BOROUGH COUNCILS.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1200, 8 January 1878, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCILS.

SYDENHAM. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Council was held last, evening at the Borough offices. Present —The Mayor and all the Councillors. DIVISION OK REVENUE. The Mayor stated the action he had taken in writing to the Heathcote and Spreydon Road Boards and the Colonial Secretary with reference to payment of the division of moneys due to the borough. On the motion of Cr. Whitelaw, it was resolved —“That the action taken by tbe Mayor in writing to the Heathcote and Spreydon Road Boards and Colonial Secretary in -e payments of moneys due to the borough, be confirmed.” OPENING A STHEET. A memorial was handed in, signed by a number of residents in Addington, praying the Council to open up a street in that district at present blocked up by a fence. The Mayor and Crs. Brown and Scott were appointed a sub-committee to examine into the complaint and report at next meeting. BOROUGH ENDOWMENT. A communication was read from the Crown Lands office authorising the Council to select ‘Jdoo acres of land as an endowment for the borough. The Mayor and Crs. AVhitelawand Charters were appointed a sub-committee to make the selection. RESERVE. A reply to an application for a piece of land on the South Town Belt was read from the Government,'saying a similar application had been received from the City Council, and both applications were under consideration. A second communication to the Government, forwarded by the town clerk, was read and approved. WORKS COMMITTEE’S REPORT. A report from the works committee was read, referring to general works in the Borough. The report also stated that a deputation would wait upon the Council, asking them to form roads in Hawdon’s and Aynsley’s blocks. The deputation was admitted, and spoke against levying twenty shillings tor forming and metalling the chain roads in the blocks referred to, and fifteen shillings for tbe half chain streets, proposed by the works committee. They had received an offer to have the work done for seventeen shillings and nine shillings respectively, and would like to form the roads themselves, leaving the shingling to he done by the Council-—the residents bearing a portion of the cost. The Mayor said the matter would be considered by tbe Council, and the decision would be forwarded. The deputation then withdrew.

Some discussion look place as to whether one of these streets was not reserve land, and not vested in the Council. The Town Clerk read a letter from Mr Murray ■Ay nsley, consenting to transfer a narrow strip of land to be used as a street, if the street adjoining were vested in the Council. Cr. Jones hoped that no delay would take place in forming and metalling those streets, and spoke at length of the miseries endured by the inhabitants there last winter in getting to their homes.

Or. Brown would object to the Council expending money on streets which had not been legally dedicated. Or. Hall moved a resolution instructing the solicitor to search the records o£ the section, and learn if the Council have a legal estate in the roads. If not, to prepare a deed for that purpose, and if possible include the dedication of five links on Haw'don street. The motion was seconded by (Jr. Brown and agreed to. Some further discussion took place on these streets in which it was stated that some of the residents had taken out earth in front of their premises, thus causing greater expense when forming the roads to fall upon those who had not done so.

Cr. Whitelaw moved—" That the Council offer to take ever to take over the streets in HawdonandAynsley’s sections, provided they arc formed, and the half chain streets made 40ft. in width, the Council undertaking to make out specifications and provide the neces sary supervision ; also to shingle the streets afterwards.”

Cr. Hall seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The works committee were authorised to enter into a tender for a supply of shingle for three months. It was resolved to insert an advertisement in the newspapers, calling the attention of landowners and surveyors to the fact that the

provisions of the Municipal Council Act with reference to laying out of narrow streets was in force within the Borough. It was decided, on the motion of Cr. Whitelaw, to ask the Railway authorities to lower a culvert under the railway in Durham street, thus giving a better fall to the side channels. Some minor matters referred to m the works committee’s report were approved, and the report as a whole was adopted. TEA M WAYS. A letter was read from Mr Lockhart, saying he was the original promoter of tramways in New Zealand. He was forming a company, and proposed building tramways through the various districts, and hoped before the Council came to any determination on the subject they would consider his claim first. A letter on the same subject was read from the interim secretary to the Canterbury Tramway Company (Limited), and asking the Council to appoint a time for the provisional directors to meet t he company. The latter letter was the first received, and the Mayor, Crs. Brown, Langdown, and Whitelaw' were appointed a committee to meet the provisional directors of the Canterbury Company. It was resolved to acknowledge Mr Lockhart’s letter. CENSUS KETUKNS. The Registrar of the Supremo Court wrote asking to be supplied with a map of the Borough for the purpose of collecting the census returns. The town clerk was instructed to write that when the map is completed the Registrar can take a tracing of it. REGISTRATION OF DOGS. A letter was read from Inspector Broham, saying that as the Council was willing that the Borough should be brought under the provisions of the Dog Act, if 300 collars were forwarded to him. he would supply them and credit the Borough with the registration fees. It was resolved to ask Inspector Broham to supply the collars and deduct their cost. COLOMBO STREET CROSSING. A letter was read from Mr Conyers in reply, saying the engineer would have inspected the matter pointed out by the works committee at the Colombo street crossing, but he had been unable to do so through press of business. He hardly saw how the inconveniences complained of could be remedied unless Colombo street wore closed up and Durham street made the first crossing, or an over-crossing were formed. The letter was referred to the works committee, with a desire that they should w r ait upon the railway authorities in the matter. After transacting some further business the Council adjourned.