BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 363, 11 August 1875, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

LYTTBLTON. Monday, August 9. The Council meb afc the usual hour. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Chalmers, Hawkins, Graham, Young, Allwright, and Grange. The minutes of the previous meetiDg were read and confirmed. The clerk stated he had received since last meeting £65 14s. Correspondence was read:— From the Provincial Secretary, stating that the Borough Council bye-law, mentioned in their letter of July 29th, would be left to its operation, and gazetted in due course.

From the Provincial Engineer, with reference to the fence round the casualty ward, stating the Government would not object to tha fence being erected as proposed, provided the Borough Council defrayed the additional coat.

, From Dr Coward, the coroner, informing the Borough Council that he was not conscious of any unnecessary delay having occurred on his part in holding inquests, and ihat now trains ran more frequently between Christchurch and Lyttelton he did not look forward to- any delay in future, and that, though obliged to the Council for their consideration of the inconvenience to him, he could not as a public officer adduce that as a. reason for the proposed change. Further stating, that if the Sergeant-major of Police in Lyttelton would communicate directly with him by telegram, instead of sending a despatch to the Commissioner, the chief cause of delay would be removed, and that he (Dr Coward) would endeavour to have this arrangement made at once. From Mr J. Illingworth, with reference to the night cart. "Resolved —" Tbat Mr Illingworth be informed that he is at liberty to place the night cart in the first quarry past Officers Point, provided he takes means to conceal it from public view." With reference to the offer of Messrs Cunningham and Co, to contribute £ls towards taking the storm water from Peacock's Wharf, the works committee recommended that 9in pipes should be laid along the road, a distance of seventy-two yards, emptying behind Peacock's old bond.

Or GraDge moved that the drain be carried along the road, as indicated by the works committee.

Or Chalmers seconded the motion, which was carried.

In reference to the bridle path, the chairman of the works committee said that until the boundaries of the road were finally eettled they could not recommend much expenditure on it. He would move—" That a surveyor be employed to define the bouu daries of the bridle path as far as the upper fcoaie."

Cr Graham moved—" That a surveyor be employed to survey the bridle path." Tliis was seconded by Or Young. Cr Allwright moved as an amendment — " That as the finances were in such a bad state the road should be temporarily repaired." After a few remarks from Cr Chalmers,

Cr Allwright consented to add his amendment to the original resolution, which then ran as follows—" That a surveyor be employed to define the boundaries of the bridle path, the work to be carried out when the Council are in funds." Carried.

The following report from the fire brigade was then read. It ran as follows :—" I again beg to lay before the Council the necessity of procuring some new hose, as at the late fire, that we. now have proved so defective that a great quantity of water was wasted, and the power was not nearly so great as it would have been had the hose been in gooi condition. The suction hose also are getting very rotten. One broke on the night of the fire, and another length broke some time since, which 1 have had repaired to answer present purposes. The engine is in very good working order, and worked remarkably well on the night of the fire. I beg to hand in an account of .£l6 4s for extra labor employed at the engine and at the fire generally. There are many other working men in Lyttelton who have made no claim, and yet worked very energetically in saving Dr McDonald's house and property. At a meeting of the fire brigade, held on Friday last, it was resolved that helmets should be procured for the use of the brigade, and purchased with the money now lying to the brigade's credit at the Post Office Savings Bank, as at the late fire the heat was so great that the branch men had to have wet sacks thrown over their heads to protect them from the heat. (Signed) JOHN SOWden, Superintendent of Brigade." The Mayor said the behaviour of the public generally, at the late Ire, was most creditable; the town had every reason to be proud of the fire brigade. Had the same discipline been preserved at former fires, many houses and goods might have been saved. A letter from Mr Warner to the Superintendent of the brigade, with regard to the steam fire engine, was read. Mr Sowden said that he had seen Mr Warner, and that that gentleman had informed him means would be taken to have the engine ready every night in case of emergency. The Mayor moved, and Cr Allwright seconded, the reception of the report. Cr Buist called attention to the fact that the insurance offices had contributed nothing towards the brigade, in fact, they seemed hardly aware of iis existence. Cr Chalmers moved —" That the insurance association be written to on the subject. This was seconded by Cr Buist, and carried.

Or Chalmers said that, in spite of the overdraft, he would move that £l2 be expended by the Council on helmets for the fire brigade. The brigade had about £4O to their credit, and he thought it would be a disgraceful shame if this were laken for such a purpose; the men not only gave their time, but ruined their clothes at the fire. He hoped the public would take the matter in hand. There were few of the brigade who had not had boots, clothes, &c, spoilt, and it would be a disgrace to the town if they were not recompensed. The £4O should be kept to be used in case of accidents occurring. This was seconded by Cr Grange. Or Hawkins said the least the Council do would be to find the money. The motion was carried. Accounts were passed for payment amounting to £lls 15s 3d. Cr Allwright as>ked if there was any likelihood of a public meeting being held in Lyttelton with regard to the abolition of the provinces, The Mayor said, if requested, he should be happy to call a public meeting, but there seemed little public excitement on the matter. Cr Chalmers said that there was no real apathy, but the people's mind were all made up on the subject. After further discussion the subject dropped. Cr Allwright called attention to the financial position of the Council, and the interest they were paying on the large overdraft. The accounts must be squared by October 30th, and he did not know where the money was to come from. There was a piece of land had been purchased by the Council. He did not know if it was legally theirs, as it had been acquired informally. He thought this should be got rid of at once, as it was not fair for the Council to hold property and owe money. He would move—" T. at the property be at once disposed of by auction at an upset price of £200." Cr Grange seconded the resolution, Cr Chalmers said that a great mistake would be made if the property were sold before that part of.the gully was made right, as some speculator might purchase it, not to make money out of the section, but out of the Council.

The resolution on being put was lost, Crs Allwright, Grange, and Hawkins voting for, and Crs Chalmers, Young, Graham, and Buist against. Cr Allwright asked how many laborers were being employed by the Council, and where the metal that was being broken was put.' Ur Graham said the metal was being placed in Condon street and near the railway statioD, and the Mayor said it was the intention of the Council to discharge the laborers as soon as the present works were completed. Cr Allwright moved—" That the laborers be at once discharged. The motion lapsed for want of a seconder. The Mayor explained that when their loan was completed they should have funds enough to meet their liabilities. Mr Coster had- been unable to give him a decided answer in time for that evening's meeting ; but he had no doubt they should be able to show a balance on the right side by October 30th. They had got into debt by spending money in drainage. In previous years the Provincial Council had found money for this purpose. The Council then adjourned.