BOROUGH COUNCILS.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1308, 29 May 1878, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCILS.

LYTTELTON, MownAtr, M4.J 27. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Cra. H. Hawkins, K. Wood, B. Weyburne, A. Chalmers, P. Cunningham, T. A. W. Parsons, J. P. Macphprson. Leave of absence was granted to Or. Macdonald. The clerk stated that £147 9s hod bgpn received since last meeting. Correspondence was read froip the town dork, Thames, as follows “ Sir,— I have the honor, by direction of the borough of Thames, in reply to yo«r letter of date quoted in margin, to inform yen that the question of the formation of a Municipal League has met with very general approval by the various municipal bodies. I now' forward for the consideration of your Council a few suggestions as to the first meeting ot the conference, and the duties of its clerk. These suggestions can of course be entirely done away with by the conference at its first jilting, but if adopted it will be seen that

whoever is appointed clerk must bo well up in municipal matters, and would be held responsible, after the conference had decided on certain now Acts, or on amendments to Acts, that such new Bills or amendments were introduced into, and if possible, passed through Parliament. In these suggestions, is left to the members of the conference the power to appoint whom they think best to the important position of clerk, while the various Councils can select for their representatives at the conference one of their own body, their town clerk, or if preferred by them, any other person resident for the time being in Wellington, in whom they had confidence, Will you favor me with the opinion of your Council on these suggestions, especially as to the date of the first meeting of the conference, and if the Mayor of Wellington, shall be asked to call the first meeting of the conference, and if the Mayor of Wellington, shall be asked to call the first meeting in Wellington. —(Signed) F. C. Dean, Town Clerk.” A printed form of the suggestions referred to was enclosed in the letter. From the Railway Department, Wellington, stating, in reply to Council’s application, that the Commissioner of Railways for the Middle Island had been instructed to deal with the matter of the Government subsidy towards the maintenance of the Lyttelton water works. From Mr E. Cnthbert, Assistant Railway Engineer, as follows : —“ lam given to understand that Mr Jenkins, boat builder, Lyttelton, occupies a portion of St. David’s street on sufferance from your Borough Council. He has been requested to remove the shed erected here, but has not done so, and as the new sidings are nearly up to that point, I shall feel much obliged if you will give Mr Jenkins notice to clear away all obstructions as soon as possible.” From Mr W. H. Slater, Ripon street, Lyttelton, stating ,he had received notice from the Inspector of Nuisances to put down a drain from his house to the main sewer, to remove a nuisance which really came from houses above. He thought this a great hardship, and wished some member of the Council to meet him and inspect the place. The consideration of the letter from the Thames Council was deferred till next meeting. Re Mr Outhbert’s letter, it was resolved —“ That Mr Jenkins be written to, requesting him to remove his building on St, David’s street within seven days from receipt of notice.” Cr. Macpherson moved—“ That the clerk, in answering the Government’s letter informing them that notice had been given to Mr Jenkins to remove the building, should point out that the shed in question was not on Government property, but on a public street in their municipal boundaries.” Seconded by Cr. Chalmers and carried. Mr Slater’s letter was referred to the works committee. A report of the foreman of works was read stating that a great part of the hose for fire prevention purposes had been spoilt in supplying water to the houses, and asking the Council to purchase 600 ft. from the Lyttelton Harbor Board, as that body had a considerable quantity on hand. It was resolved, after discussion, to write to the Harbor Board requesting them to sell to the Council 600 ft. of hose. Accounts amounting to £46 15s lOd were passed for payment. Cr. Cunningham moved —“ That a rate be struck of li per cent, on the rateable value of property within the radius required by law of water supply, such rate to bo an annually recurring one.” Seconded by Cr. Macpherson and carried. Resolved —“ That the clerk be instructed to sue for all outstanding rates not paid by the 29th May.” Cr. Cunningham, as chairman of waier supply committee, reported that Mr Kent, the engineer, recommended the erection of an outside bearing for the fly wheel. The fly wheel weighed four tons, and hanging over worked very unsteady, and wore down out of the level very quickly. There was also a danger of breaking the crank shaft, which would be a serious matter. He also recommended fencing round the surface and condensing reservoirs. A few forest trees were required to shelter the place. Cr. Cunningham stated that the bearing for the fly wheel would only cost £lO, and the engineer could do all the fitting himself. It was resolved to grant the £lO for the object pointed out, and that the clerk should write to the Domain Board asking them for fifty evergreens for the pumping station. The Council then adjourned.