Sydenham Borough Council

An ordinary meeting of the Council of the Borough, of Sydenham waß held last evening at seven o'clock; present — His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Forrester, Booth> and T. E. Taylor. Leave of absence was granted to Councillors Jacques and White on. account of illness. NEW MEMBERS. Mr C. Allison, junr., Beturning Officer, ■wrote, stating that Messrs G. T. Smith, T. J. Gledhill and J. Hopper had been declared duly elected members of the Council. The letter was received. The newly-elected Councillors then made and signed the usual declarations, and took their seats at the Council table. The Mayor, in welcoming the new Councillors, said though he should not preside much longer, he hoped that Councillor Booth might be induced to become a candidate for the Mayoralty. THE BOROUGH SCHOOL. The Mayor said that he ought to mention the fact that one hundred and thirty children had been shut out of the Borough school that day, in consequence of there being no room for them. He did not know that it was precisely the Council's place to move in the matter, but he thought something ought to be done in the way of making representations to the Government. Councillor Taylor thought that the Minister for Education's attention Bhould be drawn to the matter. The Mayor concurred. Councillor Forrester said that he understood arrangements were being made by the School Committee to meet the difficulty. Tenders for the use of two extra buildings would be opened by the School Committee on tho following evening. The Board of Education had no funds at present to provide new buildings. Councillor Booth thought that a resolution might be framed drawing the Government's attention to the straits in which the School Committee found themselves in having to engage halls separate from the school, and asking that something might be done to provide accommodation on the school grounds. The Mayor thought that some such resolution would strengthen the Board cf Education's hands in the matter. Councillor Taylor moved — "That the Town Clerk be instructed to write to the Hon the Minister for Education, calling his attention to the fact that the Sydenham School. Committee are so pressed, so far as providing accommodation for the scholars is concerned, that they are under the necessity of engaging various buildings in the vicinity of the school, and call the attention of the Government to the urgent necessity which exists for providing the necessary accommodation." Councillor Smith seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. BTRBET-NAHING. A letter from Mr Garven was read, suggesting that as the names of some streets were being altered, the name of Waltham j road should be altered to " Langdown street," in honour of hia Worship the Mayor. Councillor Booth thought it would bo appropriate to have some memorial of Mr Langdown's Mayoralty, and moved that the alteration be made as requested. Councillor Taylor seconded the motion, which was carried. The Street Naming Committee recommended the alteration of the nameß of various streets, generally shortening the names, as Douglas Jerrold street to Jerrold street, and the naming of come newlyformed streets. . Councillor Gledhill. objected to certain of the proposed alterations, and consideration of the report waß held over till next meeting. finance. , „. The Finance Committee reported t&at

been .£631 19s 7d $ expenditure .£687 6a 6d, i including £625 interest on debentures. The balance of accounts showed : Separate accounts, credit .£395 9s 7d ; interest account, credit -£280 5s 9d ; loan account, credit .£8260 19s 8d ; general account, debit .£1133 10a lOd. The proposal to annex E.S. 154 to Sydenham, the Committee stated, would be carried out unless a counter petition from the ratepayers of Sydenham was sent to Government before Oct. 21. The Committee could not see any benefit to the Borough by the proposed annexation. The Committee did not agree with the Southland County Council's recommendations as to Charitable Aid Bill. The report was adopted. 6IGNKD AND SEALED. The seal of the Council was directed to be affixed to the contract with Messrs Williamson and Rowe for moving a cottage in Hazeldean road. The contract was signed by the Mayor and one Councillor. COMMITTEKB. Councillor Taylor moved that the following be the Committees for the ensuing year:— Works, Sanitary, and Lighting—Councillors Gledhill, Hopper, and Jacques. Finance — Councillors T. E. Taylor, Smith,. and Forrester. Eire Prevention — Councillors Forrester, E. M. Taylor, and Hopper. By-laws — - Councillors White, T. E. Taylor, Booth, and B. M. Taylor. ' The first- named in each case to be Chairman of the Committee ; two to form a quorum. Councillor Booth eeeonded the motion, i which was^carried. I MISCELLANEOUS. It waa decided to write to the Drainage Board in reference to nuisances caused by sumps in the Borough. NOTICES OP MOTION. The following notices of motion were given :— Councillor Forrester — "That the sum of £1000 be transferred from the Interest Account to the Loan Account, and that so much of the-Council's resolution No. 8, of May 3, ISB6, as may be hold to conflict with this motion, be rescinded." Councillor Taylor to the effect that the Council objected to the expenditure of .£214 3s scl for medical comforts at the Christchurch Hospital during the past year as excessive. The Council then adjourned.