LYTTELTON MUNICIPAL YEAR.

Press, Issue LXVIII, 31 December 1912, Page 9

LYTTELTON MUNICIPAL YEAR.

PROGRESS IN 1912,

Lyttelton Borough has pursued tho <-yen tenonr of its way during tho year 1912, and there have been, no unusual developments in municipal matters during the past twelve months. Tho Mayor (Mr M. J. Miller) briefly sketcked the story of the year's work j last night/ and stated that tho most j important feature was tho improve- j nieut of the borough water supply. A | new reservoir, to hold -00.000 gallons, I was being constructed in Broncbiey j road, and the work was in a forward state. Tho old steam-plant at the Exeter street pumping station was about to bo superseded by up-to-date pumping machinery driven by gas engines, for lifting tho water from tho : lower to tho middlo and upper levels, with an improved supply for fire prevention purposes. The present reservoir in Brenchleyjroad had a capacity of only 00,000 gallons, but when tho new reservoir, wliich would be connected with tho present one, was. completed there would be an ample supply for more than 48 hours in tho event of a stoppage or breakdown of tho main supply. A tender had been let for tho supply and installation of tho new pumping plant, which would be in working order early nc.Tt year. Tho Lyttelton borough extension scheme had been beforo tho Council very much of late. The proposal to acquire tho Stoddart Estate of about 350 acres at Diamond Harbour, and after roading and subdividing the land, and making" ample provision for public reserves and sports' grounds, to offer the sections for salo to intending residents. A preliminary survey of the Estate had been made and a report op. the scheme had been before the Council during tho past few weeks. The purchase price of the estate, and . tho overhead e.vpcnses. together with interest and tho subsidy to the ferry service would amount to, roughly, £13,000, and it was estimated that the salo *of sections at a voTy moderate figure would handsomely recoup tho borough. A poll of the ratepayers ou the proposal would bo takon on February 10th next. , Tho Mayor stated that during tbo year tho ordinary maintenance work on tbo roads and footpaths in tho Borough had been carried out, and a- number ;if improvements ltad been effected m many parts of the town. In this connection, the principal work in hand ct tho present time was the widening and straightening of Simeon Quay, tho connecting link between tho main part of tho town and West Lyttelton. The idea was to straighten tho roadway os far as possible and to give a 10-foot footpath along tho Quay. A start was mado with this work soma months ago at the junction of Norwich and Simoon Quays, immoAatoly above tho tunnelmouth. Prison labour was being utilised and a very substantial stono wall was being constructed to a point above No. 7 Wharf. Somo yards wero already completed, and a stone coping was being constructed at the entrance to Simeon Quay, which would bo greatly improved and widened. It was proposed to carry tho widening process from Simeon Quay, along Godl'oy Quay, above Dampier's Bay and past, tho graving dock, to giro a good approach to tho reclamation area which was being mado by tho Harbour Board between the 2saval Point breakwater and Baker's Point. During 1912, tho amount of building in Lyttelton had been abovo the average. A number of old and dilapidated buildings in tho Borough had beeu condemned, and would, it was expected, shortly be replaced by now and modern structures. . , Two important revenue-earning departments of tho Lyttelton Municipality wero the Water Supply Department and tho Gas Works, and in both thero had been fair increases. Tho Borough supplied water to shippingin tho port at reasonable "rates, atidTfto revenue from this sourco had been very satisfactory. A number of improvements to tho Gas Works, including now bods of retorts, had been instituted during tho year, and the Gas Supply Department had shown a considerable development in its business. Tho work of improving tho general appearance of tho town had been carried on by tho Borough Forester xluring tho year, and he had been kept busy in planting and beautifying the reserves and waste spaces throughout the town. A fairly liberal sum had been ejcpended in this direction, with tho result that considerable improvements had been made in the. Council's reserves, both at Lyttelton and at Heatheoto Valley. Altogether, tho Mayor concluded, tho past year had been a "most satisfactory ono from a municipal point of viett