AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 204, 2 July 1878, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wednesday, June 26,

Present—Crs Waeckerle, Penlington, Meeoh, Sunckell, Billens, Cullen, Bridge, and O'Reilly.. As His Worship the Mayor was absent, attending the conference in Christchurch, Cr Waeckerle was voted to the chair. The minutes of the last ordinary meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. The Clerk read the outward cerrespondence, including a letter to W. Montgomery, M.H.R.. re the unsatisfactory state of the question of the Borough reserves, and one to the Colonial Secretary, enclosing another copy of by-laws under . the Borough Seal, and calling-attention to the fact that no acknowledgment had been received of copy forwarded on the 14th May, 1877. Letters were read— From Mr Montgomery, promising to give his immediate attention to the matter of the reserves. From the C rown Lands Office, stating that instructions had been issued to prepare a Crrwn Grant for the 2000 acre reserve at Ashburton.

From the Secretary of the Postal Department, promising that the question of a letter delivery should " receive consideration." From the Town Cleik, Christchurch, requesting the Mayor to attend a meeting of the conference on the subject of Hospitals and Charitable Aid. HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID. On Mr March's letter on this subject (received at last meeting) coming up for consideration, Cr Bridge called attention to a report in the Christchurch papers to the effect that Government would continue to supply the funds for these objects month by month till some definite arrangement could be made. The Mayor had now gone to attend a conference on the subject. Under these circumstances, he would move that the consideration of the question be postponed till next meeting. Cr Meech suggested that a special meeting on the subject be held before the end of the week. Cr Bridge would be willing to embody the suggestion in his resolution. Cr Sunckell seconded the resolution. Cγ Meech had understood that the Mayor wished the Council to consider the matter, and let him know the result. He thought the delegates should go to the conference armed with the opinion of the Councils they represented. The Chairman asked if he understood Cr Meech to mean that the Mayor should have called a special meeting before he went away? Cr Meech replied in the negative. There had been no time to do so.

Or O'Reilly said that his impression was that the Mayor expected a telegram advising him of the opinion of the Council.

The Chairman was obliged to the last speaker for his information. He thought they had better come to some decision and inform His Worship of it.

Cr Penlington thought they could not do otherwise than take over these institutions. It was evident that the Mayor expected an expression of opinion from them. Cr Bridge asked leave to make a few remarks, as he had not been aware of what the Mayor expected. If they took these matters over, had they any guarantee that the County Councils would assume their shar§ of the burden? He thought the resolutions arrived at by the conference about to be held would inform the public as to the terms to be arranged between the different bodies.

Cr Penlington thought it was to their advantage to take over the Charitable Aid. As to Hospitals, they must be taken over. Cr Meech thought that if they took

over, they did so on compulsion and not voluntarily. He thought the County Councils should have made the necessary arrangements with the Government, and the Boroughs could arrange with them. They had no guarantee that Government would continue the subsidy. He had made careful enquiries and he found that the expenses oi : the Hospital would be tremendous. He would move as an amendment that the question be discussed at once.

Gr Penlington seconded the amendment.

On a division, the amendment was lost, the proposer and seconder only voting for it.

Cr Bridge's motion was then put and carried.

Cr Billens wished to propose a resolution to the effect that the Mayor be informed that the majority of the Council were opposed to taking over, but the Chairman ruled that, after the resolution just carried, such a motion could not be put. On the motion of Cr Cullen it was resolved that the foregoing resolution be telegraphed to His Worship. SURVEY OF ASIIBURTON RESERVES. A letter was read from Mr C. F. Barker, enclosing a tracing shewing the manner in which he proposed to divide the Ashburton Reserves. The answer already sent fey the Clerk was approved. LETTER DELIVERY. The Clerk was instructed to write to the Postal Department, acknowledging the Secretary's letter, and requesting the authorities not to lose sight of the matter. REPORT OF WORKS COMMITTEE. This report was then read as under :— " Your Committee met on the 25th inst., and beg to report as follows :— " 1. That the Clerk be instructed to write to Mr Rodrigues, requesting him to remove all gravel that does not bind on the footway opposite his hotel, and also that in future, when he finds it necessary to lay down gravel on the footway, he must in the first place apply to the Council.

