AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 118, 4 September 1877, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wednesday, August 29,1877. Present:—His Worship the Mayor, Crs Watkins, Cullea, Bruce, Annand, Wagstaff, Chadwick, and Penlington. CORRESPONDENCE. From Town Clerk, Christchurch, re street channels. Moved by Cr Annand, seconded by Cr j Watkins, that a letter be written thanking I Mr Haskins for the information. From Town Clerk, Kaiapoi, re lighting, &c, of street lamps. Proposed by Cr Wagstaff, seconded by Cr Chadwick, that the letter be acknowedged Avith thanks. Telegram receiA-ed froni Mr Montgomery, stating that the resolution of the Council Avith regard to the site for public buildings should receive his attention, and that he would write further after interA'ieAving the minister. From Mr Anderson, Christchurch Foundry, informing Council of the shipment of gratings per s. s. Taranaki. From Mr Latter, advising shipment of timber. From J. Daly, requesting that the removal of his fence be postponed until next planting season. Proposed by Cr Annand, seconded by Cr Cullen, that the request be granted. From Colonial 'Secretary; re assessment. j From Colonial ' Secretary, requesting I that in future election's of Mayors information be furnished as to their profession, occupation, trade, &c. From W. Adams, Hon. Sec. Fire Brigade Committee, re election of superinI tendent and officers at the late meeting |in the Town Hall, stating that the action taken Avas due to ignorance, and asking permission to read the Act on the subject. Permission was granted. Mr Adams subsequently Avaited on the Council, and having referred to that part of the Act referring to the matter, thanked the Council for their courtesy, and AvithdreAV, From J. Beecher, asking that reserve 86, opposite Bruce's Hotel, be -granted on the sth and 6th of September next, for Barlow's Circus. Proposed by Cr Cullen, seconded by Cr Chadwick, that -the leave be granted, on the condition that the ground is left in the same state as it is at present. From J. S. Annand, stating his intention of building a verandah in front of his ■ house fronting on Beach road. Moved by Cr Penlington, and seconded by Cr Watkins, that Mr. Annand " had better do it." The following accounts were passed for payment: — Letterbox ... ... £0 10 0 11. G. Watkins ... 0 12 6 Freight 0 5 8 J. Curtis 4 18 0 E. Leprou 0 16 0 T.Allan ... . ... 0 7 0 TENDERS. 11. Edmundson's tender of £7 Avas accepted for Avidening the Cemetery road, &c. For filling up road from H. G. Watkins' to J. S. Annand's, J. Vangi.oni's tender of £10 Avas accepted. For lighting, kerosene, Avicks, glasses, cleaning, &c.,"of street lamps, J. L. Manning's tender of £38 was accepted. insurance. If was proposed by Cr Wagstaff, seconded byCr Annand, that the insurance be effected on the office furniture, map, safe, &c, for the sum of £200. dangerous places and obstructions. Cr Wagstaff drew the attention of the Council to a dangerous hole at the foot of Balguerie-street, near Mr Citron's shop. Also, to obstructions on the footpaths, caused by a box under Cr Watkins' A'erandah, the stone steps in front of Messrs. Wood Bros: and Co.'s store, and Mr Beecher's Hotel. He begged to explain that he did not bring this forward on personal grounds, but as a representative of the public, the matter having been very strongly brought under his notice during the last week by some visitors to Akaroa, who were staying at his place, and who had received some rather severe falls in the dark through the same obstructions. Cr Chadwick said he had very often fallen over Beecher's step. It was very much in his Avay at times. Cr Penlington suggested that Mr Beeeher's cellar flap Avas also an obstruc-

tion, and one that could easily be lowered to the level of the rest of the footpath, but he thought that the steps had better be,left alone for the present,as there was considerable trouble included in the matter of their removal. He thought they had better leavo them as a legacy, to be dealt with by the nest Council. Cr Wagstaff! moved, and Cr Chadwick seconded, that notice be served on alt persons having obstructions on the footpaths to remove the same. The motion was carried ; Cr Bruce dissenting. The Clerk was instructed to write to Mr Billings, requesting him to carry out tho removal of his fence within fourteen days, or the Council would do the work at his expense. Cr Penlington drew attention to the channel-wells being left open. The Clerk explained that the contractor had been ill. The Clerk was instructed to write to tho Contractor, requesting lum to proceed with the work forthwith. Cr Cullen asked why the work already passed in the Council to be done in Jolliestreet had neither been tendered for nor proceeded with. The Clerk explained that the tenders were not invited because he had not received the specification. • The Mayor drew Cr Cullen's attention to the state of their finances. Cr Cullen said if the work was not to be done, it was a waste of money employing Mr Fenton. Cr Watkins said the . work had been passed to be done. If the Works Committee had afterwards brought forward any propositions on the matter, they could have been considered. They had not done so, however, and, though the work had been passed, nothing had been done in the matter. Cr Cullen moved, and Cr Watkinsjsoponded that Mr Fcnton's attention be drawn to the preparation of specification for the work in Jollie-street. Cr Watkins brought under the notice of the Council the unsafe state of the bridge near Mr Higgins, blacksmith, also to tho emptying of slops, &c, in the streets. Or Cullen moved that the Finance Committee report on the Clerk's securities at the next meeting of the Council. Cr Watkins.drew attention to tho unsteady condition of the lamps. They required some protection, or there would be constant breakages. They wanted strengthening by wire strays or something. After some discussion, it was' resolved that alter-. ations should be made after due trial. Considerable discussion then arose on the question of the resignation of Councillors. The legal opinions of Messrs. Cowlishaw, H. Nalder, and Dr. Foster were read. Cr Watkins maintained that they had no right to resign, having been elected under the 1367 Act. Ci Wagstaff was not only of opinion that they should resign by the terms of the Act of 1.876, but thought that they should do so, as there was a feeling existing among the residents of the French end of the town that their locality was not properly represented, and that now an opportunity : would be afforded them of electing Councillors who should represent their interest in the Council. He begged to move that tho whole of the Councillors resign in accordance with the 67th clause of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876. Cr Penlington seconded the motion, which was carried, Cr Watkins being the only dissentient. Subsequently, by permission of the Council, Cr Watkins withdrew his bjeetiou. The Council then adjourned till the 12th September, at the usual hour.