BOROUGH COUNCILS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1596, 1 April 1879, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCILS.

SYDENHAM. Monday, Maboh 31. The usmtl fortnightly meeting of the Sydenham Borough Council was held last night at 7 p.m. Present—His Worship the Mayor of Sydenham, and Councillors White, Pavitt, Brown, Langdown, Jones, Andrew, and Foster. BENEVOLENT FUND. The Mayor referred to a fund which had been originated at a religious service some months ago in Addington, and which had been devoted to purposes of benevolence. A list of the contributors to the fund was laid upon the table, and his Worship said there were many deserving cases of poverty still in the Borough which needed relief, and he trusted an effort would be made to establish this fund on a permanent and substantial basis. The Councillors generally endorsed the remarks of the Mayor. ASSESSMENTS. A letter was read from the secretary to the Drainage Board, asking for the total amount of assessment in the Sydenham drainage district for 1879. The Tiown Clerk said he had replied to the letter. It was moved and seconded and carried—- “ That the letter be received.” PABIhiMBNT IN chsistchuboh. The follow ing communication from the Mayor of Cl ’rigtchurch to the Mayor of Sydenham w&* , '"ead: — Will be glad ot your co-operation with Christ- . „ Citv Comic ’1 in urging the Government churcu v 0 f Parliament in Christto have * to a reßolut i oll 0 f the church, m obdaivn, The House of Eepr sen Bma u and every facility 3*b.“S!£ W. “■' 1 « 01 a***™*Sydenham co-operate with . , » City Council in the matter rt 1 , , Or. Jones seconded the mo. f ’ lon > which waß agreed to. SYDNEY A copy of the general regulatio. , Sydney Exhibition, with a list of v ' , committees in New Zealand, was laid table. It was ordered to be acknowledged. BEPOET ON SOUTH TOWN BELT. The following report from Messrs Thorn to. 11 and Bull on the South town belt was read : His Worship the Mayor of Sydenham In accordance with your wishes, I have the honor to forward yon a report on the present condition of the south side of the South town belt lying between Colombo street on the east and Selwyn street on the west. It would appear on reference to the levels that I have taken there is a natural fall on the belt varying from lin to I Jin to the chain from west to east, in other words, the footpath at the north side of the belt at its junction with Selwyn street is sft Gin higher than the footpath at the north side of the belt at its junction with Colombo street. The brick sewer under the centre of the belt also has its fall from west to east, as it discharges its contents into the dram down the canal reserve. The natural fall of the ground in Colombo and Durham streets from St. Asaph street to the belt is from north to south—that is, in the direction of the belt, but the fall in Antigua and Montreal streets is in the opposite direction. As regards the belt, the most economical diversion of the drainage is to go in the line of direct fall, and the same remarks applies to the streets. The water in the side channels in Colombo and Durham streets is flowing to the belt, and that in Montreal and Antigua streets is flowing fromtbobelt. ... , , , In order to bring the junction of Montreal street level with the northern side of the belt, it was necessary to have it cut down about two feet; had this not been done there would have been a slight rise at the front equal to a grade of one in 300 along the belt, and the uniformity in the incline in the latter would have been destroyed. The City Council have formed half the belt, including the footpath from Colombo street to a point one chain past the two chain road leading to the West Christchurch school or Treadwell’s road, the total distance being forty-seven chains. I am of opinion that in order to keep the side channel a safe depth between Colombo street and Montreal street, as well as present an uniform inclination of roadway, it was desirable the road should he formed in the way in ■which it has. But as regards that portion between Montreal street and Treadwell’s lane, about half the total distance of forty-seven chains, I am of opinion that it was necessary for the sake of uniformity alone. .. , , _ As regards the case as it stands I consider that inasmuch as it is not desirable that the belt should be left in its present state, it will be necessary that a similar course should be pursued as that on the north. This, however, would alter the inclination of the approaches to the railway on Colombo, Durham, Montreal, and Antigua streets, respectively, but not to any serious extent, the grade being remarkably easy. The greatest inclination of present roads from edge of footpath to railway fence is as follows, vi*.: Greatest inclination of D when a it ere d. present road, q Colombo st. ... level Colombo at. ... ImlOX Durham st. ... linll2 Durham st. ... linll Montreal 5t.... lin 85 Montreal 5t.... lin 64 Antigua st. ... lin 96 Antigua st. ... lin 62 If these alterations were carried out there would be about 8750 cubic yards of soil to remove, including the several approaches to the railway, which I estimate at <£437 10s.

