KAIAPOI BOROUGH COUNCIL,

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2594, 29 April 1869, Page 2

KAIAPOI BOROUGH COUNCIL,

Tuesday, April 27. Present: Tbs Mryor, Councillors Kerr, Middelton* Dudley, Birch, Newnham, Hall, and Oram. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed.

Copies of outward correspondence were read. Letters were read from P. L. Nielson, tendering Ms resignation of the office of Assessor to the Borough, which was accepted.

From the Her W. W. Wilbck, forwarding the following protest bearing 59 signatures. He stated that himself and others had signed the protest with the idea that it was better to have a more deliberate expression of opinion than that afforded by a show of hands at a public meeting. “We the undersigned ratepayers of the Borough of Kaiapoi, protest against any further proceeding being taken by the Council in the action ‘ Beswickv. the Council,’ excepting in the manner proposed in the resolution passed at the meeting of ratepayers held on Wednesday, the 14th oi April, 1869.” Two letters from the Council’s Solicitor were not publicly read; one of these enclosed the opinion of the Attorney General on the action in which the Council is engaged ■, this was submitted for the perusal of members. The 59 signatures to the protest were then scrutinised, two were found not to be on the burgess roll, thus reducing the number to o' against 162, the total number of ratepayers. these, according to their property qualification, were capable of recording 78 vote* against 211, the total number of votes possible to be recorded.

Councillor Birch moved, and Counoilioi Kerr seconded, “ That the receipt of the Key. W. W. Willock’s letter be acknowledged, and that he be informed that on so important a point as that therein referred u. the Council does not, feel justified in making any alteration in its present course of proceeding :—Firstly, because the Councils strongly advised on high legal authority that to abandon the case in its present stagy would be very prejudicial to the interests o> the borough. Secondly, because after (as u is rumouied) a vast amount of canvassiu-. the protest enclosed in Mr Willoek's letter i> signed by only rather more than one-third of the br-gesses, and cannot therefore be estooineby the Council as representing the true interests of the majority of the town.” Councillor Hall had nothing to say agai"'’ the resolution. He had promised at tM public meeting that if a memorial, signed >'. v anything like a majority, were sent in, m would support it. But as this one was uo. signed by a majority, he could not do so. The motion was then put and carried unanimously. , The Mayor asked if any member wished y rescind the motion instructing their soluutm to proceed with the action. No oue wislu g to do so, he said he would notify the same '■ Mr Williams. . . The Clerk stated that ho had received m answer from the Government in relation the Bridge scheme. It was resolved that the Governmen pressed for an answer on the ha* n ‘ scheme, and informed that the bridge is safe for traffic. . , The Public Works Committee reported i the pound, and suggested repairs amoun _- to A 3, which would enable it to . years. Mr Ellen had been seen bj on the subject of the protective emlxm ment. He had promised to repair it ay y • j the ground was softened by ram sufhcit 0 allow him to cut good sods im-7 ( caused about 60 loads of gravel to bt.pi’ in holes in the street. Raven st^ eet n(r q “ ~n s re-metalling. The bridge was of the effect of the continued heavy"„ fc , on it, and was getting more and mor - They recommended that an invent 7 ( Council’s tools, &c„ should be taken, and tool-house locked, as several o gj e been lost. Great complaints bad bee , SSfiLK previously com-

pUoeOot.ttleKukaiijlßoKl Tl»jb»d TCnSt'ea the Fuller street culvert. . tup Clerk reported that he had received no answer from Mr Lynskey respecting the resolved on the motion of Conndllor lerr, seconded by Councillor Birch—** That the Clerk write to Mr Lynskey informing him that if the repairs reported on by the Public Works Committee are not at once executed by him, they will be executed by the Council at b-s expense.*’ On the motion of Councillor Newnham, seconded by Councillor Dudley, it was resolved —“ That it be an instruction to the Public Works Committee to place gravel in Haven street, Black street, North Road, and Charles street.” , It was resolved-*' That the Public Works Committee see Mr Harris and inform him that unless the nuisance complained of in the report be abated, he will be indicted for a nuisance.” , The Clerk was directed to write to Belcher and Fairweather requiring them to replace a post, near the Bank of New Zealand, broken by one of their teams. Accounts amounting to £3 9s 3d were passed and ordered to be paid. Councillor Kerr moved, and Councillor Dudley seconded, “ That Mr Dudson’s name be accepted in lieu of Mr Nielson’s, as security for W. A. Crooke’s bridge contract.” After some discussion, the motion was carried. Councillor Birch moved, and Councillor Dudley seconded the motion, the consideration of which had been adjourned from last meeting, respecting the granting of an extension of lease from 14 to 21 years, to Mr W. F. Newnham. Councillors Newnham and Oram retired from the discussion. After some conversation pro. and con., it was resolved to adjourn the discussion for another week. The following is the financial statement: Dr. To balance in bank, £l3O 14s 6d. Cr. By balance forward, £ 106 16s 9d ; Kates, £1; Rent of River Reserves, £2 17s 9d ; Rent of Bridge, £2O. Total, £l3O 14s 6d. The Council then adjourned.