SYDENHAM.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2335, 27 September 1881, Page 3

SYDENHAM.

The usual fortnightly meeting of this body was held last evening in the Borough Council Chambers at seven o'clock. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Hall, Nicholl, Langdown, White, Pavitt, Forrester, and Joyce.— A letter was read from Court Thistle of the Forest, A.0.F., asking the Council's patronago of a miscellaneous concert on the date of the Court's second anniversary, at the Oddfellows' Hall, Waltham, on the 25th of October. It was decided to bear the matter in mind.— The Manager of the Dunedin Lime Depot, South belt, wrote re permission to back drays on the footpath in front of their premises, stating it would leave 16 feet dear for foot passengers. BeFerred to the works committee, with power to aot.—The secretary of the Drainage Board wrote, advising that a rate of lOd in the £ on the Sydenham suburban district, and of 2d in the £ on the Sydenham rural district, had been levied. Also stating that a copy of the rate roll affecting Sydenham would be duly forwarded. The Town Clerk having explained the additional work this would entail on the Council's officials, it was agreed—" That the letters be received, and the clerk's proceedings in the matter of the rate be approved, the extra expense entailed to be charged against the Board, and referred to the finance committee."—A letter was read from Mr J. Smith calling attention to the need of watering Colombo street from the railway to the tramway terminus, and enclosing a list of names of persons willing to be rated tberefor. After disoussion the letter was referred to the works oommittee, with power to aot. —The works oommittee reported : —That Mr Meares would correct the sale plan of his land in B.S. 238 so as to make the street a full ohain in width, and form and shingle same, and also provide another outlet, and the committee would recommend the Council to approve of same. That the sale plan of Mr Dixon's property had also been amended to meet the committee's requirements, and they also recommended its adoption ; that Mr Brightling had completed his contract for formation and shingling on the South belt, the whole works on which are now oompleted ; that Mr Oooksley, the contractor for No. 2 section on the South belt, having explained the reason of his delay in completing his oontraot, the fine be reduoed to £10; that the agreement re the land required by the Bakaia and Ashburton Forks Bailway Company, to be taken from the Council's endowment, being unsatisfactory, be referred back to the solicitors for amendment ; that certain ratepayers in Aynsley's paddock having failed to oonstruct the alleys ia the terms of the Council's notioe, the foreman of the Council's labor gang had been instructed to get the work done; that the construction of Talfourd street had been delayed in consequence of a difficulty in providing an outlet for drainage, the provision of which had been referred to the Drainage Board. The report was received and adopted. The sanitary committee reported— That complaints having been made about rubbish being deposited in certain old claypits in Tennyson street, the attention of the Board of Health had been called thereto ; that the Drainage Board had been advised of the necessity of clearing out Jackson's oreek; that the present contractor be allowed to extend his scavenging oontraot till the end of December quarter. The report was reoeived and adopted.—The finance oommittee reported the fortnight's receipts as £222 Is 3d ; expenditure, £557 2s lOd ; Cr. balance at Bank, £660 8s 7d.—On the motion of Or. Hall, seconded by Cr. Andrew, it was resolved — " That an advertisement be inserted in the newspapers to the effect that notioe is hereby given to the public to satisfy themselves before purchasing seotions of land that this Council's approval had been obtained to the laying out of the roads, or they may find it impossible to get their titles registered."Or. Forrester asked what steps had been taken about the Madras street bridge. Or. Langdown said he had reoeived promises of £65 towards the work.

A deputation of the men on strike at Addington who are Sydenham ratepayers was then introduced by Or. Joyoe. The spokesman stated that the men could get no redress to their grievances in any other way than by coming out on strike, respectful representations of which had been pitched in to the waste paper basket. They complained that the reductions had not been made with any uniformity, and as many of the men at the time of the threatened strike were on the eve of getting a rise of wages the reduction was tantamount to 10 per cent. Why they asked for an advance of 10 per oent. now was because Mr A. D. Smith and others had the 10 per oent. made up to them, but not so the artisans in the workshops. Indeed, Mr A. D. Smith had established a perfect reign of terror at Addington. The Mayor asked how the Council could help the men. The deputation replied that they were residents of Sydenham; that was why they came. They did not wish to leave the colony, but feared they would have to go to Sydney and Melbourne, where there waß plenty of work and higher pay. Cr. Joyce—Has Mr A. D. Smith received an advance of salary ? The deputation replied that he had had the 10 per oent. made up to him and an advance of £IOO a year. Cr. Andrews—Have yoa consulted with the Government on the matter ? The speaker replied that a representation was given to Mr A. D. Smith, who said the document bore no signature; and were he a Minister he would tear it up, thereupon he (the speaker) signed it. Or. Joyoe moved, Cr. Pavitt seconded, and it was unanimously agreed—" That this Oonncil is of opinion that the Addington men on strike have a grievance unknown to the head of the Bailway department at Wellington, and whilst this Council cannot uphold the action of the men in coming out on strike, it believes that there are such extenuating circumstances in relation thereto, as, if properly represented to headquarters, would lead the Government to redress the wrongs and reinstato the men ; that a deputation, consisting of Crs. White and Joyce of Sydenham, a Ohristohuich councillor, and one of the men on strike, interview the head of the department and, if necessary, the Minister of Publio Workß, to obtain such relief as the justice of the case demands." The deputation Chen thanked the Council and withdrew. The Council then adjourned.

Under the ruini of the Imperial Palace at St. Cloud was found a bag containing 10,000 francs in Napoleons. Tha gold pieces were fresh from the mint, and the bag bore the address, "For his Majesty the Emporor Napoleon III."