THE SOUTH TOWN BELT.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1656, 11 June 1879, Page 2

THE SOUTH TOWN BELT.

A noting took place this morning of the members of the City Council end Sydenham Borough Council with reference to the formation of the South town bolt. Present—His Wo: ship the Mayor of Christchurch, the Mayor of Sydenham, Crs. Lczsrd, Jenkins, Binstead, Wilson, Ayers, Langdown, White, Charters, Brown, Clifford, and Cass. The Mayor of Christchurch said that the meeting had been called at the request of the Mayor and Council of Sydenham, to consider the question of the formation of the South town belt. He wes not aware whether the Sydenham Council were prepared to make any proposition, but ho thought as they had requested the meeting that they should lay them views before the meeting. The Mayor of Sydenham said that it would bo remembered that the two Councils had met in a legally constituted manner, and at that meeting it was thought that in view of the unemployed movement the time had arrived when the work should bo done. After a careful and calm discussion, it was resolved that half the cost of the work should bo provided by the Christchurch City Council. This was regarded as the basis upon which the work shou’d be done ; a resolution wee passed by the united Councils, offering to give £503 each and to obtain from the Government a subsidy of £ICOO. He bad gone away well pleased with the settlement of the question, and under the impression that, whether the General Government found tiro subsidy or not, the resolution wou’d bo the basis on which the work was to be done. To his surprise he found that, at the next meeting of the City Council, this resolution, winch he considered was legally binding upon the Council, had been set aside That resolution ho would now ask the Mayor of Christchurch to road. The Mayor ot Christchurch then read the resolution as follows :—“ That in the opinion of the City Council of Christchurch and the Council of Sydenham, in joint counc : l assembled, it is urgently and essentially necessary that employment be provided for the unemployed in the said boroughs for destitute workmen, and that the joint Oounc's bo'ng willing to vote the sum of £SOO each, the Government bo respectfully requested to subsidise the amount by voting a sum of £IO3O. These amounts to be expended in channeling, forming, and metalling the south side of the South town belt and other necessary works which are urgently needed as sanitary measures.” The Town Clerk also read the following resolution passed at the last mooting of the Council—" That by the Sydenham Borough Council paying one half, tb ? B Oounci’ proposes tr pay one half the cost of forming the south side of the roadway, also the footpath on the South Town Belt from the ra ;i way station to the Lincoln road, provided the said works bo commenced without any unnecessary delay, for the purpose of providing work for married men who aro now euffer’ng for the want of employment. That a committee be appointed for the purpose of confen ing with theSydenham Borough Council upon the subject, such committee to consist of the Mayor and Cr. Gapes.”

The Mayor of Sydenham said that the resolution confirmed him in tho idea that [theCouncils had agreed whether tho Government paid tho subsidy or not, to pay half the cost. Therefore he thought that the City Council had passed a resolution subversive of the resolution arrived at by the united Council. That was Lis view, but ho did not know what other gentlemen might think. This being so, ho took it that tho question of the South Town Belt was in the same position as when they first met. This was his view of tho matter, more particularly as they had received a letter from the City Council stating that it was probable that any ■works done by the City Council for tho unemployed would be done in tho ci'y. He trusted they would bo able to settle the matter amicably, as Mr March had informed him that there were numbers of men who could not bo sent away, because if so they would have to keep their wives and families. He did hope that gentlemen would under these circumstances strain a point. The Mayor of Christchurch said that having heard the explanation of the Mayor of Sydenham, he was desirous of stating that whatever notion tho Sydenham gentleman might have formed tho members of the Christchurch City Council were of op'nion that this money was only to be voted if the Government gave their subsidy. As regarded the unemployed, ho desired to point out that the City Conned had done their duty as far as possible. [Hear, hear.] He might say that ho bed been informed that a very largo proportion of those engaged by the City Council stonebreaking were manied men from tho borough of Sydenham. It would be recollected that at the last conference the Sydenham Borough Council had twitted the city with being overdrawn at the Bank, wb ; le the Sydenham Council had a balance. Now ho would bo vciy glad to learn that the Sydenham Borough Council had employed a single extra man during this unemployed crisis. Now, without going away from bis original statement that it was not intended to pay half the cost unless tho Government paid over a subsidy, yet