SYDENHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5611, 18 February 1879, Page 6

SYDENHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the Sydenham Borough Council was held at seven o’clock last evening; . present—His Worship the Mayor, -and Councillors White, Jones, Andrew, Pavitt, Brown, Langdown, Hall, and Foster. . MINTJTKB. *' n ® minutes of the last ordinary meeting, and also of a special meeting for the appointment of solicitors were read and confirmed. Messre Gamckand Cowlishaw were the solicitors elected. MAVOBAI* 'His Worship the Mayor elicited, the information that Councillor Charters could not t be present that evening on account of sickness in his family. Councillor Charters had left a message with the Clerk to the effect that

be had in hand £6O of the moneytote contributed towards the formation of the Gasworks road. 1 ' map op the bobocgh. Messrs Dobson and Son reminded the Council that they were waiting jmtamhMW as to the gradients and names of the sU-eets, their work of preparing the .m|ip of the Borough being complete in all other respects. They had no objection to allow the names of the streets to remain in abeyance until next m The Clerk stated that he had supplied the information in his possession relative to gradients. Councillor White thought that Messrs Dobson had no right to require such information —as to gradients—from the Council. The letter was, on the motion of Counoillor Foster, seconded by Counoillor Hall, referred to the Street Naming Committee. OABWOBKB HOAD. The Secretary of the Christchurch Gas Company wrote inquiring if the Borough Council desired ,to purchase the three feet strip of the Company’s section in the Gasworks road, now encroached upon by the public footpath, and what price the Council would be willing to pay for the same. The Mayor wondered what this meant. The Clerk said the three feet referred to was an imaginary strip, there being no fixed data to go upon. The fact was that the Gas Company were about to let the land to some firm, and wished to have the exact boundaries defined. Whether or not there had been any encroachment upon the land in question would have to be ascertained. The Clerk proceeded to explain that on a former occasion he had given such information to the Gas Company as was in his power, and that he wrote to the Company privately. It was moved that the letter be referred to the Works Committee. Councillor White moved as an amendment —“That the Gas Company be informed the Council has no desire to purchase the strip of land.

Councillor Langdown seconded the amendment pro forma, and suggested that it should be withdrawn. It would be better for the Works Committee to wait upon the Gas Company, who donbtless would give the strip of land, as others had done. Councillor Brown supported: the resolution. Councillor White l having : replied, the amendment was put, and resulted in-an'equal vote. The reeolntionwas.pnfrwitli a similar result, and the Mayor then -gave a casting vote in favour Of the resolution, which was. declared carried. THE SOUTH BELT, Mr B. J. S. Harmon, u'Chairman of the Dftal-B rt ard of Health, wrote relative to the condition of the routh Town’Belt" side . channel. (A copy of the letter appeared in report of the last meeting of the City Council.) The Mayor referred to the report of the Sanitary Committee of the City Council, that body having suggested a meeting with members of the Borough Council. There was already a Committee on this matter, and the members might arrange to attend a meeting. Councillor Pavitt read a note received by him, asking that a day for a Conference might be named. The Mayor said the worst parts of the channel were cleared out a week since by the City Council, but the greater part was now just as bad as ever, and mast continue to be so, if anything was allowed to run into the channel. Councillor Pavitt asked that the Chairman of the Works Committee, might be requested to attend also, as he was well acquainted with the matter. Monday morning had been suggested for the meeting. Councillor Foster moved, —"That, in addition to members of the Sanitary Committee, Councillor White be present to confer with the Sanitary Committee of the City Council.” Councillor Brown seconded the motion* and suggested that the Committee should have some instructions, the Council considering beforehand the question of boundary, which is sure to crop up. The Committee should be prepared to accept a certain boundary, and to undertake to keep their own side in order.

Councillor White complained that information promised by the City Council had not been famished. iThey admitted that the city boundary went up to the fences on the south side of the belt. Councillor Pavitt concurred.

