AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 55, 26 January 1877, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual weekly meeting of the above Council was held on Wednesday evening last, in the Town Hall side-room. Present—The Mayorj and Crs. Penlington, Watkins, Bnice, Chadwickj Wagstaff, Waeckerle, and Culleri. ; CORRESPONDENCE.. . / From Saxton and Williams, enclosing account for the sum of £51 6s 8d for timber, and requesting that, in the event of the account being passed, two cheques —one for £44, aiidthe other for £7 6s Bd— be made out,, as the latter amount was due to Johnston for carting. From (Running and Co., asking that the sum of £30 be passed for payment on account of the reclamation work; also, requesting information re their tenders for works in Aubrey-street and Brace's Terrace. From J. S. Annand, requesting the Council to inquire who gave Mr. In wood permission to use the Council's office on Friday evening last, after a resolution had been carried by the Council, refusing its use ; also directing the Council's attention to clause 75, .part V. of the Municipal Corporations Act, in the event of any discussion taking place on the subject of his letter. VOTE OF CENSURE. Cr. Cullen asked if the resolution carried at the last meeting of the Council anent Mr. In wood's application had been carried out, and whether the room was made use of. The Mayor said that the room had been used, but he did not give permission. Cr. Waeckerle.—ln whose custody wsa the key? The Mayor.—ln Mr. McGregor's. Cr. Cullen.—lt appears no one knows who gave up the key. The clerk was instructed to state that the • Council could not accede to Mr. Inwood's request. Cr. Waeckerle.—Upon whose authority may I ask did the clerk deliver up the key? The Mayor.—The key was given up at the request of Mr. Penlington, the Chairman of the Town Hall Committee, and a hundred words more will not make the matter a. bit better. Cr. Waeckerle.—Then neither the clerk nor the Mayor are responsible. Now we must find out who gave permission to Mr. In wood to take possession of the room. Cr. Penlington said that when the room was let the terms had not received the sanction of the Town Hall Committee. The room is required for the use of balls, and the committee do not see its way clear to give the Council the exclusive use of the room for the small rent it is paying. After the Council had carried its resolution on the subject, a meeting of the Town Hall Committee was held, at which it was decided that he, as chairman, should demand the key. The managing committee do not concur in allowing the Council the exclusive use of the room. Cr. Waeckerle held that the Council was paying rent for the exclusive use of the room, and asked Cr. Penlington why he did not stand up like a man at the last meeting when the matter was under discussion, and say that the Town Hall Committee would not let the exclusive use of the room for so small a rent. He (Cr. Penlington, as Chairman) had no right to vote on the question. It would have been more honourable for him to have informed the Council as to the true position of affairs. Cr. Penlington desired to explain that at the last meeting of the Council he was not 'aware that the Town Hall Committee was opposed to the Council having the exclusive use of the room. The meeting of the committee was held subsequently, and the arrangement was made at the eleventh hour. The committee do not concur in the terms he submitted, and the matter resolves itself into this—the Council are tenants, and Hall Committee landlords, and if the Council are not satisfied they must find other premises. He trusted that the explanation he had rendered was satisfactory. There was one thing he would remind the Council, that was if the room was required for a ball it must be given up. Cr. Watkins would like to know if any any agreement had been entered into between the Town Hall Committee and the Council ? [The Mayor—Verbal.] Did Cr. Penlington convene a meeting of the Town Hall Committee to consider the terms under which the committee were prepared to let the Council the room ? Some little time had elapsed since the Council accepted Cr. Penlington's terms for the use of room, and he held that that gentleman should have apprised the Council of the Town Hall Committee's unwillingness to accede to the ,erms of its chairman. He characterised Cr. Penlington's conduct as dishonest and injudicious—treating the Council with the utmost .contempt. He should like the Council to resolve itself into committee to consider the whole question, as he, for one, felt very much aggrieved at the room being used. He felt convinced that Cr. Penlington had not acted alone in the matter, that there was another person more or less culpable. As the key had been entrusted to the Town Clerk, he had no business to give it up except on the authority of the Mayor. There was nothing in the Act to warrant the Town Clerk acting in the manner he had done. The Council had been exposed to the ridicule of the whole town. He would therefore move." that a vote of censure be passed upon the Mayor and Cr. Penlington." The Mayor.—Cr. Watkins is rather hasty with his vote of censure. How does he know that I gave permission for the room to be used ? The Clerk wss demanded by the Chairman to hand over the key.' As for censure, what do you mean ? Cr. Waeckerle seconded the motion. Cr. Wagstaff said that the discussion would not tend to elevate the Council in the eyes of their fellow townsmen. As the affair was a class thing, many were opposed to it from the first, but he considered that the Town Hall Committee had made a mistake in giving the exclusive use of the room. To pass a vote of censure upon the Mayor was going a step too far. If the Mayor or a committee had deliberately overridden the wishes of the Council, then there would be good grounds for moving such a vote. As Cr. Penlington had explained that he had not taken the advice of his colleagues, and as only two nights had intervened between the passing of the resolution and the ball, it. was certainly going a step too far. He hoped the Council would pause before voting for such a motion. Cr. Cullen said that the letter, addressed to Mr. Inwood, conveying the Councils re-1 f usal to accede to his request, waß written after the ball.

