AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 139, 16 November 1877, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wednesday, Nov. 14

Present—His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Waeckerle, Sunckell, Cullen, Billens, Wagstaff, O'Reilly, and Meech. CORRESPONDENCE. Letters were received—■ From W. Montgomery, Esq., stating that he had seen the Colonial Secretary, and that provision would be made for completing the Hospital, Mr March, Immigration Agent in Canterbury, having been j requested in the meanwhile to furnish a report. That the Minister for Lands had been requested to comply with the request of the Council respecting Reserve No. 81, but that before deciding, the Minister required a report from Mr Marshman, Crown Lands Commissioner, after receipt of which further steps would be taken to urge the Minister to grant the reserve to the Borough Council. Also, asking for a statement of the amount deducted from the subsidy payable to the Borough, on' account of maintenance of the Hospital for the half-year ending 30th June last. The clerk stated the amount that had been deducted was £34 17s Bd. Cr Meech said he supposed the question was asked with a view to the same beimj; refunded. He would propose that Mr Montgomery be thanked for his letter, and that the information required be supplied. Seconded by Cr Waeckerle, and carried. From the Colonial Secretary to his Worship the Mayor, requesting that collections for the Indian Famine Relief Fund be paid to the public account, and that a bank receipt for the same be forwarded to him, when he would bo happy to remit the money to London free of charge, the bank there to advise their correspondents in India. The Mayor made a statement to the effect that all moneys collected, with the exception of a small sum since received, had already been forwarded to Christchurch, and read a letter from J. Ollivier, Esq., acknowledging its receipt, and speaking in most complimentary terms of the liberality displayed by the district. It was resolved that the letter be answered to that effect. From Mr H. Billens, saying that he could not supply the Council with one lamp at the same price as he charged when supplying six. He would require 5s more on each lamp for any number under three.

Proposed by Cr Wagstaff, seconded by Cr Cullen—" That the extra price, being only fair and reasonable, be given.' Carried.

From H. H. Fenton, Esq., C.E., re the office now in his occupation, stating that he would vacate as soon as required, but hoping that as long a time as possible be granted him, as he experienced great difficulty in obtaining a suitable office for himself.

Cr Cullen proposed, seconded by Cr O'Reilly— '■ That the Council take possession of the office in question on the 3rd December." Carried.

From H. Wise and Co., Dunedin, asking for the names of residents iv Akaroa alone, as shown by the municipal roll, fur the purpose of compiling the directory for 1878, and also offering a guinea, or a copy of the directory, to defray expense of copying. Proposed by Cr Sunckell, seconded by Cr Cullen —"That the clerk have leave to copy the roll for Messrs Wise and Co., and be empowered to receive the recompense advised in the letter." Carried. akaroa fire brigade. A letter was received from Mr W. . Adams, secretary to the Akaroa Fire Brigade Committee, enclosing all correspondence relating to the movement, with the names of the committee and members, stating that Mr R. Noonan had heenelecied as captain of the proposed brigade at a public meeting held for the purpose, and calling upon the Council to either ratify the appointment, or take such steps as to enable matters to be proceeded with, as the sum of £15 had been received_ from the Insurance Companies' Association, Christchurch, on the understanding that something was being done in the matter. Cr Wagstaff was of opinion that it resolved itself into a matter of finance, as the brigade evidently looked to the Council for pecuniary help, which he regretted they were not in a position to give. However, he thought that they should first shrtw the Council what support it was •likely the outside public were going to give. Cr O'Reilly understood that they were waiting for the Council to sanction their doings, and take the initiative by appointing the chief officer, before they could go on any proper footing and canvass the public for subscriptions. He proposed that the election of the people, in the person of Mr R. Noonan as inspector, be endorsed by the Council. Seconded by Cr Waeckerle, and carried. finance committee's retort. Cr Wagstaff rwad the following statement of the assets and liabilities of the Council :— ' : Assets. £ s. d. Rates to be collected ... 79 4 8 Contributions to footways, about 130 0 0 Balance of subsidy from General Government (uncertain) 150 0 0 Total £359 4 8 Liabilities. Overdraft at Bank of N.Z. 69 5 7 Office expenses for live months ... 30 0 0 Office expenses fori month 112 0 Lic:hthig to end of financial year ... ... 25 0 0 Outstanding accounts ... 20 0 0 Printing and advertising... 15 0 0 Due to' Mr. Cuff, re land adsution ... ••• 75 0 o>. Total... ... £235 17 7

Leaving a balance of £123 7s Id for all incidental works that will require doing during the balance of this financial yeai-. We have examined the books with a view to trie adoption of the recommendations of the auditors, but. find they are kept % strictly as directed by tbe printed instructions received from the General Government, any deviation from which, if a General Government Auditor were appointed, would be objected to by him. At the same time the auditors' suggestions with regard to personal accounts with contractors would be necessary if large contracts were let involving frequent progress payments. With regard to the Town Clerk's securities, he is prepared with them, but as it is a question of expense, he does not, in view of the very temporary nature of his appointment, and the small salary attached to the office, feel justified in going to the expense. Proposed by Cr Cullen, seconded by Cr Meech, that the report, as read, be adopted. PAYMENTS. On tbe motion of Cr Cullen, seconded by Cr Sunckell, the following accounts were passed for payment:— £ s. d. G. Lardncr ... ... 0 9 6 J. O'Brien 0 5 0 Town Clerk 8 6 8 Wood Bros, and Co. ... 2 15 5 E. C. Latter 6 5 0 Arbitration fee ... 5 5 0 Cr Billens stated that it was generally remarked that the present arrangement of leaving the lamps unlit for three nights before, and three nights after, the full moon did network well. He would propose —" That tbe contractor be written to, asking him, in place of the present arrangement, to leave the lamps until for five nights before and one night after, the full moon." Seconded by Cr Wagstaff, and carried.

Cr Waeckerle brought before the Council the necessity of having the large growth of Hemlock in our public thoroughfares destroyed at once, so as to prevent further accidents.

It was proposed by Cr O'Reilly, seconded by Cr Meech—" That tenders be called for clearing the streets of docks, &c. hemlock to be specially mentioned. Carried. ' The clerk, in reply to a question from Cr O'Reilly, said he had collected £22 odd on account of the contribution to the footways.

Cr Sunckell proposed, seconded by Cr Cullen —"That tenders be called for rakir.g and weeding tbe footways throughout the whole town, under the supervision of the Works Committee."—Carried.

Cr Meech asked if the auditors' report would be laid before the Council this evening. The printed account of the last meeting stated that they had audited the accounts, yet no signed report had been presented to the Council, as it was required by the Act that there should be. The Mayor said that the auditors should be communicated with on the subject.

The Council then adjourned.