The Mayor said that since the time referred to, new blood had been introduced in the City Council. At any rate, some of the City Councillors appeared to be altogether ignorant of the,facts of'the case.. This Council had been waiting for the communication from the City Council, stating what proportion they considered ihe Borough ought to pay. Councillor Brown thought councillors ought to show a disposition to do., something, there being a general outcxy. Councillor Poster’s resolution was agreed to. THB EATING ACT. A circular letter was received from the Colonial Secretary’s office, relative to the Eating Act, 1876. The communication pointed out that the Governor bad only power to grant an Order in Council“ when there is a misadventure or accident to do anything, which by that Act is required to bo done within a fixed time.” The expressed object of the circular was to inform all local bodies that in making an application. for extension of time under the section quoted, the nature of the misadventure or accident, and the causes which led to it, must be clearly shown j otherwise the Government would be unable to advise granting the extension applied for. The letter was received. EAILWAY LANK ON 6ASWOEKS BOAS. The Besident Engineer, New Zealand Bailways, wrote as follows:—In accordance with the assurance yon gave me in conversation this morning, that the other parties concerned together with the Government in the widening of the Gasworks road have consented thereto, I have the honour, agreeably with the letter you have received from the Under-Secretary for Public Works, to state that I will set back the railway fence to the proposed line as soon as I can spare workmen to do it, and within a reasonably short time. The letter was received. ENTBAKCB TO PBBMISKS. Mr J. T. Brown applied to be allowed an entrance to the front of his business premises on the South belt, where the roadway was at present in an unformed state, and with a high ridge in the centre, covering the outfall drain. It was with great difficulty that even a halfladen dray could pass in or out of the writer’s premises. As a large ratepayer, he requested that he might be allowed to share the common privilege of an entrance.

Councillor White moved—" That the letter be referred to the Committee appointed to confer with the City Council.” The resolution was agreed to. GLASGOW BANE SBLIEE FUND.

A letter was read from Mr Andrew Duncan relative to the Glasgow Bank Belief Fund. The writer solicited the co-operation of the Council, and enclosed a copy of the resolutions agreed to at the recent public meeting. Previous to the reading or the letter, the Mayor suggested that at any rate subscriptions might be received at the offices of the Council. Councillor White moved—" That the letter be received, and that advertisements he in-' serted in the daily papers, to the effect that subscriptions would be received at the offices of the Council.” Councillor Brown seconded the resolution, which was warmly supported by the Mayor, and unanimously agreed to. BANDEIDGE, Mr E. Jackman, the contractor for forming the streets in Sandridge, wrote relative to payment on account, and objected to procure a certificate from the Engineer. He thought it high time such a farce was ended. (There had been a withholding of payment because the specifications haduot been complied with.) The Clerk read several letters, received from time to time from Mr Jackman. Councillor White explained that the Works Committee had been compelled to refer Mr Jackman to the Borough Engineer. He had Ilo^i^ roccec^ according to contract, ana newas even now six or seven weeks overly ,® 1 had , aLiO systematically carted away 1 aUh 'Sß h Bev ? ral times instructed not I 60 • When the last progress payment

was made, ho undertook tot to ask for, another, and Councillor White had been , informed that in one of the streets'a pit bad actually been opened for the sale or grtjvel. Councillor White concluded by moving the letter be referred to the Works Committee, with power to act. : , Counoillor Langdown seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

INFECTIOUS DIBBIBEB. The Mayor mentioned that a letter relative to a case of infectious diseases had been, sent to him in error. He had forwarded it to the Local Board of Health.

