KAIAPOI MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1401, 18 May 1865, Page 5

KAIAPOI MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

The Council held their usual meeting in the new Council chamber, on Tuesday evening last, at 7 p.m. All the members present; Dr. Dudley in the chair. The minutes of last meeting having been read and confirmed, the Clerk proceeded to read the following report of the Surveyor:— " The artesian well in Cookson street is now sunk to a depth of 112 feet; an overflow of one foot above the surface has been obtained, but not sufficiently strong. The workmen are convinced the requisite strength will be procured by sinking a few feet deeper. Mr. Powrie has completed the contract for the alterations at the Toll House. The Work is done in a most satisfactory and workmanlike manner. Having had my attention drawn to the bad state of Beswick street, in consequence of the late heavy rains, I inspected it, and found the footpaths flooded in many places, for want of proper culverts to drain uway the water. I spoke to Mr. Stevens concerning it, when he Bent mo the specification I now lay before you, for the necessary repairs, &c. Mr. Oram has undertaken to provide a lamp-post and framework complete, for the lamp at the Bridge, for the sum of £7. Mr. Gunn has almost completed the fence at the Toll-house. The anchor and buoy for the river have arrived, according to contract. Mr. Stevens has completed his contract for clearing out several water-ways, in various parts of the town." Mr. Dohbs drew the attention of the Council to the very inefficient manner in which certain work had been done in tjcwell street. The Clerk was ordered to inspect it, and prevent a similar occurrence in future. t . The Anchor and Buoy Committee were requested to superintend the placing of the buoy in the river, by Mr. liitchie, on Wednesday next. Mr. Dobbs observed that the swing bridge had been opened several times of late during the night, for vessels to proceed up the river. In the present state of the bridge, there was considerable danger attendant upon this practice, as there was nothing to prevent horsemen, (in a dark night, riding on to it, and into the river. lie would suggest a bar being placed across each end of the bridge on such occasion!*, to prevent any accidents. It was decided that the Chairman should see to the necessary bars being made and fixed as he thought best. The Chairman directed the attention of the Council to the immediate necessity of carrying away the surplus water from the artesian well, which, » allowed to run to waste when an overflow was ofii tained, would become a great nuisance to the neighbourhood. . Mr. Dohbs gave notice of motion for next ineoii ing—" That the water from the well be conveyed ; through a drain to the river-bank near the old ferry, , where a reservoir be provided for its reception. Mr. Diiy thought that as subscriptions for the welt were principally given by the residents in Char ei I street, the pipe at the well should be enclosed and I conveyed by other pipes on to the river bink, where j a tank should be erected three or four feet from tne ground, to prevent cattle drinking from it. The Chairman stated that when all accounts now i due were paid, their account would be overdrawn at 1 the Bank ; therefore, they could not convey i the water away according to Mr. Day's sugges ion, » which would entail considerable expense. However,

the proposed plan should be adoptod when they had sufficient funds. The following accounts were ordered to bo paid: —Mr. I'owrie, for alteration at Toll-house, £12.1155; J. 1\ White and Co., for sundries, 12s 6d; /,;/<(<•!(on Times, for advertising, &c., £2 6» I0d; livening Mail, ditto, £1 I2h; J. Anderson, for anchor and buoy, £»8 (is; Stevens, for repairing water-courses, &c., £8 17s fid. The following documents were then rend:— A letter from W. A. Crooke, requesting permission to erect a lamp-post opposite his stables in Cnolcson street. — Grunted, on condition that ho should remove it whenever required to do so by the Council. A letter from Dr. Beswick, calling the attention of the Council to the present state of a portion of Oum street, from a point where the late Koiul Hoard had carted soil for the formation of the footpaths in the town.

The Clerk was ordered to write, and inform Dr. Beswick that tho matter would be considered on a future occasion.

A tender from Mr. Oram, to paint the fenco at the Toll-hoube.—Declined for the present, in consequence of the insufficiency of funds. A tender und specification from Mr. Stevens, in which he stated he will provide two culverts, composed of 4 J-inch draining tiles, und put them down in their proper places ; form the footpaths on one sideof Beswick street; and lower the water-channels and culverts in Jones street, Cass street, and Sewell street—for the suiu of £1813s 4d.

Mr. Hew lings proposed that Mr. Stevens' contract be accepted, as the necessity for the alterations was very great. Mr. Lock thought that tender* ought to be publicly advertised for; he should object to a contract being privately accepted. Mr. Winterbourne coincided with Mr. Lock relative to tenders being publicly advertised. There had already been a great deal of grumbling amongst the inhabitants, in consequence of tenders being accepted privately. Mr. Black thought as tho wet weather had now set in, and the inhabitants of Beswick street, &c., would be left in such great discomfort whilst tenders were being called for, it was their duty to accept the present tender to save time. In future, he should object to tenders being accepted in the same manner; they ought to be publicly advertised. He would, however, second Mr. Hewlings' resolution. Mr. Lock moved an amendment on Mr. Ilewling's motion—"That tenders should be publicly advertised for, for the necessary repairs to the water-ways in Beswick street, &c.

Mr. Winterbourne seconded the amendment. The amendment wns then put and lost; the original motion was carried. There being no further business to transact, the Council adjourned until the 30th inst. We cannot let the present opportunity pass without congratulating the Council on the change of quarters so long desired, from their former dark and dilapidated rooms to the present comfortable and commodious premises. We would also mention the great credit due to Mr. Powrie, the contractor for the building, for the very finished and excellent manner in which lie has completed his work.