AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 132, 23 October 1877, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Saturday, October 20.,

Present:—His Worship the Mayor, Crs Meech, Cullen, SunckeH,. Billens, Penlington, and Annand. . . CORRESPONDENCE. \, ' ' The Mayor stated that, having received a telegram from the Mayor of Christcliurch, requesting his assistance and cooperation in collecting subscriptions towards the: Indian Famine Relief Fund, he had called a public meeting, and steps had been initiated for that purpose. He would be glad if the ■■Council would express an opinion with regard to his action in the matter.

Cr Meech moved, and Or Penliugton seconded, ' "That , thei Council' cordially approve of the action of the Mayor.', The motion was carried unanimously.

A circular was received from the Chief Postmaster, Christehurch re New Zealand Postal Guide., The - Council ._were v ..-of opinion that it was.,notj needed. /', From the Collector of Customs, Christchurch, advising- the , Council that two hotel licenses had been; received,- andjpaid iri to theiricredit. . -■ .■ ' : - , , '

. From J. Vangioni, asking permissipn. to build an addition to his house. Permission was granted. '■'■ From the Crown Lands Office, Wellington, through Mr Montgomery, re Reserves, stating that the Hon* Mr Reid thought there would be no." olgsetion to the-, Reserves h.eihg vested in .the Council when, it could be legally done; btat that section' 83 (Magaziiie Reserve)' wouldbeexempted, as likely to be required for the G-icwerh-ment .Buildings., Moved by Cr Meech, seconded by Cr Annand, that the letter be received.

From R. M. Taylor, drawing attention to the state of the 'ditch' in Balguerie-street, as likely to become a serious nuisance, and stating that the ratepayers on, both, sides of the street would be willing that the work should be. done on the same terms as the work elsewhere had been done. Moved by Cr Penlington, seconded by Cr Meech, that the letter be acknowledged, and that Mr Taylor be informed that the Council would give the matter their early attention. From the Town Clerk, Lyttelton, inviting the Mayor and Councillors to the opening of the Lyttelton Waterworks, on Wednesday, 24th instant. The Clerk, was instructed to acknowledge the courtesy. SIGLEY AND DIXON V. COUNCIL. His Worship the Mayok then read the following award of the.arbitrators ( in this case :'■—'• ' ' ' """ We,''th6 undersigned, arbitrators between Messrs. Sigley and Dixon, contractors, and the Akaroa Borough Council, after duly considering the evidence brought before us on Thursday, October 18, 1877, find that there is now due to the said contractors by the said Borough Council, the sum of £121 155., in full satisfaction of all demands, i.e. Sigley and Dixon's account for forming footpaths, main road, Akaroa, and extra £ s. d. charges ~. ... ... 216 15 0 Less allowance towards re-gravelling and renailing , ...... £20 Towards expenses of arbitration ... ... £5 25 0 0 191 15 0 Less cash received on acct. 70 0 0 £121 15 0

Costs of arbitration to be paid: by Borough Council. '~.... •■■'•' This is our awards :' . .. ■' •■' • ./■ s ; James Balgiish, v ;; ;' / E. C. Latjtes. , ' Fees— £6 ss. ,■ :'''" " : >■'■■'■-' ■ ■'. A : karoai, 19th October, 1877. '1.-.- PAYMENTS. ■■'■'""'. . . ' Sigley and Dixon*s account.for £22 Bs.» for (ielay incurred by arbitration; &c, was submitted to the Council. It was proposed by Cr Billens, seconded by Cr Cullen, that the account be not entertained. The following accounts were passed for payment: — ...... . £ s. d. '■ ■•■■/' Sigley and Dixon ... 121 15 0 Engineer ... ... 10 10 0 H. Billens ... ... 1 8 10 J. Anderson ... 5 17" 0 — Lake ... ... 118 6 Printing ... ... 214 3 £144 3 7 The Mayor stated that, in reference to the Inspector of Nuisance's complaint of the Government and Police closets, the Government had been communicated with by the respective officers,, with a view to a satisfactory alteration. •

Cγ Penlington informed the Council that the School Committee had submitted a scheme, for the improvement of the school closets to the Inspector of Nuisances, who had agreed with the plan, and that-the alteration would therefore be made at once.

