SYDENHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1548, 4 February 1879, Page 3

SYDENHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MOKDAY, FeBBUABY 3. The usual fortnightly meeting was held at 7.30. Present—His Worship the Mayor, in the chair, and Crs. White, Jones, Andrews, Hall, Brown, Pavitt, Foster, Charters and Langdown. THE SOUTH TOWN BELT. A letter was read from Mr A. Alfred, complaining of the condition of the side channel on the south belt above Selwyn street. It was resolved that the writer be referred to the local Board of Health. DRAINAGE HATES. A letter was read from the Drainage Board, stating that under the Act all rates must be paid in full to that Board, and that the commission would be paid by the Board by cheque, and must not be deducted. Referred to the finance committee. THE OABWOEK3 HOAD. A letter was read from the resident engineer of railways, stating that he understood that the gasworks road would be widened on certain conditions, but that as he had not been advised that those conditions had been complied with he presumed the matter had fallen through. The letter was revived, and ordered to be considered in conjunction with the report of the works committee. MAP OF TnE BOROUGH. A letter was read from Messrs Dobson and Sons, on the subject of the map of the borough, and asking for instructions upon certain points. The letter was received. THE LINCOLN EOAD. A petition, signed by four ratepayers, complaining of the action of the Council in raising the footpath in front of their premises on the north-weßt boundary of the borougli on the Lincoln road, and requesting that the footpath might be allowed to remain as at present. Referred to the works committee. CLEANING SUMPS. A leMer was read from the engineer of the Drainage Board, calling the Council's attention to the necessity of frequently cleaning out the sumps which intercept deposits in drains leading into the South and East belts sower. Referred to the works committee. THE COUNCIL'S SOLICITOE. The resignation of Mr Wynn Williams as solicitor to the Board was read. The writer stated that the cause of his resignation was his inability to give up sufficient time to attend to the business of the Council. The resignation was accepted. SEAL OF THE COUNCIL. It was stated by the Town Clerk that the seal of the Council had arrived, but that before it could be used it would require a stand. Cr. Brown was empowered to procure the necessary stand. THE SOUTH TOWN BELT. The Chairman said they had not yet received any definite information from the City Council on the subject of the South Town Belt. They could not do anything until they received a communication from that body. woeks committee's eepoet. Cr. White brought up this report. It narrated what works had been done since the last meeting, and what works were in progress. The report was received and considered clause by clause. Some discussion took place on the subject of the power of the works committee to reply to letters referred to them. It appeared that that committee had instructed the clerk to reply to a certain letter in a certain way, but he had not done so. The Chairman asked the clerk why he had not written the letter as inscructed by the committee. The Clerk replied that, as the matter had only been referred to the workß committee without power to act, he had considered they were not justifiod in answering the letter. Cr. Jones thought that when a letter was referred to a committee, they ought to have power to reply to it. Crs. Hall and Brown held the same opinions. The Mayor thought it would be a dangerous precedent. Of course if the letter had been referred " with power to act," it would have been a different thing. He considered the clerk had acted rightly. Cr. White moved the adoption of the report. Seconded by Cr. Langdown. Some discussion took place on the subject of the proper authority to give orders to the foreman of works, the report recommending that such orders should be given by the chairman of the works committee. After some discussion the report waß adopted. Cr. Charters suggested the advisability of ÜBing the road roller in Colombo road. Cr. White said it was the intention of the works committee to use the road roller now when any new metal was laid down. finance committee. Cr. Charters reported that the receipts during the fortnight had been £l9l, and the expenditure, including accounts to be paid, £565 lfa 3d ; credit balance in the bank, after payment of accounts referred to in detail, £2380 15s 2d ; outstanding rates, £99 16a sd, for the recovery of which summonses had been issued. The report was adopted. the steeet naming committee. It was reported that the names of the various streets had been sent to the surveyors, Messrs Dobson and Co., to be placed on the map. Cr. White, the chairman of the committee, said there was no report. Crs. Hall and Charters admitted that there was no written report, but they had mot for three hours and considered the matter. The Mayor said that either Crs. Hall or Charters had better give in a written report. Cr. Charters said it was tho chairman's duty to do that, not his. Cr. Whitelaw was at the meeting in question, and was of opinion that they had no power to have the suggested names put on the map without the consent of the Council. The map had been taken out of his hands and sent to the contractor, and therefore if any one gave in a report it should be those gentlemen who had taken the work out of his hands. There was no particular hurry for the work to be done. Cr. Hall moved—" That the Council go into committee to consider the question of the names on the map." Seconded by Cr. Pavitt and sgreed to. Tho Council then went into committee. Upon resuming, no report was given to the Council, and Cr. Charters said the whole thing was now evidently shelved. Ultimately the matter was referred br.ck to tho committee, with power to act.

