BOROUGH COUNCILS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9606, 22 December 1896, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCILS.

— mSYDENHAM. The adjourned statutory meeting of the Sydenham Borough Council was held at 7 o'clock last evening, for the purpose of installing the Mayor for the ensuing term. There were present—The retiring Mayor (Mr J. Brown), and Crs. Murray, McMillan, Halley, Mufiett, Hadfield, Large, Caygill, Latterly, Hirtzel, Manhire, Bell, and Cutler, and Mr N. K. Bowden (the Mayor elect). The retiring Mayor said he felt somewhat sorry at leaving the Council as there were several matters of interest still unsettled. Their finances had been a vexed question for some time, but he did not think there was cause for serious alarm if the Council practised economy. He was informed that his worthy successor was going to show how their rates could be reduced, and he hoped he would be successful. He (Mr Brown) did not think the rates were too heavy, and they had several valuable assets. The Council were going to have some difficulty in carrying out their night-soil deposit scheme, but his opinion was that once they got it properly started the opposition would be dropped. If it proved a success the other local bodies round about would adopt a similar scheme. He thanked the Councillors and the Council's officers for the assistance they had afforded him. The Mayor-elect then made the usual statutory declaration. Crs. Cutler, Hadfield, McMillan and Large bore testimony to the retiring Mayor's able conduct in the chair. Mr Brown returned thanks. The key of office was then handed to Mr Bowden, who said he had never expressed the opinion that the rates could be reduced with' the overdraft that the Council had. His idea was to work harmoniously with the Councillois in the interest of the borough. Crs. Muffbtt and __Lu>_t_?i_d expressed the hope that his Worship would have a pleasant year of .office. The newly-elected Mayor returned thanks, and other business was proceeded with. A petition was received from T. G. Vennall and fifty-three others, protesting against the proposal to make a night soil deposit on the South belt between Durham and Colombo streets. A letter was road Irom Messrs Aoton-

Adams and Kippenberger, oa behalf of Mr J. A. Redpath, on the same subject, and stating that if the Council persisted in carrying out their intention, their client would take action in the Supreme Court to stop them and for damage.. A petition to the Board of Health was received from Robert Winter and twenty-nine others, drawing attention to the proposal of the Council regarding the disposal of night soil, and asking that a full enquiry be made, and, if necessary, steps taken to prevent what the petitioners considered would be an intolerable nuisance. After some discussion it was decided to adjourn the Council upon rising till next evening and to notify to the petitioners that the Council would be prepared to discuss the matter with them. A letter was read from Mr J. J. Melhuish suggesting that a gate should be placed at the south-east corner of tho Park. The letter was referred to the Reserves Committee. At 8 p.m. a special meeting of the Council was held to confirm the by-laws, but the confirmation of a portion of them was held over for three weeks pending the notice of a proposed amendment to the clauses relating to barbed wire. The Council then adjourned.