AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 221, 30 August 1878, Page 2

AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thursday, August 29. A special meeting of this Council was held at the Hill Top on the above date. Present — Messrs Latter (Chairman), Barker, Fleming, Bradley, Priest, Gebbie, Dalglish. The Chairman stated the object of the meeting in terms of the resolution passed at last meeting, viz., to consider the alteration of boundaries and representation of the ridings within the County. He also read a letter from the Clerk to the Little River Road Board, covering copies of two resolutions passed at a public meeting held in that district, and also calling attention to the fact that the valuation of tho riding was £14,376, instead of" £10,680 as had been stated. Mr Gebbie urged the claims of Little River to increasad representation on the ground of its large area and valuation roll. Mr Barker said that last time Little River had asked for one additional member, now they wanted two. He thought that the number of electors and population ought to be taken into consideration. Little River had 138 electors, Okain's 127. They had 52 miles of main roads in their district ; part of them were only tracks. Little River had its roads made, they only needed keeping in repair. Mr Dalglish said they all had an interest in keeping a main road in order, whereas roads in outlying districts were apt to be neglected, if such districts were not fairly represented. Mr Bradley advocated that each district (Little River and Okain's) should have two members. Mr Barker contended that there was not much more purchased Jand in Little River than in Okain's Bay, though it was of greater value. Mr Gebbie thought that valuation and area should be considered. Say one man was a large landholder—his property might come to be divided among 500. He, as one, was entitled to the same representation. The Chairman thought the number of electors should be the chief basis of representation. He could not agree •with Mr Gebbie that one man should return a member on account of being a large landholder. Mr Bradley proposed—" That this Council considers that one member should be taken from the Okain's Bay Road Board District, now represented by the three ridings of Raupo, Okain's, and Le Bon's, and that Little River should have the benefit of two members instead of one as at present." Mr Gebbie proposed as an amendment " That Little River Riding have three members." The amendment was not seconded. Mr Bradley's resolution was then put and carried, Mr Gebbie dissenting. The next question was the consideration of the alteration of boundaries. Mr Barker stated that in compliance with a request of their Chairman he had convened a public meeting in Okain's Bay. He had forwarded an advertisement to the Akaroa Mail, but he was sorry to say, for whatever reason, it had not appeared. He handed in a resolution passed at that meeting to the effect that in the event of an alteration taking place, the boundary line should be the main road, Okain's Bay, and that the ridings be called the Raupo and Okain's ridings. Mr Priest handed in a protest against the meeting on the ground of its want of publicity. Mr Dalglish presented a petition from the residents of Le Bon's Bay, agreeing with the boundary line proposed by Mr Barker, but asking that one of the ridings be called Le Bon's. A considerable amount of conversational discussion ensued, during which the Chairman and Mr Gebbie expressed the opinion that a road was a bad boundary, and that to split a valley in two would be likely to result in practical disfranchisement of the residents. Mr Dalglish proposed "that the Okain's Road district shall be divided into two. ridings, that the Main "Valley road in Okain's Bay be the boundary, that the ridings be called Okain's riding and Le Bon's riding." . , Mr Bradley seconded the resolution. Mr Barker proposed an amendment to the effect that the ridings be called Little Akaloa and Okain's. Mr Dalglish seconded the amendment pro forma. For the amendment—Messrs Barker and Priest. Against—Messrs Dalglish, Gebbie, Bradley, and the Chairman. The resolution was then put and carried by the same votes. On the question of the division of the Little River district, Mr Gebbie proposed " That the Little River riding be divided into two ; that the boundary be the Kaituna stream to its source on the west of sec. 12.357 ; thence by a straight line to Mount Herbert Peak, and that the ridings be called Little River and Tai Tapu."— Carried, The Chairman was authorised to take the necessary steps to have the requisite alterations made in the electoral rolls. Tiie ordinary meeting of the Council was then proceeded with. Tho minutes of last special and ordinary meetings were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. Letters were read— From W. Montgomery, Esq., acknow'

ledging receipt of compensation claims, and promising to urge on the Governmest the necessity of making provision for them. From the Chairman of the Selwyn County Council, promisiug to represent the views of the Akaroa County Conncil in the matter of reserves. proposed stoppage of road, duvauchelle's bay. * A letter was read from the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board, stating thac all necessary steps had been taken towards closing the above road. The Chairman read the clauses of the Public Works Act bearing on the subject. Mr Martindale appeared to oppose the closing of the road in question, and read a series of objections to the same, which have already appeared in our columns. Mr J. Libeau supported the closing of the road. Mr Martindale had spoketi of its convenience for driving cattle. He' (Mr Libeau) thought it was just the reverse. Cattle would take, some one road ' and some the other. Mr Bradley could corroborate the later statement. Tf a parson could swear, he had been inclined to do so in driving cattle at the spot. Mr Sager gave evidence of the ''od being of great use as a short cut for il drcn going to school, &c. Mr Barker moved that the road mr estion be stopped. The resolution was seconded by r Priest. Mr Fleming moved aa an amendment, " That the old road be not stopped." Mr Dalglish seconded. ' For the amendment—Messrs Fleming, Dalglish and the Chairman. Against— Messrs Barker, Priest, Bradley and Gebbie. The resolution stopping the road was therefore carried. BOUNDARY BETWEEN LITTLE RIVER AND AKAROA AND WAINUI ROAD BOARDS. Messrs Duxbury and Williams attended on behalf of the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board, and Mr Wilson, clerk to the Little River Road Board was also in attendance. ** The Chairman pointed out that the Council had no power to make any adjudication in the matter, without.the formal consent of both Boards. It was resolved « that each Board be written to, asking whether thej r are willing to leave the question to the decision of the CouuciL MOUNT BOSSU ROAD. A letter was read from the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board, asking that the amount voted for this work be placed at their disposal. The Chairman considered that as the Council was responsible for the expenditure of this and similar sums, it would „ be right that the Chairman of the Road Board should certify that contracts to a given amount were let, in which case fnnds to meet them could be placed at their disposal "*" The Chairman of the. Road Board who was present, intimated that this arrangement would be satisfactory to the Board. A resolution to this effect was agreed to. , PURAU TRACK. j A report on the state of this track by Mr Wilkin was read. He estimated the necessary outlay to render tho first four miles even passaibly safe for horsemen as in excess of what was considered needful by the Council, and therefore awaited further instruction, before doing more in the matter. The Chairman was in favor of expending a reasonable Jsum of money on this road, which was ti great public con- <t - venience. The majority of the Council, howeTer, appeared to be opposed to doing anything in the matter, and on the motion of Mr Barker, it was agreed to let tho matter drop. Mr Dalglish and the Chairman dissenting. CLAIM TOR COMPENSxVnON. A letter was received from Mr E. Chappell, asking for compensation for land taken for the construction of the Summit road, Long Bay Saddle. Ordered to be jeferred to the Road * Board. Payments for travelling expenses were made, and the Council adjourned to Thursday, Sept. 26, at the same time and n place.