AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 49, 5 January 1877, Page 2

AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The first meeting - of the newly-elected County Council in accordance with proclamation published in the New Zealand Gazette, took place yesterda.y in the Resident Magistrate's Court. The following members were present:—Messrs Latter, Baker, Dalglish, Fleming, J. Hay, J. Gebbie, anrlJF 1 . Priest. In consequence of the limited publicity given of the meeting, Mr. Barker

had left for Lyttelton before a colleague's letter had reached his residence, intimating the time-and place of first meeting. ELECTION OP CHAIRMAN. * Mr. J, Gebbie moved.—"ThatMr. Latter take the chair to conduct the election of permanent chairman." The motion was seconded by Mr. J. Hay, and carried. Mr. Latter, on taking the chair, said that the first business in accordance with the Act to be transacted, was the election of chairman, which officer would henceforth be elected annually, but in this instance it was necessary to proceed with the appointment of chairman before undertaking any other business. If he were correct in the reading of the Act, there was still a far more important question to be decided, and that was, whether it was the desire of the Council to bring the Act into operation in its entirety, or allow it to become a mere distributing body, to meet in the month of March of every year, and apportion certain funds among the Road Boards established in the district. There were few perhaps who had considered the whole provisions of the Act, but he, for one, should not have come forward for a seat in the Council, unless he entertained the firm conviction of carrying the Act out in its entirety. The Peninsula was differently situated to many districts on the plains, and the usefulness of the Act would be more apparent on this side. At present there were a good many works about to be constructed, which do not come under the direction of Road Boards, and would have to be taken charge of by the County Council. Pie really could not see how these works were likely to be carried on, unless the County Council took charge of them. There were many persons who fa'nr cittd the bringing into operation of the provisions of the Act meant imposing a burden upon them, but it was aot imperative on the part of members to levy rates. He had given the matter some little consideration, and had come to the conclusion that the business of the county could be carried on irrespective of the rating clause, but, if the Couucil abstained from exercising it, the Government subsidies would not, of course, be quite so large. The adoption of the Act was not likely to press heavily upon the people, and, in his opinion, the measure, if judicially administered, would prove of great usefulness to this district. He trueted all would coincide with him in his views, and endeavour to work out the Act to the best of their ability. Mr. Priest proposed—" That Mr. E. C. Latter bo appointed Chairman of the Akaroa County Council" The moiion was seconded by Mr. Baker. There being no other candidate nominated, the Chairman put the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr. Latter thanked the members" for having unanimously elected him, and promised to do everything within his power to promote the interests of the County. He was certain that any other member would fill the office equally as well as himself, but, perhaps, he residing in a central part of the district, might be able to prove useful to the Council. He said that the 11th section of the Act provided that the Council should decide before the expiration of three months, whether it was their intention to bring the Act into full force or not, but the third schedule of the Act required the Council to decide the question at*its first meeting. His impression was, though perhaps he might be wrong, that the Council had to decide the question as provided for in the schedule. If the Council considered it inadvisable to bring the Act into operation, he feared that the special works would be stopped, there being no executive to see to their working. He referred to the Financial Arrangement Bill, in order to show how subsidies Avere derivable, and other clauses of the County Act bearing upon proportion of revenue likely to be allocated out of the Consolidated and land funds, in favour of the Council. Mr. Fleming would like to know from the Chairman, if the Riding of Berard were desirous of raising a loan of £10,000 for any special w.ork within its boundary, would the Riding of Port Levey be answerable for its share of the debt. The Chairman said that if the Council failed to leAy rates, it would have no power to borrow. Mr. Fleming.—The members Avere not likely to sit without levying rates, because if they did not, they would get no money. The Chairman said that before raising a loan for any particular riding, it would be necessary for the Chairman to call a meeting of the ratepayers of such riding to take an expression of opinion. The member representing such riding Avould be the presiding chairman of the meeting, that is, if Avilling to act. Mr. Fleming.—What I want to know is, suppose your riding, Mr. Latter were to borroAv £10,000, would all the other ridings bo responsible for its ro-payment? If your riding likes to mortgage its estate, it would be unfair to make Port Levey, a district likely to gain no benefit from such loan, bear its proportion of responsibility. It is the Avish of my constituents not to be made responsible, and if this Avereassured, I would like to give the Act a trial.