he should bo prepared on his own behalf to go tnis far, that the City Council should pay half the cost of formation of tho road and footpath, provided that the Sydenham Council mad;? the channelling, they being allowed to carry out the work in the same way as the other channelling in their borough. (Jr, Ayers seid that ha was decidedly under the impression that the money was voted at tho conference, with the understanding that Government should pay over tho subsidy. However, os th : s was a special case, ho wss prepared to support the proposfl of the Mayor of Christchurch. He should like to say a word or two as regarded the matter of the employment by the City Council of men from the borough of Sydenham. As the Sydenham Council had a balance, and they had a heavy overdraft, he trusted the Sydenham Council would see that the City Council were doing a generous thing in meeting them as they were, particularly as they were giving omploj msnt to men the duty of providing for whom laid on the Sydenham Council. Cr. Brown (Sydenham) said that in considering this matter they must recollect that if the Sydenham Council had had a voice in the original formation of tho belt there would have been a saving of at least half tho cost. As it was now, tho streets leading from Sydenham into the belt would have to be lowered. Tho lowering of the belt, he might say, had considerably increased the value of a large tract of property in St. Asaph street, of which Sydenham received nothing. Skill he thought that tho fair way would be for both Councils to contribute equally. Cr. Wilson said be concurred with the sentiments of the Mayor of Christchurch and Cr. Ayers that the money was voted by the Christchurch City Council contingent on the vote by the Government of £ICG3. The improvement of the property referred to by C - . Brown had not resulted in any financial advantage to the City Couuc’l, but it must have gone to the piivate owners. Ho thought that they had acted with great liberality towards the Sydenham Borough Council, and if they carried out the work as proposed by bis Worship, he thought that they would do all that they were called upon to do. Cr. Clifford understood (hat tho Mayor of Christchurch meant to form the footpath only, and not to metal it. The Mayor replied in the affirmative. Cr. Langdown (Sydenham) said there was no use in boating about the bush. If the City Council would do no more than they now proposed, he did not see that the Sydenham Borough Oounc’l could lin’sh the work. In reply to the Mayor of Christchurch, Mr Walkden (city surveyor) said that the cost of forming the footpath would bo halt that of the vdiolo work. Cr. Jenkins said that ho felt that the resolution passed at tho united conference had lapsed because it was contingent on tho Government giving tho subsidy. He had always opposed spending the ratepayers’ money in Sydenham, but, in view of the unemployed crisis, ho had given way so far as to agree to tho resolution passed last meeting, but if this were not accepted he should be prepared to move that the money be spent in their own boundary. So far as he could learn, the cost of the work would be £1762 Ss, of which the channelling would bo £730 16s. He felt inclined, under the circumstances of the case, to stretch a point as tar as proposed by the Mayor. Cr. Cass spoke on tho subject, and said he would only be in favor of half the cost of the footpaths and formation being contributed by the city on the condition that there should be a permanent system of channelling. Cr. Jenkins desired to point out that (he Heathcoto Road Board had formed the east poition of tho belt, and put iu the channelling witbjout 'any assistance. Therefore he thought the Borough Council ought gladly to accept, the offer. Cr. White (Sydenham) could not agree with tho Chiistchurch city councilors that they were making a liberal offer to the Sydenham borough. Tho cost of the work proposed to bo given by tho City Counc' 1 ws« about £152 15s cut of £1755, leaving the balance to bo paid by the Sydenham Borough Council. T .is was what the resolution of last Monday evenmg affirmed, and he desired it to go forth to tho world that tho liberality of the Chile'church City Council towards the unemployed of the province amounted to £l5O. Now the offer as amended was simply this that the Sydenham Council should pay about £I4OO odd out of a total rate roll of £I9OO. Thus, as Cr. Langdown hud put it, the offer was impossible. As to tbo remark of Cr. Jenkins os to the Heathcote Road Board, he desired to point out that Sydenham had formed and metalled tho belt. [Cr. Jenkins : The Spre/don Foad Board paid that,] Well, the Spie/don Road Board or Sydenham Borough Council, it was all the same, as the ratepayers of Sydenham had to pay. Ho thought what fhou'd bo done was for tho Christchurch City Council to baud over to tho Sydenham Borough Council the £SC J they were ready to do at the conference, and then that body would complete the whole work itself. This was giving only £SC3 out of £1750, and tho Christchurch City Counci', if this were done, would not be in a worse position than they would if the Government, had voted the £IOO3. It had been said that the City