LYTTELTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Press, Volume XIII, Issue 1718, 27 August 1868, Page 3

LYTTELTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Monday, August 24. Present—The Mayor, and Councillors AUwright, Chalmers, England, Mutton, Ward, and Willcox. The minutes of the former meeting were read and confirmed. The receipts during the week were stated by the Clerk •to be—from rates, £1 3s 4d ; for cement, £1 12s 6d ; from the Provincial Government, on account of the Sumner road, £42 15s. A letter was read from Mr DOyly, solicitor to the Council, giving his opinion on clause 41 of the Municipal Corporations Act with reference to the etatus of Messrs Willcox and Mutton, who had been elected to fill vacancies, and stating that it rested with the Council to determine whether Messrs Chalmers or Mutton should retire with Mr Balestiee. A letter was read from Mr J. Illingworth, poundkeeper, stating that ho had received a notice from the Council, telling him to desist from keeping pigs in the pound, as so doing is considered a nuisance; and stating in reply that it was a public pound, and was open to the public. He could not, according to the Ordinance, prevent people making use of the pound for any animals, and suggested that the pound should be removed to eorae more convenient spot. -A letter was also read from Mr C. W. Turner, stating that Mr Gould had handed him a letter from the Council with reference to rotes due by the trustees of Peacock and Co.'s estate. A letter was read from Mr Pavitt, stating that; the College trustees had agreed to give the Council a lease of the land required to make a road to Brenchley farm. A letter was read from Mr A. Sproul, calling attention to the approaches to his property in Exeter street, and requesting the Council to erect a retaining wall to protect his fence from tumbling down, and render the road safe. A second letter was also read from Mr DOyly, returning the by-laws of the Council with suggested emendations. With reference to Mr Illingworth's letter, Cγ Willcox suggested that the poundkeeper should be requested to produce his book at next sitting of the Council. The Mayor said that the poundkeeper had been using the pound for his own private purposes. Cr Chalmers said that if Mr Illingworth was allowed to use the pound in the way he had done lately, he could see no reason why Mr Beaton should not use the gaol for a boarding house. Cγ Willcox then moved—"That the poundkeeper be informed that the Council have considered his letter, and that they inform him that he has quite mistaken the intention of the Ordinance. That he be reqnested to produce his poundbook at the next meeting of the . Council; and that he be informed that if the practice alluded to in the letter from the Council of the 18th instant be continued that the Council will reoommend the appointment of another person." The motion wae seconded by Cγ Allwright and carried. In reference to Mr Sproul's letter, Cγ Willcox said he could not see why the Council should be called upon to metal a path to one house ; it would be better for the Council to buy the property. It was also impossible to fence in every dangerous place in the town ; but if Mr Sproul'e fence bad been injured by the work, of tho Council it should be supported by strut*. Cγ Ward moved that the matter be referred to the Works Committee, which was carried. A lengthened discussion then ensued as to the seniority as members of Councillors Chalmers and Mutton, whose election had resulted in a tie ; and it was ultimately agreed to decide the matter by lot, which resulted in Cγ Chalmers retiring ; and on the motion of I Cr Ward the result of the lot was confirmed by the Council. It was then resolved that the notice for the election of councillors in place of those retiring should be advertised in all the papers. The Works Committee's report was then read. It etated that a culvert had been put in on Simeon quay, and that a broom and and-gorse fence had been planted around the bathing shed. The report also recommended that the road to Brenchley farm should be made by labor in the employ of the Council. Before the report was adopted Cr Ward moved that the Solicitor be instructed to prepare a lease of the land required for the making of a road to Brenchley farm, which was agreed to. The consideration of the report on the drainage of Jackson road was deferred for a week, to allow an estimate of the cost to be prepared. The further consideration of the report on Graham's quarry was proceeded with: and after a long conversation between the members of ilie Council and Mr Graham, it was resolved on the motion of Cr Ward, that Mr Graham should make an application to the Council in writing. The consideration of the by-lawe was deferred and ordered to be made an order of the day for Monday next. The weekly pay-sheet £10 3s 3d, and J. Mereon's amount, £1 7s were passed for payment; Cγ Willcox suggested that tho kerosine lamps should be extinguished when the moon gave them, sufficient light to render them unnecessary. The Mayor thought it would be better to contrast with one person for lighting the lamps and finding the oil. After some conversation, the Mayor was requested to see the lamplighter on the queetion of extinguishing the lamps. Cγ Chalmers suggested that fire inspectors should be appointed for the town by the Mayor, to relieve the Hook and Ladder Brigade of any responsibility in case of fire, according to the Act. The Mayor said he would appoint Captain Roper and Lieutenant Wood as fire inspectors, and get the appointment gazetted. The Council, after some unimportant businese, adjourned.