Sydenham Borough Council

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4711, 1 August 1893, Page 1

Sydenham Borough Council

An ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Sydonbam Borough Council was held last evening; present — The Mayor and Councillors Biown, Taylor, Rudd, Booth, Smith, Hadfield, "Winny, Muffett, Nancarrow, Samuele, Laugdown and Forrester. COEBKSPONDENCE. Letterß were read :— Prom the Mount Hutt Road Board, stating that it was willing to pay £2 18a 6d in satisfaction of the Council's claim. Referred to the Finance and Works Committees. From the Christchurch City Council, asking the Sydenham Council to appoint delegates to attend a conference of local bodies on August 16 to consider matters in connection with the Cbrißtchurch Drainage Act. The Mayor and Councillors Forreßter and Brown were appointed to represent the Council. A statement of the receipts and expenditure of the Ohristchurch Hospital Board for the year ending March 31, 1893, was laid on the table. Councillor Taylor hoped that the time would come when the members of the Hospital Board would be elected by the ratepayera direct, and not by the local bodies. He believed that a large.amount of stimulants received at the hospital did not reach the patients. ARBOR DAT. The Council decided to invite the children attending the Sydenham schools to join the Councillors in planting trees on the recreation reßerve on Arbor Day. The Mayor stated that the Works Committee had made arrangements for the supply of over 100 trees. It was decided to Btart planting the trees at two o'clock. WOBKB COMMITTEE. The Works Committee recommended that the proposal of . the .Spreydon Road Board in regard to the erection of lamps in Creßcent road and Strickland street should be agreed to, that a lamp should be erected on the north side of Battersea street opposite Dewsbury's lane ; and that the Drainage Board's attention should be directed to the course of Jackson's Creek, near the Council's recreation reserve. The report was adopted, and the tender of Mr G. Adcock for the supply of street lanterns was accepted. ■ FINANCE. The Finance Committee reported that the receipts during the past fortnight had amounted to £92 19a. The balances of accounts were aa follow : — Separate trust account, credit, £54 83 6d; interest trust account, credit, .£540 2s 6d ; loan account, credit, £5452 8a 9d; general account, £113 6s 3d. The Committee recommended payment of accounts amounting to £114 83 sd. The report was adopt9d. . . THE UNEMPLOYED. A deputation from the unemployed, consisting of Messrs Fleming and Corley, waited on the Council in regard to the unemployed difficulty. Mr Corley stated that the City Council and other local bodies had found employment for a number of men, but there was still a large number in need of employment. He stated that the Council ■was 'aboitt £200 >richer this .year than it -Vaß, last; and -he Ilio'^ght it wa.s in Vpoeition'to do something' to relieve the distress among the unemployed in Chri&tohurch and suburbs. Mr Fleming hoped the Council would consider the unemployed difficulty from a social, and not a political, standpoint. He thought there were about 600 men out of employment in Christchurch and suburbs at the present time. In reply to the Mayor Mr Fleming stated that he believed there were about one hundred and fifty men out of employment in the Borough of Sydenham at the present time. Councillor Taylor thought the Council should ascertain the number of men out of employment before it did anything in the matter of providing work. The Council had no surplus revenue, and the license fees went to meet a deficiency at the beginning of the year. After some discussion the Mayor stated that he had called at the Labour Bureau that day. He found that during the month of May there were ten names of Sydenham residents on the books, in June there were four names and in July five. After some further discussion, it was resolved, on the motion of Councillor Smith, seconded by Councillor Forrester—" That the Town Clerk be instructed to keep a record of applications for work from married men, ratepayers in the Borough, who are anxious to obtain temporary work at a rate not exceeding 5s per day, and that the Council at its rising do adjourn till 7.30 p.m. on Thursday next to oonsider the possibility of giving employment to porno of the unemployed in the way of lowering streets or other permanent works in the Borough." On the motion of Councillor Muffett, seconded by Councillor Samuels, it was resolved : — " That the Works Committee be empowered to purchase for municipal purposes lots Nos. 27, 28 and 29 on deposit plan No. 731, part of rural section No. 71, at a cost not exceeding £15." After disposing of some routine business, fchn meetiner closed.