths at the Gladstone Pier. He moved—" That the water piping on the Gladstone Pier be extended 550 feet." Carried. Cr. Cunningham further brought forward a request from Messrs Agar and Roberts and Vince re supplying their steam launches with fresh water at £ls por annum each, instead of the present rate. Considerable discussion ensued, the matter being eventually left in the hands of the Mayor, with power to act. Cr. Cunningham stated the connection between the well and the reservoir had been completed. Mr Kent found the reservoir would contain eighty hours' accumulation and overflow into the condensing reservoir at a rate of twelve gallons per minuto. It would take twenty-four hours hard pumping to empty the reservoir. The water in the reservoir looked very well, but the engineer reported that a large amount of rubbish was blown into it, and recommended it should be protected not only from rubbish being blown in, but from rats and other vermin. The water seemed much better than it did a few weeks ago when the sand was pumped up, but a test of its quality might be made. It would be wise to have the upper reservoir cleansed, as in future the water would be of a better quality. Some repairs were needed for roof and doors of engine and boiler house. Cs. McDonald and Hawkins spoke at some length, recommending an analysis of the water after the retaining reservoir had been cleansed and refilled. Moved by Cr. Weyburne, and seconded by Cr. Wood—" That the matter of cleaning out the retaining reservoir and testing the water be left in the hands of the chairman of the water supply committee." Cr. Cunningham asked if the works committee could spare Mr Sowden's services on Wednesday afternoon, as a committee of the Insurance Association would visit Lyttelton on that day to see the pressure of the water at the lower portion of the town. He hoped this trial would result in a reduction of the insurance premiums. Accounts amounting to £lB7 13s 9d were passed for payment. Cr. Cunningham moved " That it is the intention of the Council to strike a rate of one shilling in the £ for the year ending 31st March, 1879, such rate to be payable at the office of the Borough on the 30th of April, 1878." Seconded by Cr. Hawkins, and carried. His Worship the Mayor said he wished the Council to bear him out that at the previous meeting, in speaking of the pipes from reclaimed land being handed over, he had mentioned that Mr Aynsley had taken a prominent part in the matter. Mr Aynsley had gone with him aboard the steamer and interviewed Mr Larnach and Mr Conyers, who had settled the matter. The papers, however, in reporting what he had said, had made no mention of Mr Aynsley, but left it be inferred that he had taken the whole credit. He had spoken to Mr Aynsley on the matter, and now made this public statement, which was only Mr Aynsley's due, as he had taken great trouble in the matter. He was sorry such an error had occurred, more particularly as Mr Aynsley was his political opponent, and it might be thought he had purposely omitted to mention that gentleman's valuable services in the matter. The Mayor said that Mr Blanchard, the surveyor, recommended dividing their endowment lands at Ashburton and Rakaia into farms of about 150 acres each, instead of 400 acres, such as originally purposed. After discussion it was resolved to take Mr Blanchard's advice. The Council then adjourned.