BOROUGH COUNCILS.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1236, 19 February 1878, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCILS.

SYDENHAM. The ordinary fortnightly meeting was held last evening, at the Borough offices. Present —His Worship the Mayor (Mr George Booth), and Crs. Whitelaw, Brown, Buxton, Scott, Charters, Jones, Hall, and Yennal. RAILWAY SIDING. Mr Treadwell waited on the Council and presented a plan of the proposed siding asked lor by him across the Hazeldean road. He explained who the persons were who signed the petition in favor of his request. After some general remarks from Mr Treadwell on the advantages of the work, and a promise that it would not obstruct the traffic on the road, that gentleman withdraw. POST-OFFICE DELIVERY. The Clerk stated that the Chief Postmaster had called at the office and promised that he could give one daily delivery to the borough within a certain radius, and another collection at 4 p.m. * SPREYDON ROAD BOARD. In reply to the Mayor, the Clerk said that no reply had been received from the Spreydon Road Board to a request re financial arrangements. He understood that a difficulty had been experienced in getting a meeting of the Board, as members were busy with harvest. General surprise was expressed by Councillors that some acknowledgment had not been forwarded. COLOMBO STREET CROSSING. A letter was read from the superintending engineer of the railway, enclosing reports from the resident engineer and general manager, with reference to the Colombo street crossing. The resident engineer reported with regard to the alleged use of the crossing as a stand for the collection of waggons, that ho thought that was a matter resting with the traffic department to avoid, and to reduce the shunting over the crossing as much as possible. With reference to the drainage under the railway, he pointed out that the original culvert under the lines still existed, but was lower than the altered levels adopted for the new channelling. It was now in disuse, the inlet and outfall having been stopped at the time of the construction of the higher level channels. To complete the alterations of drainage undertaken by the Council it would he necessary, not only to form a now culvert under the Hazeldean road, but also to apply to the Government for leave to construct a new culvert under the railway. With regard to the drainage of the east side of Colombo street, the water had been recently diverted, and now flowed easterly along the southern boundary of the station yard, and did not cross the railway at all. The general manager’s report stated that, on enquiry, he could not learn that Colombo street had been made a stand for waggons. While waggons were being shunted for the shed, and especially if there was much shunting for the North and South trains, it was a difficult matter to keep the crossing entirely clear. He had given instructions that the shunting should be so conducted in future as to prevent any stoppage of the road traffic. Or. Whitelaw, as chairman of the works committee, read a report recommending the appointment of a sub-committee to meet the railway authorities, and confer with them on the different matters referred to in the foregoing reports. He thought that the remit of the conference would be to relieve the obstructions complained of. STORAGE OF METAL. A letter was read from the Crown Lands office, Wellington, with reference to the piece of land in the borough of Sydenham, which is being used by the City Council as a place for storing metal. The letter stated that the Minister of Lands was unable to grant the use of the land to the borough on sufferance for storage purposes. The Mayor said the borough had not applied to the proper authorities. The deputation who waited on the commissioner had been informed at the time that tlie Government had no power to grant this land, and that it could only he granted by the Parliament. The City Council had only obtained permission to use it from the railway authorities, and it would hove to be given up at any time, on a week’s notice. Cr. Charters suggested that the railway authorities should he applied to for a portion of this land. The Mayor said to do so now would he acting in a somewhat dog-iu-thc-manger spirit. Cr. Whitelaw said it would be as well to avoid coming into conflict with the city authorities. There was, ho believed, a piece of land opposite that occupied by the City Council, for the use of which application might be made to the railway authorities. Eventually it was decided to request the works committee to inspect the piece of land referred to, and to allow an application from the City Council for permission to erect a siding, to stand over until the report on sidings was received from the sub-committee appointed, CORRESPONDENCE, A letter was read from Mr J. B. Rcatell, in reply, saying he would withdraw the street objected to on ids property and have only one main street, one chain in width, to communicate with the half chain street reserved on the land formerly sold as Willow Bank, Ho desired the Council’s approval of his intention. The clerk was instructed to reply that the Council concurred in the arrangement proposed, and to return the plan for alteration. A letter was read from tho Superintendent of Police in reply, thanking the Council for tracing of the borough, which would bo utilised for tho purpose of dog registration us requested. Letters wore read from the Ileatbcote Road Board, informing the Council that £825 15s 2d had been paid into the credit of tho borough ; forwarding voucher for £3 3s ; saying a mistake had been found in tbo amount of interest, but it was thought better to compare the amounts before a cheque was sent for the balance. The rate of interest tho Board received was 5.) per Eer cent, on the daily balarce. The Board ad reckoned on 132 days for the £212 2s 10d, and seventy-three days for the £GO4l3s sd. In another letter the Board acknowledged receipt of letter, asking for further information respecting the rates the Board wero collecting belonging to tho borough. lu reply to Cr. Whitelaw, the Clerk said ho had not yet given the Board a receipt, and was waiting to do so till receiving intimation that the £2 4s, balance of interest, hud been paid to the borough's credit. WORKS COMMITTEE’S REPORT.

Cr. Wbitelaw brought up a report of the various works of the borough, which was adopted.

TEAMWATS, ETC,

Cr, Brown, as chairman ot the finance committee, brought up a report recommending that no charge should be made for tramways, and

that every facility should be given to the company, consistent with safety to foot passengers and other traffic ; Ihe works committee to further consider the matter. Re sidings— The committee recommended that every facility should bo given to the construction of sidings, provided they were erected without obstruction to the general traffic. After discussion the report was amended, making the nominal charge £SO, the Council to have the power of remitting all or any portion of that amount if considered necessary. The report as a whole was then adopted. LIGHTING COMMITTEE. Or. Brown, as Chairman, said they had waited on Mr Bishop who had requested a tracing of the portion of the district desired to he lighted, and the positions in which it was intended to erect the lamps. That gentleman had told the committee that there was a quantity of pipes now in port on board the Wanganui. He had also staled that the present cost to the city for lighting alone was £8 15s per lamp per annum, and to this would have to be added the cost of the lamp. The committee were also told that if the lamps were to bo very wide apart the cost would be a little more. It was resolved to add Cr. Whitelaw’s name to the committee who were asked to consider the requirements of the district and cost by next meeting, and bring up a report at that time. APPLICATIONS FOR SIDINGS. An application for a siding from Mr Hogg across the Hazcddean road, submitted to the committee, was granted without charge. An application from the City Council for a siding across a road on the northern side of the railway, leading from the Windmill road, was referred to the Works Committee with power to act. Mr J. W. Treadowll’s application for a siding across Hazeldean road was considered. After lengthened discussion, Or. Brown moved —“ That the application be granted free of charge.” Cr. Buxton seconded the motion, which was carried after several amendments had been put and negatived. On the motion of Cr. Scott, seconded by Cr. Jones, it was resolved to draw Mr Treadwell’s attention to clauses 197 to 201 inclusive of the Municipal Corporation Act, regarding a street shown on the plan submitted by him. DURHAM STREET CROSSING, A letter from the Resident Engineer on the drainage of the railway at Durham street was read, saying that the culvert under the line might certainly be improved by lowering its northern end, thus giving it a greater fall. This matter was referred to the sub-com-mittee on the Colombo street crossing. council’s premises. Cr. Brown moved, and Cr. Buxton seconded —“ That the resolution in reference to the premises for the Council, passed at a meeting held on 21st January, be rescinded.” i It was decided after discussion that the resolution could not be proceeded with, certain Councillors not having had notice of the intention to move it.

After transacting further general business the Council adjourned.