BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1078, 11 December 1877, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

SYDENHAM. This Council held its usual fortnightly meeting at Sydenham last night. Present — The Mayor and all the Councillor?, except Cr. Whitelaw. FINANCIAL. The Mayor said that the first business was the financial matters as between the Council and the Heathcote and Spreydon Road Boards. Cr. Brown said that from what he remembered it was thought by the Heathcote Road Board that the Council was not entitled to a share of the subsidies on land fund. The Mayor, in supplementing Cr. Brown's remarks, said that when they met the Heathcote Road Board they were shown an account of what works had been done prior to the severance. Some of these works, such as Stanmore road bridge, the committee considered permanent works, and that the Council should not be called upon to pay its •pro rata share of these. He held that the borough was entitled to its share of the land fund subsidy, and the chairman of the Spreydon Road Board admitted this. In fact the committee had met with no difficulty in connection with the Spreydon Road Board, and it was agreed that out of certain accounts in that district the Council was entitled to £1046 2s 6d. Since these interviews, however, certain members of the Spreydon Road. Board had taken exception to the agreement come to at the meeting at which the Road Board was represented by its chairman and its clerk. The matter was therefore just where it stood formerly with regard to the Spreydon Board; the matter as between the Council and the Heathcote Board stood adjourned to a meeting to be held on Wednesday. His Worship recommended that unless a satisfactory arrangement were come to the matters at issue should be submitted to the Commissioner of Audit. Cr. Buxton, as a member of the Spreydon Road Board, was surprised at the action which had subsequently been taken by some of the other members of that body, as he had distinctly understood that the settlement had been left in the chairman's hands. Cr. Charters moved —" That in the event of the deputation from the Council being unable to agree with both or either of the Road Boards, they apply to the Commissioner of Audit under clause 33, for the settlement of the matters in dispute." Seconded by Cr. Hall, and carried. A SAFE. Cr. Jones said that he had discovered where a safe could be purchased for £3O. Cr. Hall did not see why they should go to the expense of buying a safe for £3O when they had not thirty pence to put in it. After some conversation, it was agreed that a safe should be piirchased at the cost named. COBPOEATION SEAL. None of the Councillors having brought up designs for a corporation seal, concerning which some facetious remarks were made, it was moved —" That the design submitted by Cr. Charters at last meeting should he adopted." Cr. Hall objected to this on account of the goose in the design. Subsequently it was agreed that Crs. Brown and Scott should bring up designs at next meeting. BIVEB FEONTAGE. The Town Clerk reported that most of the frontage on the river near Wilson's bridge was overgrown by willows and other trees. The Mayor said that the Council would probably take action in the matter. Cr. Hall moved—" That the Council request those who had encroached on the River road reserve to remove all obstructions, so that the public should enjoy their rights of passage." Seconded by Cr. Langdown, and carried. DEPUTATION. A deputation, of which Mr Chivers was spokesman, came before the Council from residents in Hawden's and Aynsley's blocks to pray the Council to make certain streets in these blocks. The streets were in a disgraceful state, and the deputation urged the Council to give the matter due consideration. On a former occasion the Heathcote Road Board had recommended the residents to let the matter stand over till the formation of the borough, as the Board's way of doing the work might not suit the borough. The speaker said that unless something was done ; to the streets he would leave his habitation to the wild waves. If the Council did the work the residents would pay the cost. The ; deputation having withdrawn, It was resolved, on the suggestion of the Mayor, that it be a direction to the works committee to compute the cost of doing the work. The mover, Cr. Hall, suggested that if the residents paid half the cost they would do very well. The seconder, Cr. Jones, commented in strong terms on the conduct of the Heathcote Road Board levying a rato on account of shingling these roads and yet leaving the work undone on the formation of the borough. COEEESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read from Walter Hogg, wheelwright, &c, soliciting the Council's patronage, he having recently