BOROUGH COUNCILS.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2418, 5 January 1882, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCILS.

SYDENHAM. An ordinary meeting of the Sydenham Council was held on Wednesday evening, at 7 o’clock. Present—His Worship the Mayor (Mr John Joyce), Ors. Pavitt, White, Andrew, Hall, Webber, Langdown, Nicholl, and Forester. A letter was read from Mr G. Bull, applying for a renewal of slaughtering license on section 154, Spreydon district. Referred to sanitary committee, with power to act. A letter was received from the Christchurch District Drainage Board, requesting the Council to furnish for the purpose of audit (1) the amount of rates paid to tho Drainage Board during 1881, specifying the amount of each year’s rate, and the area on which the rate was levied ; (2) the amount of each year’s rate uncollected and not accounted for to tho Board. The information asked for was ordered to be supplied. The following report of tho works committee was read :

Tour committee beg to report that Messrs Dean Bros, having completed tho street name plates, we have instructed the foreman of works to fix the same at the corners of the streets whore there are suitable buildings to fix them upon. We have inspected tho ground plan of the new Oddfellows’ Hall, in Colombo street, and finding that the means of egress from the same are insufficient, we suggested to tho Society that an additional doorway, 6ft wide, should bo put in the side of the hall at the west end, and that all the doors should be made to open outwards. We recommend that tho necessary steps be taken to officially declare tho following private streets to be public streets, (Here follows a list of fifty-eight streets.)

The report was received and adopted. Tho report of the finance committee was read to the effect that during the fortnight ending tho 31st December last the receipts of the Council amounted to £255 11s 7d. Accounts had been passed for payment to the amount of £75 8s 7d. The credit balance at Bank at date was £337 3s 9d. “Legal proceedings for the recovery of the amount the Council believe to be due to them by the Spreydon Road Board as their share of the land fund at one time impounded by the Government, having been delayed till the present time in the hope that the Board would furnish the particulars of the items already accounted for, or that they would permit the information to be obtained from their books by on officer of tho Council, and all efforts to obtain such information or inspection having failed, we have considered the draft of a plaint proposed to be made to the Honorable the Commissioners of Audit on the question, and recommend that the same bo forwarded forthwith. We have considered applications from the thirteen persons for the remission of their rates, and recommend that the same bo granted. In accordance with the suggestion made at tho joint meeting of the works and finance committees, held on the 19th December, 1881, we recommend that for the future the rate collector furnish a fortnightly report on the collection of rates to this committee.” Report adopted, The following joint report of works and finance committees was read : — 11 Your committee beg to report that they recommend that a ledger account be opened in the Council’s lodger, to be called the ‘ Concrete Channelling Account,’ and that the amount of £7OO be placed this year to its credit. Also, that the works committee be authorized to proceed with the construction of side channels at a cost not exceeding £I4OO, on condition of the ratepayers, whose properties abut upon the streets where the channelling is to be done, paying one half the cost. We also recommend that the clause in the finance committee’s report of the 19th nit., re the duties of the Town Clerk and collectors be withdrawn.” Report adopted. .Or. Andrew moved—“ That the works committee be empowered to inspect all the buildings in the borough that are let for public meetings, and to report to the Council at the next meeting as to whether they comply with clause 323 of the Municipal Corporations Act.” Or. Hall seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. It was resolved, on the motion of Or. Forrester—“ That a letter be sent to the Tramway Company, calling their attention to the state of Colombo road, especially in the neighborhood of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association Grounds.” Mr Peter Ooutts waited upon the Council, and complained of the state of a portion of Humboldt street. The matter was referred to the works committee, with power to act. This was all the business, and the Council adjourned.

