AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 219, 23 August 1878, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wednesday, Aug. 21,

Present —His Worship the Mayor, Crs Waeckerle, Annand, Sunckell. Billens, Cullen, Bridge, Meech, and O'Reilly. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from Mr E. Leprou, stating that he was at a loss to understand the Council's letter with reference" to the ironwork on certain lamps misfitting. The last supply of lamps had been taken over and paid for, so that the transaction was closed. If the Council now desired any alteration he was willing to do it at his usual price. Cr O'Reilly explained that he had, in company with other councillors, examined these lamps, and found they were not as good as the last..supply.; they did not fit as the ironwork should do. Cr Billens said it was simply a question of law whether they could force Leprou to do the work afterpayment had been made. Cr Annand thought the matter should be referred to the Works Committee ; it was the first ho had heard of it. Cr Meech explained that the order for these lamps had been given by the late Clerk. The understanding was that the work should be done to the satisfaction of the Council, and if this was not the case, the fact of immediate payment having been made did not make any difference. The blacksmith should be made to do the work properly. Cr Annand thought that in future it would be better to have someone to pass all work done for the Council Cr Bridge agreed with Cr Billens; it was simply a question of law as to whether they could now force the work being done. If they went to law he was of opinion it was even betting if they would win the case. If the matter was of sufficient importance, better get legal advice, or leave the matter alone. Cr O'Reilly did not think they should go to law, but the question arose, if Leprou would not alter the lamps how were they to be made fit by the 28th for the new contractor. Cr Meech moved that the Clerk be instructed to write to Mr Leprou, requesting him to do the work, intimating that should he refuse to do so the Council would not employ him again. Cr Billens seconded the motion. Cr Annand moved as an amendment, seconded by Cr.Bridge—" That the matter be left in the hands of the Works Committee, with power to get the necessary work done in the best way possible. . The amendment, was carried, Crs Billens, Meech, and Waeckerle dissenting. On the motion of Cr Meech, seconded by Cr Bridge, it was resolved that the Clerk write to Mr Leprou, expressing their disapproval of the manner in which the work had been carried out. printing by-laws. A letter was also, read from the proprietors of the Akaroa Mail, drawing the attention of the Council to an agreement which had been made with Mr Ivess, by which the whole of the printing of the Borough by-laws was to be undertaken by the Mail at a certain price, and enclosing a letter from Mr Ivess substantiating the statement; but offering, on account of tho state of the Borough funds, to do tho work in terms of the Council's letter at 20 per cent, less than the sum agreed upon with Mr Ivess, namely, at two shillings per inch. Also, offering to print the same in pamphlet form at £o or £10 according'to description of page roquiicd. Au offer was also received from the Press Company, Christchurch. to do the same work at two shillings and sixpence an inch, and i"3 respectively. Cr Bridge said if it was really the case that an agreement had . been made by a former Council with Mr Ivess for the publishing- of the by-laws, they certainly should cairy it out. He would propose that Messrs Bridge and Wiggins be written to, accepting .their oiler, and acknowledging their liberal allowance of 20 per cent. Cr Annuid seconded the motion, and stated that he distinctly reuieuibored die existence of an agreement such as was alleged to have been made. He thought it was only justice that the Mail should have the work.