ESTIMATE OP COST. Excavation in road and footpaths, 6500 cubic yards, at Is, ; excavations approaches, 2250 cubic yards, at Is, .£ll2 10s; unscreened gravel for belt, 40 yards per chain, 47 chains, 1880, at 3s, .£282; screenings for footpaths, 256, at 3i 6d, .£49 16s; gravel for approaches, 17 chains, at 40 yards per chain, 680, at 3s, .£lO2. Total, <£B7l 6a. If the gravel is screened the estimate will be .£163 10s more, or .£1039 16s. And if channelling is added, 47 chains at 6s lOd, £305 10s; total, £1345 6s. I have, &c,, G, Thornton, C.E., Of Thornton and Bull.

Or. Andrew moved that the letter be referred to the sanitary committee to report on. His Worship said he agreed with Or. Andrew, and he had a plan by which he thought a satisfactory solution or adjustment of the whole matter could be come to. Or. Pavitt seconded the resolution. Or. White said he did not agree with Mr Thornton’s figures, and he was of opinion that, before the Borough Council met the Christchurch City Council, the former should see Mr Thornton, as he considered his calculations were all wrong, and the report was valueless. Or. Jones said what the Council wanted was to know what would be the cost of the alterations to the belt, and that the report threw no light on. As far as he could see, the report was of no use to the Council. The motion was then put and carried, with the addition of Or. White and the Mayor to the committee. It was resolved, on the motion of Or. Brown, seconded by Or. Foster —“ That the South belt committee be requested to confer with the Christchurch City Council with the object of getting a definite offer from the Christchurch Council in reference to the formation of the belt, and report at next meeting.” KAITANQ-ATA BELIEF FUND. A letter was read from Mr Sydney Day, enclosing a cheque for £2l 16s, being the amount realised on behalf of the fund at an entertainment recently given in the Colombo Eoad District Schoolroom. The letter and enclosure was ordered to be acknowledged with thanks. WOBEB COMMITTEE’S BBPOBT. The committee in their report recommended that power should be given them to accept a tender for the supply of horse teams for one year for borough purposes, also to give Mr Brightling notice, under the Municipal Corporations Act, sections 207 and 208, to make his gravel pit fronting on the Gasworks road safe and secure. It was recommended to cut a gorse fence belonging to Mr Hancock, and put pipes under the footpath, in front of the premises in Third street west, the work to be done at Mr Hancock’s expense. Also to cut a gorse fence on Going s road for Mr Thompson, and at his expense. Lastly, that Mr John Anderson’s sale plan be not approved of, as the roads thereon laid £ ut are only shown 40ft. in width instead of 6b. The report was considered seriatim, ana adopted.

FINANCE COMMITTEE. The finance committee reported that the receipts for the last fortnight wore £lO3 3s Bd. The Cr. balance at the bank on March 31st was £1915 11s sd. There were some accounts to be examined, the amount being £290 3s, These accounts paid would leave the Or. balance at the Bank at £1625 8s 5d less the half year’s interest, which would be deducted when made up. The whole of the outstanding rates were £34 17s 7d. The report was approved. SANITARY COMMITTEE. The sanitary committee brought up a specification of the duties proposed to belong to the office of inspector of nuisances and borough ranger. The Council went into committee to consider the recommendations of the committee. On resuming, the report of the sanitary committee was adopted as a whole. BY-LAWS, The by-law committee reported as follows ; I have the honor to report that by-laws Nos. 2, 3 and ! have been returned by the Council’s solicitor to the Town Clerk, and by him and the junior clerk fair copies of over forty pages have been written out. These copies were required by Mr Cowlisbaw to be submitted to him, and as soon as they are returned the Council will be able to hold their first special meeting to approve of them. This may be in one week’s time. Your committee ask for definite instructions as to the preparing of a by-law for the purpose of making owners of property pay a proportion of the cost of concrete channelling and asphalte. John T. Brown, Chairman, By-law Committee. The report was adopted. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE’S REPORT. 31st March, 1879. Your committee, after careful consideration of Mr Stanley Edw ards’ proposal about a bridge over the Heatbcoie river, recommend that the following reply be given him -. — “ That the Council could on no account permit the deviation or alteration of the roadway alongside of the Heathcote river.” The Council Inowever consider the proposed site for the bridge to be a good one, and are prepared to consider the matter favorably at a future date as soon as further particulars as to cost are laid bef ore them. On the motu m of Cr. Brown, seconded by Or. Pavitt, it w as resolved that the report be adopted. After the tr ansaction of some routine business the Cornu al adjourned.