SYDENHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1727, 2 September 1879, Page 3

SYDENHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Sydenham Borongh Council was held last evening. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Joyce, Charters, Andrews, White, Langdown, Jones, Pavitt, and Brown. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Following upon the usual preliminary business— The Mayor said he believed this was the last meeting of the old Council, and it was usual for tho Mayor under such circumstances to make some sort of statement. He had forgotten it for the time, but he might say that he regretted the Council had not been able to do more than they had, although their best endeavors had been directed to the improvement of the borongh. When they were first elected they determined upon a scheme of public works to meet the exigencies of the position in which the borough stood —that was, as to lighting streets and the formation of footpaths, &c. With this object in view, they endeavored to raise the required amount of money—something like .£25,000 but they failed to do so. At last mte'.ing Fie subject had been revived by the works committee, but he was afraid they would have to wait aime time before they could obtain a local loan under the conditions laid down by the Municipal Act. In connection with the conduct of the Council, he had great pleasure in testifying to the general harmony that had prevailed at their meetings, and would mention in this way, incidentally, that he had only on two occasions found it necessary to exer use the privilege of the dual vote, to which, as Mayor, he was entitled. In conclusion, he read a statement of the attendances of the different members of the Council at the fortnightly meetings since their taking office, from which it appeared that punctuality had characterised the Council generally, and he (the Mayor) had pleasure in congratulating tho Council on the favorable result in this respect of their term of office. A rather lengthy list of correspondence was read, including certain official communications from the Colonial Secretary’s office. A letter was read from James Allison, sen., acknowledging receipt of appointment as town clerk of Sydenham. A letter was received from Superintendent Broham, in reference to tho question of police accommodation in the district. It was ordered to be acknowledged with thanks. . , „ ~ _ A letter was received from the Tramway Company, asking for levels of tho Colombo street approach to the railway crossing. It was resolved that the letter be acknowledged, and that certain action taken by his Worship the Mayor in the matter bo approved. . In reference to the drainage of a portion ot Gasworks road from the railway to the belt, a letter was read, and referred to the works committee. . Several letters ot a private or personal character, such as referred to nuisances in back premises, were rend and disposed of. Tho works committee reported as follows Tour committee would recommend that the letter from the Kiecartou Hoad Board re Bailsman s footbridge bo replied to us follows That Mr Bailsman's application for leave to widen tlie crossings over tho side channel in front of his hotel bo declined, because (Ist) the culverts sre at present

each two feet wider than he asked for at first, being now 20ft each: 2nd, tho difficulty of cleaning nnder them would be very much increased; 3rd, a very much larger amount of the footpath would he ent up if footpaths could cross at asy greater angle than they do ; and from the position of the watering trough it wonld result in drivers leaving their horses and traps oa tho footpath. Your committee consider that the water trough should be removed to the korbing of the footpath, and Mr Hausman’s light should he sufficient to allow drivers to seo the bridges. Unless the Eiocartou Hoad Board have some further reason for Mr Hansman's application being granted, this committee would not alter their previous decision. And we recommend with regard to private streets on the east side of Colombo road, opposite Nos. 2, 3,4, and 5 streets, as shown on the new map of tho borongh, that the owners of the land abutting on them be communicated with, with the view of having the same brought nnder the control of the Council. Mr White moved, and it was carried, that the report bo adopted. The fire prevention and water supply committee reported as follows — Your committee beg to report that the hand engine promised by the Liverpool and London Insurance Company will be in Christchurch in a few days, and that arrangements have been made for its being housed in tho shed at the rear of tho Council offices. Mr Whitelaw has promised to make a plan and estimate of cost for engine shed and meeting room for the fire brigade and fire hell, which will he laid before the Conncil at its next meeting. Yonr committee beg to state that they are convinced that the snecess of Mr White’s ’Waimakariri scheme is established beyond a doubt. Cr. Andrew was present while the experiment was being made and reported accordingly. They would therefore recommend tho Conncil to vote a sum of £ to supplement an amount to be voted by the City Conncil for farther experiments, if they so determine. Yonr committee beg to recommend that the Conncil should pass a vote of thanks to Mr Whitelaw for his action re the water supply scheme, and for tho valuable services rendered by him to the committee. With reference to the blank left in tbe report as to the amount proposed to he voted as a supplement to that voted by tho Council, it was resolved that nothing could be done at present. The Mayor said there had been apparently no official communication to tho Conncil. Cr. Joyce agreed, and added that under such circumstances, however desirable the recommendation in the report, the Council could not act in the matter. Cr Charters said the report came officially from Cr. Andrew, who was present. Cr. Brown would oppose voting money at the present stage. Cr. Joyce suggested that the City Conncil should be communicated with, asking if Sydenham was to participate in the scheme, they would then have something officially before them. Cr. Andrews stated what he had seen at the experiment made by Mr White, and confirmed the reports as to the success of the trial, whilst tho excellent quality of the water had been ascertained beyond doubt. Tho members of the City Council, he might say, had asked him to use his influence in getting the Sydenham Borough Council to prosecute tho matter further. Cr. Joyce said the explanation just made had put the matter in a different light, and ho should be happy to propose that a sum of £SO be placed at the disposal of the water supply committee for the purpose of testing tho Waimakariri scheme. Cr. Jones thought they should first determine whether they were prepared to put the people to the expense of utilising the supply. Cr. Charters—lt is not a question of adopting the supply by an expenditure of .£25,000, but to decide whether a supply of water could be obtained from a particular source, which it was highly desirable to know. In considering the report per se, it was resolved to cancel that part making the vote conditional on the action of the Council. The resolution for the vote of a sum of money to aid in testing tho scheme, was then put to the meeting and carried. The report of the finance committee was read, showing the receipts and expenditure for the past fortnight, which was passed for payment. Several other matters were attended to, and the Conncil then rose.