Cr O'Reilly said that as mover of the resolution that the work should be tendered for he wished to shew the Council that no such agreement existed in the books of the Council. He had no wish to deprive the Akaroa Mail of the work, but would prove that there was no contract. Cr O'Reilly then'referred to the minutes of a By-law Committee meeting of the 12th April, ,1877, and read a minute to the effect that the agreement with Mr Ivess was for one insertion only. Cr O'Reilly then proceeded to read a private communication purporting to have come from the Press Company. Cr Annand objected to private correspondence being brought before the Council. Cr O'Reilly was understood to say that there was something suspicious about the receipt of the letter from the Press Company which had .been read to the Council, but refused to state his meaning or his reasons. He then moved, as an amendment, that the consideration of the offers received be deferred to the next meeting. Cr Sunckell seconded the motion, he did not see that the Akaroa Mail should have the support of the Council when no agreement existed. . Cr Cullen said he was able to recall now that something certainly was understood about Mr Ivess having the second printing of the by-laws. At any rate, even if the Akaroa Mail wanted £10, £15, or even £20 more then others, they ought to have the work given them, it was right to keep the money in the place, and encourage local trade. Cr Waeckerle said he was on the Committee that made terms with Mr Ivess, whose charge at first was thought too much, but which was reduced on account of the second printing being included. Cr Billens thought it would look very odd if they took the wo'*k out of the Borough. Cr Meech had listened to the older members of the Council, and was in favor of economy, and A»f keeping the work in the place. Would be glad to see the Mail get it even if their terms were higher than others as long as, of course, they were not exorbitant ; but if no agreement existed the Council were not bound in any ! way. The Mayor said, if Cr O'Reilly objected to the letter from the Press Company and had any suspicion ot there being anything wrong about it, he should speak out. Cr O'Reilly refusing to do this, the letter was ordered to be considered as read, and the amendment by Cr O'Reilly was then put and lost, only the mover and seconder voting for it. Cr Bridge's motion, that the offer of the propritors of the Akaroa Mail of two shillings per inch for publishing by-laws, and five pounds for pamphlet printing be accepted, was then put and carried. ASHBURTON RESERVES. . Plans of the subdivision of the above, with account were received from Mr C. P. Barker, Christchurch. CLERICAL ASSISTANCE. Mr W. Sims wrote in reply to the effect that he trusted the Council would reconsider his account for clerical assistance. On the motion of Cr Annand, seconded by Cr Sunckell, it was decided to adhere to the former resolution, and that Mr Sims be informed to that effect. INSPECTOR OP SLAUGHTER-HOUSES. A letter was received from the Superintendent of Police, Christchurch, informing the Council that the Sergeant of Police would be instructed to accept the above appointment. On tbe motion of Cr Waeckerle, seconded by Cr Billens, the Clerk was instructed to write to the Colonial Secretary, requesting him to ratify the appointment. REGISTRAR OF DOGS. A request was received from the Chairman of the County Council that the Council would allow their Clerk to be appointed Registrar of dogs for the County. \ It was decided that the Council have ; no objection to the Clerk's accepting the appointment. ' poundkeeper's report. The above report for the month of July was read, showing receipts amounting to £1 13s 6d. CHARITABLE AID. A letter was read from the Rev. P. C. Anderson, drawing the Council's attention to the necessity of relieving two cases receiving charitable aid, the usual weekly sum not having been received by them for over a month. The Mayor said that the Council had not received any money from the Government as yet for charitable aid purposes. Cr O'Reilly thought it very strange that other Boroughs had received money for the purpose and they had not. He thought tho authorities should be communicated with as it was hard on the Borough. Cr Bridge was of opinion they should pay this money, as agreed upon, but write and ask the Government to reimburse them. Cr Waeckerle. said the matter was at present before the Assembly ; when it was settled, no doubt the money would be forthcoming. Cr Bridge moved, seconded by Cr Cullen, that the money be paid to the two recipients per week up to date. Carried. Cr Cullen proposed that the Colonial Secretary be written to, asking him to place a sum of money to the credit of the Council as a charitable aid fund. Seconded by Cr Meech, and carried. COMMITTEE'S REPORT. Gr Waeckerle reported that they had finished their work with regard to the bylaws. The Mayor thanked the Committee on' behalf of the Council for the trouble taken in accomplishing the same. PAYMENTS. W. Mitchell, 10* days' labor ... £3 13 6 J.Brown l" „ ...070 a IT. Barker, survey, &c. ...25 0 0 Printing ... 5 16 0 On the motion of Cr Bridge, seconded by Cr Billens, the above accounts were passed for payment. In reply to Cr Meech, the Clerk said that the rate notices were being got out as quickly as possibly. FOREMAN OF WORKS. Cr Meech, as Chairman of Works Committee, said that the .man at present employed by the Council was not giving satisfaction. It was resolved that he be discharged. RETURNING OFFICER. Cr Annand drew the Council's attention to the necessity of appointing a returning officer for the forthcoming election, and proposed Mr. Roberts.

Cr Cullen seconded the motion, which was carried. STREET LAMPS. Some discussion ensued with regard to «i the recent damage to some of the Borough lamps, it being the opinion of the Council that the contractor for lighting is not responsible for damages of this nature. In the course of the discussion it was asserted ** that one or two of the offenders were known. Cr Cullen accordingly proposed, seconded by Cr Meech, that the Council should repair the lamps, and send in the account to the parents of the boys who did the damage. Carried. FARR'S BRIDGE. Before opening the tenders for this bridge, Cr O'Reilly suggested that the pillars be faced with white stone, and that * one of them should have inscribed on it the name of the Mayor and the date of building. • TENDERS; • - ' • . FOR ERECTION OF FARR's BRIDGE. £ S. d. E. W. Morey, bricks and mortar 115 10.0 ; j. „ cement 126 00 Sigley & Dixon, Libeau's bricks and cement ... ...170 0 0 Same, Libeau's bricks and lime 164 0 0 Same, Christchurch bricks.":enmt 179 0 0 Same, „ „ arid lime 173 0 0 Samej Rubble and concrete arch 185 0 0 -> On the motion of .Cr Meech. seconded by Cr Waeckerle,'the tender of E. W. Morey was accepted at £115 10s. FOR LAMP LIGHTING.J. Vangioni. 12 months ... £79 T » 9 „ - 61 J. Dempster 12 „ ... 85 »» 9 „ ... 70 J.Burke 12 „ ... 80 n 9, ~ ... 65 J. Manning 12 „ ... 75 9 „ ... 59 C Duduit 12 „ ... 80 9 „ ... 58 The tender of J. Manning for 12 monthß was accepted. The Council then adjourned.