KAIAPOI MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1620, 23 February 1866, Page 2

KAIAPOI MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

The Council met at seven p.m., on Tuesday evening last. Present—The Chairman, and Messrs. Hewlings, Dobbs, Porter, Henwood, Hall, Funston, and Elliss. The minutes of last meeting were read, approved, and signed. The Committee appointed to define the duties of the intended Foreman of the Works reported, that the duties had been decided upon, and would be submitted for the acceptance of the Council at its next sitting. With reference to the address of the Post-master-General, respecting the discontinuance of the letter delivery in Kaiapoi, the Chairman stated, that the Committee appointed to consider the matter had talked it over, fbut thought it would be advisable to defer it until statistics had been collected of the number of letters and papers passing through the Kaiapoi Post-office, as, otherwise, their labours would be useless, and the Government might reply, in answer to the address, that the number of letters, &c, for delivery, would not justify the expense of a postman. Mr. Porter said, since the committee had discussed the matter, he had collected the full particulars of the letters passing through the Post-office, and of the houses in the town, which he thought were all they required, and therefore he and Mr. Dobbs had prepared a draft of the address to be forwarded, coupled with statistics mentioned, and which were as follows :—Letters received for the year ending Dec 31st, 1865, 26,362 ; papers, 17,282. Dispatched same year : Letters, 25,204; papers, 7348. Number of buildings in Kaiapoi: North side, 90 ; south side, 79. The draft of the address was then read and adopted, and the committee were requested to meet at once and take the necessary steps for forwarding as early as possible. The application of Mr. Macpherson for block 44, of the River Reserves, was next considered, and as no objections had been made by any of the residents, was granted. The chairman reported that Messrs. Wright and Hammett had sounded the River bed around the piles of the new bridge, and had sent in their report and plan. The report was laid on the table and read. The report stated that the first and second row of piles from the north end and each row on the south side of the swing were in the same state as when last examined; but that at the third row of piles from the north end, the river bed had filled up 3ft, the fourth row lft, and at the piles on which the swing rests, lft, with shingle. The report also stated that above the bridge there were 6ffc of water in the channel on the south side, but which became rapidly shallower towards the buoy, which was aground in 2ft of water, the chain being buried by the drift shingle, and that a shingle spit was rapidly forming about 50 yards below the bridge, being now only covered by 2ft of water, and stretching from the north bank almost half way across the river. Mr. Knight also handed his report of his interview with Mr. Dobson, respecting the bank of the river in Raven street. It stated that Mr. Dobson did not recommend anything being done to the bank of the river at present, as nothing but piling it, as for wharfage, would be of any use; but he strongly recommended the blind creek to be opened, and made 30 feet wide and 6 feet deep, in as near a straight line with the stream of the river as possible, as it would, in his opinion, have the effect of shunting the force of the current from off the bank on to the shingle spit, through which it would in time form a straight channel with the river. The Chairman said he was also present when Mr. Dobson gave the above advice, and which from the reasons given, he (the Chairman) thought, as, if followed, likely to protect the bank, and hoped the Council would carry out the plan. Mr. Dobson had also examined the new bridge, and he said he certainly should not advise the placing of the stones and clay around the piles of the bridge the whole breadth of the rivtr, as first recommended; but, as the piles on which the swing rested had a tendency to sink towards the north end, he should advise that a quantity of the stone should be sunk inside the circle of piles, which would have the effect of steadying it and prevent it from going further. This plan had been adopted at the Heathcote bridge, and found to answer the purpose in every way. After considerable discussion, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Hewlings, that Mr. Dobson's advice concerning both the bridge and the blind creek should be carried out at once; tenders for the work to be advertised for according to specifications to be prepared by Mr. Wright. The following applications for River Reserves were opened, and ordered to be posted on the notice bards of the Council until the next sitting, according to the Reserves Regulations :—Air. Birch, blocks 84 and 88, for the term of seven years; Mr. Macpherson, block 54, for seven years; Mr. G. C. Black, block 9, for fourteen years. Some discussion then ensued on the financial position of the Council, the Chairman pointing out that, as such extensive works were about to be commenced, and all the funds of the Council being bespoke, it would be advisable to consider the question of the rates to be levied for 1866. The Clerk, in reply to the Chairman, said the new ratepayers' list had been prepared, and was now ready for the assessment. After some further desultory conversation, it was resolved that the necessary steps be taken for levying a rate at once. Notice was ordered to be given that the new ratepayers' list was ready, and that the Council would sit on Monday, the sth of March, at eleven a.m., for the purpose of hearing any objections against it. Mr. R. Wright's account of £39, for piling the river bank in Charles street, and sundry other works, were ordered to be paid. The Chairman pointed out that a quantity of the stone ordered for the bridge would not be required, and therefore it would be advisable to sell it. On the motioa of Mr. Dobbs, the Clerk was ordered to ascertain what quantity of stone would be required for sinking around the piles supporting the swing part of the bridge, and than to offer the remainder for sale at 30s per cubic yard. Some discussion ensued relative to the waste of water at the artesian well, in North road, when the Clerk was ordered to have the waste pipe lowered. Two notices of motion, standing in Mr. Birch's name, were ordered to stand over until next sitting of the Council. Notices of motion, for next meeting, were given. By Mr. Hewilngs—« That an artesian well be sunk at the corner of Beswick and

Charles street, on a piece of ground given for tag jmeose by Mr. Harris." W-&rMs- That an artesian well be sunk in Pe&ki street, and one in Black strdjiL" J \ JJj^f.Kenwood—" That a foreman of the appointed according to the duties QpfinJjfPpy the committee." iH TtftfCouncil then adjourned to Monday theJiwof March, at 11 a.m. '