The Clerk said, that with regard to the same complaint, against the Immigration Barracks: the Government had also in this case been communicated with.

The Mayor wished to draw the attention of the Counf.il to a petition that had been forwarded by the Maoris to Government, requesting.the grant of half an acre of .Reserve, and a house, in the town, on the plea that they had nowhere to rest in when brought into:Akaroa by Court cases,,&c, and that they did not like going to the hotels, as the proprietors were uncivil to them. He would further state that they also requested permission from the Council to turn their horses out on the Reserves.

The ClerK stated that the petition, which was numerously signed, had been got up by Tarnate Tikai and. the Rev. Mr Stack. That it had been sent to Wellington, to the Native Minister, who had referred it to Colonel Mould, the head of the constabulary, who had again returned it to the police here for information as to the dimensions of the Reserves,

Cr Meech proposed, seconded by Cr Sunckell, that Mr Montgomery be telegraphed to as follows: "It is the opinion of this Council, that the representation of the Maoris, contained in their application to the Government for a Reserve or any portion of land in the Borough of Akaroa, is quite unfounded, and this Council object to parting with any portion of land in the Borough for such a purpose. Their present Kainga is within fifteen minutes ride of the town, and along a.good road."

Moved by Councillor Annand, seconded by Cr Billens, that a special meeting of the Council be held on Wednesday next, to make a special order"to receiver the half Cost of footways. - -.

Cr Meech drew the attention of the Council to the fact t'iat two of the telegraph poles were right in the centre of the footway.

The Clerk was instructed to represent the matter to the General Manager of Telegraphs, with a view to their removal. . Cr BiLLENS informed the- Council of a dangerous hollow it the road near Mrs Kearneys. ,

Moved by Cr Penhngtnn, seconded by Cr Billens, that the Works Committee have power to get the same repaired at once.

Cr MeeGH tabled a notice of motion for an additional lamp to be erected 0:1 the seawall at the most serviceable point between Cr Penlington's and the Mail office.

. Cr Meech was deputed to see that the 1 o'es dug b} 7 the contractors, Sigley and Dixon, in connection with the arbitration ease,.were , properly filled in. Cr Penllnoton asked if the' Council would undertake, to form a track round the Cemetery point, for the benefit of dadies and children who might' wish to bathe ; there was no proper track, and the way over the rocks was very, rough, and. to a certain-extent dangerous. It was outside the C6uJQcil's boundary, but he thought !ifc would Be well tor them to take some action in the matter.

The' Council decided it was properly the work-,of, the Road Board, and instructed the .Clerk accordingly to write to that B,Qard on the subject.

The Inspector of Nuisances stated he had grave cause of complaint against certain persons for bathing in the creeks, but that it was impossible to get up a case, as people would not assist him by witnessing. He would ask if the Council would allow him a sum of money to defray any'expense incurred in obtaining a Witness.

Cr Meech thought it would be better to advertise a caution to the public first, as some might not be aware of the illegality of the act. He would propose that a notice be inserted once in the Akakoa Mail warning the public that if found bathing in the creeks, they would be prosecuted. The motion was seconded by Cr Cullen, and carried. Cr Meech said he had expected to see the financial statement laid before the Council at this meeting. ■ > The Clerk replied, that the accounts were in the hands of the auditors. The following was a rough estimate : — : £ ■■-a. d. Outstanding rates ... ... 103 0 0 In the Bank ... : ... ~.. 124 4 8 Reimbursement due on Ist contract for footpaths .... 77 0 0 The Council then adjourned.