AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 237, 25 October 1878, Page 2

AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thursday, Oct. 24, 1878. The Akaroa County Council met ai Haines' Hotel, Hill-top, on Thursday, 24t1: instant, at 11 a.m.

Present—Messrs E. C. Latter (Chairman), Gebbie, Fleming, Bradley, Dalglish, Priest, Barker, and Baker. The minutes of the special meeting and general meeting of 26th Sept. last were read and confirmed.

The Chairman briefly stated the business of'the meeting, which was taken up as reported below. The whole of the grants for cemeteries and domains had been paid away, with the exception of that for Little River, but ho understood the inhabitants were moving in the matter, and he would suggest that the money might be re-voted. The Chairman of a meeting at Southbridge had written, asking the Council to consider a change of route of the Akaroa Railway from Lincoln to either Leeston or Southbridge. The following is the letter referred to :— ■> " Southbridge, Oct. 12, 1878. " The Chairman of the •'Akaroa County Council.

" Sir, —I desire to bring under the notice of your Council a resolution unanimously adopted at a public meeting recently held hero for the purpose of discussing a scheme to extend the present Southbridge line across the Rakaia Biver and northwards, to effect a junction with the proposed line to Akaroa. I presume that I need not point out to you the great importance to Akaroa (as a port of export) of such a scheme. It was intimated that an area of about 400 square miles would be served by 'the proposed extension ; in fact, that all the seaboard between Lake Ellesmere and the Itangitata River should find its natural outlet for its productions in Akaroa Harbor. " The resolution I refer to is as follows :— " 'That with regard to the line proposed for the Akaroa Railway, this meeting views with regret the intention of carrying it to the Lincoln station, or to Christchurch, and suggests that it be either carried along the east shore of Lake Ellesmere to Tamuiutu, and thence to Southbridge ; or that it should follow the tramway reserve from the Halswell to Leeston station, there to join the Southbridge line ; and they desire to point out that either of such lines will make Akaroa a harbor of export, which it will only be to a very limited extent should the Lincoln or Christchurch scheme be carried out.' "As Chairman of the meeting, I have to request that you will be good enough to bring under consideration of the Council at their next meeting, this letter and its contents.

" I Lave the honor to be, Sir, " Your most obedt. servant, "Edward E. Lee." The Chairman said the first business of. the Council would be the matter of the rolls. COUNCIL EOLtS. The Chairman reported thaijWn parrying out the recommendation' of the last meeting of the Council, he had received replies -.from all the schoolmasters in the various -ridings, signifying their willingness to act ■N^wetuni ing officers at the election ' of Councillors in November, with "the exception of Tai Tapu and Akaroa. The rolls for the different ridings would require to be signed by the Chairman and two members of the Council. The Chairman desired to express his thanks to the Clerks of the Little Eiver and Okain's Bay Road Boards for the promptness with which they had supplied the information required in regard to making up the new rolls for the division of the Kittle River and Okain's Ridings. He might mention that the division of the Little River Riding seemed a a very fair one, Tai Tapu having 71 electors, and Little River b'9. There was a slight difference in the number of electors on the rolls as originally made up, and those after the division. In Little River there was an increase of two electors, and in the three Ridings of Raupo, Okain's, and Le Bon's an increase of seven. The number of electors in Okain's Riding was now su', and in Le Bon's 79. The rolls were signed as required by the Act by the Chairman and two councillors (Messrs Barker and Bradley). It was arranged that the day of nomination be lixed for 6th November, and that notice be given of the names of the returning officers and places of polling on Tuesday, 29th October. . Mr Gebbie was requested to procure a suitable polling place for Tai Tapu, and advise the Chairman of same. Mr Gebbie moved — •' That the following gentlemen be appointed returning officers for their respective districts, viz., Mr E. F. Barnctt, for Port Victoria ; Mr Jaggar, Port Levy; Mr Westropp, Little River ; Mr A. I. McGregor, Tai Tapu ; Mr Thomson, Pigeon Bay; Mr McMillan, Le Bon's i Mr Willis, Little Akaloa ; Mr M. Smith, Wainui ; with the usual powers as con-

ferred by the Regulation of Local Elections Act, to appoint deputies, and that the Chairman be authorized to take all necessary steps for carrying out the election, and that the dates mentioned be approved of, and further that the Chairman be authorized to appoint a Returning Officer for Berard Riding." ! \ The motion was seconded by Mr Bradley, and carried. ' : Considerable discussion took place as to the principal polling place in the Okain's Hiding, Mr Barker being in, favor of Little Akaloa as having the largest number of electors, viz., 44 to Okain's Bay 17. Mr Priest was of a different opinion. The Council suggested that the chief polling place for this riding be Little Akaloa Schoolhouse. Mr Fleming enquired, that in the event of his not standing for Port Levy, if any person outside the riding was eligible. The Chairman replied that any elector in the County was eligible to represent any riding. COMPENSATION CLAIMS. The Chairman read a telegram and letter from Mr Montgomery, Wellington, stating that the matter of compensation for land taken for road diversion by the late Provincial Council would receive the attention of the Government, and that an officer wculd be appointed to enquire into, not only the Okain's Bay claims, but into those of the whole of the Peninsula, and that Mr Macandrew has promised that a sum should be placed on the Supplementary Estimates to meet any award that might be made. The members of Council would nowknowthat Mr J. Ollivier had been appointed to act for the Governjment, and that he would hold his sittings in the office of the Akaroa Borough Council to-morrow. MOUNT EOSSU ROAD.

