SYDENHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1443, 1 October 1878, Page 2

SYDENHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual meeting of this Council was held last evening. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Ors. Brown, Pavitt, Hall, Jones, W. White, jun., W. Langdown, Charters. DECLARATIONS OF COTTNCILLOBS. Crs. E. Pavitt and W. White, jun., having made the usual declarations, took their seats. THE MAYOB'S STATEMENT. The Mayor said that since their last meeting they had entered on a second year of their municipal existence. They had, it was true, lost some of their old members, but he was glad to see that they had received very efficient substitutes, and he trusted now that the Council would lay itself out for renewed exertions during the next year. He further desired to call attention to the fact that no meeting during the year had lapsed for want of a quorum. All the councillors having attended punctually during the year. He would like to impress on the ConncO the fact that throughout the year they had commenced their business punctually, and he hoped they would continue to do so, and that they would show the ratepayers that in the new year of the Council they intended to carry forward the work of the borough. COBBESPONDBNCE. A letter was read from the town clerk, intimating that Messrs E. Pavitt and W. White, jun., had been elected as Councillors of the borough in the room of Messrs Scott and Whitelaw, resigned. The Mayor reported that the two gentlemen named had taken the necessary declarations, and had taken their seats. A letter was read from the Railway Department in Wellington, declining to conoede the point raised by the borough as to the roadway leading from Selwyn street to Windmill road, and declining to annul the action taken in connection therewith by the Commissioner for Railways for the Middle Island. Cr. HaH moved— •" That the matter be referred to the works committee with instructions to watch the action of the railway department in the matter. The Mayor pointed out that what the Council had to decide was whether after the letter they had heard, they should go on and resist any occupation of the road. What he wanted was to get from the Council an expression of "opinion whether the course taken by the late Council should be endorsed. Cr. Charters said he would move—" That the action of the late Council re encroachment on the road near Selwyn street be endorsed by the proaent one." Cr. Pavitt seconded the motion.

His Worship the Mayor would like to see an addition to the resolution, that the ratepayers be consulted by public meeting before action was taken by the Council.

Or. Hall thought the best way would be to apply to the Supreme Court for an injunction, and then they would get the opinion of the judge as well as that of their solicitor. Hia Worship again urged the necessity of holding a public meeting of ratepayers prior to the Council taking any steps in the matter.

After some further discussion the motion was agreed to.

Cr. Brown said he thought the proper time to call a meeting of ratepayers would be when buildings were erected on the road. Cr. Jones said he desired to point out that if a public meeting were called, thev mighthave persons who were not interested at all moving resolutions that no steps be taken to defend what they {the Council) considered were their rights. It was ultimately decided that the matter be referred to the works committee to deal with.

A letter was read from the secretary of the Farmers' Grain and Produce Store Company, stating that the conditions of the lease from the Commissioner of Railways were so stringent as to preclude the directors of the company acceding to the request of the Council not to build close up to the Windmill road. Cr. Brown moved—" That the Commissioner of Railways bo communicated with oa the subject."

Cr. Jones seconded the motion. A letter was read from a mimber of residents in Poulson street, Sydenham, calling attention to the nuisance caused by a disorderly house therein. It was resolved to call the attention of the Commissioner of Police to the matter. A letter was read from Messrs Ruddenklau and T. R. Fisher, enclosing plan of a private road leading through rural section No. 72, situate at Addington, -which they wished to hand over to the borough as a public road. Cr. Charters moved—" That the application be declined, and that they be informed that ths Council cannot take over the road unless 66ft. wide." The Clerk said that Mr Ruddenklau desired the road to be taken over as an alley, under clause 200.

Cr. Jones seconded the motion. Cr. Langdown moved as an amendment — " That the matter be referred to the works committee." Cr. Brown seconded the amendment. The amendment was then put and carried by the casting vote of the Mayor. A letter was read from Mr Joynt, as solicitor for Mr J. A. Hansmann, of Addington, drawing the attention of the Council to the injury alleged to have been done to Mr Hansmann's property by the lowering of the road by the Borough Council. A letter on the same subject waß also read from Mr Hansmann. The Clerk explained the position of the matter. After some discussion, the letters were referred to the works committee. A letter was read from Mr Crompton with regard to the manufacture of closet pans at the same price as those supplied to the City Council. The letter was ref ered to the sanitary committee. A letter was read from Mr G. Reston, gaoler at Addington, detailing the terms upon which prison labor was available for works in the borough. The remuneration was fixed at 6d per hour per head. The letter was referred to the works committee. A letter was read from the foreman of works on behalf of the employes of the Council, thanking the Mayor and members for the picnic recently given to them. Cr. Langdown said that he desired to ask whether the councillors who went down with the men kept with them all the time. He might say that he had had a large number of windows broken, and the inhabitants of Sumner declared that the windows had been broken by the Council's employes at the picnic. Crs. Charters and Jones defended the employes from any imputation as to breaking of the windows. After a little more discussion the matter dropped. WOBK3 OP THB BOBOTJGH. A letter was read from the Drainage Board informing the Council that the Chairman, Messrs Duncan and Hobbs had been appointed as a committee to confer with the Council as to the works to be done by each. NIGHT SOIL BESEBVE. A letter was read from |Mr J. Marshman, stating that he had received instructions from the Government to mark off a reserve near the Belfast Factory, of 200 acres, for a night soil reserve. . The Mayor said that Cr. Charters and himaelf had appointed to go and see the spot, when Mr Marshman would mark off the reserve. pikancial. The finance committee reported the expenditure for the fortnight to be £162 lis 2d, and the receipts £45 Os sd. The credit (balance at the bank was £l7lß 12s Id. Cr. Brown moved that the report be received and adopted. Cr. Jones suggested that the finance committee state at next meeting the amount of irates outstanding. ELECTION OP COMMITTEES. The following members were elected to nerve on the various committees : —Works committee—Crs. White (chairman), Pavitt, Jones, and Andrew; sanitary committee— Crs. Pavittl (chairman), Andrew, Brown, and Foster; finance committee—Crs. Charters (chairman), Brown, Hall, and Langdown; by-law committee—Crs. Brown (chairman), Hall, Jones, and Langdown; lighting committee— Crs. Hall (chairman), Charters, TPoste-i, and White ; public works committee— Hia Worship the Mayor (chairman), Crs. ißrown, Charters, Hall, Pavitt, and White. CONPEREtfCE WITH DBAINAGE BOABD. The chairman of the works and sanitary .committees, with his Worship the Mayor, were appointed as a committee to confer with the Drainage Board as to the drains in the Borough. TENDERS. Tenders were opened for the formation of 158 chains of streets in Sandridge, when that ,of Mr E. Jackman for £275, was accepted. SIDE DBAINB. €r. Charters said that he desired to call the attention of the works committee to the neeesaity whieh existed for the carting away of the rubbish from the side channels, instead of allowing it to lay in the sun. TENDEBO FOB METAL. Ci\ Jones called the attention of the Council to the fact that the contract for the supply of road metal was all but expired, and that it wa* .necessary for the committee to call for fresh fenders at once. His Worship «#id that no doubt the works committee would ta&e a note of it. DEPUTATION. A deputation, comprising Messrs Russell and Pugh, from the residents of the road through Scott's paddock, waited upon the Council to aßk them to do something towards putting the road in repair. The matter was referred to the works committee to report upon at next meeting. The Council then adjourned.