LYTTELTON BOROUGH. COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCV, Issue 10921, 1 April 1896, Page 3

LYTTELTON BOROUGH. COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of this Council was held on Monday ; present—the Mayor (Mr .1. Stinson) and Councillors Grubb, lUingw.orth, Radoliffe, Owen, • Brice, Laurenson and Hobden. Correspondence was received:—From E. H. Gardner relative to storm water from the road above bis property. Referred to the W orks Committee with power to act. From R. Christian, applying for stone to build a wall. Referred to' the Works Committee.' The-'Finance Committee reported receipts since last meeting *8149 17s Bd, and payments amounting- to <£ls7- 18s were'" authorised. The report of the Estates Committee was adopted. Councillor Laurenson, Chairman of the Finance Committee, ‘ submitted a special report. It showed the Council’s position to have been as follows :—On March 31, 1891, in credit £65; 1892, credit £97; 1893, debit £760; 1894, debit £880; 1893, debit £736; March, 1896, debit £6Bl. The sudden alteration from 1892 to 1893 was caused by the expenditure ’of £ISOO on waterworks out of ordinary revenue. The position had been slowly; improving, but owing to loss of revenue in some three, or four items, -the committee found it impossible to carry on as at present. The reduction of the rental of the British Hotel was a loss of £IOO a year, and they lost the rates and license fees of three hotels which had been closed by the Licensing • Committee; while the decision of the Council to quarry red stone free of cost to any ratepayer who was building a wall facing the road or street was costing about £l7O per year, and the privileges of the, ratepayers had been extended by the collection of rubbish once a week. With regard to putting the finances in a better condition, the committee could see ' but two ways. One was to materially reduce the staff and the wages, or to increase the

rate from 9d to Is in the £. The report was adopted. The report of the Recreation Committee recommended that the ground should be closed till further notice, to give ’ the grass time to grow, and that advice should be taken,-as to improving it. The report was adopted- Councillor Radcliffe, chairman of the Sanitary Committee, asked for an', extension of thn,e to bring up a report on the inspection of dairies, slaughter-houses, &c. It was resolved—“ That a medical health officer be appointed forthwith, and that a schedule of duties be drawn up by the Sanitary Committee.” A motion for levying a rate of Is in the £ was passed, and the meeting terminated. 1