BOROUGH COUNCILS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1656, 11 June 1879, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCILS.

SYDENHAM. A special meeting of this Council was held at a quarter past twelve o’clock yesterday, at the office of Mr George Booth, Tuam street, for tho purpose of taking into consideration the resolution passed on the previous evening by the City Council on the subject of giving work to the unemployed on tho South town belt. There were present—His Worship the Mayor and Councillors White, Langclown, Charters, Pavitt, and Brown. The Mayor said the meeting had been called to consider a proposal from the Christchurch City Council. Some of them were aware of what had taken place at the interview with tho Minister of Public Works, and they knew that at a meeting of the two Councils a resolution had been passed in which each of the Councils had agreed to contribute £SOO towards tho work on the belt, If tho Government would supplement that amount by £IOOO. After what had taken place, tho matter had been reconsidered by the City Council, and he had thought it advisable to call them together especially to deal with the subject. A letter had been received from the town clerk of Christchurch enclosing the resolution to which he had referred. The letter was then read. It stated that, in the event of tho Sydenham Council not agreeing with the views contained in the resolution, the money would bo spent in the interior of the city, where certain works were much needed to be done. Tho resolution was printed in our yesterday’s issue. A letter was also read from Mr J. E. March, Immigration Officer, in which that gentleman sta' ed that a number of men had called upon him and told him there were a largo number of the unemployed in absolute distress. The Mayor stated that Mr March had also told him that there were a large number of men whom it was nonsense sending up to Waipara, because if they went away their wives and families would only be thrown upon the Charitable Aid. Cr, Langdown asked if the resolution of the City Council meant that the Sydenham Council was to make tho channelling at its own expense. The Major replied in the affirmative. Cr. Langdown asked if Cr. White could give any idea of what the cost would be of forming f he belt. Tho Town Clerk said Mr Walkden, the city surveyor, had estimated it at £I7OO, Or. White said that the forming of the belt alone without tho metalling would cost £6OO. Or. Langdown—And the channelling and footpath ? Or. White—The channelling £SBB and the footpath £142, or £730 in all. Cr. Langclown said the Council had not the means to put the two works in hand. Cr, Charters asked if fho City Council wanted them to do the channelling at once. The Mayor—You have heard the resolution toad. You must put what construction you like upon it. In a private conversation which I had with the Mayor, ho said wo should be expected to do the channelling, but now it seems that wo are exp cted to do tho footpath as well. Cr. Pavitt thought the main requirement was the channelling. Cr, White said there was another question ho would liko to have decided. Under whoso supervision was the works to be carried out ? Or. Langdown—Under the City Council certainly. Cr. White did not think this was right. Cr. Langdown—lt is the way of the City Council at all events. For his own part lie thought tho best thing they could do would be to bold tho City Council to Or. Wilson’s original proposition. The Mayor contended that tho Council Could not pass such a resolution, as they had done on the previous night, without first revoking the resolution passed at tho joint meeting of the Councils. Or. Charters did not think that resolution could bo revoked without the Sydenham Borough Council was present. Tho Mayor said they would remember that at the close of tho proceedings it had been resolved that they should be duly recorded in the minutes of both Councils. After some further discussion, Cr. Brown said he had read tho report of the last night’s proceedings of the City Council, and had thought the most likely way to come to some decision was to have another special meeting of tho two Councils together. Tho Mayor said it was open to any member to make a resolution on the subject. There must be given two clear days’ notice of any meeting. Cr. Charters agreed with Or. Brown, so that /something might bo decided on the subject. Cr, White thought the work ought to be commenced at once. The Mayor was of opinion that, if this matter fell through, tho works committee should vote a sum of money to give work to tho unemployed. The Mayor would first like to see if they could not come to some amicable arrangement. But whatever was to be done should be done at once. Cr. White said if the Sydenham Council had to find £I4OO and tho City Council only £3OO, and yet the latter body had the supervision of the work; it would not be the proper thing. Cr. Charters moved—“ That in reply to tho letter of the Christchurch City Council re tho South Town belt, they be requested to meet the Sydenham Borough Council in committee, at the City Council Chambers at ten o’clock on Wednesday morning, to consider the matter.” Tho motion was seconded by Or. Pavitt. Some discussion then took place on the subject of the by-laws, but as they were in the hands of the Council’s solicitor, nothing could then be done. The Council then adjourned. LYTTELTON. The Council met on Monday night laat. Present —Tho Mayor (chairman), Crs. Hawkins, McClatchie, Wood, Weyburn, Chalmers, Macpherson, and Reed. The clerk read the minutes of tho previous meeting, and they were confirmed. The receipts since last meeting were stated to be £231 17s 7d. Correspondence as follows was read: —From the Mayor of Christchurch, asking for the Council to use its best efforts to find as much employment as possible for tho unemployed. From Anderson’s iron foundry, enclosing tenders for supplying a 3£-h.p. gas engine. From Mr J. D. Fergusson, asking that the hard labor gang bo set to work to complete the drain on Mr J, D. Fergusson’s land, and offering £2O towards tho work. The Mayor said that, with reference to the request of the Mayor of Christchurch, it was a strange thing that in answer to an advertisement of the Council, inviting tenders to supply 100 yards of metal, no replies had been received. This did not look as though there were many idle men about. Perhaps the better plan would bo for the works committee to employ men to do the work. Or, Hawkius