LYTTELTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1927, 28 April 1880, Page 3

LYTTELTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

This Council held its usual meeting on Monday night. Present—The Mayor, Crs. Macdonald, Hawkins, MoClatchie, Grubb, Reed, Weybnrn, Smith. The amounts received since last meeting were .£136 7s. The following letter, addressed to the Mayor, was read from the Lyttelton Harbor Board:—“Lyttelton Harbor Board, Christchurch, 10th April, 1880. Sir, —In reference to the inclosed rate notices, the first purporting to be for borough rates for the year 1880, .£6l 16s, upon the three sheds erected on the Gladstone Pier, I am directed by the chairman of the Lyttelton Harbor Board to inform you that the sheds in question are, and have been, in the sole occupation of and under the control of the Railway and Customs Government departments, and for this reason alone are not liable to be rated. In further reference to this matter, I am to ask you to be good enough to cause me to bo referred to the enactment which brings the Gladstone Pier within the limits of the town of Lyttelton. With regard to the second rate notice, for a water rate on the cottage used for Harbor Board purposes by clerk of works at Graving Dock, I am to direct your Worship’s attention to the arrangement made between the borough of Lyttelton and the Government in connection with the handing over of the Lyttelton Water Supply Works, which provides that water should be supplied for the Harbor Board purposes free of cost; and in addition to this, the Board have hitherto paid the borough a contribution of £llOO a year for fire prevention and water supply purposes.— I have the honor to ba your Worship’s obedient servant, C. H. Williams, Secretary and Treasurer, Lyttelton Harbor Board.” The Mayor said he was in favor of taking an opinion of Council’s solicitor as to whether the Bo srd was not bound to pay the rates on the sheds, no objection having been made before the judge of the Assessment Court at the proper time. As to the second clause in the letter, he should not think this Council would consider it his duty to direct the Harbor Board to the prejudice of any case the Council might have against the Board. The third clause in the letter was unimportant, the water rate in question being but a few shillings. Cr. Hawkins thought that if it was the opinion of the Council that the Board should not be held liable for the rates on the sheds, no advantage should be taken of the omission of not appearing before the Asfessment Court. Cr. Smith asked whether as a fact the sheds were within the boundary of the town f The Mayor did not deem it necessary to go into that n ; the Board had neglected to object at the proper time, and was now liable]for the rates. As to the town boundary, it was a moot question perhaps whether the whole of the Board’s property, the wharves, &0., was not liable to be rated by the borough. It was agreed that the Mayor take the opinion of Mr H. N. Nalder, which, if opposed to the validity of the rate, the sum should be remitted. A letter was read from the Ashburton Borough Council, offering some water pipes for sale. The pipes were not the sires required by the Council. In respect to the application of Mr Ward, churchwarden for Holy Trinity Church, to have the rates on the parsonage remitted, a letter was read from Mr J. 8 Willcox, the valuator, and it was agreed i o make no alteration or concession in the rate. Mr roothman wrote, cautioning the Council against making any excavations on his property. Referred to the works committee. Messrs Garforth and Lee wrote, asking the authority of the Council to bo given to the inspector of slaughter-houses for the County Counoi of Selwyn to make an official inspection of their premises with a view to recommending what improvements were necessary. At a previous meeting of the Council a report upon Messrs Garforth and Lee’s slaughter yards had been made by a committee and adopted, certain alterations in the premises being therein mane known as necessary. A resolution was now proposed, directing the firm’s attention to that report, and was carried, tno_ Mayor and Crs. Smith and Reed voting against it. Mr J. Errickson’s request for certain levels on Exeter street was left with the works committee. The offer of the committee of the Lyttelton

Colonists’ Society to hand over the property of the Society, consisting of its hall and library, to the municipality was next considered. The Mayor said the committee should have given the Council some idea of what the income and expenditure of the institution were. Cr. Hawkins thought there would not be any difficulty in the Council working the property in with their other matters, and perhaps it would amt the ratepayers best to have the question of taking it over submitted to them. The proposal had come up so repeatedly before the Council, it was time it should be set at rest. It was agreed to inform the committee that the Council were prepared to take a vote of the ratepayers on the question, and the Mayor intimated that he should be glad to call a public meeting before that time, upon being requested to do so. Accounts amounting to .£315 17s 9d were passed for payment. The engineer’s report from the pumping station and the report of the foreman of works were read. The balance-sheets for the financial year and halfyear were submitted and ordered to be published, pursuant to a resolution to that effect.