LYTTELTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1385, 24 July 1878, Page 3

LYTTELTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Monday, July 22. Present —His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Cunningham, McClatchie, Parsons, Wood, Chalmers, Hawkins, Macpherson, Macdonald. The Clerk stated that he had received £B7 13s 2d since last meeting. Correspondence was read from Colonial Secretary's office as follows :—" I am directed by the Colonial Secretary to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th instant, stating that the Borough Council never had any intention of taking over the Orphanage and Hospital, but that they aro prepared to take the responsibility of distributing charitable aid exclueive of theso institutions. In reply, I am to inform you that the Government did not wish to impose the charge of the Orphanage upon the Borough Council, but understood from the telegrams as delivered to them that the Council insisted on taking charge of it, and on that supposition refunded the sum of £574 which had been deducted from subsidies. As, however, it now turns out that the Council does not wish to take the supervision of the Orphanage, the Government have placed it under the charge of the Charitable Aid Board, and accept the offer of the Lyttelton Council to dispense charitable aid in the borough. The refund of £574 having been made under a misapprehension, the Government do not intend to call on tho borough to refund it, but will leave it in their hands to be employed for charitable purposes as far as possible at the rate of the average expenditure of last year. In reference to the general subject of the dispensation of charitable aid, it is thought, advisable to draw tho attention of the Borough Council to the Destitute Persons Act of last session, which imposes upon certain relatives of destitute persons tho burden of their support. The police will co-operate with tho municipal authorities on their request to enable the provisions of that Act to be carried out." From same, announcing the appointment of Mr H. J. V. Rogers, the town clerk, as registrar of dogs for Lyttelton, the town clerk's office to he the place of registration. From Messrs Royse, Stead and Co., as follows ; —" We shall feel obliged if you will take into consideration tho advisability of reducing present tariff for the supply of water to manufacturers. At present the cost is 4s per 10CO gallons; too expensive for some businesses. If the Council would reduce the price, we should like to utilise the water for our brickworks at Heathcote Valley. Our consumption would

range from 2000 to 3000 gallons per day, and if rate were say 2s per 1000 we should pay on the former quantity 4s per day, or nearly £7O per year, exclusive of what we pay for water tor malt kiln. If your supply is ample, a few manufacturers would pay the working expenses : besides, the 'constant (low of water from tho pipes would render them less likely to fur up inside. We trust you will pardon our suggesting any such alteration as we indicate, but it occurred to us that possibly the Council might increase its income by reducing the cost for manufacturing purposes, to a rate that would permit of the water being utilised." From Mr H. J. V. Rogers, asking the Council to remove clay from his property in Oxford street, to enable him to have an entrance to lii's house. From Mr W. Graham, Btating he had received a notice from the inspector of nuisances to put down properlyeonatructcd drain on his property. He did not think this would abate the nuisance complained of. There had been 100 chains of culvert put down in the town at the public expense, and he did not see why he should be called on to pay in this instance. Respecting the Colonial Secretary's letter re Charitable Aid, the Mayor said it was necessary to form some plan for the distribution of tho same. The Government had taken tho Orphanage off their hands, and had left them the £574 to go on with. Nothing was said in the Government, lettor regarding the hospital or casual ward, but he thought that might be made almost self-supporting. With regard to charitable aid, he »aw that the relatives of people receiving Government charity could be compelled to support them, if in a position to do so, and they might see if any of those persons now receiving aid in Lyttellon had relatives in a position to support them. The police would help the Council in ascertaining if such was the case. He thought, the Benevolent Aid Society might aid in tho distribution of the Government charity. After discussion, in which most councillors present took part, Cr. Macpherson moved—"Thatthe Mayor be appointed to distribute charitable aid, taking care that,the cases are bona'fide, and reporting to the Council from time to time." This was seconded by Cr. Hawkins, and after discussion was carried. Messrs Royse, Stead and Co.'s letter was next discussed, and it was resolved —"That, in the event of Messrs Royse, Stead and Co. using 2000 gallons or more per diem, a reduction of 25 per cent, should be made in the price at present charged." Mr Rogers's application was referred to the works committee, with power to act. Mr W. Graham's communication was discussed, that gentleman being in attendance. The matter was eventually left in abeyance till next meeting. Accounts amounting to £96 Is 3d were passed for payment. The clerk was instructed to write the Mayor of Wellington, informing him that the Lyttelton Council did not intend sending a delegate to the Municipal Conference at Wellington. The chairman of water supply committee gave an account of the interview with the Christchurch Council, regarding proposed water supply for Christchurch from Heathcote works, stating matter was still in abeyance. The Council then adjourned. ■I