SYDENHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7874, 27 May 1891, Page 3

SYDENHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

An ordinary fortnightly meeting ot the Sydenham Borough Council was held last evening, when there were present his Worahlp the Mayor, and Cre. Jacques, R. M. Taylor, Langdown, Smith, Rudd, Hopper, and Gledhill. Apologies were received and accepted lor the absence of Crs. White and Brown. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows :—

From the Registrar-General, asking to be supplied with the borough statistics for the year ended March 3let, 1891. The information was ordered to be supplied.

A letter was read from Messrs Garrick and Co., calling attention to the delay in dealing with certain applications to be placed on the burgess roll. They requested that the Council would either place the names on the roll or decline to do so. If that was not done their clients would be compelled to make another appeal to the Court.

Cγ. Smith moved, Cr. Rudd seconded, and it was carried—" That the letter from Messrs Garrick and Co. be received, and a reply sent that the Council is awaiting a reply from the Minister of Justice, and that immediately on its receipt the Council will communicate further with them." A letter wan read from Mr J. A. Caygill in reply to the Council's letter of the 12th inst.,aud forwarding a copy of defendants' costs against the several plaintiffs rendered to Messsrs Garrick and Co., and paid by them. Further than that, it was impossible to comply with the Council's request. The amount paid by Garrick and Co. was what was allowed foe coats of, the action as between party and party. His account contains the charges as between solicitor and client for the same work. At the same time he could not help expressing hi* surprise chat explanation of such an elementary matter was required by a body of business men, because it suggested that if no costs whatever had been granted against the plaintiffs, the Council *rould have expected their legal work to cost them nothing. Cγ. Taylor remarked that the letter was most unsatisfactory, especially the latter part, which might have been left out. If they had been business men they would noc have given Mr Cay gill an opportunity to obtain £32 15s from them.

The letter was received.

A letter was read from the General Survey Office, Wellington, re amending proclamation taking lands for the purposes of public baths.

Tiie letter wa3 referred to the Finance Committee, with power to act. The Town Clerk was appointed valuer of the portion of the land to be sold.

A return showing the number of recipients of Charitable Aid in- the borough was laid on the table. There were alxcythree cases.

It was resolved, on the motion of Cr. Glkdhill, to write to the Board for fuller information, such. &s was given in thelaet return.

Mr S. P. Andrews, Chairman of the Waltham School Committee, waited on the Council, and applied for some of the soil from New street to fill up the hollows in the school ground. He also stated that the Committee proposed to construct a bath on the school grounds, and assed the Council to subsidise them, ear to the extent of £100—as tlie bath could be used by the public, and for fire prevention purposes. The Mayor said nothing had yeb been done re the formation of New street, but the Works Committee would not forpjat the application. Mc would be one of the first to cougratulate the Waltham School Committee on the erection of a bath, but he did not think the Council had funds to subsidise them with.

A special meeting of the Council was then held, when the burgees list for 1891----92 was approved of, and the Mayor and Crs. Jacques and Smith were appointed to sign the same. The Works Committee recommended that tenders be invited for the supply of 500 yds or, more of broken metal; that a reply be sent to £he Selwyu County Council stating that the Committee was of opinion that Wilson's biidge did not require re-planking ac present; that the Spreydou Road Board be asked to supply gravel for repairing Jerrold street, the gravel to be spread by the Council* men; and that the application from Mr C. Hogg for permission to boll tripe in the borough be granted, subject to the work being done so as uot to cause a nuisance.

The report was adopted, and the Works Committee were authorised to confer with Messrs Harman and Stevens re Che widening of Thackeray street. The Chairman of tho Works Committee (Mr Jacques) in reply to Cr. Hopper, who complained of the state of ihe fence around therecreationreaerveatAddiogton, said that when the Council decided not to let the reserve, a promise was given that that the Council would be put Co no exDense. The Finance Committee reported that the receipts since last meeting had been: general account, £57 8s; loan account, £36 2s 6d; interest, account, £111 5s 3d; separate accounts, £7 (5s Id ; total, £212 Is 10d. Accounts to the amount of £90 18s were recommended to be passed for payment.

Cr. Taylor moved as an amendment to the adoption of the report—"That the item M. A. Caygill, costs, £32 155, , be struck out."

Cr. Lakgdowx seconded the amendment.

Cγ. Smith said it was a liability which the Council would have to pay, whether they struck it out or not. Crs. Taylor and Langdown said they voted against the amount because they, had opposed the steps taken by the Council which caused them to incur those costs.

The amendment was lost, only the mover and uecouder voting tor it. The report was adopted, Cra. Taylor and Langdown dissenting. Mrs McGregor objected to the assessment of £600 on her property. A reduction of £50 was moved by Cr. Hopper and seconded by Cr. Taylor, but on oeing put Was lost.

Mr A. Merrit objected to his property being assessed to .£270, and asked for a reduction to £250. The assesment was upheld. Oα the motion of Cr. Gledhill, seconded by Cγ. Llngbowk, Cγ. £t_ AJ_ Taylor waa appointed to represent cbe Council, at tno Municipal Conference .to befcrtd ii VVellinarton Oα J une lath. Tne Council then adjourned.