LYTTELTON MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1356, 7 February 1865, Page 5

LYTTELTON MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Friday, Feb. 3. All the members present, except Mr. Wright. The minutes of the former meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman said he had received replies in answer to letters written to the Provincial Secretary, asking the Provincial Government to pay the money due to the Council on account of balance of grant of £1,500, and also for the £100 granted towards the the expenses incurred in receiving his Excellency Sir George Grey. The Provincial Secretary informed the Council that it was uncertain when the balance of the grant of £1,500 would be paid; that in reference to the application for the £100 towards the expenses incurred for the reception of the Governor; ihere apBome 'm at"a public meeting, "a resolution was passed that the money should not be received. The reading of these letters gave rise to expressions of considerable dissatisfaction at the conduct of the Government; and after a few words from the chair, Mr. Hargreaves proposed the following resolution: " That this Council is of opinion that the amount of £1,500, voted by the Provincial Government for the present year, cannot be considered as an annual grant, but as part-payment of a compromise entered into in lieu of land reserves ; and that the full amount apportioned as due to this Council should be paid by the Provincial Government without reference to the ratio of its receipts."

Mr, John Grubb, after a few remarks, seconded the resolution, which was carried. Mr. Wm. Day then addressed the Council* on the subject of the Provincial Secretary's letter, declining to pay the £ 100. His remarks were very temperate, but to the point ; he considered that this conduct on the part of the Provincial Government arose from a report of the public meeting, which was untrue, and that the question raised at the public meeting was totally apart from the Government Grant. It was an expression of feeling on the conduct of the Government, after promising certain things, and after a deputat ion of respectable gentlemen sent by a public meeting. That meeting did not repudiate the £100. That letter simply relied upon a wrong report of the meeting, and he should move the following resolution :—" That the clerk be directed to acknowledge the receipt of the Provincial Secretary's letter, dated January 81st, referring him to his letter of January 9th, requesting the Provincial Government to fulfil their pledge." Mr. Hargreaves said he was glad to find some member of the Council had brought this subject forward. He rose to second Mr. Day's motion, and in doing so, he would make a few observations on the report of the public meeting which appeared in the Press newspaper. He found it stated that a resolution was carried that the £100 should not be received. Now, on reference to the original minutes taken by their clerk, he found that a resolution was proposed by Mr. Preece, and seconded by Mr. Cummins, that the £100 should not be received ; but this resolution was not put to the meeting, and was never carried—it was withdrawn ; but this report of the Press says it was, and no doubt the Government had taken advantage of this statement in the paper. They had also taken occasion to censure their Chairman for his conduct. Dr. Donald did his duty in his official capacity at that meeting, and they would stand by him for doing so. The meeting was one of the largest he had ever seen in Lyttelton, and was well conducted. He moved the resolution that was carried, to the effect that the Committee, irrespective of the Government grant of £100 or <£200, should go on with their arrangements, and in the meantime the Municipal Council to guarantee the

expense. On the suggestion of Mr. Fyfe, the Clerk was directed, in his letter to the Provincial Secretary, to inform him that the report published in the Press was not correct. The Chairman remarked that it would be as well to look their financial position fairly in the face. Mr. Day proposed, and Mr. Grubb seconded, ft P ro " position that, from and after Friday next, all free labour should be suspended, and their mon 18 charged, which was carried. Mr. Dunsford's letter, in reply about the sec ion of land leased by him from the Municipal Counci. He referred the Council to Mr. Slater, sohci or, Chrißtchurch. Mr; D'Oyly, at the request of the Council, ga his opinion upon the lease offered to Mr. D un ® ® r ' * and the conditions of the sale. He considered mm the Council could not recover their rents, o

ground that the lease tendered differed from the conditions of sale, and because the agreement was not under the seal of the corporation. The following resolution was agreed to:—" That the solicitor be requested to prepare a lease for Mr. Dungford of section 6>l, having a frontage of 25ft, bought by him on Sept. 9,1803: such lease to be in accordance with the terms of sale, and to ask Mr. Dunsford to-execute the same forthwith," Carried. A letter from the lessee of the Bathing-placo was read, but, on tho motion of tho Chairman, tho Council proceeded to the next business. Messrs. England Brothers, addressed a letter to tho Council, stating that the owners of Peacock's Wharf had refused tho public access to tho water flowing from the tunnel 1 . The Clerk was directed to address the Secretary for Public Works on the subject, drawing his attention to the right-of-way reserved to the public under the Ordinance. Mr. Willcox's tender of £40, for assessing the town, was accepted. The tenders for carting were sent back to the persons tendering; to be reconsidered next meeting.

The Council adjourned after passing the following accounts:—Weekly pay sheet, £14 2s 3d; Officers' salaries, £37 10s; Weastell, for repairs of drill shed, £6; Auditor"i, £9 9s; Peacock and Co., sundries, £4 7s 4d; Presb, advertising, £2 17s 6d; S. Wright, ironmongery, £2 15s lid.