AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 199, 14 June 1878, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Jumk 12. The ordinary meeting "of the Council was held at tho Council. Offices on the above date. Present—His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Crs Pen.Mngton, Arinand, Billens, Sunckell, ivloech, Bridge, Cullen, and O'Reilly. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. . The Clerk read the outward correspondence, .including a letter to the Secretary of Crown Lands, asking that Crown Grants may bo issued for reserves, also instructions to Messrs Fenlingtosi, and Bridge and WJggir.3, to removo cattle, &c, from reserve No. 1901. Letters were read— From the .UelJiTung Officer announcing the result of the poll on the question of the loan. From the Citj r and BorougT. Councils of I We]Ji?igl;on, Timuru, a)id- B! ?nheim, ercJcsitig copie.-; of their accounts,,' J .From the Thames Borough Council, re I proposed Municipal .League. i O'li the motion of Cr Meech, seconded by Cr Bridge, it waa resolved—*' That the Council approve of the steps taken by the Thames Council, but cannot, in the present state or their funds join the Loagae." From the Under Secretary, -Wellington (telegram), stating , that the Government had no objection to the Council taking, s-hingie from the fore-shore, .provided that no injury be done either to the harbpv or private property. From Mr Montgomery (telegram) re the reserves, stating that the matter would be brought before the Waste Lands Board and that the Council had no need to fear the result. It appeared that the Picservesnot having boon granted, some one had applied to purchase one of them, the Mayor had telegraphed to Mr Montgomery on the subject and the above telegram was in answer. The poundkeeper's monthly report was then read, shewing receipts amounting to 7s Gd. Cr O'Reilly thought it would be better to let the pound for what it would fetch, rather than be sustaining a loss on it. It was stated that the present poundkeeper's term expired at the end of this month.

From the Colonial Secretary, asking, on behalf of the Secretary of State, hrw much had been collected in Akaroa on behalf of the Indian Famine Relief Fund.

The Clerk was instructed to furnish the information required.

From J. E. March, Esq., Immigration Officer, asking permission to take a drain from the Hospital to the sea beach.

It was explained that this matter had been considered some time previously, and all the necessary legal steps taken. Permission was accordingly granted.

From the same, stating that from July Ist next the administration of Charitable Aid would be handed over to the Council, and enclosing schedule of cases at present receiving relief amounting to 35s per week. SLAUGHTERING LICENSE. An application for a renewal of a license of this description was received from Mr Gγ. A. Oborn. License granted. FINANCE COMMITTEE'S EEPORT. This report was then read. The fir»t part, recommending the payment of an account due to the Surveyor, which had been outstanding for some time, on the motion of Cr Cuilen, seconded by Cr O'Reilly, was adopted. On the second part being considered, namely the estimated receipts and expenditure for the present year— Cr O'Reilly said he had no objections to make to the Finance Committee. The Chairman, Cr Penlington, had said that he had been very liberal; no doubt he was, but he would point out that no provision had been made for Charitable Aid, and that the amount set down for the Hospital was insufficient. Instead of £100, he thought it would cost £200. He had great doubts as to the payment of the subsidy of £ for £. In support of this view, he referred to an article in the Press. Then as to the item £IGO for two bridges,-he thought they would not have much left out of that sum by the time they had built one. He considered £50 for day labor quite insufficient ; it only provided for about two days a week. As to the lamps and their maintenance, at the proper time he would call attention to them.

Cr .Meech considered they could not put up two bridges for £160. They had not provided sufficiently for printing and advertising. Printing the by-laws alone would cost more than £60.

Cr Bridge thought the provision for day labor was outside the mark. As to the printing, they had gone carefully into the matter, and allowed for more than was spent last year. They had allowed £100 to be expended on the reserves ; this was an error on the right side. With regard to the bridges, he was not skilled himself in the value of such work, but he had got opinions from practical men that the amount set down wa3 more than sufficient. :

Cr Penlington stated that as regarded Charitable Aid, the gross cost came to about £90. He read a letter from the Government to the Christchurch Council bearing on the subject. The Borough would have to contribute pro rata according to population. If the expenses of the Hospital were £600, their contribution would be only about one-sixth; this would cost them about £50, Government binding themselves to give £ for £, without deduction from subsidy. Charitable Aid would cost about £45. The total, therefore, wouldi not exceed £100, the amount placed on the Estimates.