'" 2. The Committee recommend that all rubbish, and ditch cleansings be shot into the hollow opposite Leprous forge, and that, when levelled down, all deposits must be covered with soil from the adjoining bank.

"3. The end of the bridge leading to William-street from Bruce's Terrace requires filling up with gravel to the level of the bridge, and this the Committee have directed to be done.

"4. The Committee request authority to re-grade, re-form, and gravel the lower end of Balguerie-street, between Lavaud-street and Jollie-street, a distance of about three chains, by day labor.

"5. The Committee recommend that the five new lamps previously ordered be erected in the following places, viz.:— At Farr's bridge, Meech's bridge, Beach Wall under Cr Penlington's section, end of Daly's wharf, and in Balguerie-street above St. Peter's Church.

"6. The Committee are of opinion that steps be taken to replace Farr'a bridge, and they further recommend that the new bridge be made the full width of the street.

"7. The Committee have instructed the Clerk to have all timber and material belonging to the Council removed from the Road Board section, and stacked on the section occupied by the Council.

"8. The Committee have made arrangements with Mr Stmckell to hire his horse and dray, when wanted, at 12s per day, the Council finding driver. '' W. Meech, Chairman." The clauses were then considered seriatim. On the first clause being put, some conversational discussion ensued, but the prevailing opinion elicited was that householders should not be allowed to interfere with the footpaths, unless the work were done to the satisfaction of the Council. On clause 3 being read, the Chairman said he objected to money being spent on William-street, as it was a private street. It was explained that where the work was recommended to be done was really Bruce's Terrace, not William-street. Cr Cullen thought the Council might very well put a few loads of gravel on William-street. A nuinder of ratepayers lived There. With regard to clause 5, Cγ Penlington thought the proposal premature. Winter would be over before the lamps were ready. The positions of the first four lamps were agreed to. With regard to the. fifth, Cr O'Keilly strongly supported its erection at Daly's Jetty. It was a necessity, and among other things would be a convenience for people coming across the harbor to attend church. Cr Meech supported it also. Cr Cullen thought they should consider the people who paid the rates, not outsiders or others coming to church. Cr Penlington moved as an amendment that tho lamp be placed at the junction of Balguerie and Jollie-street.

The amendment was not seconded, and the clause was agreed to.

On clause 6 being read, Cr O'Eeilly said that they had had this matter under consideration for some time. The bridge in question was the worst in the Borough. He believed they could reduce the span, and thus be enabled to increase the width.

Cr Cullen moved the adoption of the recommendation, and that Mr Fenton should be employed to furnish plans, &c.

Cγ Bridge thought the employment of Mr Fentou an unnecessary expenditure. At present every expense should be avoided.

The Chairman agreed with Cr Bridge. They had non-professional men who had built bridges, and could do so again.

Cr Penlington moved that the matter be referred back to the Works Committee to report on and give estimates as to expense. The proposition was seconded by Cr Bridge.

Cr Meech seconded Cr Cullen'a motion. He thought they ought to have professional superintendence when spending public money. It might save them from considerable loss. He thought that the abutments of the bridge should be of stone, with a wooden top. As to the suggestion that the Works Committee should superintend the work, he, for one, had not the time to spare, and should not be able to tell whether the work was being satisfactorily carried out.

On a division, Crs Bridge, Penlingtonj and the Chairman voted for the amendment, which was consequently lost. Cr Cullen's motion was then put and carried. Clauses 7 and 8 were agreed to without discussion.

PAYMENT. An account of £2 19s 6d, for day labor, was passed for payment. ADDITIONAL LAMP. Cr O'Reilly said that it would be in the recollection of the Council that the question he was about to bring forward had already come before them, viz., the erection of a lamp near Waeckerle's corner. He had then opposed it, on the ground of its being outside the Borough. He now thought it necessary for the sake of the public entering and leaving the town. The Eoad Board had agreed to bear half the expense of the lamp and its maintenance. He- would move that the Council erect the lamp on condition of the Eoad Board bearing half the expense. The Chairman said he had reason to believe that the Koad Board were still willing to carry out their share of the work. The motion was seconded by Cr Cullen, and carried unanimously. Cr Meech drew attention to section 25 of the Act, re the extension of boundaries of the Borough, and moved that the Clerk be instructed to take the necessary steps under that section to cause the requisite proclamation to be issued. Carried.

The, Council then adjourned