BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 68, 19 August 1874, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

LYTTELTON. August 17th, 1874

The weekly meeting was held on Monday as usual. Present: His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Kenner, Buist, Graham, Hawkins, Grange, Young, and Allwright. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The clerk then proceeded to read the minutes of the special meeting held on Thursday last. Cr Allwright rose to point out the absurdity of holding meetings with closed doors, and then reading what occurred at them in the presence of the public. A long discussion ensued, the Mayor stating his belief that there was nothing in the Act to prevent the minutes of all meetings being read., Crs Grange and Hawkins concurred in Cr Allwright’s argument. Eventually, the minutes were read publicly, but the reporters retired.

The following correspondence was read : From the Secretary for Public Works in reply to letter relative to Water Supply for Lyttelton, running as follows : “ Sir—l have the honor by direction of his Honor the Superintendent, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th inst, relative to the Lyttelton Water Supply, and in reply, 1 have to state that the Government, after duly considering all the proposals for supplying Lyttelton with water has decided to adopt that submitted to it by Mr Higginson, and arrangements have accordingly been made with that gentleman by which, under his direction, the survey necessary for the exact data and levels for preparation of final plans, and fur ordering the requisite plant, will proceed early this week.” Cr Graham could not let this communication pass without some remark. He thought the Government should have consulted them before finally adopting any plan. They would incur an enormous debt if Mr Higginson’s plan was adopted. Before they parted that night they should pass some motion that would have the effect of procuring more information from the Government. Accounts to the amount of £‘?9 Is were passed and ordered to be paid. The matter of the late town clerk’s salary was then discussed. The Mayor called attention to the fact that the election of new members should be advertised as the Act required fourteen clear days before the election, and there would not be time after the next weekly meeting. They were aware that if the three Crs that were bound to retire, two, viz, Crs Buist and Allwright, should undoubtedly do so. As regarded the third, Cr Grange and himself were both in precisely the same position as regarded retiring. He thought that for many reasons he (the Mayor) had better be the retiring member and would move it himself. Cr Graham seconded the motion which was carried. Cr Graham then rose to move the motion standing in his name, that the resolution moved by the Mayor censuring Cr Allwright be expunged from the minute book. The Mayor stated that he could find nothing in the Act relative to the casein point. He would leave the chair to promote freedom of discussion.

Or Hawkins was requested to take the chair. Or Graham said the less such matters were talked about the bettor. He would merely move the motion standing in his name. He hoped there would be no discussion. Cr Grange seconded the motion. Or Allwright thought the Mayor should not have retired, as by clause 23 of the standing orders he ought to withdraw the expressions used. Crs Hawkins and Grange reminded Cr Allwright that .the Mayor had already spoken on the subject. The motion was carried.

The Mayor having retaken his seat, Cr Kenner moved the motion standing in his name—“ That the ground at the back of the Colonists’ Hall should be fenced.” The work was a necessary one. Mr Jones, the overseer of the prisoners, had promised to do the work with them, and would also undertake the formation of a concrete gutter to carry water off; if he could get the materials the gang would do all the labor.

Or Graham seconded the motion, and thought they should do it now, when it could be completed at a reasonable rate. Cr Allwright approved of the plan, but thought grass should be planted instead of trees, as the laud would soon be built upo». The Mayor having expressed his concurrence, Cr Kenner replied, and the motion was carried unanimously. Cr Kenner moved —“ That no member of the Council or their servants shall purchase anything of more value than £1 without the approval of the other members.” He stated that last Thursday, he discovered the Mayor had ordered two ladders without consulting the works committee. He had stopped the man from constructing them. The Mayor had also purchased ten or twelve pipes, which Mr bhcath could have kept as well as the Council, as they would not be wanted for some time. A fortnight since, the Mayor had sent the foreman of works to select eight

