LYTTELTON BOROUGH.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 880, 5 December 1916, Page 8

LYTTELTON BOROUGH.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The LyHelton Borough Council met last evening when there were present:—The Mayor (Mr W. Radcliffe), and Crs J. T. Norton, W. T. Foster, M. J. Miller, E. R. Isaacs, J. R. Webb, T. Hempstalk, and B. Rhind. The Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. G. W. Russell, wrote in connection with the circular motion recently sent out by the Port Chalmers Borough Council, and endorsed by the Lyttelton Borough Council regarding high salaried Government odicials receiving a war bonus. The letter stated that the motion had evidently not been based on fact. Only married officials receiving £315 or less received an annual bonus of £ls, single men of the same status receiving £7 10/-. Casual workmen received a 10 per cent, bonus, not exceeding 1/- per day. The Minister thought that these increases were rot unreasonable. The letter was received. A letter from a resident of Diamond Harbour asking that a system of season tickets should be inaugurated for the trip across the harbour was referred to the Estates Committee, and the council intimated that it was willing to receive a deputation. The financial statement showed the district fund account dr £4lO 10/8 and the temporary loans account dr £11,218 1/10. Accounts amounting to £339 5/10 were passed for payment. The Waterworks Committee - report slated that the double break up occurring on the water main at Heathcote on November 23 was due to concussion caused by the failure of the fool valve on the suction pipe. The break had been quickly repaired. On 11.e recommendation of the listates Committee Messrs Kaye and Carter's lease of the stores at Officer's Point was renewed. It was decided to call tenders for painting several public buildings in the borough. The committee recommended that it should be authorised to obtain information and report as to the advisability of offering Godley House at Diamond Harbour as a convalescent home for returned soldiers. The chairman of the committee, Cr Foster, in moving the motion, said that the matter would need a good deal of consideration, but the soldiers were deserving of Ihe best, and he would be pleased to see the plan carried out. Several of Ihe councillors heartily supported the motion. It was thought that the place would be an ideal one for the men to recuperate their health. The recommendation was adopted. The Bv-laws Committee recom-

mended that as the bowling club had made application in proper terms for permission to make a sec- j ond connection with the water main, no further action should be taken, j This was adopted. The Works Committee reported that Messrs F. J. and D. J. Page had offered to transfer to the Council for the purpose of widening the road, a piece of land giving twelve | feet of frontage to each street at the intersection of Dublin and Exeter I Streets, the condition being that the council erect a new fence at the: frontage of the property, the material for which will be supplied by j Messrs Page. The offer would enable a much needed improvement to be carried out at the corner, and as the proposal was an advantageous one from the Council's point of view the committee recommended that it be accepted.—This was adopted. i Wiih a view to facilitating tininterchange of passengers between the ferry launch and other boats j running to Diamond Harbour on holidays, the committee recommended that passengers be charged a ( return fare to Diamond Harbour of one shilling on the following holidays:—New Year's Day, Easter Mon-1 day, Labour Day, Show Day, Anniversary Day and Boxing Day, provided that the owners of residences i al Diamond Harbour and their fami- ' lies would only be required to pay the ordinary fare on such holidays. —This was adopted. The committee also reported that I the ferry launch Ruahine had been laid up on the slip to adjust the stern \ bearing. A lighter propeller had also been fitted, and was giving, satisfactory results. Cr Isaacs moved that the lights in the drill shed be improved by the council at a cost of about £lO or £l2. The motion was carried, Cr Norton's oiler of the loan of two or three powerful gas lamps being gratefully received. Cr Isaacs asked if the Works Committee had the right to call for tenders without instructions from the council. The Mayor said that Ihe commit-j tee had not that right. Councillor Isaac then asked by what right the Works Committee had called for tenders for building a wall. The council maintained an engineer who was an expert in tint kind of work, and he should have j been able to do it as cheaply as a contractor. Cr Norton (chairman of the Works Committee) said that he did not know that the committee was creating a precedent by its action. Cr Hempstalk said that he did not think the attack on the engineer was fair. He could not supervise every job within the borough, and Lyttcl-, ton was not the only borough em-j ploying an engineer which called for; tenders. Cr Foster said that they were j

opening up a very big question. If they were going to call for tenders they might as well dismiss the staff I and do everything by contract. The Mayor said that there was | nothing in the contention that the borough staff should be able to do the work. Cr Isaacs then went on to say that there was always a cry that the : council could not get labour, and he knew that last winter there were plenty of men willing to come from j the wharves. He moved that the council advertise for labour the i wages to be £2 19/4 a week. The 'council had a large sum to spend, land they might as well get free , lobour to push on the Simeon Quav wall. Cr Miller said he thought that the employment of further labour at the present tome when the quarries were not ready "would be throwing away the ratepayers' money. The discussion continued until a > late hour and Cr Isaacs eventually \ agreed to withdraw his motion and bring the matter up at the next council meeting