Wednesday, September 19,1877.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 123, 21 September 1877, Page 2

Wednesday, September 19,1877.

Present—His Worship the Mayor; Crs Penlington, Wagstaff, Meech, Billens, Sunekellj.Cullen, O'Beilly, Waeckerle, and Annand.

■J COBBKSPONDENCE. From W. Montgomery N re new public buildings, as follows :—

" Wellington, 13th September, 1877.

" Sir, —I have the honor to state that I had another interview with Mr Bowen, at which I urged the claim of Akaioa for new public buildings. His reply was that he had given instructions to a Government officer to examine find report, and that a definite reply could hot be given until the report would be received. " I called again on the Colonial Secretary respecting the Reserves, and was informed that the 352 nd clause in the 'Municipal Corporations Act' would require alteration —the name of the 'Queen' being required to be substituted for that of the ' Governor,' and that a bill w&itld immediately bo introduced for that purpose. This and other matters affecting your Borough shall have my best attention. " I have the hon6r to be, "Sir,"Your obedient servant, " W. Montgomery. " A. Innes McGregor, Esq., " Town Clerk, , " Akaroa." % Thje Clerk was instructed to acknowledge receipt, with thanks. ~ jKrom H. H. Fenton, 0.E., forwarding plans and sections of portions of Jollie and Aylmer streets.

It was resolved that the consideration of this work being; carried out be deferred, and that Mr Fen ton be instructed not to draw up specification-for the same. • From J. Manning, in reference to the street lamps. It was resolved that the letter be remitted to the Works Committee, with power to act. From Mr Didsbury, Government printer, enclosing, as requested, copy of Gazette containing the official notification of the Town of Akaroa being proclaimed a Borough. The clerk was instructed to write thanking Mr Didsbury. From.H. H. Fenton, C.8., re Sigley and Dixon's contract. It was resolved that Messrs Sigley and Dixon's account be paid when the works were completed according to the terms of the specification, subject to the adjustment of extras by the Engineer. PAYMENTS. The following accounts were passed for payment: — J. Daly £0 8 0 E. Funnell 0 18 0 E. Staples 0 11 0 Cr Wagstaff wished to draw the attention of the Council to a letter, which had appeared in the last issue of the Akaroa Mail, relating to himself. This letter had arisen out of his action in regard to the doorsteps and, other obstructions. His i place was therein, by inference, stigmatised as pestilential. In order to take the onus off the Inspector of Nuisances, he would ask the Sanitary Committee to inspect his premises and report thereon. He was of opinion that Councillors should be above suspicion, and so, as this charge had been made against his premises, he courted the fullest investigation at the hands of the Sanitary Committee.

The Inspector of Nuisances reported that he had looked round and examined Mr Wagstaff's premises, had found them cleanlj', and free from any smell. He had also made every enquiry from the neighbours, who had no complaint whatever to make. Mr Wagstaff had pigs, but they were the cleanest he had ever seen, and there was no foul matter running from the styes, which were slightly within the prescribed distance from a dwelling-house. After some discussion it was settled that the member* of the Sanitary Committee should make an examination and report. Cr Meegh drew attention to a dangerous hole in Aylmer street. He would like to see a few pounds spent there. People complained very much about it. It was resolved that the Works Committee get this hole, and a culvert on the same road, repaired at once. The Mayor stated that the amount to the credit of the Council was £14613s 10d. With regard to the Council's reimbursement, in the matter of the footpaths, Cr Waqstaff suggested that the whole cost of the footways be divided by the number of chains, and an equal amount collected from all interested. He proposed this because he thought it a fairer method of charging, as at the French end of the , town the work had cost more than at the other end. Cr Penlington did not agree with the suggestion. The work" at the end mentioned had cost more because of so much filling in. He was of opinion that the original arrangement, that people interested should pay half the cost of the footway opposite their properties, should be adhered to. Cr Meech said that they had put stuff on at his end of the town, which had injured people's property in some cases, and yet they charged more. The clerk was instructed to make a memorandum re the putting in force of a resolution, already passed, with regard to the collecting of the reimbursement of footpaths included in the first contract. In reply to Cr Meech, the Mayor stated the cash so collected was reckoned among the Council's assets.

In reply to Cr Meech, the Mayor said that the Act provided that the charge could be made against Burgesses, whether they had asked for the work to be done or not.

The Council then adjourned