TFie Clerk repudiated the imputation. Cr. Cullen. acknowledged that he had made a mistake in\ his assertion that the letter had been written after the ball, and begged to apologjtse, to the Clerk. Cr. Watkins against the Mayor and-Oh Pen lingtoir voting on the motion of censure, but the objection was overruled. / ; '-...■'■'

The Mayor then put the motion, when Crs. Watkins, Culleti, Chadwick, and Waeckerle supported it. The Mayor, and Crs. Bruce, Penlington, and Wagstaff voting against. ■ The ;Mayor said that as the numbers were equal, he would vote for himself like a man, and declared the motion lost. Cr. Penlington said that he was much obliged to the gentlemen who voted for the motion, and that he would not forget it. He said that it would be as well if the Council understood their tenure. TENURE OF COUNCIL'S OFFICES. Cr. Wagstaff moved—" That a proper understanding in writing be come to between the Town Hall Committee and Council in regard to the tenure of the room." Cr. Bruce seconded the motion, which was carried. SAXTON AND WILLIAMS , ACCOUNT. Cr. Waeckerle moved—"That before Saxton and Williams' account be passed for payment, the timber be stacked and measured." The motion was seconded by Cr. Cullen, and carried. PAYMENTS. The following accounts were passed for payment:— £ s d Everall and Gunning, on account 30 0 0 Lyltelton Times ... ... 0 16 0 J. D. Davis... ... ... 23 10 0 H. Billens ... ... ... 1 15 0 56 1 0 NEW COUNCIL CHAMBERS. Cr. Watkins said that in the event of the Council failing to come to terms with the Town Hall Committee, he begged to suggest to the Council the advisability of building a temporary office. He would place a section at the disposal of the Council for a period of twelve months for the sum of Is. After that period the Council could sell the house, and lie felt certain that it would lose nothing. The carrying out of his suggestion would place the Council in a far more independent position than it occupied at present. He Avould like the matter referred to the Works Committee, with power to act. Cr. Waeckerle could not at the present moment consent to Cr. Watkin's proposal. Perhaps in a month or so the Council would be enabled to take possession of their own property, the French Magazine Reserve, He believed that it would be easy to come to terms with the Town Hall Committee for the use of the room, notwithstanding the little growl, which he trusted would be the last. The renting of the room would be better than spending money in the erection of offices. Cr. Cullen supported Cr. Watkin's proposition, and after a little discussion, the matter was allowed to drop. NEW WORKS. Cr. Waeckerle moved—"That Messrs. Gunning and Co's tender for works in Aubrey-street and Bruce's Terrace be declined, and that fresh tenders be invited." Cr. Wagstaff seconded the motion. Cr. Chadwick moved, as an amendment— " That Messrs. Everall and Gunning's tender be accepted." Cr. Bruce seconded the motion, believing that the alteration made in the levels would make but little difference in the cost of the work. The Mayor then put the amendment, Crs. Chadwick and Bruce voting in its favour, and Crs. Watkins, Wagstaff, Cullen, Waeckorle, and the Mayor against. The motion was then put and carried. LIGHTING THE TOWN. Cr. Bruce said that as winter was coming on, he thought it would be well to consider the advisability of ordering lamp posts, and moved—"That the Works Committee be requested to report on the number of lamp posts required, and also to select sites for their erection." Cr. Waeckerlk seconded the motion." Cr. Wagstaff said that some short time since he suggested that the Finance Committee should prepare an estimate of the probable income and works required for the ensuing year. It appeared to him that the Council was voting money recklessly. There were several contractors to pay, and as it was likely that these lamps would cost at least £10 each, perhaps the money could be better applied in repairing a broken bridge. The motion was put and carried. farr's bridge. Cr. Watkins drew the Council's attention to the state of Farr's bridge, which was being completely undermined. He said that ths water-course was blocked up. by oil cans, and other debris. NEW OFFICES. Cr. Watkins said that during the earlier part of the evening he had thrown out a suggestion to the Works Committee, but he would now propose—" That the Works Committee be empowered to at once arrange for tbe erection of offices