BOROUGH COUNCILS.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1272, 16 April 1878, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCILS.

SYDENHAM. The ordinary fortnightly meeting of this Council was held last evening at the borough offices. Present—His Worship the Mayor (Mr George Booth), Crs. Whitelaw, Veunal, Hall, Scott, Charters, and Jones. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. On the motion of Or. Whitelaw the application of Cr. Brown for leave of absence from that meeting was granted. COBBESPONDENCE. A letter was read from the Spreydon Road Board forwarding cheque for £1453 143 9d, being pro rata share according to assessment of £2620 4s 9d, with four and a half months' interest. Summonses had been issued for outstanding rates, which would be paid over as soon as collected. A letter was read from Mr J. Coates expressing thanks for having been granted a siding. He had been told that the railway officials would not be able to put down the siding until the narrow gauge is completed. A letter was read from the Chief Postmaster, in reply, saying the desire of the Council that the postal delivery might be extended throughout the borough, would be duly considered by the department. In reply to Cr. Whitelaw, the clerk said a copy of the request had also been forwarded to the Postmaster-General. Cr. Charters referred to the advertisement in the Post-office notice, which led people to infer that the letters were delivered throughout the whole of the Borough. As the boundaries were not stated it might lead to many letters being mislaid. The Mayor said a ratepayer had complained to him the other day of a neighbor living opposite in the Windmill road, who had his letters delivered, while he had not.

Cr. Whitelaw said the Chief Postmaster had told him that it was his desire that letters should be delivered on both aides of the boundary roads. On the motion of Cr. Charters the clerk was instructed to publish the present boundaries of the postal delivery district within the Borough. The town clerk for Christchurch wrote forwarding copy of resolutions passed at the recent conference held to consider the future management and support of hospitals and charitable institutions.

A circular letter was read from the Registrar, covering statistical form in relation to the Borough, which he desired filled up. A letter was read from the Borough solicitor, advising what action should be taken relative to Cunningham's land, and'asking whether section 186 of the Act had been complied with. Cr. Hall moved -*?" That a special meeting be called after a guarantee has been received that the costs and solicitor's charges will be provided for." As the widening of this roadway would only be benefitting the district in a particular quarter, he thought it would not be right that the possibility of the costs of litigation should be thrown upon the ratepayers. Cr. Vennall seconded the motion.

Cr. Whitelaw thought the carrying of such a resolution would be tantamount to abandoning the whole action taken by the Council. The committee, who had hitherto moved in this matter, had only guaranteed payment for the land to be taken.

. The Mayor said the Council were working somewhat in ignorance of the facts of the case. He thought the committee should have looked through the Public Works Act and reported definitely to the Council. Eventually Cr. Hall withdrew his motion, and substituted the following—" That no further steps be taken in this matter iratil their solicitor is satisfied that a sufficient guarantee has been given for all costs and expenses." Cr. Vennall seconded the motion. Cr. Whitelaw moved as an amendment — " That action be deferred until a fuller report has been received from the committee, stating what prospect exists of the expenses being borne by the promoters of the scheme." Cr. Charters seconded the amendment, which, on being put, was declared to be carried.

Cr. Hall expressed his intention of not acting further on the committee. An application was read from Mr T. Pepperill to be granted a siding off the Gasworks road.

The application was granted, the rental to be £lO 10s annually. A letter was read from Messrs E. J. T. Ford and H. Fuhrmann, giving notice of their intention to lay out a private street as a court or alley (as per accompanying plan) as allowed by clause 184 of the Municipal Corporations Act, through that portion of rural section 176 fronting the G-as works and Waltham road. This land was being cut up for purposes of sale. Or. Hall moved—" That the Council decline to accept the plan as submitted." Or. Jones seconded the motion. The Act provided that these courts should be opened at both ends, and only one on the plan was so shown.

After a free discussion, during which one amendment was lost, it was decided to postpone further consideration of the application until the next meeting of the Council, the works committee to then bring up a report. EINANCE. The finance committee recommended in their report submitted, payment of some accounts, and also an amount of twenty guineas to the town clerk for extra work in making up the electoral roll. The balance-sheet annexed showed a credit balance up to 31st March of £1664 5s sd, exclusive of an expected endowment of 2000 acres of land at Chertßey. The recommendations of the committee were adopted. After transacting some routine business, the Council adjourned. ,___™„™™__™™__«,