SYDENHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1822, 23 December 1879, Page 3

SYDENHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Sydenham Borough Council was held last night. Present—The Mayor and fra. White, Langdown, Andrews, Nicholls, Hall, Joyce, Charters, Pavitt. The minutes of the last ordinary and annual meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from the Under-Secretary at Wellington, stating, with reference to the pretoot of the Sydenham Borough Council againat alienating any portion of the Domain an propoacd by the aporta committee, that the Government have not received any information aa to any intention to alienate any portion of the public Domain at Christchurch. The letter was received. A letter was read from Mr E. Richardson, stating that he would take an early opportunity of submitting the petition re. railway crossing at Harper street to the Minister of Public Works, and urging his favorable consideration of it. The letter was received, and ordered to be acknowledged with thanks. A letter was read from Mr Robert Beattie, with reference to the expenses of the deed of arbitration. Cr. Joyce moved, and Cr. Langdown seconded, that the matter should be referred to the works committee. Cr. Hall moved as an amendment, that the Council should pay half the cost of the deed. Or. Pavitt agreed with Or. Hall. Or. White spoke against the amendment, aa he did not think, considering the trouble and expense Mr Beattie had put the Council to, that he was entitled to be let off paying the half cost of the deed. She matter had

been submitted to arbitration in the interests of the contractor and not the Council. Moreover, Mr Beattie had threatened that if the Council did not pay the halt cost of the arbitration deed ho should take the case into Court. He should vote for Or. Joyce’s resolution. Or. Pavitt seconded the amendment, which was put and negatived, and the original motion carried. A letter was road from the Town Clerk of Ringiora, asking for information respecting hawker’s licenses, by-laws referring to same, and other municipal matters. The Clerk said ho bod supplied the information asked for.

The works committee reported that the arbitrators had sent in their award rc Beattie’s contract, awarding the sum of £l9 6s, ns duo by the Council to Mr Beattie. The committee had agreed with Mr Lawrence for the supply of ton photographic copies of the Borough map. The committee had seen Mr Baymun in reference to the section of land offered by him for the purpose of widening Solwyn street, and find that he docs not own the whole section extending to Bright’s road. They therefore did not rccommcnd:tho purchase of the same at tho price ho asked, viz, £l5O. With reference to tho Qas Works road, tho committee reported that they had asked tho railway engineer to improve tho crossing, and had much pleasure in stating that Mr Lowe had submitted a plan of the proposed alterations to the committee, which they had approved of, and would bo recommended to the Commissioner of Railways for adoption. The report was received and adopted. Cr. Charters moied—“That the works committee bo asked to consider tho advisability of a number of lithographs being made of the Borough map for sale.” Or. Joyce seconded tho motion, which was agreed to. The finance committee report that the receipts for the last fortnignt amounted to £124 6s 3d, leaving a credit balance in the Bank of £1412 18s Bd. Accounts to the amount of £92 10s Gd were passed for payment. Tho committee reported that they had informed tho Drainage Board, with reference to the proposed reduction of tho commission for collecting the drainage rate, that the Council must decline to accept any alteration of the rate for this year, as no notice of the intention to alter the same had been given to the Council, and a large portion of the rate had already been collected. The rate collector had also received instructions to take out summonses for recovery of outstanding rates. Tho report was received and adopted. Cr. Joyce moved—“ That a deputation, consisting of the Mayor, Or. Charters, and the mover, wait upon the Minister of Justice and urge the claims of this Borough for the constitution of a Betty Sessions Court for Sydenham.” Cr. Pavitt seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Or. Joyce said he thought the time had arrived when the borough of Sydenham should be divided into wards, and would move—- “ That it is desirable that the borough should bo divided, say, into four wards.” Or. Nichols seconded the motion. Cr. Pavitt was averse to the motion, as he thought the division of the borough into wards would lead to petty jealousies. Ho thought the business of the borough was very well carried on under the present system. Cr. Andrew, although favorable to the ward system generally, thought the suggestion was premature. Crs. Charters and Joyce both considered it would bo advisable to postpone the consideration for a fortnight. Cr. White did not require any time to consider tho question. He was in favor of the ward system, and should like to consider it at the present meeting of the Council. Cr. Charters thought notice of motion should be given when so important a question was to be considered. Cr. Lingdown was of the same opinion as Or. Charters that notice of motion should be given. The matter would obtain publicity by the reports in the papers, and the public would then be put in possession of tho fact of the contemplated change. The matter was allowed to eland over. It was resolved—“ That the Borough Council offices should be closed on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday next, and New Year’s Day.” Or. Hall moved—“ That the clerk write to the Drainage Board in reference to cutting drains through the footpaths on the Gasworks road, and stopping the traffic.” Cr. Andrew seconded the motion, which was agreed to.