BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1044, 30 October 1877, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

SYDENHAM. The first meeting of: this Council was held, pursuant to " Gazette" notice, at noon yesterday in the Colombo road schoolroom. Present—His Worship the Mayor (Mr Geo. Booth), and Crs. Brown, Scott, Charters, Vennal, Buxton, Langdown, Whitelaw, Hall, and Jones. DECLARATION. The Mayor and Councillors made and signed the usual declaration. mayor's remarks. The Mayor said that in commencing the business of the Council, he would not have occasion to make any lengthy remarks. It would be better for them to say little and work more. He thought the ratepayers had done well in selecting the gentlemen chosen to represent them, and he trusted Councillors would above all things avoid personalities, and endeavor to perform their duties with satisfaction to themselves and to those who had sent them there. He had received a telegram from the Government since being elected as Mayor asking what Board formerly collected the rates on property now forming the Borough, and what amount was collected therefrom by general rates during the year ended 31st March, such information being required for the apportionment of the subsidy. He (the Mayor) had replied that the Eoad Boards, portions of which now formed the I municipality,were the Spreydon and Heathcote. I He had endeavored to obtain the information I as to the assessment within the borough, and found that the annual value of the rateable property within the Heathcote portion was £9582, yielding at a shilling rate £474 2s, and out of which amount £415 5s 6d it was supposed had been collected up to 31st March. The assessment of the Spreydon portion was £13,302, which, at a rate of 9d, would give £498 16s 6d. He had to obtain further information from Mr Harrup, clerk to the latter Board, before he would be able to send up to Wellington the return asked for. It would also be necessary before doing so to appoint a bank for the borough. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Cr. Charters moved—" That the offices of town clerk, treasurer, and collector be combined." Cr. Buxton seconded the motion. Cr. Whitelaw said the question was simply one of funds, and at first it would be as well for them to amalgamate as many oflices as possible. He thought that of assessor might be added to those named in the motion, and would move as an amendment—" That applications be invited for the performance of the duties of town clerk, treasurer, collector, and assessor, at a salary of £2OO. Applications to be sent in before noon on Monday, 12th No- j vember, and to be addressed to the Mayor." It should also, he thought, be stated in the advertisement that detailed particulars of the duties could be obtained on application to his Worship. Cr. Vennal seconded the amendment. After further remarks, it was decided to omit the words "and assessor," it being understood that the person receiving the appointment would have to perform that duty, and the amendment, as altered, was agreed to. Crs. Whitelaw and Scott were appointed a sub-committee to draw up a list of the duties. FINANCIAL arrangements. The Mayor read the clause of the Act referring to the course to bo pursued by the Borough with regard to the financial arrangements with the Road Boards. Crs. Whitelaw and Buxton were assured that no difficulty whatever would be experienced from the Heathcote and Spreydon Boards in arranging matters with the Council. Cr. Whitelaw moved the following motion —" With a view to the adjustment of financial matters between the Borough, the Heathcote and Spreydon Road Boards be applied to for a statement of accounts, showing income and expenditure between the Ist January and 20th September last; also of their assets and liabilities at the latter date, together witli any scheme they may desire to submit for the settlement of financial arrangements, in accordance with clause 32, sub-sections 1,2, 3, and 4 of the Municipal Corporations Act, and that the clerk, in forwarding the resolution, request the Road Bourds to givo tho nutter their earliest attention." Cr. Charters seconded th:> motion, which ■was agreed to. COMMITTEES. The following committees were elected : Finance —Crs. Brown (chairman), Langdown, Hall, Charters—three to form a quorum. vvoms—C'.'S. Whitelaw (chairman), Scott, Jew*, to form a quorum.

By-laws Crs. Whitelaw (chairman), Brown, Hall, Buxton—three to form a quorum. It was resolved that the latter committee bring up a report at next meeting. temporary offices. On the motion of Or. Hall, it was resolved to apply to the local school committee for the use of a room in the school building, to be used as a temporary office by the Council. MEETINGS OP COUNCIL. On the motion of Cr. Hall, it was resolved — " That the meetings of the Council should be held once a fortnight, at 7 p.m., the first meeting to be held on next Monday week." PEE TO AUDITORS. The question of what fee should be paid to the auditors was adjourned, it being understood by one or two Councillors that the duties would be performed by these gentlemen gratuitously. BOROUGH TEES. The Mayor said there were several residents in the borough who had already paid their fees to the City Council, and such cases would perhaps be matter for arrangement with that Council. It would be advisable for the works committee to take this question over for their consideration as early as possible. Cr. Whitelaw said, in his opinion, the Borough Council should intimate to the Resident Magistrate, the Licensing Bench, and Commissioner of Police, the existence of the Borough. Cr. Charters moved —" That the matter of fees be referred to the finance committee, to report at next meeting." Cr. Brown seconded the motion, which was agi - eed to. BOROUGH BANK. Cr. Buxton moved, and Cr. Charters seconded—" That the Bank of New Zealand be appointed the Bank for the Borough." Cr. Hall moved as an amendment —" That the Union Bank be so appointed." Cr. Vennal seconded the amendment. On being put the amendment was lost. The resolution was then put;, four voting for and four against, one councillor not voting. The Mayor gave his casting vote in favor of the resolution, which was declared to be carried. APPOINTMENT OP SOLICITOR. Mr Hall gave notice that, at next meeting, he would move Williams be appointed solicitor for the Borough." Cr. Charters gave notice that, at next meeting, he would move —"That Messrs Garrick and Cowlishaw be appointed to that office." MATS OF BOROUGH AND DRAINAGE. It was decided to defer the question of preparing these maps for a little while, as it was stated by Cr. Whitelaw that the Drainage Board map would answer present requirements. ADVERTISING. On the motion of Cr. Hall, it was decided that when advertising the borough clerk be instructed to advertise alternately in the morning rjapers. BOROUGH WORKS. Cr. Whitelaw suggested that the works committee should be empowered to engage a working gang at once to carry out some necessary works required in the district. He also thought that the Council should advertise for a foreman of works, at a rate of £l5O per year. A resolution to this effect, moved by Cr. Whitelaw, was agreed to. BOUNDARIES OF BOROUGH. In reply to the Mayor, Cr. Whitelaw explained that the inside boundaries of the borough terminated on the inside of the dividing roads. In the case of the South belt, this line had been drawn, and that rule hud applied to the other boundaries. The Mayor said this was a most unjust line, and the division should include half the road if the borough was bound to be responsible for keeping one side of the boundary in repair. Cr. Whitelaw said this feature of the boundaries had crept into the Bill before it was generally known, or a representation would have been made to the members at Wellington to have had half of the road included. ADJOURNMENT. After reading some applications for employment, the Council adjourned.