KAIAPOI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3564, 20 June 1872, Page 3

KAIAPOI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Tuesday, June 18.

The Council met at the usual hour for the [transaction of their ordinary fortnightly business. Present: His Worship the Mayor hnd Councillors Oram, Wearing, Pariiham, H|nll, and Fairweather. ' The minutes of the previous mooting having been read and confirmed, The Clerk laid a statement of accounts upon the table, which showed that the account of the Council was overdrawn at the bank to the extent of £6 2s. The receipts during the fortnight had been, from rent of swing bridge, £25 6s. A letter was read from Mr J. A. Bird, the Canterbury agent for the Liverpool, London, aud Globe Insurance Company, in reply to one sent to him by the authority of the Council, on the question of supplying a quantity of hose to the Kaiapoi Fire Brigade. The letter stated that at a meeting of the representatives of the several insurance offices in Christchurch, it was decided to contribute a fixed sum annually towards the maintenance of the brigade; tho grant to bo proportionately the same as that at present paid towards the maintenance of the Christchurch Fire Brigade. The hose hod been ordered from Sydney in good faith and at the request of the superintendent of the brigade, and if the Council paid one half the invoice cost of St, it would be immediately forwarded to Kaiapoi. If this wore not done, the office ■which he represented would consider the question of withdrawing their fire plant from Kaiapoi. The Mayor said Mr Bird was altogether in error in stating that the hose was ordered from Sydney, in compliance with the express request of the Fire Inspector. From what ho (the Mayor), remembered of a conversation he had with the Fire Inspector, immediately after the Cookson street fire, Mr Bird had asked the inspector to prepare a list of what hose was required, aud ho (Mr Bird), would obtain it from Sydney. The Council never instructed Mr Bird to order hose from Sydney, neither did the Fire Inspector, and ho thought that his (Mr Bird’s), remarks about the hose being ordered "expressly, and in good faith,” ought not to have .been used in nis letter. If the Council, or the Fire Inspector, acting under their instructions, had ordered hose from Sydney, or anywhere else, they were prepared to pay for it without oven incurring the risk of the high-toned threat of removing “ the fire plant from the town to the office of the Liverpool, London, and Globe, in Christchurch.” The letter the Council had instructed the clerk to write to Mr Bird, simply pointed out the fact that if the Insurance offices contributed a fair annual sum towards the maintenance of the brigade, they would then consider the question of paying a portion of the cost of any additional plant the brigade might require. He considered the Council, in writing that letter to Mr Bird, had evinced their desire to meet the insurance offices in providing means for fire prevention in the town. The insurance companies were the principal, if not the only gainers by the establishment of an efficient Fire Brigade, and, in a business point of view, it was their duty to support such brigades. The Fire Inspector was present, and, perhaps, he would state to the Council whether he ordered the hose, as per invoice received from Mr Bird. The Fire Inspector said ho had a conversation with Mr Bird after the Cookson street fire, and he told him that the hose at the disposal of the brigade was very rotten, and very little of it could be depended upon at a fire. Mr Bird then asked him to prepare a list of what hose was wanted. He aid so, and gave [the list to Mr Bird. He (the Fire Inspector), did not order the hose on his own responsibility, hut simply'complied with Mr Bird’s request, in making out the list. Councillor Oram said he understood from . a conversation he had with Mr Bird, after the Me fire, that he (Mr Bird) intended to make good the plant of the brigade. Mr Bird’s —tetter stated that the insurance companies Would contribute an, annual sum towards the ■maintenance of the brigade. This statement was veiy vague, and he would ask what did lie Council know about what proportion was mid to the Christchurch Fire Brigade. Mr Bird’s letter still left the Council in the dark : as.to what amount the insurance offices would subscribe. If they had stated any definite Biim, s he thought the Council would have been prepared to meet them in paying a portion of the cost of the hose. The Council had already • expended a large sum of money in supporting the brigade, and although they were willing to do as much as lay in their power, the financial position of the town was not such as to warrant a large expenditure in support of an institution, wmch in point of fact directly benefited the insurance companies. Councillor Wearing could not see that anything eould be done until the insurance agents state definitely what sum they would contribute annually to the support of the brigade. It was evident that a misunderstanding existed about ordering the hose. The Mayor said it would be better to refer •■the matter to the Fire Prevention Committee, so that they could consider the matter, and -Correspond with Mr Bird. As it was important that the hose should be obtained as soon as possible, the Council might give the committee full power to act in the matter before next meeting. Councillor Parnham said he thought the ■correct course would be to refer the letter to the committee, so that arrangements could be made as soon as possible. He would move—- “ that the letter be referred to the committee already appointed, and that they be authorised to take what steps they may consider advisable for making good the plant of the Brigade.” Councillor Fairweather seconded the motion, which was carried. A letter was read from Mr James Harper, requesting the Council to reinstate him as foreman of works. He hoped they would accept an apology for his being compelled to absent himself from his work. A long discussion took place upon the letter, and Councillor Hall moved —“ That the request of the foreman of works be acceded to, and that he be again reinstated.” Councillor Parnham seconded the motion, which, upon being put to the Council, was declared carried by the casting vote of the , Mayor, The Mayor stated that he bad had an interview with Mr Macfarlane, the Manager of the yntnk of New Zealand, at Kaiapoi, and he expressed his willingness to allow the Council the overdraft applied for, either on the security of the rates or the tolls of the bridge. The following accounts were passed for payment;—Toll collector’s salary, £4 10s ; engine-keeper’s salary, £5; advertising in "Gazette, £1 2s; pay-sheet, £3 16s; total, £l4 Bs. Councillor Wearing moved the following notice of motion standing in his name : - “ That the following works be carried out by tender —Metalling Charles street from the swing bridge to the east side of Jones street; installing Raven street from the bridge to Black street; metalling the side of the North voad from the bridge to the railway station; metalling Ohoka road from the North road to Persia street; making footpath on the southwest side of Fuller street, from the North road to Peraki street; making about a chain of footpath at Keetley’s comer; forming and metalling Hilton street from North road to Black street; claying and metalling sides of North rood from Sewell street to Cass street; raising crown of rood in Beswiok street a distance of five chains; forming and metalling Sewell street from North road to Jones street; repairing Jones street; making footpath from swing bridge to railway station, on east side of road.” , , .. Councillor Parnham seconded the motion. After some discussion, the motion was passed in the following amended form, yiz. ; That Charles street, Raven street, and sides of North road bo metalled; footpath on the south-west side of Fuller street formed ; one chain of footpath at Keetley’s corner made; North road, from Sewell street to Cass street, ’ clayed and metalled on sides; footpath on west side of North road, from bridge to railway Station, metalled.” The other works named in the resolution were deferred for consideration till next meeting. . , Councillor Oram handed in a notice of motion, to the effect that the resolution poised that evening, re-inStoting the foreman of

works, bo rescinded at next meeting, on the ground.tlmt.it .xm not passed in fuU.CouneU, The meeting then adjourned.