SYDENHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1307, 28 May 1878, Page 3

SYDENHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of this Council was held last night. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Ore. Whitelaw, Buxton, Yennal, Hall, Jones, Charters, and Scott. The minutes of the last meeting, of tho special annual meeting, and of the adjourned special meeting were read and confirmed. SCAVENGERING. Mr John Brightling offered to do the scavengering for 7s a pan weekly, and 3s Gd for a pan fortnightly. If the Council collect Id per pan would be deducted. It was explained that these terms wore quarterly. Tho letter was received, and tho Council determined to take action, in accordance with the resolution passed at the last meeting, BOROUGH ENDOWMENT. A letter from tho Colonial Secretary’s office rc endowment of five acres reserve for the borough, stated that tho matter was in the hands of the Crown Bands Department. In connection with tho same matter was read a telegram from tho Hon, J. T. Fisher rc tho reserve, which is at Addington. It stated that that gentleman would have great pleasure in complying with tho request of the Council, and that ho had 1 landed the papers connected with tho application to the Colonial Secretary, recommending tho same for favorable consideration. Several letters on the same subject, which had been read at previous meetings of the Council, were again read. THE DOG TAX. A letter from the superintendent of police (Mr Broham) informed tho Council that on and after Ist July next the police will cease to collect the dog tax. They will, however, enforce the Act as heretofore, so far as seeing that dogs are registered and summoning the owners of unregistered dogs. Tho superintendent advised tho appointment of some employe of tho Council to act as registrar of dogs, under the Dog Nuisance Ordinance, mi. It was resolved that tho Town Clerk should bo tho registrar of dogs for tho borough of Sydenham, and his office tho office for receiving the registrations. RAILWAY SIDING. Mr A. Hornbrook applied for permission to place a railway siding across the road between the Christchurch railway station and a section of land at tho comer of First and Barbadoes streets, A plan of tho locality accompanied the application. The matter was referred to tho works committee. DRAINAGE. A circular letter from Mr Treadwell, as deputy from a public meeting which had passed a resolution —“ That tho drainage of this district should bo conducted by the surface and kept separate from the sewage”— gave several suggestions in tho matter of drainage. It concluded by urging tho necessity for a public meeting being called to consider the question of drainage. Tho letter was received. MUNICIPAL LEAGUE. A letter from the Thames Borough Council forwarded various suggestions connect ed with the proposed Municipal League, and asked the opinion of the Council upon them. They embraced the fundamental rules for the guidance of the League. It was resolved that a special meeting of the Council should he held next Monday, tor the purpose of considering the suggestions. TRAMWAY COMPANY. A notice from the secretary of the Canterbury Tramway Company was read. II; stated that ho had deposited copies of advertisement and plan of proposed works in accordance with the Tramways Act. The notice was received. STATISTICS, A letter from the Registrar-General declined at present to include Sydenham in the list of boroughs which have monthly returns published showing tie deaths and byth

rates, &c., principally on the ground of the extra expense which would be caused were all boroughs, equally entitled with Sydenham, to bo included in the list. The letter was received and ordered to be acknowledged. Or. Whitelaw thought that Sydenham was so intimately connected with Christchurch that the vital statistics of the two were scarcely to bo separated. BURGESS ROLL. A letter from the Colonial. Secretary’s Office rc the proclaiming the burgess list of the borough as the burgess roll, was read. It required “ satisfactory evidence ” of the particular misadventure or accident giving rise to the necessity for a validating order. The clerk was instructed to furnish the “ satisfactory evidence.” CENTRAL CEMETERY. A letter from from the Sclwyn County Council informed the Borough Council that the meeting of the general committee of the Council for a central cemetery, which was to have been held on tho filst May, had been adjourned. Tho date of meeting would bo forwarded. The clerk was directed to acknowledge tho letter.’ PLANS, &C. A letter from tho Chief Surveyor, asking permission to take copies of plans or tracings of streets, &c., of tho borough of Sydenham. Another letter acknowledged receipt of plans from the clerk. Tho Council approved of tho clerk having forwarded tho plans. DANGER OP FIRE. Mr Thomas McGarva complained of the danger of fire caused to his property, also of the nuisance caused by smoko from tho chimney of Mr Langdown’s saw mill. Tho letter was referred to tho sanitary committee. VERANDAH. An application from Mr Oliver Peacock for permission to erect a verandah was read, and leave was granted, subject to tho supervision of the clerk of the works or surveyor. RAILWAY FOOTBRIDGE. The Mayor reported that the officials hero had informed him that more than a month ago they had recommended the construction of a footbridge across tho railway, in a line with Madras street. It was resolved that a letter bo written to Wellington, urging the pressing necessity of the bridge being at once constructed. GAS LAMPS AT THE COLOMBO STREET CROSSING. The Clerk stated that nothing further had been heard from the railway authorities as to placing lamps at the Colombo street crossing. Cr. Hall hoped that something had been done in tho matter of lamps for the Borough. WORKS COMMITTEE REPORT. Cr. Whitelaw read the works committee report. It stated, among other things, that tho Q.ueon street contract had been determined in consequence of the unsatisfactory nature of tho work, and recommended that £8 bo spent in adding a room to the cottage adjoining tho office, on condition that the tenant pay Is 6d a week extra rent. After some discussion as to the last item, tho report was received and adopted.

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE. The report of tho public works committee was read as follows: —

Your committee heg to recommend that the Councilundertake the initiation of puhlieworka by an interim loan not exceeding £SOOO, to be raised where procurable on favorable terms, the sum of £ISOO already in hand to form part of the above sum. They further recommend that by-laws bo framed for tho purpose of regulating the expenditure. Also, that tho interest for the borrowed portion bo provided for by a special rate, and that, in addition to this rate, the districts specially benefited shall pay separate rates not exceeding 50 per cent, of tho cost of work executed Within the areas applying under clause 111 of tho Municipal Corporation Act, 187(5, tho Council may levy the separate rate cither on tho valuation roll for the time being, or may make it a pro vcitci contribution at per foot of frontage upon the streets specially benefited by the works. Geo. Booth, Mayor. Sydenham, May 27th, 1878. The consideration of the report was deferred to the meeting on Monday next. BY-LAW COMMITTEE REPORT. The by-law committee reported as follows : Your committee heg to recommend that the draft by-law proposed by the sanitary committee be adopted, subject to the following alteration to clause 2—that tho words “or other appliances” he inserted after tho word “pans.” From inquiries made, it has been found that any seal or stamp may he used as the borough seal, and changed when required. Unless in cases of more than ordinary urgency and importance, they would, however, recommend waiting till the arrival of the permanent seal of the Corporation from England, expected in September. J. Whitelaw, Chairman By-law Committee. Cr. Whitelaw moved, and Cr. Scott seconded, tho adoption of the report. Or. Charters moved that a seal be provided at once. Mr Yennal seconded tho amendment. After considerable discussion, the whole question was deferred to next Monday. Tho Council then adjourned.