BOROUGH COUNCILS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1089, 26 December 1877, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCILS.

SYDENHAM. The ordinary fortnightly meeting of this Council was held on Monday evening, the Mayor in the chair. All the Councillors were present, with the exception of Crs. Hall and Langdown. TENDERS. One tender was received for a section of land in reply to the Council’s advertisement, and it was decided to refer it to the works committee. The committee were also authorised to make arrangements for a supply of shingle. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was read from Mr Moorhousc, saying that if after examination he found that he was still the owner of section 84, he would let the Council have it on reasonable terms. A letter was read from the audit commissioners, saying that an audit would be held as soon after the Ist January as possible, relative to the financial condition of the borough. SPRETDON ROAD BOARD. A discussion took place on the arrangement of the accounts between the Borough Council and Spreydon Road Board, The Chairman stated that the amount due by the Board was £383, but it had not been received, and the correspondence from the Board relative to this matter was altogether unintelligible. After further remarks it was decided to refer the question to a sub-committee then appointed for thorough investigation. In the event of the committee not obtaining satisfaction, it was resolved to refer the whole matter to the commissioners of audit. SEAL, The question of a seal of the Council was brought up, and after some remarks it was resolved to postpone the Council’s decision as to the design of a seal until after the holidays. ACCOUNTS, A number of accounts were passed for payment, and the Council adjourned at an early hour. LYTTELTON. Monday, December 24. Present —His Worship the Mayor, Crs. M'Donald, M'Clatchie, Weyburn, Chalmers, Cunningham, Hawkins, and Macpherson. The clerk stated he had received £1063 13s 6d since last meeting. Correspondence was read from Captain Dunsford, secretary of Insurance Association, respecting grant in aid of fire prevention, enclosing a resolution passed at a meeting of the Association, running as follows “ Resolved : That the Association subscribe £4O to the Lyttelton Borough Council for fire prevention purposes such sum to be voted annually so long as the brigade is maintained in an efficient state, and wo take this opportunity of thanking the Brigade for their efficient services.” From the acting resident engineer of railways, Mr E. Cuthbert, stating that his instructions re four-inch pipes on reclaimed land were that the Council should bear the cost of excavating said pipes and should return equal weight in three-inch pipes. From Inspector Broham stating that in future the Council would have to purchase the dog collars given to owners of dogs when they paid the tax, and then forward to police,who would issue them and collect fees as hitherto. From Mr Earnshaw, offering to supply Council with dog collars. From Messrs Sutton and Weastall, asking for extension of time for completing fence ronnd Heathcote Valley reservoir. The following petition was then read :

Having learned that the employes in the goods traffic department of the railway at Lyttelton have been I’equested to sign a declaration binding themselves to work on the Sabbath when called upon, we, the undersigned, have the strong conviction that something should be done to protect the privileges of these men and the peace of the community on the Sabbath, both of which are by this proposed alteration seriously endangered, and believing that this is a mat'er for the consideration of the Council, we respectfully request that whatever moans you in your wisdom deem advisable in the circumstances you may adopt without delay. (Signed by the ministers of the various denominations and many of the leading citizens.)

Regarding the letter from Insurance Association, it was resolved to hand over the £56 received from the Association to the Fire Brigade. The letter from Mr Cuthbert was ordered to stand over for future consideration. The Mayor was empowered to order a sufficient number of dog collars from Mr Earnshaw. A long discussion took place respecting the petition re the railway employees being obliged to work on Sundays if required. All the Councillors expressed themselves as sympathising with the railway hands in the matter. The action of the authorities (in coercing the men in this manner, by forcing them to sign against their conviction, on pain of instant dismissal) was much blamed. The matter was left in the hands of the Mayor to take what action lie thought fit. Messrs Sutton and WeastalTs application for extension of time to complete fence round Heathcote Valley reservoir was granted, three weeks being the extra time allowed. A letter was read from the secretary of the Lyttelton Gas Company, re. account for gas lost by breakage of lamp post in Dampier’s Bay. It was resolved that the letter be acknowledged, stating that the Council had resolved not to pay the money in question at a former meeting. Messrs Thornton and Bull’s plan* and specifications of the proposed reservoir at Heathcote Valley works were laid on the table. It was resolved, after discussion, that tenders be called for the reservoir, to be sent in by that day fortnight, at noon, to Messrs Thornton and Bull’s office. Accounts amounting to T 282 Ids lUd were passed for payment. In reply to Cr. McClatchie, his Worship said the laj mg of the water pipes round Dampier’s Bay‘would bo commenced on Wednesday. Cr. Cunningham moved that the solicitor be instructed to apply to the Government for

license to occupy the 2000 acres of land selected by the Council as an endowment for the Borough. Agreed to. Cr. Cunningham read report of engineer of lleathcote Yalloy works, stating the sand was still very troublesome in the well, but that by pumping slowly the supply in the reservoir was easily kept up. He recommended that no time should be 10-t in pushing on the reservoir works. A report from the foreman of works stating that the water had been laid on to forty-nine houses, and that there were other applications in the office, and also reporting on other works in town, was read. Cr Chalmers moved “ That the tanks in the street be taken in as soon ns possible.” He said if the free water supply was discontinued the taps would soon be knocked out of the empty tanks and the tanks injured. Cr. McOlatchie seconded the resolution. Cr. Weybourne moved as an amendment “ That the free supply of water be continued for another fortnight.” There were, he believed, many persons who had been unable to get the water turned on to their houses who were in great want of water, and it would be a hardship if before the Council could perform the work the supply of water should be cut off. The amendment on being put was carried. His Worship the Mayor stated that he was glad to tell the Council that the Government had vested sixteen acres of laud in the Heathcote Valley in trustees for a pleasure ground for the use of Lyttelton and the Heathcote district. He also stated that the nomination of a new councillor in place of the late Mayor would take place on Saturday next. He said ho also felt that it would be a great convenience if a room were fitted up behind the clerk’s room for the use of the Mayor. Such a room was much required, as if sitting in the clerk’s office, the Mayor was continually disturbed by people coming in. It was resolved that the sum' of £ls should be placed at the disposal of the works committee to put room in question in thorough repair. A vote of thanks to the retiring Mayor for services rendered during his term of office was carried unanimously and ordered to be placed on the minutes. The meeting then adjourned.