SYDENHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXII, Issue 7413, 2 December 1884, Page 5

SYDENHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of tho Sydenham Borough Council was held last night j present—The Mayor (ia the chair), Councillors Glcdhill, Langdowo, Ashworth, Forrester, Jones, Comber, Sherlock, Day. CO«HBSI*OVUKNCK. The following was read \ — From tho Drainage Board, stating that the matter of the subsidence in the Lincoln road over the line of sower laid to the Lunatic Asylum would bo attended to. From the same re drainage of ditch in Hazeldean road, stating that tho Board would adhere to its former decision. Councillor Jones said that the affair appeared to bo a dispute between the Board and. the Council. The Board considered it was not their duty to deal with the matter, and the Councillors, after inspecting the drain in question, certainly thought it was not theirs. Ho would suggest that the l«ocal Board of Health should he written to on the subject, calling their attention to the nuisance, and asking them to toko action. He-moved— ” That a letter be sent to the Board of Health calling attention to the nuisance they complained of in their letter of bring still in existence, and requesting them to call upon the Drainage Board to abate Hie same in accortlanco with the Public Health Act” ’lli is waa seconded by Councillor Bherlock, and carried. From the Itoturning-Officer, announcing that Mr William White, Jan., M.H.U.. hod been elected Mayor. From the Heatheote Road Board, asking if the Council would consent to submit tho matter of the accounts In connection with tho lowering of the Ferry and Wilson’s toads to arbitration, and suggesting that Mr Whltefoord should act ns arbitrator. Councillor Gtedhill thought this a very Mr proposal, and would move that Hr Dobson should he appointed to act with Mr Whltefoord.* Councillor Jims objected. They had bad a similar owe with the Drainage Board, and Mr Whltefoord bad not proved

favoumble la them. He would move—- " Hint tho llentlicote BwmJ be written to. reduraiitig particular* of the item* objected to In the aewmnte.”

This wm sewndrd by Councillor Comher. and Councillor OMl.lll having withdrawn hi* motion, it wan carried.

From Mr B. Thomas, «n the *nbjeet of a gome nuisance m the Waltham road. Councillor Jane* moved letter »<e laid on the table.'* lie did not think it fhowld Is? received by the Council. After some dfwuMaimi, it wan decided to refer the letter to the Hanitary and Works Committee, nuremm The report <>t the Works Committee, as follows, was then received and adopted *— Your Committee Iwg to report ns follow* ■ —ln reference to Mr ItrightUng's letter re lowering of the Waltham road, your Committee are endeavouring to make arrangements to enable the work to be carried out on the terms proposed. The tender cd Mr W. Andewon, of Haiapoi, for the supply of dog collars for 1885, has been accepted. The Committee recommend that the Bylaw* Committee Ho requo*t(>d to take Into consideration Dm licensing of all places ol amusement and buildings used tor public meetings, so as to ensure that the safety of the public will bo duly provided for. The Finance Committee reported that tho receipts for tho last fortnight from rate!*, subscriptions towards watering the streets, Ac., Ac., bad been £287 3* 3d. Accounts to the amount of £222 19s 2d were presented by the same Committee, and passed for payment with the rest ol the report. The debit balance at the Bonk was reported to bo £l6 0s lid. The Committee further stated, in reference to at application made by Mr F. Britton, that they recommended that the rateable value of the property in rural section 74, now charged to E. A. Hicks, bo divided o« follows;—E. A. Hicks, Ir, rateable value, jeiOO i H. Izard, Ir J£p, rateable value, XI(50) total, as per valuation roll, X2OO It was stated by a member of the Finance Committee that there were rates still uncollected amounting to XIOBU 11* 2d. The report of the Banitary Committee was next received and adopted. It is m followsAn information has been laid bj the Borough Ranger mminst a person named M’Kegonny for allowing cattle U wander at large within the Borough, th< information being dismissed, with cost against tho Ranger. The Committee re commend that tho expenses of the cose to paid by the Council. Mr Robert Russel having erected a fence in Btricklond street south which projects about five feet fur ther into the street than the old line o: fencing erected over 20 years ago, and havijtq blocked up the roadside ditch with gorw cuttings, which he declines to remove, oz the ground that they are on his own land tho Committee recommend that th( Borough Inspector of Nuisances be in structed to lay an information against Mi Russell, in accordance with sub-section i of the 189th section of “Tho Municipa Corporations Act, 1876,” for the purpose o testing Mr Russell's right to moke thi encroachment. That the Borough solicitoi be asked to conduct the case for the Conn oil.