The Little River Road Board replied to the Council's letter that they were willing to undertake their part of the Mount Bossu and Lake Forsyth Road, for which the £900 was voted to the western end of the Lake. And the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board replied that thoy were also willing to undertake their part of the work, and at the same time asking the Council to hand over any other special grants that might be accruing to them from the late Provincial Council.

The Chairman pointed out that the Road Boards seemed to forget that the grants were not originally intended to be spent by the Road Boards, but by the Provincial Council, which the Council now represented. Mr Baker said that neither of the replies seemed to him to meet the resolution of the Council. It was evident that the two Boards would not work together, and it was important that the money should be made to go as for as possible. The Chairman stated, that in refutation cf certain remarks in the local Press, there was no difficulty about an Engineer. The local professional gentlemen were always open to act for the Council, and beyond this he was constantly receiving offers from outside to act for them. At this stage he might mention that the funds accruing to the Council on 30th Sept. would be over £5000.

Mr Barker moved that the Chairman be authorized to carry out the resolution of 26th Sept. last, with reference to the road from Mount Bossu to Lake Forsyth, and that he be authorized to obtain the services of a competent Engineer to lay oil' the line and furnish estimate of cost to next meeting of the Council.

The motion was seconded by Mr Bradley, and carried. Mr Fleming not voting. TORT LEVY VALUATION ROLL. Mr Fleming wished, to ask the Council if the Judge,of the--3ss"sessment Court could appoint a valuer for his district without his (Mr Flejning's) sanction, as he thought he was quite competent to manage the valuation of his bay without getting anyone from Akaroa to do so at £15. The Chairman did not think it came within the province of the Council, but would draw Mr Fleming's attention to the 28th clause of ?he Eating Act. AKAEOA RAILWAY. The Chairman remarked chat the line as now proposed was not confined to any particular place, but could be taken from the main line at any spot from Amberley to Waitaki. Mr Gebbie moved that Mr Lee's letter be received, and that its further consideration be deferred until the first meeting of the new Council. The motion was seconded by Mr Dalglish and carried. SLAUGHTER-HOUSE LICENSES. The Sergeant of Police reported that the Act was being evaded-in many cases, and that some persons would not take up their licenses, and he wished to know if the Council was inclined to proceed against offenders, and put in force the law. Mr Gebbie proposed that Sergeant Bamsay, as Inspector of Slaughter-houses, be directed to pill-in force the law in all. cases. , ' " ' '■■•■'■'■■■. ' The motion was seconded by Mr Bradley and carried. COMPENSATION. Mr Barker, tho Chairman of the Okain's Bay Road Board, handed in a list of claims for compensation, in his district, amounting to £202, and pointed out that the Council still held in in its hands, £200, after paying St. (John's claim of £300.

A long discussion followed on the subject, it being suggested that the £300 inighi be refunded as a Provincial. liabilit}'. ■ !

Mr Baker moved that the Chairman write to the various Road Boards, stating that-the Council hold a sum of £200 in hand for road compensation during the current year, and' asking them to furnish a list of the various claims, with a view to a pro rata. division of the said sum. Seconded by Mr Barker, and carried. RE-VOTE OF CEMETERY GRANT. Mr Gebbie moved that the sum of £100 for recreation ground, and £50 for cemetery purposes Little River,, be re-voted for three months for its original purposes, subject to the previous conditions of the Council. The motion was seconded b} r Mr Brad ley and carried. PAYMENTS. On the motion oi Mr Gebbie, seconded by Mr Priest, the following accounts were passed for payment:— AkaroaMail £15 16 9 Lytteltqn i'imes ... ... 1 1q 8 Acts of Parliament V 0 12 0 £17 19 5J

BANK ACCOUNT. • The Chairman reported that the balance at the credit of the ordinary account was £883 IDs, and the special account was £3,899 IUSPECIAL GRANTS. In regard to the special grants not operated upon for the Long Bay Road, £350 and £100 for the Le Bon's Bay road, Mr Baker moved that the question of compensation stand over until the Commissioner settles the matter. Seconded by Mr Gebbie, and carried. The Chairman, as this was their last meeting, thanked the members of the Council for their cordial co-operation and support since the Council was constituted. Mr Daltflisii moved a hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman for the able manner in which he had conducted the business, of the Council. The motion was seconded by Mr Gebbie, and carried unanimously. The Council then separated.