The Chairman replied that it w is impossible to raise aloanAvithout making the Avhole county responsible. Mr. Fleming desired to ask the Chairman another question, Avith a view to eliciting further information. He would like to know if the various Road Boards on the Peninsula would be called upon to hand over the funds at present at their disposal. The Chairman said that the Council had no power to interfere with the standing of the Boards. If the Council decide to bring the Act into operation , in its entirety, no Board could merge into the County unless a petition signed by one-third of the ratepayers, representing , one-half the value of property, Avere presented to the Council. Then, again, au equal number of ratepayers signing a counter petition would have power to prevent the merging of such Board into the County Council. It Avould therefore be seen that to accomplish the abolition of Boards, the all but unanimous vote of the ratepayers would

be necessary. Mr. Fleming said that for his part he would rather see one managing bodj|—let it be either the County or Road Board system. The bringing intp operation of the two bodieswould entail the levying of two distinct rates. He considered that it would be a pity to see the Boards merge into the County. The Chairman said that from the peculiar situation of the Peninsula* it would be far better for the Boards to do so, and was of opinion the union would eventually be brought about. He had received

CORRESPONDENCE From the Public Works, Christchnrch, informing the Council that by direction of Mr. Rolleston the balance'of special votes had been paid in trust to the Akaroa County special works account, to be operated on in.the manner indicated in. the accompanying vouchers:—£ls49 14s for the Wainui road ; £900 for the road from Mountßossu ridge to Lake Foreyth ; £100 for Le Bon's Bay road to Summit; £1000 for Pigeon Bay road and extension towards Port Levey £350 Long Bay Trackr. Mr. Fleming said, as Chairman of the Port Levey Road Board, he would have to look to the County Council instead of the Provincial Executive as heretofore, Pfor payment of special grants, and he would at once say that he was opposed to ih& bringing of the Act into operation, but, although himself, Messrs. Hay and Grebbie might vote against it, the County Board would still have to carry on its operations. EXTRAORDINARY VACANCY. Mr. GrEBBiE drew the Councils attention to the fact that Port Victoria had failed to return a member. He had spoken to the Returning Officer on the subject, who informed himjjthatthe Council had the power to proceed with the election of a member to fill the vacancy. The newspapers had stated that the inhabitants were undesirous of being represented. This was a mistake, as he knew of two gentlemen who were willing to come forward to contest the seat. The Chairman feared that the time allowed by the Act had passed. The clause .provides that not less than 20, nor more than 25 days' notice shall be given im-mediately-fifter such vacancy occurring. It was simply a question whether the vacancy occurred on the day of nomination, or when the Council declared such seat vacant. He would immediately communicate with Dr. Donald. Mr. Gebbie moved—"That the Chairman be instructed to take the necessary steps to cause the writ for the extraordinary vacancy of Port Victoria to issue." Mr. Dalglish seconded the motion, which was carried. FERMISSIVE CLAUSE. Mr. Baker was of opinion that under Clause 11 the Council may determine at any time within three months at any of its adjourned meetings the question of the adoption or suspension of the permissive clauses of the Act. He thought it would be unwise to take a hasty expression of opinion on so important a question. The Council must adopt either the whole or none of the Act, and he would be in favor of allowing the members a little more time for reflection.

Mr. Gebbie said tliat the members since their election had but a very short time to consider the sucject, and the Council ought not to attempt to decide it without affording the members a full opportunity of considering the matter. The Councillors were representing the opinions of the ratepayers. He trusted the reporters would take notice of what he was about to say. The members had not received sufficient notice of the meeting of that day. Indeed it was by the merest chance he had heard of it. He had written a note to Mr Priest and Mr Barker, acquainting them, but the latter gentleman had left for Lyttelton before the noto reached his residence. The Government was greatly at fault in not having given longer notice, and he would move, " That the Council stand adjourned till Thursday, the 18th inst/' The Chairman said that the residents of Port Victoria had received early intimation of the election, and there was no excuse for its neglecting to return a member. Mr. Baker said that it was not usual to serve the people with notice of laws, and were a person to be arrested by the police for the infringement of a law, it would be no excuse to say that he had not been been made acquainted with the passing of the statute. He would suggest that the adjournment be for one week. Mr. Fleming contended that a week was too short. It would take him nearly a week to go home, and before he could barely get a wash, and throw his arms into the bosom of his family, it would be time for him to say that he was off again. Messrs Hay or Gebbie would have known nothing of the meeting, but for him. Mr. Baker considered that it would not be necessary for the Council to meet in Akaroa. The Chairman then put the motion, which was carried.