PUBLIC MEETING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 605, 25 August 1858, Page 5

PUBLIC MEETING.

A numerous meeting of the inhabitants took place at the Town Hall, on Monday evening, in pursuance of a previous advertisement, to determine on the advisability of obtaining a Municipal Institution for Lyttelton. On the motion of Mr. Bayfield, Mr. I. T. Cookson was unanimously voted to the chair. Mr. Bayfeild, in the absence of Dr. Donald and Mr. Alport, the principal originators of the movement, proceeded to propose the first resolution, and enlarged on the.. points already mooted at the preliminary meeting of the Committee, and published in a former issue of the •* Lyttelton Times.'

At this stage of the business, Dr. Donald arrived, and the resolution was handed over to him. He further enlarged on the numerous requirements of the town, and exemplified by a variety of instances, how the interests of the inhabitants were overlooked and neglected, from the absence of any influential representation from a properly and popularly constituted board of local control. -The groans in this respect were loud and deep, and would never cease until some satisfactory system of this kind should be established. If a municipality existed the convict labour might be greatly utilised and economised beyond what had hitherto been the case, and might be turned most advantageously into a great engine^ of public improvement, if an efficient and responsible board were by to indicate the works of the inhabitants. At present the Provincial Engineer had no party to consult in reference to his expenditure, who had any special interest in the particular welfare of the town, and might act in that respect just as he pleased. The subject of fires was another most important one. "Without some local board of management, an efficient arrangement for the proper working of fire-engines, and other means of extinguishing conflagrations were out of, the question. Who, for instance, under present circumstances, would undertake the responsibility of. ordering the demolition of a house, in case of fire raging in its neighbourhood, even if it were patent to all that, the pulling down of- such house were the only possible means of saving the whole or any portion of the town. The subject of weights and measures was also an important one. Although he did not suppose that a great deal pf dishonesty or injury arose from intentional deficiencies, yet such might arise, and some responsible party for securing a proper standard was -a very important desideratum. He would instance also another point. He had occasionally — although he was happy to say, rarelywitnessed some meat exposed for sale that was not fit for human food, yet in our present position no one had any legal right to interfere. The regulations for boatmen alsorequired a justifying control. Some of them had often complained to him that for many long intervals they had hardly anything to do; and yet, when busy occasions occurred, others who were unlicensed competed, and thereby further lessened materially their only means of obtaining a livelihood. They had freely stated that they would willingly agree to a given fixed rate of fares on condition that they should be properly protected in their business. The establishment of a proper market was also imperatively required. If they acquired a properly constituted municipality, one of its very first acts would be the establishment of regular markets within their jurisdiction. The fact was too patent that the body politic was really in a most unsound state of. health, and he firmly believed-that a popular institution of the nature of that under consideration would be the best practicable remedy. Let them have that institution under as humble a designation as they choose, but they really required one at all events. Le.t them commence with a modest Town Council, or Town Commissioners, or Board of Control, or anything else they thought proper, and extend these in accordance with the future requirements of extension. Then came the important question, what is to pay? In answer to that he would say, let them;make out a fair claim, and he felt very confident that the Provincial Council and Executive would act liberally. Let them get a vote to that effect, but obtain a local control of the expenditure. In the meantime there was no necessity for the appointment of paid officers, with the exception of the necessary clerical business. There were many who would gratuitously undertake the principal duties, successively for the next five years, and by that period the numerously increased inhabitants might adopt any improved system that might better suit their altered circumstances and more extended and important position, Ho would now conclude by moving the-following resolution : — "That it is desirable, that a board Jjo consti-. tutad for Lyttelton with its suburbs tj overlook matters of local interest, and to contyf- the ex-

penditure of public money within the district." Mr. J. G. Fyfe briefly seconded the resolution, expressing his full concurrence in the remarks of the proposer. He believed that any opposition in town to the projected measure arose from an unfounded apprehension of direct taxation. He did not anywise partake of that apprehension, for he did not doubt that, by proper representation and application, they could obtain an endowment amply sufficient for their requirements.

In ans.ver to a question, Dr. Doxald explained that the officers should be elected. In fact he was partial to our old Anglo-Saxon system of elections, and we might yet look forward to the election of even our magistrates. In the present scheme he would advocate the election of the municipal officials on the basis of the electoral roll.

The resolution was then put by the chairman and carried by a large jnajority.

Mr. F. Banks, in proposing the second resolution, said that he cordially agreed with what had fallen from the previous speakers. The time had now fully arrived for amply mooting and ventilating the important que.stiou under consideration. Let them make tbe proper representations and demand, and leave the Provincial Council to determine the form and de-tails-of the controlling power to be instituted. The evils enumerated by previous speakers were far from being only imaginary grievances, and they imperatively required an early nnd efficient remedy. He might instance particularly the Provincial Engineer, already adverted to, who now spent the funds at his command according to his own pleasure, without any interfering control. The acquisition of a responsible controlling power over the expenditure of money for the public improvements'of the town had become imperative, and this reason alone, even if no other existed, afforded good grounds for the consideration of the question at issue. They had also numberless precedents of the satisfactory operation of small municipalities. In Victoria, for instance, small villages were rapidly flourishing under the auspices of similar institutions, and 'he saw no reason why the mature and importaut town of Lyttelton should be debarred from enjoying equal priviiiges, especially when these were admitted to have become so necessary to tho present and future welfare of the community. He bad therefore great pleasure in proposing the following resolution:—

" That a memorial be addressed to the Provincial Government praying that the Board be constituted and that a committee be appointed to draw up the same, obtain signatures, and forward it to the Superintendent."

