CITY COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17390, 30 January 1917, Page 7

CITY COUNCIL.

LAST NIGHT'S MEETING. Aftor an interval of five weeks, for the Christmas holidays, tiho City Council resumed last night *with its usual fortnightly meetings. There were presct_Tho Mayor (Mr H. Holland), and Councillors J. M'Combs, M.P., W. H. Cooper, J. R. Hayward, J. Reynolds, H. F. Herbert, D. G. Sullivan, E. Peek, J. M'Cullough, P. Burgoyne, A. S. Taylor, U. W. Boanland, A. Williams, J. O. Jameson. H. J. Otley and G. Scotti.

CEMETERY RESERVES. < The Reserves and Cemeteries Committee reported that it was commencing work on the new cemetery, and inviting tenders for the necessary soiling of tihe surface and for removing the cottage to near the entrance and adding two rooms. Tho committee had taken control of the Roman Catholic and Methodist cemeteries, in Barbadoes Street, and a general cleaning up was being carried out. The sum of £262 15s had been received, being the cash held by tho trustees of the Methodist Cemetery. Messrs Smith and Mbseley had applied for consent to the transfer of the lease of the R&kaia reserve from Mr E. J. Hill to Mr Edwin Fox, and the committee recommended that tho application should be granted. Mr P. Lynskey had applied for the transfer of his lease of the Bottle Lake Reserve to Mr Basil Seth-Smith, of Waiau, and the committee recommended that consent should bo granted. ( ' The report was adopted. THE WALTHAM ORPHANAGE. The Hospital Board wrote stating that the Orphanage was used only as a matter of urgent need, and was not likely to be used for more than three months, when the necessary additions to the infectious diseases hospital at Burwood would be completed. The letter- was received. CITY EXTENSIONS. A letter was received from the Departuieut of Internal Affairs stating chat i\ portion of Bromley Riding or Heathcoto County desired to be incorporated within the city. The area was a- fairly well populated, part lying on the east sido oi Buckley's Road, between Linwood Avenue and Reserve No.' 211.

Tho By-laws Committee reported that the Hcathcote County Council had decided to sigu agreements for any portion of the county doming into tho city to continue rating on its present system of rating. Two agreements had been submitted for tho council's consent by the Heathcote County United Burgesses' Executive' regarding the continuing of the system of rating on capital valuo in the Avonside and Bromley Ridings. The- committee recommended that consent should be given.

The report was adopted. ELECTRICITY

Tho Electric Light and Power Committee , reported that an opportunity having arisen to purchase a quantity of w.ire ror house-wiring, fifty miles had been obtained. This was probably tho last opportunity of purchasing Britishmade wire that would occur for a long time as it was unflerstood that the export of cablo from Great Britain had been prohibited. The engineer reported 'that the cost of additional street lamps might be reduced as, owing to their being installed on existing circuits, the only items of increased cost were the lamp brackets and insulators, together with the additional circuit and' transformer capacity, and therefore the capital charge per lamp could bo reduced from lfcte to 4s, making the totel cost for new lamps £2 6s per 100 c.p. per annum as against £3 at present. Tho contract with the New Brighton Borough Council for tho supply of electrical energy to the borough had been finally settled.

The report was adopted. MISCELLANEOUS

The Minister of Defence wrote stating that the pay of men enrolled, in the Motor Boat Patrol could not be put on the same basis as men of the reinforcements. They had enlisted voluntarily, with a. full knowledge of conditions and pay, and he had received no complaint from them. The letter was received, Councillors "Reynolds and M'Combs expressing the view that it was unsatisfactory. The Canterbury Centre of the Swimming Association wrote congratulating the council on the institution of free, tuition in swimming at the Tepid Bath. jThe Public Works Department wrote, stating that Belfast Street would bo exempted from the provisions of the Public Works Act in-regard to the building lino.

The tender of A. and T. Burt . at £136 12s was accepted for special-cast-ings.

On Councillor Burgoyne's motion the question of securing the removal of a septic tank'erected in Malcolm Avenue by the Heathcote County Council was referred to the Town Clerk.

The chairmen ,of the Works, Electrical, Finance, Abattoir and Waterworks Committees was set up to deal with returning soldiers in the council's, employ. \ ■;