The Lighting Committee recommended the lighting of the gas lamps at each end of tho footbridge over the railway, and the removal of the lamp in Carlyle street, opposite the bridge. Councillor Jones proposed, with reference to the exchange of tho reserve at Chaney’s Corner—" That His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Sherlock, Forrester, and Langdown, should be appointed a Committee to meet tho agent of the Belfast Manure Company, and report to tho Council.” Seconded by Councillor Comber, and carried. DEPUTATIONS. A deputation was then received, headed by Mr Taylor, in order to protest against the way in which the business was carried on, particularly with regard to the “ suppression ” of a public meeting, which bad been duly convened. He also called attention to the bad practice which prevailed at present, of members sitting at the Council and voting on questions in which they are personally and pecuniarily interested. Being challenged by Councillor Langdown to state who he referred to, Mr Taylor named Councillor Jones, who “ voted X 26 or £27 every year into his own pocket.” Councillor Tones; I deny it. Mr Taylor : Do you mean to say that your son is not employed by the Council ?” Ho referred him to Standing Order No. 23. It was the principle of the thing that was at stake. If this sort of thing was not stopped, they would have Councillors foisting their relations into all sorts of positions. He would also like to draw the attention of the Council to the “ filth of Christchurch being carted down to Sydenham to poison the neighbourhood.” A Councillor asked the Mayor what contract thori) was between the Council and Councillor Jones.

The Mayor said : None whatever. Nothing was known of Councillor Jones in the matter of the employment of his son. His Worship the Mayor, in reply to Mr Taylor, said that, as far as the public meeting was concerned, he being a candidate for the Mayoralty had token no (lotion in tho matter. With reference to the grievance Mr Taylor seemed to consider ho had, in not having been allowed to discuss what ho called ‘the borrowing proposals of tho Council at that mooting, ue would remind him that there would bo for better opportunities offered him very soon, a* public mootings must perforce bo called to discuss the matter of a loan. As far as tho accusation against Councillor Jones was concerned, he would also remind him that a heavy fine could bo imposed upon any Councillor who voted on questions in which ho had a personal interest, and that no man would bo so foolish as to do so. [Mr Taylor; “ Well, 1 consider the law is being evaded.”] As far as the carting of refuse was concerned, such matters should be brought under the notice of tho Board of Health, and not-as a reproach against the Council. They were not responsible. If anyone was to blame it was himself. He hod brought the same question before the Board of Health time after time. It was very difficult to secure a conviction against offenders, though the Inspector used every endeavour to do so.

Mr Taylor, after some further conversation between himself and the Mayor with regard to tho public mooting, thanked the Councillors for the courtesy they had extended to him and withdrew. Mr Hunter then came forward, and preferred a complaint against the Clerk, who, ho stated, bad called him by abusive names, and had boon on the point of “ bundling ” him out of tho office. Tho dispute between the Clerk and Mr Hunter appeared to have arisen out of a mistake in paying rates some two or three years ago, and both seemed convinced that right waa on their side. The Clerk, when called cm ter an explanation, said that the part of tho charge referring to” bundling’* Hunter out of tho office was true, but pleaded great provocation. He explained the affair at considerable length, and finally several Councillors having expressed tho opinion that both gentlemen had become a little warmer than was necessary, and had lictter let tho matter drop, it was derided to take no further notice of it. Rome email item* of luminous were then transacted, and the Council adjourned.