BOROUGH COUNCILS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1396, 6 August 1878, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCILS.

SYDENHAM. Tho usual fortnightly meeting of the Council was held last night. Present—His Worship tho Mayor, Crs. Whitelaw, Brown, Jones, Vennall, Hall. SPECIAL MEETING. It was resolved that a special meeting be held on 2nd September to confirm the resolution pissed at a late special meeting regarding a private road from Selwyn street to the Windmill road. DEPUTATION. The Mayor said that the deputation appointed to wait on the City Council ns to the South Town Bell; had not done so. It would be as well under the circumstances that the deputation receive an extension of time for a fortnight. It was resolved that an extension of time be granted for a fortnight. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was read from Cr. Charters, the delegate of the Council at the Municipal Conference in Welling* on, forwarding a resame of tho business done by the Conference. Mr Charters also enclosed a Gazette containing an order reserving 855 acres of land for the Borough of Sydenham. He stated that the work was impeded in the Conference by the fact of so many members being M.H R.’m, who had to atl end the afternoon and evening sitting of the House. The Mayor said that he had received a telegram from Mr Charters stating that only 855 acres had been reserved for Sydenham by the Government, and that tho Rangiora Borough Council had received a portion of the same section as an endowment. He had made an appointment with Hon. Mr Fisher on the subject, and he wished that the Council would send him a strong resolution on tho matter, so that his (Mr Charters) position would be strengthened. The Mayor said he was unable to see what the Government were doing. There was something strange in the ra tt.or. He desired to point out that tho borough had selected 2000 acres of land which had been reservi d from sale. He did not sec, under tho Act, what they could do until tho end of the session of Parliament. They might send a letter to Mr Charters explaining this. At this stage of the proceedings a telegram was read from Mr Charters, advising that the Council should take immediate possession of the five acre reserve at Addington, also stating that ho had an appointment with Hons. Mr Fisher and Stout as to tho insertion of a provision for a member for the Borough of Sydenham in the new Electoral Bill, and suggesting that the Council should telegraph him a resolution in favor of tho member being given to the Borough of Sydenham. Confideral le discussion took place as to the, exact meaning of the telegrams, tho various members having each a different version which they propounded with much pertinacity, Ultimately the members arrived at the conclusion that there was no knowing what was meant, the telegrams being evidently a kind of conundrum which the united wisdom of Sydenham failed to solve. One of the connciilors observed that he was of opinion that the telegrams were totally unintelligible. The Mayor pointed out that the telegram was perfectly clear, and gave his reading thereof.

Or. Yennall moved—“ That in the opinion of this Council this borough should be represented in the General Assembly bj one or more members, and that Mr Charters be requested to draw Mr Stout’s attention to this resolution.” Cr. Brown seconded the motion.

Cr. Whitelaw could hardly see that this would be a benefit. At present thev had access to four members of the House. If this proposition to give them a member were simply a sop to appease them on one hand, whilst they were despoiled of their reserves on the other, then it seemed to him that this was “ words not deeds.” He desired to point out that two-thirds of the population of the Borough of Sydenham were now represented by the city memb rs. Cr. Yennall thought that they would be much better represented by a direct r epresentative' than now, as it was not to bo considered that the members for Christchurch would have the same intorcals in the Borough of Sydenham as they had in the city. The Mayor thought that under the new Electoral Act the boroughs would doubtless be represented, and it was very probable that question* would arise between Sydenham and

Christchurch which would clash. Ho fully behoved in the representation of boroughs exclusively apart from other representation.

The resolution was then put and carried. Cr. Whittlaw rose to give his reasons for voting after the question had been put, but was called to order.

Cr. Brown said he desired to move the following resolution on the subject of the reserve :—“ That this Council considers that the allotment by the Government of 855 acres only, after having requested the Council to select 2000 acres, which was done at considerable expense to the borough, is a gross injustice to it, and that the Government be requested to re-considertheir decision.” Cr. Whitelaw seconded the motion, which was carried.

It was resolved that a copy of the resolution bo sent to Mr Charters, and also to the members for Canterbury in the House of Represent afives, with a request that the latter would aid the borough in obtaining what was justly its duo. A letter w..s read from the Colonial Secretary enclosing a copy of the order validating the' burgess roll, and extending the time for the election of auditors for the borough.

A letter was read from Mr Ruddenklau calling attention to ti e fact that shingle had been removed off his pipe drain, and bridges removed from the footpath in front of the Addington mill, thus preventing him having access.

A letter was read from Mr Wm. White, junr., on the subject of drainage of bis premises.

It was resolved that Mr Ruddenklau be referred to the Eiccarton Road Boar! as the proper parties to deal with the matter. Respecting Mr White’s letter, it was recommended by the work* committee that the Council should lay a nine inch pipe, provided Mr White contributed one-third of the cost. This recommendation was agreed to. A letter was read from Mr 0. Clark, stating that Mr Aynsley required £3OO each for his sections, the price of which had been asked by the Council.

Cr. Wbitelaw said ho thought that dealing with a public man they should have been dealt with in a more liberal spirit. The proprietor was asking three times as much for t he laud for public streets as what he required I'rom private individuals. A letter was read from the railway engineer, stating that the cattle pit on the railway should bo constructed so as to serve the purpose of a culvert, A letter was read from the Drainage Board, with reference to the choking of the culvert in Jackson’s creek. The Board submitted that the culvert was under the control of the Council, and should be cleared out. It was resolved that the matter be referred to the foreman of works to clear out the culvert fis requested. A letter was read from the Collector of Customs, with reference to the license fee of the Crown Hotel, erroneously paid to the city of Christchurch, s'ating that the error had been rectified, and the amount credited to Sydenham. The licenses for breweries were stated as being colonial revenue, and the licenses for refreshments on the railway premises were issued by the Minister of Public Works, and not under the Licensing Acts, 1873 and 1874. FINANCE. The receipts of the fortnight were stated as being £B7 10s Id, and the expenditure, for the same period, £217 Os 7d. The balance at the credit of the borough on the 30th of July was £2016 16s 9d. After the transaction of some further business, the Council adjourned.