District Council of Enfield Historical Records 1853 - 1935

a contract to Iniilcl a Council "House" on the site, was let to a Mr. Hnnsfcy for £275. This house, now seventy-seven vcars old, still stands and is the first huildinj? south of the Gepijs Cross Hotel, and is owned by W. M. Gabel. The last meetinn- of the District Council of Vatala was held on June 29th, 1868, and was attended by only two Councillors. Messrs. Turner and Walden, and the Clerk. What number of members actually formed a quorum is not known, but the meeting- proceedecl, and the Proclamation of two new Districts was received. The Districts of Yatala North and Yatala South. On June 18th, 1868, by Proclamation, the ncu-theni por tion of the district was severed and named the District of 5'atala .Xorth, while the remaining portion of the district, comprising 11.685 acres, was named the District of Yatala .South. The Proclamation apj^ointed fi ve new Councillors for 5'atala .Xorth, but made no alterations to the members of the old 5'atala District, and as a resu't Messrs. T. Turner and W. Walden, who did not retire by efflu.Kion of time, continued to serve on the new Yatala South Council. .-Xn election was held on julv 15th to fill the three remaining \-acancie.s, and Messrs. 1. W. .Stidholz, J. Rc).sser, and James Pitcher were successfid. .'Ml members were present at the fi rst meeting, held at (Icpps Cross on July 20th, 1868, and C r. I. W. Sudholz was elected Chairman, and Mr. J. J. O'Sullivan was ap])ointed Clerk at a salary of £40. Considerable trouble was experienced by both Councils, in arriving at an equitable basis for the apportionment of the realisable assets of the old Yatala Council. Yatala North claimed that the Council Chamber at Gepps Cross should be disposed of, and the proceeds, together with other assets, be equally divided between the two Councils. Yatala South strongly objected to this suggestion, and obtained a legal opinion from Mr. John (later Sir John) Downer, on the matter. The opinion stated that as the Council Chamber was situated within the District of 5'atala South after the divi sion was made, the \Mtala Xorth Council had no claini what ever on the Gepps Cross property. The opinion also stated that Yatala South had no claim on a piece of land formerly owned by the District Council of Yatala and now within the 22