coincided with this view. Or. Macpherson thought that the contract asked for might not come within the scope of the unemployed, many of whom were without tools or means to purchase them. The matter was left with tho works committee, with power to emploj men to do the work. lie the Si-horso-power gas engine, tho Mayor stated that, according to Mr Anderson’s tender, an engine of this kind would not work more than 3300 gallons per hour, while an engine capable of throwing 5000 gallons per hour was wanted. Since this matter was first mooted, the Mayor said he had heard that one of these gas engines would not do the work as well as an American windmill. The windmills wore reported to be well adapted for the purpose. He thought that, at least, before ordering it would be advisable to investigate the matter further. Considerable discussion took place as to whether a windmill could bo got that would raise 5000 gallons 150 feet high per hour. On motion, it was loft with tho water supply committee, with power to confer with an engineer, if they think necessary. In reference to Mr J, D. Ferguson’s offer of £2O towards having tho Council finish tho drain through his premises, and his suggestion to got the hard labor gang at work there, the Mayor said that tho Council had already incurred considerable expense in connection with this drain. There was an account of close on £SO before tho Council at present in connection with the undertaking. Tho offer of Mr Ferguson was undoubtedly liberal, but the finances of tho borough would scarcely admit of further expenditure. To complete tho work it was estimated that £45 must be expended exclusive of the expense of filling in. Cr. McOlatchie thought that if the works committee could at all see their way Oicar t 9 lio the work, it would be belter to

finish it. Ors. Hawkins and Macpherson said that it was a most ('•jirablo thing that the drain should bo finished. Or, Reed said it was a question in his mind whether the Council had not already done as much as it ought to do. Or. McOlatchie said that it would certainly be required to be done ere long. It was suggested that the communication be left with the works committee. Or. Weyburn, ns a member of that committee, said he, for one would oppose doing anything further. Or Chalmers said that the works committee had carried out what it had been authorised to do by the Council, and all that had been promised to Mr Ferguson. The committee, if Council deemed it advisable, might see Mr Ferguson again however. Or, Macpherson spoke in favor of the works committee 30 doing. Cr. Weyburn said in any case the work could not be done this winter. The communication was loft in the hands of the works committee. The following report of the committee appointed to confer with a committee of the Harbor Board was read : “ Your committee have to report on the question of the boundary line between the Lyttelton Harbor Board’s land ardDampier’s bay ; that they had an interview with the harbor improvement committee on Wednesday morning, and decided upon a defined line which can be seen by small flags on the ground, and which line your committee recommend the Council to adopt. It is a well defined line, commencing from the old shed on Peacock’s Wharf, and continuing in a straight line to Cameron’s corner, and then towards the dock site as now defined on plan now sent to Council by the Harbor Board. Your committee applied to the harbor committee for a concession of that piece of land on Norwich Quay at the corner of Miles’ old store, for the purpose of widening Dampier’s Bay read. The committee are prepared to recommend to the Harbor Board such concessions, subject to the Council foregoing any claim they may have for compensation for that part of the road situated on Q-odley Quay taken from the Lyttelton Borough Council by the Harbor Board by Act of Parliament. Your committee would therefore recommend the Council to accept the offer of tho harbor improvement committee. Signed, H. AriWKIOHT, Chairman.” The report was received, and the Mayor moved its adoption, saying that the committee had spared no trouble in their investigation of the matter with the committee of the Harbor Board, and they now presented their report satisfied that the best interests of the town were obtained. Cr. Hawkins seconded the resolution to adopt the report, and Councillors present examined tho plan showing the course of the boundary. The report as read was adopted unanimously. The report of the engineer at tho pumping station, showing the amount of work done, and stating that the station is in satisfactory order, was read and received. A report was read from the inspector of nuisance?, as follows : —The property in Oxford street, lately owned by Mr T. Hester, now tho property of Mr William Graham, is in a filthy state from rubbish and all refuse thrown by the tenants on that and on the adjacent section. The drain is connected with the sewer, but very imperfectly done, as the drainage now flows all over the place. Unless immediate action taken I fear sonic serious epidemic may break out. I have spoken to the tenants on several occasions on the matter, but it seems to get worse instead of better.— l have, &c., J. Sowdkn.” The clerk was instructed to write to Mr Graham, requesting him to have tho nuisance set forth in the report abated. Account s amounting to £515 15s 41 wore passed for payment. Tho Mayor said that he had heard that tho Resident Magistrate appointed for Lyttelton intended residing at Kniapoi, and he had telegraphed to the Government drawing attention to tho matter. Two replica in acknowledgment had been received. Cr. McClatchie said that ho believed Mr Baswick purposed to reside in Lyttelton. Tho Mayor said he had since heard so too, and hoped it would prove to be true, as it was most essential that whoever was appointed should reside in Lyttelton. Or. Chalmers thought that, with reference to the occurrence of infectious diseases in tho town, tho Council should bo regularly informed by tho medical men, and some further remarks were made by Or. Chalmers and other Councillors upon tho pig-keeping nuisance; and the Inspector’s attention was directed to a practice adopted by a fish pedlar with a hand barrow, of throwing tho offal from his stall into tho streets. The introduction of a fish stall was considered rather an accommodation, but it should be conducted as cleanly as possible, and, as a Councillor remarked, it should be carried on with less noise and less profanity.