BOROUGH COUNCILS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 105, 9 June 1914, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCILS.

WOOLSTON. The Woolston Borough Council met last evening. There were present the Mayor (Mr J. J. Graham), Crs L. Hart, W. Fuller, F. Newton, A. R. Mountford, T. Radcliffe, M. Dalziel, G. Lilley, and J. B. Richardson. An apology for absence was received from Cr D. M'Crae. REPORTS.

The following reports by various committees were adopted: : —• ' , • ; The Finance Committee's' report recommended that action be now taken to recover all outstanding rates except those which the council would remit on account of destitution. Accounts amounting to £IOB 18/1 were recommended for payment.

■ The By-laws Committee recommended that the foreman be instructed to report in regaM ;.to damage done to footpaths at .'autEtiorised crbssiiigsy also where unauthorised e'Sossttrijp*'" were being used, and tosrejaoit on Jhe more dilapidated oVfer - With regay'tl to trees overhanging streets, it .was recommended that a deputg.ti.on be appointed to wait on a resident JTe . damage, tp thei street with a view to Mtifig' ments effected. \,. T

The Works Committee recommended that the matter of altering the side channels in Tilford Street be held over as funds were not at present available; that drainage sumps be put in in Wildberry Street at a cost of £5; and that provision for additions to Aldwin's Road bridge be made in next year's estimates. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr W. Radcliffe, Lyttelton, asked that the council contribute to the cost of the portrait of the late Mr G. Laurenson, which would be hung in the Lyttelton Council Chambers and would be unveiled by Sir Joseph Ward about the 22nd or 23rd. of. this month. I The council decided to take no action in„ the matter. The Town Clerk of Christehurch wrote inviting the Mayor to a conference of representatives of local authorities to make arrangements for lectures to -be given by Messrs Davidge and Read inconnection with the Australasian Townplanning tour. The letter was received: The Minister of Railways (Hon. W. H. HeS-ries) intimated that the Railway Department was prepared to. supply warning boards of a distinctive character for erection on busy roads within 150 or 200 yards from" railway crossings. It was pointed out that it was not obligatory to" erect these riotiee boards, but in view of the fact that the advent of motor-driven vehicles had so completely altered the circumstances governing road traction, the Department was_ prepared to co-operate with' local bodies in aji endeavour to render travel aloiig niaih roads intersecting railways as safe ,as possible for', 'travelling on _thbse roads. 'was refeeived. •*;; The ' :: fiosjwtal'-aßta'' *Aid Bbkrd wrotfe /'afnopiji? by. the : 'Wpols^ii ,; 'Bprbugh. 'f<& •tlie'dflsuing year ■•Wisr £314 10/% "The letter was re'feri'ed to 1 the' town clerk I .'' ***'^ The finiiicM statement showM, that receipts since last' meeting amounted;to £248 8/4,"'and 5 that there was a debit balance on the general acdouiit bf - £73 s/e. • ■ NEW BRIGHTON. The fortnightly meeting at the New Brighton Borough Council took' pla.ee last evening, when there were present: The Mayo* (Mr C. H. Winriy),- Crs A. W. Owles, C. Withell, F. KibbleWMte, '■&: W; Stahilaiid,: j; Ash%,;A. Chidgey, C. and p. rt. 'Bfergfi.' ; letter was received froth the Town Clerk of Sumner stating that Mr Smithson would be pleased to represent the Borough of New Brighton in conjunction, with Sumner on the Domain Board. -7—lt was also decided to support tli.e Waimairi County Council's protest against the Domain Board's levy. A communication from the Tramway Board pointed out that, in addition to money spe|it'last year planting marram grass, the Works arid Trams Committee had made axi expenditure this' year for-the.purpose; of> pla,eing lupins; on the bfea«jh to arrest the drrmng sand.) The committee would, however, subsi-j dise any expenditure which-the; bspr#\ighi might make i Q . the matter;;.of planting to the extent of 50 per up to a;sum of £s.—This letter frcaa. JS®.-; ferred to the Works Committee. •• !

During the fortnight five-building permits were issued, valued at £495.

The • Finance Committee's report showed the following: —Receipts £56 11/4, expenditure £l4B 10/8, debit bank balance £389 10/8, deposits £ISOO- 14/2. The discussion on the estimates for 1914-15 was held over until Cr Aing.er's return.

