AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 227, 20 September 1878, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wednesday, Sept. 18. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Crs Billens, Sunckell, Waeckerle, Meech, Annand, and O'Reilly. 7 The minutes of the previous meeting were read arid confirmed. [ r , CORRESPONDENCE; / . /'', From Mr J. W. Higgins, Ashburton, with referencs to an adcouilc', received for; rates, stating .that Mr jMeecli was |iable for the payment of the'.sflme t \v ;' Cr \Mecch explained that l> at, the' tiinev when objections should have been handed in he had informed Mr Higgins, and advised him to do so, but he (Mr Higgins) did not think it worth while. The writer was therefore liable for the rato as charged. On the motion of Cr Waeckerle, seconded by Cr Sunckell, the Clerk was instructed to reply to the effect that the Council had no power to relieve him of the rate and that he would havo to pay it to avoid further consequences. From the Minister of Justice, with reference to a request that the lock-up in Akaroa be proclaimed a gaol, to the effect that the number of prisoners was not sufficient to warrant the Government granting the request. From H. 11. Fenton, Esq., re rates, objecting to the valuation of the house occupied by him. From Mr C. F. Barker, Surveyor, with reference to the survey of the Ashburton Reserves, and the alteration of acreage of certain of the sections, also that a trig, point had been placed on the reserves as marked on the enclosed plan. From the Colonial Secretary, stating that if the Council would pay the necessary relief in the two cases of Charitable Aid alluded to, that the Goven- vment would, as usual, pay half of the same. Cr Sunckell was understood to say that he was sorry to see tho Council had taken the action they had in the matter of Charitable Aid, and that it would be better to have a Poor Law at once. From the same, statingthat as a petition had been received, signed by 18 out of 22 householders within that portion of the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board District proposed to be added to the Borough, the Government could not consider the proposal. From the same, intimating that the confirmation of the appointment of Sergeant Kamsay as Inspector o± Slaughter-houses was not necessary. From the same, enclosing an order of the House of Representatives, on the motion of the Hon Mr Gisborne, that a return be laid on the table shewing at the end of March, 1878, the annual income and expenditure, the sources of income amout of rateage levied, a list of endowment reserves and their present market value. ! The Clerk was instructed to supply the necessary information. | From Mr 11. Noonan notifying his inten- | tion to erect a wooden building next Mr Watkins' Store, Beach Road, and applying for the necessary authority, also requesting to be furnished with the proper building level of that part of the street as required by clauses 190 and 191 of Municipal Corporations Act, 1876. Payments. J. Allott £2 11 0 G. Lardner ... ... 1 14 6 Wood Bros, and C 0.,... 0 G 6 J. Davis 0 14 6 H. Billens ... ... 110 1 Clerk's Salary 8 0 8 Cr Sunckell took exception to an item in Mr Billens account which was accordingly withdrawn. On the motion of Cr Waeckerle, seconded by Cr Sunckell, the accounts as read, with the above amendment were passed for payment. The Mayor stated that the overdraft at at the Bank at the present time was £129j14s > 9d; this amountwould now be increased by outstanding liabalities. His Worship alluded to : the necessity for some better provision being made for signing cheques STREET LAMPS. Cr OTieilly asked what steps the Council intended taking to light the lamps included in the last contract with the lamplighter. He had taken notes and by the following dates, they would see that for 10 nights this month the lamps had not been lit. (The dates were then given.) He thought the lamps should hot be neglected, but that the bur-messes -mould get fair value for their money. The contractor had given no security for the fulfilment of the contract, and he might leave the town in darkness seme night. They should have some power over him. He would propose that Mr Manning, the contractor, be written to informing him that if any irregularity occurred again in lighting the lamps that the penalty of 75 per cent being stopped be enforced, and that the contract be placed in other hands. Cr Sunckell seconded the motion.

Cr Waeckerle was glad they had such a vigilant Councillor. The nights when the lamps were not lit were very light. One night the contractor certainly was rather late, and he had spoken to him about it. Cr Billens could bear out the remarks of Cr Waeckerle. The nights were very light. He had however spoken to MiManning who had said it should not occur again. Cr Annand said one fact should be mentioned. On the last night when according to his contract ihe lamplighter need not have lit the lamps, he had done so because the- night was dark and wet, but the next night, when he should have resumed the lighting, being very fine aud light, he had not done so, thinking it would balance his having done so the night before. He had spoken to the contractor, and this was his explanation.

Cr O'Reilly way of opinion that the contractor was nn'slod by private conversations with individual councillors. -He should carry out his written InsiractldhV '. ".' Cr Meech agreed with Cr O'Reilly as toi the harm done by private talk outside the Council. The contract should be adhered to. ...-■./; Cr Annand moved as an amendment that, in consequence of irregularities in the lighting during the past month, the contractor receive notice to keep to his specifications, and not do as ho pleased. This was seconded by" Cr Billens, and carried. Crs O'Reilly, Sunckell, and Meech dissenting. slaughter-house by-law. Cr O'Reilly brought before tho Council the necessity for publishing the above bylaw, also the notice of Sergeant Ramsey's appointment as Inspector, and suggested '

hat it be mentioned in the advertisement that the by-law would come in force seven days from date of publication. MUTER STREET. v Cr Meech urged _io importance of doing •something to improve this road which ,leads to' Mr /Lelievre's- Property, there was ;'a very sharp pinch in it which was soraejwhat dangerous. The •' expense attached jto the work-would, be but small. He 'might also : mention that the late rain had 'caused steppage of culverts in Balgurie ancMhes'e-should be attended to. .;;He' would propoge.tjkt the necessary work be done. ■ -•"'" '■■'

Cr Sunckell secon/fed the motion. Cr O'Reili'yY seconded by Cr Waeckerle, moved as an amendment that the Clerk visit and report on the work, and that lie be empowered to supervise the same, and cany out all such small works as may require immediate attention. Carried. In consequence of a question by Cr Meech as to when the subsidy from the Government Avould be payable, the Clerk was instructed to write to the Colonial Secretary on the subject. Cr O'Reilly suggested that all licenses issued terminate on the 31st March, being the end of their financial year. The suggestion was adopted. Some desultory conversation ensued with regard to signing cheques, but no resolution resulted. A notice of motion by Cr Annand was then read to the effect that there be laid on the table a return of all moneys paid to any Councillor, or Councillors, on accounts of- any contract with the Council within the last two months. Seconded by Cr' Waeckerle pro forma. ■ Cr Annand explainedthat he brought forward the matter, because it was a subject of town talk, and he thought Councillors should not put themselves in such a position. Cr O'Reilly moved as an amendment that the words' 'Within the last two months" be altered to " Since the formation- of the Council." This was seconded by Cr Meech, and carried. Cr Annand's notice of motion, that the" lamp at Waeckerle's corner outside the Borough should be moved to some site inside the town boundary, was then read, and seconded by Cr O'Reilly pro forma. Some discussion ensued, it being the unanimous opinion of the Council that the motion could not be entertained, the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board having a half-share in the cost of its erection. The Council then adjourned.