BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 198, 27 January 1875, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

LYTTELTON. Monday, Januaby 25th. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Crs Chalmers, Hawkins, Buist, Graham, Murray, Young, and Grange. Before the minutes were confirmed, his Worship called the attention of the councillors to an occurrence that took place at their last weekly meeting, and asked them if they would support the chair in putting an end to such unseemly practices. He called upon the clerk to read the clause in schedule No 13, part 11, of the Municipal Corporations Act, bearing upon the penalties persons so offending were liable to. Read. The minutes were then read and confirmed. The following correspondence was considered:— From Mr H. N. Nalder, askiDg on behalf of Mr Oldfield that two surveyors should be appointed—one by the Council and one by Mr Oldfield—to determine the exact boundary between that gentleman's ground and the botanical re3erve. After some discussion, • The Mayor moved—" That Mr Nalder be informed that the ground has already been surveyed by Mr Farr on behalf of the Council, and that any surveyor whom Mr Oldfield may appoint be referred to him with regard to the correctness of the survey. Mr Murray seconded this proposition. 'Jr Chalmers proposed as an addition to the resolution—" That Mr Forester should be written to before any action should be taken, so that he migTit have an opportunity of engaging a surveyor ;" as, if Forester disputed the survey, the onus was thrown on him of proving it was wrong. After some remarks from Crs Murray, Buist, Grange, and Graham, the resolution with Cr Chalmers' addition was put and passed. From the chairman of the Insurance Association, acknowledging receipt of letter from the town clerk, bearing upon the use of stoves in the open air, thanking the Council for the information, and stating that an inspection would soon be made in Lyttelton. From Mr T. H. Fielding, asking to be supplied with a list of ratepayers and valuation roll, for the purpose of including such matter in his New Zealand Directory. The clerk stated he had called on Mr Carder, Mr Fielding's agent, re the matter. From the Secretary for Public Works, inclosing analysis of the water in the well at the Heathcote Valley, made by Professor Bickerton. It ran as follows : " To the Secretary for Public Works. " Sir,—ln compliance with your request, I visited the Heathcote Valley and obtained water from No 3 and No 8 wells. I also tasted the water from several others, and found it perfectly satisfactory to the palate. Examination of the water No 3,. This well produces about five gallons per minute. Taste very good, smell none, and none after standing a day in the sun. Appearance perfectly colourless and transparent, sediment none. Qualitative analysis: No mineral poisons ; slight trace of iron ; a little magnesia ; no lime; trace of ammonia; no sulphuric acid ; no nitric acid ; dense precipitate of chlorine.. Organic matter: no immediate decoloration of permanganate of potash, showing absence of animal organic matter; slight decoloration after standing twenty-four hours, probably due to vegetable organic matter ; confirmed by the residue blackening, without much smell of burnt horn. Found in No 3, slight trace of iron, a little magnesia, considerable quantity of common salt, a trace of ammonia, a little vegetable organic matter. As a considerable Quantity of common salt was found, I made a quantitative estimation,and found 95 grains per gallon. As it requires about 70 grains per gallon to taste, it is scarcely possible so small a quantity should have been tasted, it may be, however, that the salt is iu the sand through which the water passes, and that, consequently, the amount is getting less and less. Examination of No B—Giving about 17 gallons per minute. Taste very good, smell none, and none after standing twenty-four hours iu a bottle, appearance perfectly bright and clear; sediment, none ; mineral poisons, none ; iron, a trace probably from tube ; magnesia, trace ; 'ime, none ; ammonia, none ; organic matter, none; nitric acid, none ; sulphuric acid, none ; chlorine, considerable quantity ; chlorine, estimated quautatively as common salt, 45 grains per gallon. Fouod in No 8 trace of magnesia, trace of iron, 4-5 grains of common salt per gallon. It will be seen from the above analysis that both samples of water are qnite suitable for domestic purposes, and that No 8 is an unusually pure water. I should advise that an experimental well be sunk still further on in the direction of No 8. "(Signed) "A. W. Bickebton." The Mayor said he had visited these wells that afternoon. He thought there must be a clerical error in that part of Professor Bickerton's report stating that No 3 well only produced 5 gallons per minute. He imagined it must be 15, as the flow half • filled the tube, and was very little les* than that from No 8, which the professor stated produced 17 gallons per minute. As far as he could judge by examining th e wells, he fancied there would be an ample supply for the town from the wells. Professor Bickerton's letter was of great value, as proviug that the water was of excellent quality. Cr Grange asked if the Mayor had had any means of ascertaining the quantity of water flowing from the wells? The Mayor stated that he had no apparatus for the purpose, but judged from the manner in which the pipes were filled. Cr Grange stated that Mr Higginson estimated that Lyttelton would require 150,000 gallons per diem. He also stated that he had heard that the flow from some of the wells had considerably decreased. The Mayor said that the first well sunk had had the greatest flow, but was now giving less than any of the others. He thought, however, there was little danger of a failure in the supply. In Christchurch a much larger number of wells had been sunk in a much smaller area, and the flow.had remained steadily the same. The clerk stated he had received during the week £2l 15s 6d. Accounts were passed for payment amounting to £29 Is.

A return, as asked for, of expenditure on Ripon street and on Dampier's Bay road since July, 1874, laid on the table, from which it appeared that Ripon street had cost £36 4s lid, and Dam pier's Bay road, £229 5s lid. Some discussion followed regarding the disparity between the two amounts, in the course of which Cr Hawkins pointed out the fact that the hard labor gang had been employed on Ripon street, the work done by whom was worth three times £230. Cr Buist said the labor had been expended principally on Oxford street. After some further discussion the matter was left for the works committee to report upon. The Mayor referred to the notice of motion standing in his name re the distribution of the water in the borough, and asked that it might be allowed to stand over for a week. His reason was that he found that Mr Higgenson himself himself had expressed a strong wish to the Government that he might be consulted with on this very question. He (the Mayor) thought an application might be made to the Government, asking them to arrange the matter with Mr Higgenson, who was certainly the best person to perfect his own scheme. He would enquire of the Minister for Public Works, when and on what terms it could be done by Mr Higgenson, and he hoped to be able to give them full information that day week. He might mention that in conversation with the Superintendent, he had found it was intended to supply the water at the highest level to which it would rise. Cr Murray moved and Cr Chalmers seconded—" That the notice of motion stand over until the next meeting, and that his Worship be allowed to exercise his discretion in regard to the employment of an engineer." Carried. Cr Graham moved—" That the thanks of the committee be tendered to the Borough school committee, for the satisfactory manner in which they had completed their building, and to the chairman for his invitation of this Council to the picnic and entertainment, on the occasion of the opening of the new school building." This was seconded by Cr Murray and carried. Cr Chalmers said he had several yards of road metal, which he would be glad to let the Council have, on condition that it be spread on the road through Brenchley road. Cr Murray moved and Cr Hawkins seconded —" That the matter be left to the chairman of the works committee." Carried. The meeting then adjourned.