A motion was proposed, seconded, and carried as follows: —"That this council strongly protests against the everincreasing contribution demanded by the .North Canterbury Hospital and Cliarita,ble Aid Board, such: contribution being out of all proportion to the increase in population. ' 7 ' ; The bf Mi- J. Bosomworth a» Town <3lerk; vice Mr L. Moore (resigned), was,..confirmed. LYTTELTON. The bi-monthly meeting of the Lyttelton Bor6ugh Council was held last night. Present:- —The MaA'or (Mr J. R. Webb), and Crs N. C. Schumacher, W. Radcliffe, J. T. Norton, W. T. Foster, F. ,1. Page, .1. H. Collins, J. Guthrie, and F. Walklin.

Th 6 Lyttelton Ladies' Swimming Club wrote, inviting the Mayor ami councillors to their annual social gathering to be held on June 25. The invitation was accepted. A letter was received from the Hon. W. 11. Herries, .Minister of Railways, acknowledging receipt of the council's letter in reference to the suggested improvements recently urged in Lyttelton. The -secretary of the - Christchurch Domain Board stating that; the head gardener would be pleased to donate -plants, etc., when available. It was decided to reply to the New Brighton Borough Council, suggesting that it should co-operate with the Woolston Borough Council in appointing a representative on the Christchurch Domain, Board, Lyttelton having already. Jinked up with Suniner. The :• Waimairi County Council forwarded a circular letter in reference to the l recent legislation in connection with levies for the upkeep of the Christchurch- domain. The council decided,to take no further action in .the matter. :

On the occasion of the conference of municipalities, to be held at Wellington'on July 14 next, the Mayor (Mr J. R. Webb) and Town Clerk (Mr L. A. Stringer) were appointed delegates to represent the Lyttelton Borough Council/

Mi" J. Davies wrote, complaining of some foul nuisance in St. David Street. The letter was referred to the inspector. .A, letter was received from the Minister of Railways, in respect of danger

signals on level crossings. It was decided to refer the matter to the Bylaws and Legal Committee. The Works Committee reported: — In the matter of a request by pro-perty-owners, that the Council should repair the right-of-way off Joyce Street, the committee was taking steps to ascertain the Council's responsibility with regard to the right-of-way before authorising any work.

NEW HORSES. As there was some difficulty in procuring suitable horses for work at, Diamond Harbour, and as additional; horses wouhl shortly be required fotj road work under the loan proposals, the committee had arranged to purchase two horses, one of which had been provided for in the estimates, the other to be purchased out of loan account when required for loan works. NEW DRAY. ! ■' Arrangements had been made to purchase a new dray as provided in the estimates. The report was adopted.. The Estates Committee reported in the matter of the railway siding charges, the committee recommended that the Council pay a proportion of 'the charges for. the current year, and, ats- the present Orangemen t between the Sailway/ Department and the Council's tenants was only for one year, the matte#/ could be - reconsidered WfretTtlie Department got "into the question" of altering the sidings and fixing the charges at the "end of the present year: The sum involved was about £3O.

The report was adopted. \ The Gasworks Committee reported:— That the output of gas had now. reached the maximum capacity of the works, leaving no margin to meet anything in the nature of an extraordinary demand for gas, or a temporary stoppage at the works. Further, the demand for gas was still increasing, and at present showed no indication of falling off. It had therefore become necessary for the committee to consider the question of extending the plant. The Gas Engineer - was prepared to report on the matter, and the approximate cost pf necessary work would be from.£sooo to £6OOO, for which a loan would probably be necessary. In the meantime, the following improvements were urgently required,, and the committee recommended that they be put in hand at once, and that the cost be a charge against the loan in the event of it being found necessary to raise fresh capital, (a) A new 6in. reticulating pain fyoni- the works ,to Brittan Terrace in. A West Lyttelton. j , (ib) .the purchase and installation, of,new eon-' densers (£7SY and 'one purifier (£150): total, "SfiSS. •* r-. The cPhftmittee also that steps should immediately b&<itakeil : -t'o> NAHM'S |PK:.extending the present; .WQXjtfW v: ! favour of, the former proposals, but as rfcg^Mis J tlte' fctiggfetf 'tTiel iwwksi 1 ' tl««' "'cdufttil'i ,^6tildi ' , 'WbK' , e ,tiouslyj, an view, oif'! the faet that the Lake Coleri sge;. ele<C(tr ie. •, seheW would "be at hand. He suggested that the matter he held in abeyance for a few months. ■ "7 :

Mr Colliiis" said that whilst he recog-; nised that blecti'ife'ity woul'tj . theirj mind** jiltortfr vfras of opinion that therie always would be a demand 'for. gas in the port, and at present the. Works were tax&i to their full Rapacity. After some further discussion"the re-' port was agreed to. The financial statement showed the District Fund ACcouiit in debit £11,1<62 11/2,' including tenipbrary loaiw £9923 14/1. Accounts passed for paynierit amounted tb-£989*4/-.- ' . [