Cr Meech would like to know how it was that they only received £7 10s last year as subsidy.

Cr Penlington said last year they were charged with contributions in support of the Christchurch Hospital, the Counties Act not being in operation. The day labor last year cost £47, and he thought ample margin had been allowed; for instance, they had allowed £35 for cur veys. » :

Cr Ivliiiicii thought last year's comparison of day labor was not applicable. They tlieh had a number of contracts let.

Cγ O'Reilly quoted . from a report oc the Sydenham Borough Council, in which they had asked Co'insePs opinion as to whether tha Financial Arrangements Act, 1877, did not repeal clause 13 of the Financial Arrangements Act, 1876, so far as regards deductions from subsidies. Cr Cullen considered that the sum set down for bridges was sufficient. Cr Annand moved the adoption of the report, seconded by Cr Cullen, and carried. i In the third part of tho report it was recommended that, the fee for slaughtering licenses be fixed at £2 10s. It was resolved that this matter stand over, as a special meeting , would have to be held to pass a by-law authorising this fee. PAYMENTS. The following accounts passed for payment:— £ s. d. Court expenses ... 015 6 Surveys 1G 7 10 Clerk's salary ... 8 6 8 Repairs Fair's bridge 010 0 Town Hull 1 10 0 Printing 12 8 3 Auditors'fees ... 6 G 0 Lighting ... ... 11 10 0 Total £57 14 3 Tendebs. ?OlU3if\N OF WORKS. G. Austin, 7s per day. A. Mitchell, 7s per day. • . H. Ediuuiidson, 8s per day. — Bunus. 7h 6d ncr day, W. Maltby, 8s pei day. The tender of A. Mitchell was accepted by a majority of 6 to 3. SURVEY 01? BKSEttVJSS. Thornton and Bull, £50. Fobks and Son, £28. Ward and Pavitt, 9d per acre—£7s. ' ■ J. Webster, 10d per acre—£B3 6s Bd. •.' C. F. Barker, £25 ; for surveying and lotting, 10 per cent on first year's income, T. b. Triphook, Is per acre—£loo. W. D. Wilkin, 9.d per acre—£7s ; in 125----acre blocks, lid per acre —£91 13s 4d.

The tender o£ C. F. Barker £25 was accepted.

Cr O'Reilly proposed that five lamps be ordered at once, lie understood the posts v, r ere already ordered. Steps should be immediately taken to erect them, or some serious accident might happen at any time. He thought they should be procured of the same description and cost as those at present iv use.

This was seconded by Cr Cullen, and carried.

Cr Penlington moved that the lamp at present standing just below his residence, should be shifted to the corner opposite Leprous forge. Seconded by Cr Cuilen. Cr O'Reilly was opposed to shifting lamps about. He thought it would be better to fill in the corner referred to. This could be done for £7 or £8.

Cr Meech agreed with this. The motion was then put and carried by 5 to 3.

Cr Bridge drew attention to the question of the by-laws. He' asked whether any acknowledgment of their receipt by the Government had been notified.

The Clerk replied in the negative. Cr Bridge considered that the matter should be seen to at once. Some acknowledgment ought to ibe forced from the Government. He wocld move that the Colonial Secretary be communicated with again. This was ordered to be done. Cr Bridge moved that accounts for the half cost of footpaths be sent oat at once. Seconded by Cr Cuilen, and carried, Cr Annand dissenting. Cr O'Reilly proposed that the Clerk be instructed to write to the Colonial Architect re the new Court House buildings. Seconded by Cr Meech, and carried. WANT OF CONFIDENCE MOTION. On this notice of motion being read, Cr Meech, after a few prefatory remarks chiefly devoted to what he intended as a scathing denunciation of the iniquities of the Akaroa Mail, which journal he accused of being the direct cause of the dissension that had arisen in the Borough, asked leave to withdraw the motion. • • Leave was granted, and the motion accordingly discharged. The Council then adjourned.