families of immigrants to work for the Council. Whilst the foreman was absent little work was done, as there was no one to take his place. Any one could choose immigrants. One of the Council could have gone to the barracks just as well. He had met the Mayor in the street, and they had quarrelled, and he thought it his duty to bring forward this motion. Cr Allwright seconded the motion. No one should interfere with the works committee. He should not like it himself. The Mayor in reply explained the matter, and said his 'interference was owing to the eccentricities of Cr Kenner. Some time ago the drainage of Norwich Quay had been decided on, and he (the Mayor) as soon as an opportunity occurred, and they had money in the Bank, sent for pipes. It would have been little good polishing up the surface of the Quay, and leaving the drainage defective. As to the ladders he had ordered, he would speak of that also. The first day the hard labor gang were at work he had been scut for to interfere between Cr Kenner and the gang. Or Kenner on that occasion was bringing the Council into ridicule. The Council knew he always sought advice before he took any steps. The Council knew the premises were wanted for St. David street and the Sumner road. He had advised their being employed there. When the gang had cut away the clay to form the road there were two houses left without means of access ; in fact, there was a precipice of several feet in front of their houses —of course he had ordered two ladders to enable the residents to get in and out of their houses, Cr Kenner had countermanded that order. Now if every single Cr had a right to interfere with the Mayor, work would be stopped. They were aware that nothing (according to the Act) could be expended by that Council without the Mayor’s signature. The Council had had a gang of men at work on whom they could not depend from one day to another. So he thought, as they had £BOO to spend, they had better procure some good strong hard labourers from among the immigrants at 7s per day. In conclusion, he would call upon the Council to protect its own dignity in the person of its Mayor. Cr Allwright pointed out that if the steps had not been placed there accidents might have occurred, for which the Council would have been responsible. Cr Buist hoped the steps would be made at once; no member of the Council should blame another for doing work for him ; he was sorry to see such ill-feeling displayed. Cr Graham said that a member should be satisfied if good were done, even if he were not consulted, Cr Kenner stated he would not be a lackey for any one, he had merely introduced the matter to give him an opportunity of speaking, and he would now withdraw his motion. The Mayor said the matter must not stop there. The chairman of the works committee had rendered the Council superfluous. No one knew what money was spent, or what work was being done without being authorised. The passage to Cr Kenner’s stables had been twice metalled that winter. Cr Grange moved that the next question be proceeded with. Cr Kenner would resign all connection with the works committee. The Mayor wished it to be understood that he had no wish to control the works committee. Cr Hawkins was sorry to see the time of the Council wasted in these squabbles. He came there to do good to the ratepayers and could not spare hours for wrangling over matters of no public interest. He begged to move that Cr Kenner’s resignation be accepted. Cr Grange seconded the motion, which was carried. Cr Hawkins moved —“ That the Mayor be a member of the works committee till next election, and that Cr Graham be chairman.” This was seconded by Cr Grange, and carried. Cr Graham moved —“ That a respectful letter be written to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting full information with regard to the proposed water supply, as the Council fear that the annual working expenses will be much more than the borough will be able to bear for many years to come.” He, of course, wished for the water, but feared that, even if the population were doubled, the inhabitants would not be able to bear the expense for many years. Cr Buist concurred in Cr Graham’s remarks, and would second the resolution. There were the mains to be paid for, and they, no doubt, would be a great expense. Cr Allwright differed from Cr Graham. In Sydney they paid a great deal more for their water. He thought that no resident would grumble at £lO per annum for a good supply. The scheme had been agitated for eighteen or nineteen years, and now that there was a chance of its being carried out they should not impede it in any way. Cr Hawkins was sorry to see Cr Graham so opposed to the scheme. This was the first time that any definite plan had been agreed upon. It was said they could not pay £4OO or £SOO a year, but would they os the event of the Charteris Bay scheme being carried out have to pay less 1 [Cr Grange, “ Yes.”] Well, he had tried to find cut but could not succeed, and the Government evidently would not entertain the plan. It would be a crying shame to throw any obstacle in the way, and he hoped Or Graham would withdraw his resolution. Cr Allwright had heard that a party had leased the Charteris Bay watershed for two years, at £25 a year. ►Some more discussion ensued as to the probable expense. The Mayor would vote for the resolution, Cr Graham in reply, stated that all he was anxious to do was to find out what the expense would be to the town. Byc-and-byc they would sec who was right and who wrong.