SUMNER BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9704, 17 April 1897, Page 5

SUMNER BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The nsual fortnightly meeting of the Council.took place on Wednesday. Present —The Mayor, Councillors Graham, Hanmer, Hughes, Joyce, Mills, and Roper. The following correspondence was read :—From the Mayor of Christchurch announcing that at a public meeting of citizens it had been decided to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee by the addition of a wing to the Memorial Home, and requesting the Sumner Borough Council's assistance and enclosing lists for subscriptions. Resolved—That tho Council give all the assistance in its powor. From the Police Department, Wellington, stating that a policeman could not be stationed at Bumner during the winter months, but that the Woolßton constable would be instructed to look after the borough. From Mr W. Lake, one of the Library Fund Trustees, regretting that the Council did not see its way to erect the library building on the Council's own j freehold, but announcing his willingness to sign a cheque for the amount on-the Council'shaving plans prepared and a contract signed for a building that would cost the full amount of tlie money in hand, that being the purpose for which ifc was subscribed. Resolved — That Cr. Roper be appointed trustee in the place of Mr Lake,* and that Mr Lake, be written to requesting him to resign his trusteeship, failing which, that' legal

steps be taken in the matter. From the ' New Brighton Borough Council re a bridge over the estuary, declining to attend a conference at present. Received. The Inspector's report was read. Among other matters it noted that the sanitary orrange- , ments of tho school were now satisfactory. The Finance Committee reported receipit. £31 4s 2d, and account, to tke»araouutof £17 2s 7d were passed for payment. Messrs Wren, Glenie and Phillips waited as a deputation on the Council, and presented* a petition signed by carta"n Sumner residents and property owner, against permission being given to the Tramway Company to lay down a siding opposite Rule's hotel. Mr Macdonald, Managing Director of the Tramway Company, was present, andi in reply to the Mayor, said that when the time camo to renew the application. be should desire to support it. He thought.fc would be decidedly to the advantage of Sumner, He did not know what the ob« jections to the siding were. Some might be very good ones, others might be*su_h as he could explain away. The Mayor said one objection was blocking up the main entrance to Sumner. Mr Macdonald said that tbe cars would not stand on two lines at once, There were sidtugs on the Ferry road. Papanui and Cathedral square, where the traffic of vehicles waa at least as great as at Sumner, and no inconvenience waa felt in those places. Passengers from the cars would, if the siding wore laid, alight on the footpath instead of, as now, in the centre of the road. The Tramway Company bad no object to gain beyond the safety and 'convenience of the passengers. The siding would cost a considerable sum of money; there would be no monetary gain to toe Company, but the public safety would be increased. Grafton street would not-do so well for the siding ; it would only allow one six chaius long, while ten chains were required. Tho old Lyttelton road past Morton's (suggested by Cr. Graham) would be objectionable. It would have three-harp curves, be taking people from the point >they wished to reach, the Beach, and would.not* answer the purpose of a eidiug. The terminus of Nayland street (suggeatedtby Cr. Joyce) was a mile away from where people wanted to be put down, and taken up. It should be remembered that the facilities were now only what they were years ago, while the traffic having much increased, owing to reduction in fares, increased facilities were required. The suggestion (made by one Councillor) that if the siding were granted the main line might also be shifted from the centre of the road towards the siding was worth considering. It would give 28ft clear between the main line, and the channelling by the footpath for vehicular traffic, say for four vehicles abreast as a minimum. Mr Macdonald then drew the attention of tho Council to the cattle wandering on the roads. Action regarding this should be taken without delay. On Saturday the tram killed a cow on the line, fortunately no one was hurt. It did not take much to throw light trams off the line, and if the cars were upset and possengers injured, the Council would be answerable. At this point the Council went into Committee to consider a motion notice of which had been given at a previous meeting—" That the motion refusing per-, mission for the siding be rescinded. On resuming, the Mayor announced that the motion for rescinding had been lost. The matter of a pound keeper was again left ir? the hands of the. Works Committee to act, A ballot iof defaulting ratepayers to be sued was taken and the proceedings terminated.