BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1283, 30 April 1878, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

SYDENHAM. The ordinary fortnightly meeting was held last evening at the borough offices. Present —His "Worship the Mayor (Mr G-eo. Booth), Crs. Whitelaw, Langdown, Brown, Charters, Jones, and Hall. BATES COLLECTED. The Mayor said a letter had been received from the Colonial Secretary, asking what amount of rates had been collected by the borough up to the 31st March. As no rates had been collected by the borough, the clerk had applied to the Heathcote Road Board who had given the information required. An application had also been made to the clerk of the Spreydon Road Board, but he had declined to give the necessary information. As a reply would have to be sent to Wellington at once something would have to be done to obtain what was required from the Spreydon Road Board. On the motion of Cr. Whitelaw, it was decided that the clerk should procure the information from the Spreydon rate roll, and telegraph the result to Wellington. G-ASWOHKS ROAD. Messrs T. M. Hassal, F. Jones,and E. J. T. Ford waited on the Council as a deputation from a committee, asking for a contribution of £250 towards the purchase of land for widening the Gasworks road. After pointing out the advantages to the borough that would follow from thid work being carried out, the Mayor informed the deputation that the subject would have the best attention of the Council, and a reply would be sent. After looking through the Act to see whether a special rate could bo levied for the purpose of acquiring the necessary land, Cr. Whitelaw said there were a number of ratepayers who would be specially benefitted by this road being widened, and he thought they could well be asked to specially contribute towards this purpose. He would move—" That a reply be given to the deputation, asking them to kindly state what amount of voluntary contributions can be obtained for the work in question. Also to inform them that it will be necessary to present a petition to the Council, asking them to levy a special rate for this purpose." Cr. Charters seconded the motion pro forma. Cr. Hall moved as an amendment—" That this Council guarantee the sum of £250 by special rate towards the funds for widening the road as far as Opawa road, the same to include Cunningham's land." Cr. Jones seconded the amendment. After some discussion the amendment was put and declared to be carried. council's endowment. The clerk was instructed to brine under the notice of the Council the subject or the transfer of the land selected as an endowment. SANDEIDGE. Messrs J. W. Smith, E. Duckworth, and E. West waited on the Council as a deputation from the residents in Sandridge, asking that some steps might be taken towards forming the streets in that portion of the borough. After pointing out the inconveniences the residents wero put to in that neighborhood through the state of the roads, the deputation said, that the ratepayers there would be quite willing to pay their proportion towards the work being carried out. The Mayor told the deputation that before anything could be done, the roads which it was desired to be formed would first have to be dedicated. The deputation could then place themselves in communication with the works committee. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was read from the manager to the Gasworks Company, stating the company would, on and after the 26th instant, open for main and service laying, the Hazeldean road from Colombo road to Windmill road, and Windmill road from South belt to Pound roid ; also Going's road from Colombo road to St. Saviour's Church. A letter was read from Mr W. Styche, asking to be informed if it was in contemplation to lower Wilson's road near the gravel pit. Referred to the works committee. A circular letter was read from the Colonial Secretary's office, drawing attention to certain sections of the Municipal Councils Act, 1876, relating to the width of private streets, courts, and alleys within boroughs. The chief inspector of nuisances wrote, enclosing forms in use by the Christchurch scavenging contractor; also, enclosing copy of a resolution passed by the Board of Health, to be addreßPed to the local authorities within the limits of the Drainage District on the subject of scavenging generally. A letter was rear! from the Commissioner of Railways in reply to letter pointing out the dark state of the railway crossing over Colombo road, and asking that four lamps might be erected at each corner of tbc crossing, saying the general rule for spacing street lamps in Christchurch was one at each crossing of two streets, giving a distance apart north and south of six chains, and east and west twelve chains, but between St. Asaph street and south belt on Colombo street there was no light for a distance of eighteen chains. There was but one lamp at the crofsing of Colombo street and south belt, but none either at Hazeldean road or First street on the Sydenham side of the railway. These were required for the duo lighting of the street, and if erected no light would be required at the railway crossing. The department were however prepared to have one lamp erected at the crossing but no where else. WORKS COMMITTEE REPORT. The works committee reported with reference to a nuisance as to insufficient drainage existing in a right-of-way between Third and Fourth streets, they had abated it by temporarily improving the surface drainage. The matter referred to in a lettor from tbo engineer to the Drainage Board would have the attention of tho committee as requested. With reference to that lotter they, however, thought that as only one sump existed, and that iu connection with a line of channelling

which had been practically closed for many months, the alleged silting up of the brick sewer could not in a great measure be duo either to the causo assigned or to the neglect of the Council. In future communication* they would like Mr Bell to have the goodness to credit the Council with a desire to do what was incumbent on them without resorting to threats or coercion. The committee recommended that Mr T. Russell's request for the formation of Angus street should be complied with, provided the street was dedicated and the cost of formation paid previous to the work being done. After considering the application of Messrs Ford and Fuhrmann, with reference to the formation of certain courts on their land, while fully appreciating the valuable offer of those gentlemen of land for widening Gasworks road, the committee were compelled by the terms of the Municipal Council Act, mpported by a recent memo, from the Colonial Secretary, to recommend that the Council disallow the sale plan submitted. The committee recommended to leave the question of the formation of a footpath on the Lincoln road in abeyance for the present. The roport was received. After considerable discussion as to Messrs Ford and Fuhrmann's application for permission to form & court, it was decided, on an amendment moved by Cr. Charters, to receive the said plan submitted, with the exception of the blind road marked A. and B. The Council then adjourned.