on a site near Le Prou's forge." The Mayor ruled that as the question involved discussion, notice of motion must be given by Cr. Watkins, which was accordingly done. • VARNISHING FURNITURE. The Clerk and Cr. Waeckerle were' instructed to arrange with Mr. Billens for the varnishing of the table, &c. The Council then adjourned. LOCAL BOAKD OF HEALTH. ♦ A meeting of the above body was held on Wednesday after the close of the Borough Council. CORRESPONDENCE. From W. H. Clements, tendering for the removal of rubbish for the ensuing year for the sum of £35. From W. H. Clements, offering his services as Inspector of Nuisances for the sum of £25 per annum. The following letter was received from Dr. Buhner .— I hereby certify that I have inspected, at the special request of Mr John Hemingway, a heap of manure on the premises adjoining his (John Hemingway's) residence, and about 6 feet distance, said to be in the present occupation of Mr. Henry Pearde, medical practitioner, Akaroa. I consider that any animal excrements if exposed to the combined action of heat,

light, and moisture, will give off gaseous exhalations hurtful to the health of those persons living in close proximity to _ it, and especially so to individuals labouring under an advanced stage of chronic pneumonia. Thos. S. Bulmeb, M.D., L.S.A.L.M.R:C.S. England, Registered under Imperial & Colonial Acts. Akafoa, 22nd January* 1877-: ~ STANDING ORDERS. The Council's Standing Orders were adopted for the guidance of the Board. ALLEGED NUISANCE. The Mayor said that Mr. Hemingway had drawn his attention to an offensive smell arising from a stack of horse manure on Dr. Pearde's premises. Dr. Pearde had promised to forward a letter to the Council. Since first inspecting the heap, a great deal of it had been removed, and what remained was about to be used for gardening purposes. This was the first case reported since Dr. Pearde's appointment as Health Officer, and lie (the doctor) was the only aggressor. Mr. Watkins said that the Council should insist on the manure being removed. He experienced a most disagreeable stench from the heap, which was also felt by a great many others. He at first thought it emanated from another house in the vicinity, and he had called upon the gentleman in occupation. Although he did not suffer from the nuisance personally, he could say that the smell was of a very offensive nature. Cr. Cullen said that he was in the habit of going past Dr. Pearde's residence daily, and that he had not experienced the slightest unpleasant smell from the stack. The stable was kept perfectly clean, and he was sure that there was no liquid flow from the stack. If it was really a nuisance, he would be the first man to complain. The great secret was, the stable was an eye sore, and those moving in the matter desired its removal. Mr. Chadwick proposed, "That Dr. Pearde be written to, requesting the removal of the manure within 24 hours, or the Act would be put in force." Mr. Bruce seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr. Watkins moved, ''That Mr. Clement's offer be laid by for future consideration." INSPECTOR OF NUISANCES. Mr. Wagstaff said that as it appeared necessary that some person should be appointed to discharge the duties of inspector of nuisances, and as the Council did not require a large staff of officers, it would, in his opinion, be better to combine the offices, and make it worth one man's while to devote his attention to the Council's work. For his part he would like to see the Town Clerk appointed. As proceedings would have to be taken under the Health Act, the inspector would have to be appointed under warrant by His Worship the Mayor, and he (Mr. Wagstaff) felt certain that the inspector would have to devote a good deal of time to the office. If the Council were to engage an incompetent person, he might make himself very obnoxious. The office was an unpleasant one, and the Council should endeavour to make things work as smoothly as possible. He thought £50 per anuum would be a fair remuneration for the duties. Mr. Waeckerle said that the duties would not be very heavy, and for a reasonable remuneration the Town Clerk might combine the duties of inspector of nuisances and rate collector with his office. Mr. Cullen moved —" That applications be invited from persons willing to .discharge the duties of inspector of nuisances at a salary of £15 per annum." The motion was seconded and carried. The Board then adjourned.