Mr. Bayfeild seconded the resolution, and humorously animadverted on the wretched streets; the expensive and inefficient mode of procuring metalling from the borders of the Sumner Boad, and the squandering of funds in blasting. He urged on the residents not to get a body dependent solely on the votes and caprice of the Provincial Government, as ample revenue might be derived from the Jetty, wharves, landendowments and various other means. The speaker referred to the projected removal of the Resident Magistrate to Christ-church permanently, as most injurious to the interests of the Port, and advocated the early formation of a fire brigade. , . Mr. Heaphy contended that no means yet existed to acquire better metalling than that now procured, and did not perceive how great improvements in that and some other matters could be effected under present circumstances.

Mr. Baxks observed that the very occurrence of such questions was another good reason for obtaining a superintending body; and they were points to be left eventually with that body rather than subjects of discussion for the present meeting. The resolution was put and carried unanimously. Mr. J. Palhee, briefly expressed his concurrence in the views and sentiments elicited during the evening, concluding by proposing the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr. E. Mills :—

" That the following gentlemen form a Committee, to carry out the foregoing resolution, viz., Messrs. Cookson, Banks, Alport, Bayfeild, Donald, Wilcox, and Peacock."

A desultory and humorous discussion was originated by Mr. Turnee, whose name had been placed "on the Committee, applying for a withdrawal, which was ultimately acceded to.

The resolution, as amended and given above, was carried unanimously. Mr. Bayfeild proposed that the memorial should not be forwarded to the Provincial Government without being* previously submitted to the inhabitants for approval. Mr. Beadwell cordially seconded the proposition, and assured- the meeting that no petition unsanctioned by the inhabitants, previously to its ultimate presentation, would prove satisfactory. Supposing the Government took action on such a jjetition, and granted the powers prayed for, it would then be too late to clamour against any errors that- might have occurred. Accoi*ding to tbe tenor of the previous resolutions the Government might frame any institution they thought proper, and reply fairly to any subsequent complaints—" Why did you not define your prayer, and let us know what you wanted ?" There was not the leastdoubt that the Government would willingly concede to us the power of self-taxation to our Hearts' content, but the question really was to obtain the management of our expenditnri's and that was a point on which the extent rf willing concessions were more problematical. ; ..Mi\ Beebey objected to the.. vs)sph\tlon|j already passed on tho ground of their b;-.>ing too vague and indefinite • / / .:■,/-.'■■

Mr. Gbubb contended that tlie petition should be submitted to the inhabitants for approval before the signatures were appended. Mr. Banks and Mr. Pal3lE.ii explained by assuring the meeting that these Were details left for the Committee. '

Mr. Bkadwell observed that there appeared to be some misunderstanding, but-the case, so far as the resolution he had just seconded was concerned, was very plain.. He would give in illustration a purely hypothetical case. Suppo* sing upon the prayer of a generally Unapproved petition the Government were to appoint a Board composed of the Kesident Magistrate, Coroner, and Collector of Customs, could they imagine for a moment that such a granting of tf:eir prayer would be fatisfoctory ? With every respect to the gentlemen referred to, he contended that an appointment of that nature, how* ever honorable the parties appointed, would utterly fail in giving any general satisfaction. They must have elected officers, and not abjectly crouch down to the humble reception of any controlling power that the Government chose in their grace to bestow. - - After some further discussion of a general and desultory nature, Mr. Bayfield withdrew the proposition. Mr. Bkadwell then briefly moved, and Mr. Evans seconded, the following resolution, which was carried unanimously :—

"That the committee -for'drawing up the memorial to the Council, praying for a local board shall embody in such memorial an outline of the corporate powers which they desire, and shall submit such memorial to a public meet"

ing."

A vote of thanks to the Chairman, proposed by Dr. Donald, and seconded by Mr. Banks, was carried with acclamation, after which the meeting separated. We may mention in conclusion that the numerous attendants evinced the most lively interest in tha proceedings and questions under consideration. The whole affair strongly elicited the fact that nothing short of some municipal powers of self-government will be effective in operation or satisfactory to the community.

We are requested to direct public attention to the advertisement postponing the Conversazione which was to have taken place this

evening. By an erratic slip of the pen in our last issue we mentioned that the Lincolnshire had arrived at Wellington on the llth instant. We should have written Marchioness, for that was the vessel whose arrival we meant. We are informed by private advices from Wellington, of the 12th instant, that the Canterbuiy had been for some time fully laden for this port, and was waiting for the amval there of the Jeannie Dove with the English mail.