SANITARY COMiw.- iJSL - The report of this committee was riZ? nv Or. Pavitt. It recommended the adoption of the pun system in the borough, and also recommended that the tender of T. Compton be accepted for pans at lis each. The report was adopted. THK BY-1 AW COMMITTEE. Cr. Brown reported that the committee had been wailing during the past fortnight for a report from the solicitor who had now resigned. The town clerk said ho bad waited on Mr Williams, who informed him that he was about to send in his resignation, and also the papers connected with the by-laws. No such papers had, however, reached the office. Cr. Pavitt said they seemed very unfortunate with regard to their by-laws. Cr. Jones thought it was a very good thing they had got the solicitor's resignation if he was going to carry on their business like this It wag imperative that something should be dono very soon with regard to the bylaws. Cr. Brown said they had drawn up the bylaws very carefully, taking for their guidance those of Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington, and Auckland. LIGHTING COMMITTEE. The Chairman reported that five tenders had been received for lamp posts, and asked for power to accept one. The report was adopted. THE GASWOBKS BOAD COMMITTEE. The committee appointed to consider the question of the purchase of Mr Cunningham's land, reported that the Government had only set back their fence 12ft., instead of 12ft 6in. On being communicated with, they had agreed to make the necessary alteration. The committee recommended the Council to pass the sum of £250 for the purchase of Mr Cunningham's land as proposed. Cr Charters proposed the adoption of the report. Seconded by Cr Hall, who said he should vote against the report without a guarantee of £250 from the people. Cr Jones would also vote against the adoption of the report. He would not for a moment think of voting for this sum of £250. It would be acting unjust towards the rate{>ayers. Indeed, he did not think they could egally vote the money. Cr. Brown thought it very important that the street in question should be widened. Cr. Langdown supported the motion. It would be a great mistake to drive this off until they struck a special rate. Cr. Pavitt supported the motion. Cr. White could not vote for the adoption of the report as it stood, as according to previous resolutions they must have a guarantee in this matter. They could not adopt the report unless they rescinded former resolutions. He would not sanction the money for widening any street in the borough being taken out of the general rates. Widening of streets should be done out of borrowed money, and if the Council would lend the amount for the purpose, to be repaid from borrowed money, then ho would support the motion. Cr. Andrew supported the resolution. The Mayor also supported the motion, and said they could pay the cost of this road out of borrowed money even if they passed the resolution now. Cr. Jones moved as an amendment —" That that portion of the report requesting the Council to advance the sum of £250 for the purchase of the ground in question be Btruck out, and that the Council advance the sum of £l5O to supplement the £IOO to be collected by the persons interested, the sum so advanced to be repaid out of the first loan." Seconded by Cr. Hall. Cr. Charters then replied. The amendment was put and lost, and the original resolution for the adoption of the report carried. Cr. Charters moved—" That the matter be now referred to the Mayor to complete the purchase of Mr Cunningham's land." Cr. Brown seconded the motion. Cr. Hall proposed as an amendment —"That the mayor have the £IOO cash, and a guarantoe for the £l5O before the purchase be made." The Mayor ruled this was not an amendment. After some discussion, the motion of Cr. Charters was put and carried. The Coui'til then went into committee, and immediately afterwards i»dj r >urned.