KAIAPOI. The usual fortnightly meeting of thii Council was held on Tuesday evening. Present—The Mayor (Mr Smith), Ors. Pinching, May, Fraser, Mathews, Woodford, Moore and Stanton. Leave of absence was granted to Or. Parnham. Letters were read : —From hon. secretary, Kaiapoi Volunteer Fire Brigade, thanking the Council for grant towards the display on Monday last. From the Treasury, forwarding voucher for subsidy of 7s 6d in the £ on rates collected, £ll2 16s less contribution to Hospital and Charitable Aid £64, a cheque was forwarded for balance of £4B 15s. The surveyor reported that 15i chains Beach road had been metalled, and the contractor wished to draw £)0. He suggested that the grass be out on the roads, and that the channels be cleared. The contractor for cutting gorse on Beach road had finished the work, and the amount might be passed, subject to the approval of the works committee. The report was adopted. Or. Fraser, chairman of the finance committee, reported the receipts to be £52 15s, the overdraft £BS 12s. Accounts were passed £3O 19s lOd. Or. Pinching drew attention to the necessity for coiling the rope at the bridge to keep it out of the water when not in use. The surveyor said he intended to use a chain in the water. Or. Mathews advised that the machinery of the bridge should be kept oiled. The Mayor hoped the bridge would not be opened at the times the traffic was going to the trains. He advised that the works and finance committee should meet to consider the question of getting a new bridge before the present one gave way. Or, Mathews thought vessels swinging down might do so at convenient times. Or. Moore thought an answer ought to be obtained from the Government respecting the siding. He moved —“ That the Minister of Public Works be written to, urging the construction of the railway siding and the bridge.” Or. May seconded. The motion was carried. Or. May drew attention to the Peraki street side channel. In reply to Or. Stanton, the clerk said the contribution towards the concrete channelling at the corner of North road had not been paid. Or. Woodford obtained an affirmative answer relative to the Black street channelling. In reply to Or Pinching, the Mayor said he intended to wait on the Commissioner of Lands regarding the cemetery reserve. Prior to the discussion of Or. Fraser’s notice of motion, Or. Pinching moved, Or. Mathews seconded—“ That the clerk withdraw.” Carried. Or. Fraser moved—“ That the clerk be not allowed any commission on reserve rents.” As private individuals they would not pay 5 per cent, for such a service, and, as representing the ratepayers, he contended that Councillors ought to protest. Or. Moore seconded. Or. Woodford supported the motion, pointing out that it was not contemplated to pay any commission for collecting this rent, and it was monstrous to give the ratepayers’ money away. Or, Day asked what the clerk was paid. The chairman of finance committee replied £BO as salary, and other sums, bringing it to about £l3O a year. Or. Pinching was sorry the question had been raised in the quarter in which it was, and if the chairman of the finance committee had attended to his duties ho would have found out what amount was really being [paid. He knew that there was some jealousy; not only in the Council, but outside, respecting the clerk’s salary. When they, however, coa sidered the work of all kinds which the clerk was expected to perform, that officer, he contended, was not in any way overpaid. None of them would agree to underpaying the clerk, and whether ho was paid £l3O directly or indirectly it made very little matter —£3 per week was in no wise a high salary. Or. May opposed the motion. After the experience which the clerk had gained it was undesirable to dispense with him. Or. Stanton had understood the clerk to say his income from the Council was not less than £l5O, apd in addition ho had on office, rent free, to do i other work, similar to an office which was i being let by the Council at £2O a-year. ' Or. Mathews considered that as the income of the Council was increasing the work also grew, and ho did not see it made any differi enoe to the ratepayers whether they paid the clerk by salary or salary and commission. The admirable way in which that officer

attended to the pnblio works and kept his letters and accounts, did the surreys, and so on, rendered him a valuable servant. Or. Moore was proceeding to address the council when called to order by Or. Pinching. Or. Moore—l contend I am in order ; I have not spoken yet. Or. Pinching—You ought to have spoken when seconding the motion. The Mayor—lt is usual for the mover and seconder to speak at the time. Or. Pinching—l ask, sir, for a distinct ruling. Or, Moore—l am quite in order. The Mayor—l did not call Or. Moore to order, and had no wish to interrupt a full and free debate, but having been challenged mutt rule Or. Moore out of order. Or. Moore—Will you say on what grounds. The Mayor having referred to the regulations of the Council, said he found that a seconder merely seconding should not be held to have spoken, therefore he apologised to Or. Moore, who might proceed. Or. Moore considered the Council was called on to pay an excessive charge for the collection of the rent, and besides it had not been agreed that he should be paid any extra sum. He contended that the clerk was amply paid, and opposed paying at . the rate of 9j per week per annum for the receiving four cheques for the rent of £450. Or, Mathews asked Or. Moore if he was not aware that the Council's work occupied his full time. Or. Moore said be knew the clerk did private work, having drawn him a set of plans for a house, for which he paid him £l4. The Mayor opposed the motion, which ought to have begun by giving three months’ notice to the clerk, because it was clearly agreed for that this officer should be paid the commiesion he now claimed, and be could recover - against them in a court of law. Again, he did not like the manner in which it was brought forward, as the mover had given no definite information as to what the clerk was really paid. The question, to be well considered, should have been put in a more; tangible shape. The motion was put. Per, 4; against, 4, The Mayor gave his casting vote with the noes, and, in doing so, said on questions of finance where he had to give his casting vote it would be for things proposed to be altered remaining as they were. Or. May said he would move for production of the accounts, which the finance committee had neglected to inspect. Or. Fraser to Or. May—Yon are a member of the committee, and his Worship is another. The Mayor— Only etc officio. Or. Moore said he would give notice to move—" That the clerk receive the required notice and the whole question of salary and duties be considered.” The Council then adjourned.