AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 182, 16 April 1878, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

_ IJ. Adjourn ud Meeting.

Thursday. April 11

Present—His Worship the Mayor, Crs Annand, Waeckerle, Culler), O'Reilly, Meech, Penlington, and Billens. The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, the followingbusiness was proceeded with : — COEUESPONDENCE. From the Poundkeeper, enclosing report for the month of March, shewing receipts for pound fees amounting to 14s. Cr Waeckerle asked if the Clerk had examined the Poundkeeper'sbook, and, on being answered in the negative, said that he thought the Council should instruct the Cierk to do so. He was of opinion that the Poundkeeper's appointment was illegal inasmuch as the Act required that all

officers of the Council receiving moneys should give security, which in this case had not been done. He made these remarks neither from any ill feeling toward the Poundkeeper, nor from any dissatisfaction with the way in -which his duties were performed, but merely for the security of the Council. When making his report, the pound book should be produced. .. '*.'••, Cr O'Reilly thought that,,.when the present officer's term was up, the Council should invite tenders and let the pound by the year. They were losing money by the present system. The salary was more than the total amount of the fee 3 collected. It was finally agreed that the Poundkeeper be instructed to produce his book for examination by the auditors, when they were going through the other accounts. . From the Chief Surveyor, Christchurch, asking for a tracing showing the boundaries of the district as incorporated in the Borough.' The Clerk was instructed t<*> supply an enlarged tracing as requested. From the Registrar-General, applyiug for a return of tlie area, population, number of dwellings, number of ratepayers, amount of rates levied, with the annual value of all rateable property within the Borough, in terms of sec. 2 of the Rating Act, 1876. From W. Montgomery, Esq., enclosing a telegram from the Colonial Architect's Office, which had been received in reply to a letter to the Minister for Public Works, a copy ot which, together with the telegram is published below :— " Christchurch, 25th March, 1878. *' Sir, —I have the honor to remind you that the sum of £750 was voted last session for the erection of a Court-house at Akaroa, and that nothing appears to have been done towards the commencement of the building. '■The room in which justice is at present administered is so small that there is little or no space for the public, and altogether the accommodation is so insufficient as to be anything but creditable. " Requesting you will kindly give the matter early consideration, " I have the honor to be, Sir, "Your obedient servant, " W. Montgomery. " The Honorable the Minister of Public Works, Wellington." [Telegram.] " Government Buildings, " Wellington, April 10. " Re new Court-house for Akaroa, plans are in preparation, and tenders will be invited when they are ready. " W. A. Gardner, " For Colonial Architect. " W. Montgomery, Esq.. M.H.R., Christchurch." The clerk was intructed to acknowledge the letter and to express the Council's thanks for the interest taken in the matter by Mr Montgomery.

From Mr J. Daly, applying for the necessary license as required by the Act for tbe Akaroa Town Hall. From Mr J. D. Garwood, making a similar application for the Oddfellows' Hall in Jollie Street. Cr Meech moved, seconded by Cr Annand, that the letters be referred back to the writers for a full description of the purposes for which the buildings would be required. From the Treasury, informing the Council that a sum of £10 15s 6d had been placed to their credit at the Bank of New Zealand Akaroa, being the amount of Borough contributions toward the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions of the district for the half-year ending 30th June, 1877, deducted in excess. .From the Town Clerk, Christchurch, enclosing the following resolutions passed by the conference, held on the 21st uit., re the maintenance of Hospital, and Charitable Institutions; 1. That in the opinion of this conference the proposals made by the Government for the management of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions are not calculated to place the managementof these institutions on a fair and satisfactory footing. 2. That in the opinion of this conference, the proper management and support of Hospitals and Charitable Institutions and of charitable aid would be best provided for by districts being defined* comprising counties or groups of counties'; with"contiguous or included nnihtcipalities,'-which 0 are likely to avail themselves of the same Charitable Institutions.' ' '■■•"■'•■•■• y-, . That within such districts public Charit--able Institutions should.'be "'administered and Charitable Aid distributed by a Board representing the Government and Municipal bodies and County Councils included therein. ~■; That such portion of the cost of these Institutions, and of Charitable Aid as is required to be provided by local bodies, should be contributed by the several Municipalities and -Counties interested in proportion to their population. - 3. No endowments having yet been made in Canterbury for Hospitals and Charitable Ajd, the Government be now urged to make suitable endowment in Canterbnry'for Hospital puposes. On the motion of Cr O'Reilly, seconded by Cr Billens, the above resolutions were adopted. A circular from the Treasury, being a copy of section 32 of the Financial Arrangements Act, by which an account was required to be sent in on or before the Ist of May, of the total amount of r-ites collected during the year ending 31st March.

From J. Daly, asking if the Council would supply the pipes, himself finding the labour, for the drain opposite his old store, as the present wooden covering was breaking through. It was resolved that the matter be referred to the Works Committee, with power to supply the pipes at once, if it should be deemed necessary. From C. Cuff, Surveyor, requesting a settlement of his account, £75, and threatening legal proceedings in default of immediate payment. Cr Annand moved, seconded by Cr Waeckerle, that the account be passed, and referred to the Finance Committee that some arrangement might' be' made with the Bank for its payment. PAYMENTS. The following accounts were passed for payment, and also referred to the Finance Committee for arrangement with the bank:— 11. Billens ... ... £015 11 Poundkeeper 3 15 0 Town Clerk 16 13 4 Printing 18 16 6

APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR. Cr Meech proposed,; seconded by Cr Penlington—" That Mr Alfred Wiggins be appointed Auditor to the Council in the room of Mr J. Daly." Carried. -. The Mayob informed tho Council that Mr M'Gregor had received a letter from the Premier's Private Secretary, to the effect that the Borough Bye-laws were now under the consideration of the law officers of the Crown, and they might therefore expect to be soon in a position to bring them into force. The Council then adjourned.