Council were employing Sydenham ratepayers. Ho did not know of any. It this question were not settled, then they should put the unemployed on works wlth'n tho Borough of Sydenham. The question of the south town belt did not really come into tho consideration of tho Borough of Sydenham, as the belt was really in the city. His Worship the Mayor of Christchurch would like to ask Mr White whether he understood that his proposal as to the City Counc’l giving the Sydenham Borough Council £SOO, and letting them do tho work, was the opinion of the Council ? Cr. White—No ; only my own opinion. Tho Mayor of Christchurch said that if the Council of Sydenham would accept the proposal of Cr. White, tho City Council would at once accept this and settle tho matter. Cr. Jenkins —I should like to ask (he Sydenham Borough Council whether (hoy propose to accept our terms contained in the resolution of last Monday, as I cannot remain hero much longer. Cr. Charters said that if Cr. White would move at tho next meeting of the Svdenham Council that they should t ako £SOO from the Christchurch City Council and do all the, work, ho would support it. Tho Mayor of Sydenham understood that the meeting bad agreed to this ; that £SOO should be given to the Sydenham Borough Council by tho City Council, i nd tho work be carried out by the former Cr. Jenkins said that whatever was done it would bo contingent on (he Sydenhatn Borough Council putting the thaTinelling in at once for eanitary purposes. Tin* ' ofc it, should be a sine am nrv

The Mayor of Sydenham desired to point out that the north side of the belt had not been channelled for two years. Now there fore moneys which would allow of the drainage being done. The Borough Council would do the work as speedily as possible. Or. Clifford pointed out that the whole question had come up from a sanitary point point of view. What was necessary was, that aide channelling should be put in at once. Or. White said that the Council would undertake to keep the side channel? clean until the concrete was put in. Some further discussion of a desultory character took place, when The Mayor said that though they might not agree with the Sydenham Borough Counci 1 , that day, it would not prevent the unemployed having work, because that would no doubt be provided within (heir own boundailes. [Hear.] Ho intended to bring the matter before the Council at its next meeting, so that ho did not think it should go forth that if they did not agree with the Sydenham Council the unemployed would not get wsrk, Cr. Cass moved—“ That in order to meet, if possible, the wiohes of the Sydenham Borough Council in the matter of forming and channelling of the south side of the South belt, it is desirable that the Oily Council should be prepared to bear half the cost of forming the roadway in question and the pathway along the some conditional upon the Sydenham Borough Council performing their moiety of the same, together with channelling the oarae line in a manner corresponding with that done in the city. 411 the work to be undertaken simuTanoously, and provided that in no case the total cost to the City Council shall not exceed the sum of £SO, The work to bo performed under the supervision of the city Bui veyor.” Or. Jenkins seconded the motion. The motion was then put and agreed to unanimously by the members of the City Council. The Mayor of Christchurch then said it would be for the Sydenham Council to say whether they would accept the resolution or ru t The Mayor of Sydenham said that the point to which ho should demo* was the asking the Sydenham Borough Council to expend so largo a sum of money without having any supei vision over it. Cr. White said that the conditions imposed by the City Council could not be complied with by the Sydenham Borough Council, as really the City Council are only contributing some £303 out of £I7CO. What would be fair would be for the Christchurch City Council to give £SCD, and leave the Sydenham Council to do the work altogether. Cr. Jenkins desired to know whether the Sydenham Borough Council would accept the £SOO spoken of by Or. White, as previously the Mayor of Sydenham had stated that Cr. White was only speaking individually, and not for the Council. The Mayor of Sydenham desired concrete channelling being put in hand and completed at once. This, he took it, was a sine qua non of any agreement being come to between the the Councils. Cr. White said that they were imposing too much upon the Sydenham Counc’l altogether. [Expressions of dissent from the members of the Christchurch City Council.] They would endeavour to keep the side channelling clean —[The Mayor of Christchurch —We must have the question put on a set tled basis.] —hut they were not iu a position to take up the work of concrete channelling at once. [The Mayor of Christchurch—That is how we wont to give you what you asked for ; you say you can’t accept it.] The Sydenham Borough Council could not raise the money to do the work as required. At this stage of the proceedings the Cb’-iit-church City Councillors rose from their seats, and bis Worship the Mayor of Christchurch vacated the chc ; r. The meeting thus breaking up in the most admired disorder.