SYDENHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1691, 22 July 1879, Page 3

SYDENHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Sydenham Borough Council was held last evening. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Brown, Pavitt, Joyce, White, Andrew, Jones, and Charters.

The minutes of the previous meeting and a special meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence was read as follows : From the clerk of the Christchurch City Council, stating that the Council had ordered the footpath in Selwyn street to be shingled. The Mayor said this letter did not deal with the complaint made to the Council. Mr Joyce said this south belt appeared to be a vexed question. He suggested that the letter should be received, and he would table a motion presently dealing with this and other matters.

This suggestion was adopted. From ratepayers in the Hazelden road, a letter was received respecting a footpath on the said road. Referred to the works committee.

From Messrs Jacobson and others, calling attention to the bad state of the footpath in Harper street, entering from the South belt. Referred to the works committee.

The works committee reported ns follows :

New Streets. —Tour committee beg to recommend that the sale plan of land, the property of Messrs Sewell and Stevens, bo approved of. Office Yard.—That a new close paling fence ho erected on part of the west side the section this office is standing on, the owner of the adjoining land paying half the cost of the same. Unemployed.—That a further imprest of -GSO be granted to the committee to pay those extra hands who cannot wait until next m.eting of Council. Formation. —The committee report that the formation of Scott’s road, and streets in Willow Bank and Sandridgo arc nearly completed, and Hawdon and adjoining streets commenced. Brown’s Land. —And to ask that this committee be empowered to take legal advice concerning other streets besides those shewn in the map of the borough, as being situated on Mr J. T. Brown’s land, before giving their decision with regard to Mr Brown’s protest. The report was adopted. The sanitary committee reported as follows :

Chief Inspector of Nuisances.—Your committee wou’d beg to recommend that the letter from the Local Board of Health referred to this committee, in which the accusations made by this Council against the Chief Inspector of Nuisances “that ho had interfered with the sale of the Council’s closet pans,” is partly denied, to the effect that this Council is fully satisfied that the statement contained in the town clerk’s letter dated June 24th, 1879, is correct, and on second enquiry, that this committee is willing to meet the Chairman of the Local Board of Health and interview the persons alleged to have been spoken to by the Chief Inspector. Egan’s Nuisance.—And that the attention of the Local Board of Health be called to the filthy state of Mr Egan’s property, situated on east s : de of Colombo road.

Cr. White, speaking to the first clause of the report, said the chief inspector denied that he had made the statements as alleged, but the committee, from inquiries made, were quite satisfied that the inspector had been guilty of that with which he was charged, and the names of persons could, if necessary, be given in support thereof, but, as stated in their report, the committee were prepared to meet the chairman of the Local Board of Health < n the subject. The report was then unanimously adopted. The finance committee brought up a report for the fortnight ending July 21st, 1879, from which it appeared that receipts amounted to £212 17s 5d ; accounts passed for payment, £250 7s 3d; debit balance at Bank, £9B 5s 2d.

The report was adopted. In reply to a question from Cr. Charters, Or. While stated what steps had been taken with reference to providing certain localities with street lamps. The committee elected to confer on the subject of naming streets within the borough reported:— Tour committee beg to report that 'they have named nearly *ll the streets and roads within the borough, as shown on accompanying map, and beg to recommend that these names be adopted by the Council. At the suggestion of the Mayor it was resolved to withdraw the report till the bylaw was passed in reference to this subject. It was therefore understood that the chairman of committee had simply reported progress. At this stage Cr. Andrew brought forward certain resolutions passed at a public meeting in Sydenham on the 30th of June last. By some mistake they had not been officially for-

warded to the Council. Ho moved—“ That they be recorded on the Council’s minutes ; also, that the second resolution be forwarded to the Drainage Board, and the fourth to the Minister of Public Works.” The resolution was carried. Or. Andrew then moved —“That the first resolution, passed at the Colombo road schoolhouse on the SOth of Juno last, bo forwarded to Messrs Stevens and Moorhouse, M.H.R.’a, and to the Hons.. E. Richardson and J. T. Fisher, and that this Council is of opinion that the Electoral Bill should provide for the election of members of the House of Repre sentatives’ on the basis of population, and to be self-adjusting.” Seconded by Cr. Charters, and carried. Cr. Andrew moved—“ That the attention of the Superintendent of Police bo called to the fact that the police staff at Sydenham was altogether inadequate to the requirements of so largo a district, and that an addition to the staff should at once bo made.”

Cr. Charters thought that the motion was casting a kind of reflection on the borough, which was looked upon as being one of the most iaw-abidiug localities in tho colony—in fact, was celebrated ns such.

Cr. Joyce expressed similar views, and suggested that the requirements of the case might bo met in a different way, namely, by tho Mayor and Cr. Andrew waiting on the superintendent, and suggesting that provision might be made for rendering assistance to the present staff in receiving reports, &c., in connection with the ordinary routine work of the district.

Cr. Andrew agreed to meet the views of tho Council in tho matter, and made tho resolution to read— ■“ That tho Mayor and Cr. Andrew wait on Superintendent Brougham with reference to tho location of tho constables appointed to tho borough, and fixing certain hours of the day for the constable in charge of tho borough to be at local police station, and any other matter that may be connected with the same.”

Or. Joyce moved—“ That n deputation, consisting of the Mayor, Crs. Charters and Joyce wait upon the Commissioner of Railways, and urge upon him the desirability of discontinuing tho shunting of goods trains at the Colombo road crossing.” After somo convcraationaldiecussion, during which it was pointed out that there was little probability of tho resolution effecting its object as it stood. Or. Joyco agreed to amend the resolution to the effect that the Commissioner be urged to “ reduce as much as possible tho shunting at the crossing in question, and to have proper footpaths made there. Cr. Joyce reported that he and the Mayor had waited on Mr Dick, Postmaster, in reference to a local post-office, telegraph, and savings hank offices for Sydenham, and they had mot with a most favorable reception, Mr Dick approving of the suggestion, and recommending an application to the PostmasterGeneral.

Tho Clerk then read a copy of a letter written to tho Postmaster-General, to which no reply had yet been received. This concluded tho business, and the Council then adjourned.