LYTTELTON MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 1926, 20 February 1867, Page 2

LYTTELTON MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

♦ MONDAT, EBB, 18. All the members were present. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Clerk reported that the following amounts had been received since last meeting :—On account of Provincial Government grant, £325; Governor's reception, £IOO. Total, £425. The Clerk read a letter forwarded to Mr Marshall, custodian of the bathing shed, informing him that if his late conduct was repeated he would have the full rental of £so' enforced. The Council considered his conduct had caused the number of bathers to diminish.

The copy of another letter, addressed to Mr Dobson, on the subject of the pump near the mouth of the tunnel requesting him to reconsider his decision was read.

The Chairman announced that a clerical error had been discovered in the lease granted to Mr D. Davis, and he expressed an opinion that the deed ought to be re-executed. Mr Grubb inquired where the mistake occurred.

MrD'Oyly, solicitor to the Council, who was present, said that the error was in the number of feet described in the body of the deed. The plan was right, but there was a difference in the deed. The present Chairman would have to re-execute the deed and initial the alterations, Mr Hargreaves, the former chairman, having resigned. Mr Grubb proposed, and Mr Wright seconded that the deed be re-executed, as suggested by the solicitor, which was agreed to.

The Chairman, in accordance with thia resolution, initialled the alteration, and attached the seal of the Council to the deed. A letter was read from the Assistant Treasurer of the Provincial Government, enclosing cheques for the sums of £225 and £IOO respectively, being 25 per cent, of the Government grant, and the sum voted for the Governor's reception, The weekly report of the Inspector of Nuisances was handed in and read. Several persons on the west side of Dublin street had been complained against for having thrown ashes, rubbish, &c, on to the road. He also reported that several comphhts had been made during the late hot we;i >er of persons keeping pigs in the town, "he parlies on whom he had been directed to call respecting their guttering had complied with the notice. With regard to Mr Davis's premises he had a gutter, but the rain splashed from the coping on to the street.

The Chairman asked Mr D'Oyly whether the Council had power to make a by-law to prevent persons keeping pigs in the town. Mr D'Oyly replied in the negative.

The Clerk said that they had forwarded a by-law on tills subject to the Superintendent for approval*, and the legal adviser of the Government had reported that the Council had not the power to make sucli a by-law. On the subject of the curator of the bathing-shed coming on for discussion, Mr Gee said that two gentlemen had called upon him, and complained of the dirty state of t!ie shed, and the continued absence of the custodian. Mr Balestiee said that lie also had received complaints respecting the custodian, but he had advised persons making them to do so in writing.

Mr Wilcox mentioned a case in which he himself witnessed the neglect of the custodian. He thought it to be the ditty of the Council to see that the custodian carried out the duties of his office in a proper manner, if not, they should devise some means of compelling him to do so. Mr Hill thought the best way would be for a committee to be appointed to investigate the matter. He should move " That a committee, comprising Messrs Taylor, Gee, and Balestiee, be appointed to investigate the case."

Mr Wilkin seconded this, which was carried.

Mr Gee rose to ask whether any official notification of the departure of his Excellency Sir George Grey had been received by the Council. He thought the Council had not been treated properly by the authorities in this matter.

The Chairman said that no official notice of any kind had been given to the Council of the departure of the Governor. He had been told that the Governor had asked two or three times why the Municipal Council was not present. Mr Gee would move the following resolution :—" That a letter be written by the Council to Sir George Grey, regretting the apparent neglect at not being present at his departure, and explaining that the omission arose from the Council not receiving any official notice of his departure." Seconded by Mr Hill, and carried.

Tlie report of the works committee was then handed in and read. They reported the employment of additional labour, so as to complete the channelling of Oxford street as soon as possible. That they had requested Mr Smart to lay down a small piece of asphalte in front of Messrs. Cummins and Watcrworth'g shops in London street, which however he had refused to do. Tiny also recommended the metalling of the Zig Zag as soon as pjssible. The report was then considered seriatim.

With regard to Mr Smart's refusal to complete the asphalte, it was moved by Mr Wright, seconded by Mr Baleatiee, and agreed to •' That a letter be written to Mr Smart, requesting him to perform the work." The metalling of the Zig Zag was left to the Work's Co mnittee.

Mr Balestiee moved, and Mr Gee seconded, " that the lleathcote Uoad Board be written to calling their attention to the state of the road on the other side of the hill from the top of the Zig Zag to Day's Sumner Hotel." Mr Wilcox thought the Council would only he interfering in matters which it had no business with, if they adopted the proposition. The motion was carried. On the suggestion of Mr Willcox, the

Clerk was instructed to apply to Messrs Macfarlan and Nottid»e, for the Amended Act and all papers relative to the Lyttelton Water Supply, and that the same be laid on the table next meeting. On the motion of Mr S. E. Wright, and seconded by Mr Wilkin, it wai resolved, 11 That a letter be sent to the Secretary for Public Works, calling his attention to the disgraceful state of that portion of Norwich Quay (not under Municipal control) between Canterbury street and Jackson's road." The motion was carried. On the motion of Mr Wilkin, seconded by Mr Wright, it was resolved " That a hmp be affixed to the veranda of the Post-office, as heretofore, and lighted and extinguished with the other town lamps." The following accounts were ordered to be paid, after which the Council adjourned. Weekly pay sheet ... £l3 2 0 Governor's reception account 136 19 0 £IBO 1 0