WOSka COMMITTEE. ■ The Works Committee reported as foll0 «l. Tour Committee hegtoreport that they have accepted the tender of Charles ThonjißOE to erect a fence on section No. .84, .volo(nbo road, for the sum of £44115; and the tedder of W. for broken metal for the Lincoln road and Gasworks road, at 10s per onhm yard. Also the tender of James Whittington, for broken metal for Colombo road, at 10s per cubic yard. -. , ■ . . . ’ “2. The letter from the Engineer to the Drainage Board haanofc yet been* replied to, in consequence of the Committee .not being empowered to answer letters until considered by the Council. ; , .. *'3. The following is the reply winch Committee would recommend being sent to the Engineer, viz.i That there.is ody.one sump in the Borough of Sydenham, that on Colombo road, .and this one is regularly cleaned out. The, other sumps, connecting with the Southland: East Belt sewers.are within the' Christchurch .jurisdiction,i to which body we would respectfully refer him. The same remarks apply to the petition , of, Messrs Atkins, .Charters and others, re Lincoln road footpath. t rt “ 4. In answer to the letter from the Com--missioner of Bailways, the Committee winddrecommend that he be written to, and apjwd air what time the Council may expect, the work-completed. « 5. Re Mr Dobson’s letter, the Committee, recommend a progress payment to the amount of £150.” 1 i On the motion of Councillor White the port was .received v " . - Councillor Pavilt obtained leave to retire at this stage, there being a case of sickness inhis family. - ■ . i , “ Clauses 1 and 2 ofJhe Works Committee s report werq adopted. l: , ’ • tin connection with, clause f"W®? r urged that the Gouncil waS moraUy clean out the sump on the South Belt. This , had beert done before, and if it formed a regular item of work-would occupy onlya short time once a week. , , ! t-v:-. Councillor Brown remarked that'this was only another phase of the South Town Belt question. . ■ Councillor Foster thought that this item could also be dealt with at the Conference., _ The Mayor pointed out that the Council really must take these matters in hand.. If they failed to do so, the Board of Health would compel individual householders; to abate any nuisance created. :• Councillor White, in reply, contended that they had no more right to interfere withsumps on the Belt than with channels there. He was of opinion that Sydenham suffered by being unrepresented on the Drainage Board, and that the Board of Health was making one law for one part of the Diatrict and one for another. Clause 3 was then adopted, as also clauses 4 and 5, and the report, as a whole was then adopted. ; GAS LAMP. Councillor Hall called attention to the fact that a lamp erected in Colombo street, at the railway crossing, was not used. ; ’, ; The matter was referred to the Lighting Committee. . ; LIGHTING COMMITTEE. The Lighting Committee reported upon the tenders received by them for the supply of. lamp-posts, and recommended the acceptance of Mr Atkinson’s tender, at £4 7s per post, for 25. -

Councillor Hall moved the adoption of the report, which was agreed to. FINANCE COMMITTEE, The Finance Committee reported receipts for the fortnight £174 9s, and bills passed for payment £361 17s lid, leaving a credit balance at the Bank of £1943 6s 3d. The outstanding rates amounted to £67 17s Id, and judgment on summonses for about half the amount had been obtained., A cheque for £250 had been drawn without having been duly passed by the Finance Committee. Councillor White complained that accounts which were supposed, to be laid before.theWorks Committee were never submitted, and that the supposed mode of transacting business was thus I 'made a mere farce. He thought that nO: cheques should be issued by the Finance -Committee unless the accounts bore the endorsement of the Works Committee. Thnquestion was—Should accounts be laid before the Works Committee Of Hot ? As it was, the Finance Committee came there at odd times,’ and did not. do their work properly. Councillor Andrew concurred. Councillor Jones complained ’ that the Works Committee had to draw up their own reports; he objected to their having to do clerical work.

After some general conversation upon the system which had obtained, the Mayor Suggested that the proper coarse would be for the Works Committee to meet before the Finance Committee. Councillor Foster moved---" That (he accounts be referred to the Works Committee.” The motion was not seconded. . . .■>

The accounts were called over, and some of them were referred to the Works Committee.

The Mayor remarked that the cheque for £250 referred to, for widening Gasworks road, had been authorised by the Council. The report of the Finance Committee, having been amended by the withdrawal of some accounts, was adopted. BY-XjAW committbb. Councillor Brown, on behalf of the ByLaw Committee, stated that the by-laws had that day been forwarded to the Council office, in a revised and altered form. The solicitors now desired to have fair copies made, and it would be advisable that the Committee should have power to oct. Councillor Foster "moved—“ That the Bylaw Committee be authorised to take snob action as might be necessary in getting fair copies of the by-laws made.” Councillor Hall seconded the resolution. Councillor White objected to the continual cropping up of extras. If this work could not be done in the office, it 'seemed to him that the staff should be re-organised. They might, for example, engage a surveyor, and then the Clerk and his assistant would be more at liberty. Councillor Brown thought that in special and technical work of the kind special labour was requisite. - The resolution was agreed to, Councillor White dissenting. After transacting a few other items of routine business the Council adjourned, i