KAIAPOI MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2057, 25 July 1867, Page 2

KAIAPOI MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

This Council met at the usual hour on luesiiay evening, the chairman and all the members, except Dr Dudley, being present The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed.

The Clerk submitted the usual balance-sheet shewing that after last sitting, the overdraft at the bank was £37 4s lid, whilst £4 ]2s 6d had been expended on works previously ordered to be done, making a total debit of £37 17s sd. Against this was placed receipts from rent of bridge, £l6 10s 9d, and rent of river reserves, £1 135., Total, £lB 5s 9d which reduced the deficit to £23 13s Bd. The following correspondence was"next read.

Letter explaining the inability of Dr Dudley to attehd the Council in consequence of ill health.

The chairman expressed his regret that Dr Dudley should still be confined to the house but was glad to inform the members that he was rapidly recovering, and would probably resume his seat at next sitting of the Council, Letter from Matheson's Agencv, acknowledging receipt of one from the Council dated the I2ih of July, having reference to improvements on certain river reserves in Haven street. The letter deprecated the observations made by the Council, that the tramway being laid down for convenience of the Agency, could not be] considered as an improvement to the section, and as any further works the Agency might undertake, would also be for their benefit, the manager did not see any probability of there being an accordance of views on the matter.

Letter from Matheson's Agency having reference to an application for rates on a section of river reserve, tenanted by them in Raven street, and remarking that the rent was always supposed to cover all such claims, but which even not being the case, it could not be understood why 10s (signifying an assessment of £2O per annum) was asked, when the rent was only £4 2s per annum. Letter from Messrs Birch and Co,, applying for blocks 83 and 84 of the river reserves.

With reference to the first letter from Matliesun's Agency, the Chairman said it was immaterial to the Council whether the works undertaken were for convenience of the Agency or not, provided they were on the ground actually leased. This was not the case with the tramway, as it was laid down across the road, and therefore could not be considered as part of the necessary improvement.

Mr Hewlings thought the concluding passage of the letter was a very strange one, and pointed out tint nothing was said as to whether the demands of the Council would be complied with.

Mr Hall siid the Agency did not seem to understand the difference between spending money on improving the section itself and laying down a tramway to connect it with the store oa the opposite side of the road, which it was obvious to all could not be considered an improvement to the reserve. Mr Hewlings considered the letter no answer to the demands made by the Council, but merely intended as a shuffle.

Messrs Dobba and Woodford expressed similar opinions, In answer to Mr Hewlings, the Chairman said according to the agreements signed on behalf of the Agency, they were bound to expend money, not contiguous to, but actually on the property leased. He suggested that if they did not do this after the next notice the Council should order the tramway to be removed, which they had full power to do. After some funher conversation the matter was ultimately left in the hands of the Chairman for settlement. The matter referred to in the second letter from Matheson's Agency was placed in the hands of the Hate Collector, with orders to recover the amount in the usual manner if payment was refused on the next application. On the motion of Mr Dobbs, the application of Messrs Birch and Go. for Blocks 83 and 84 of the river reserves was ordered to be posted on the notice-boards in the usual manner.

The Clerk called attention to certain repairs required to the drain near Blakiston's paddock, the banks of which had lately fallen in to a considerable extent, and unless repaired, would, on the occasion of a fresh in the river, cause the surrounding property to be flooded. The necessary repairs could be effected for about £3 by driving a number of planks and filling them in behind with earth. Mr Hewlings moved that the clerk should be empowered to have the work done at once, as being highly necessary and but a trifling cost. Mr Kerr objected to the suggestion of the clerk boing carried out. He considered the expense totally unnecessary ; besides which, a far more important work" had been passed over at the last sitting for want of funds to carry it out-he referred to the metalling of Oookson street, which it was most desirable should be done at the earliest possible opportunity. Tho road had been but very imperfectly shinglod beforo, and during the past wet weather, it was one mass of puddle. This work ought to havo priority over any but those really urgent and imperative. Mr Hewlings Bald tho repairs to the drain wero most urgent, if it was desirable to prevent Inundation. Mr Kerr had visited the drain within a Tory few days, and had seen no necessity for repairs to the hank or danger of inundation.

The Clerk explained that the banks had given way very considerably during the past two or threo days. Tho motion whs ultimately seconded and carried.

Mr Kills called attoiitlon to a mistako having been mudo in tho metalling of Jones streot. The Council had only sanctioned its being metalled from Charles street to iiowoll street, whereas it had been metalled to Cass stroet, which Included apiece of roadway scarcely ever used for dray traffic, thus incurring a needless expense. 'The Clerk thought that Mr Ellis was wrong, but on reference to the minute book it Wiis found that tho metalling should not have been carried further than Sewell streot,

Mr Ellis mid other members deprecated the mlmuke hb In-iiiK a more than usually serious ono in tho then stato of the Council's funds. Mr Woodford dlled attention to numerous trces|and hedges overhanging the footpaths

within the town, and suggested that the present being a proper time of the year for outting them, tlio clerk should see to them being reduced to proper dimensions. Mr Hawlingi said there was a standing resolution empowering tho clerk to do thii Without orders, but he thought great ne«ligenco had been shewn, as in several places persons could not walk on tho footpaths without coming into unpleasant contact with the trees, &c.

The Clerk was ordered to compel persons to cut their hedges where requisite, at once, Mr Henwood called attention to a small culvert being required at tho Fuller street end of Pcraki strcet.but no funds being available, the matter was deferred until a more favourable opportunity. Mr Hall pointed out tho destruction of one of the posts at the corner of Black street, and suggested that the police should be asked to keep a sharp look out for persons committing bucli damage. In answer to a remark made by Mr Dobbs The Clerk said that Messrs Wylde and Dudley members of the embankment committee had recently inspected tho protective works at Sneyd's comer, but no neccisity of repairs was apparent. A small balance remained in the hands of the committee, and if on a further examination any repairs were required, they would be effected without delay.

The Council than adjourned to the 6th of August.