commenced business ; letter from the Clerk to the Thames Borough Council, in reply to another from Mr J. W. Treadwell, recommending the formation of a municipal league, with headquarters at Christchurch or Wellington ; from the Heathcote Road Board, asking the Council to reconsider the matter of the maintenance of Wilson's and Ferry roads, as the Board think it quite within the powers of the Council to authorise any other body to keep any of the roads in repair. From Mr E. 0. J. Stevens, M.H.R., regarding a petition from the Council, stating that the Public Petitions Committee had made no recommendation on the same, and that he had written to the Government on the subject, and recommending the Council to write to the Colonial Secretary on the matter, referring him to the petition. The City Council of Christchurch wrote by its clerk that it would give permission, under the supervision of its surveyor, to do works of maintenance on the footpaths and channels on the rural side of the South Town Belt, providing due regard were given to such works being carried out to the permanent levels. The City Council had learned by telegram that portion of license fees collected in Bunedin was paid to outside municipalities. The Colonial Secretary wrote that the Government had no knowledge of the Council's petition for an endowment of 2000 acres. The Council should have made their request to the Government, as the matter was not one puperly coming directly under the cognisance of the Legislature. Mr H. V. Anson drew attention to the efcatp the drain alongside Selwyn etxe&L

Mr C. N. Bell, engineer, wrote stating what steps it would be necessary to take with regard to the drainage of Colombo street. j Inspector Broham notified that he had | issued instructions to the police regarding the i abatement of cattle trespass within the 1 borough. The Colonial Secretary, in replying to a letter from the Council, stated that the Council was to be paid subsidy on the sum of £321 19s 7d out of the collections of the Heathcote Eoad Board up to 31st March last. It was resolved to acknowledge Mr Treadwell's letter, with thanks. The letter from the Heathcote Eoad Board was ordered to be acknowledged ; also the communication from the City Council, respecting the footpaths on the South town belt, the boroxigh accepting the offer. It was also agreed to acknowledge other communications. With regard to the letter received from the Colonial Secretary's office, regarding the endowment of 2000 acres, the Town Clerk explained that he had since, by direction of the Mayor, notified the Colonial Secretary that the petition referred to a grant of money in aid of the borough. Mr C. N. Bell's letter was referred to the works committee. Begarding Mr Anson's letter, the Mayor suggested that the ditch should be filled up. Cr. Hall remarked that he had often looked for children floating down the ditch. The matter was referred to the works committee. ELECTION OF MAYOR. Mr Jones, Returning Officer, reported that at the nomination of Mayor for the Borough that day, the present holder of the office, Mr George Booth, had been the only person nominated. Mr Booth had therefore been declared duly elected. WOEKS COMMITTEE. Cr. Scott brought up the report of the works committee. It dealt entirely with matters of details, and was adopted. CONNECTING: EOADS. It was resolved, on the motion of Cr. Charters — "That the woHjs committee be instructed to report as speedily as possible as to the best possible means of connecting the roads branching from the Gasworks road and Colombo road, and the probable cost thereof." TBAMWAYS. Cr. Charters stated that a company in course of formation drop let out remarks to the effect that they could begin to form tramways in the Borough without first obtaining permission from the Borough Council. The opinion was strongly expressed that the company could do nothing of the sort, but the matter was allowed to remain in its present position in the meantime. SIGNING: CHEQUES. The resolution passed at the Council's meeting of November 12th, regarding the signing of cheaues, was rescinded, and it was resolved that any two members of the Council should be authorised to sign the same. VALUATION. In view of the Town Clerk's being shortly engaged on the valuation of the borough, it was resolved that a lad should be temporarily employed at a salary not exceeding £1 per week. OYEBGKOWN GOESE HEDGES. Cr. Charters directed attention to the fact that in many places within the borough the gorge hedges overgrew the side-walks, and he moved that the bylaws committee should provide for the matter being dealt with ; also for dealing with the cattle nuisance, the report to be ready by next meeting. ACCOUNTS. Several accounts having been passed, the Council adjourned.