AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 245, 22 November 1878, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wednesday, Nov 20,

A meeting of the Council was held in the Municipal offices on the above date.

Present—His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Crs Waeckerle, Penlington, Meech, Bridge, Cullen, Henning, Alger, and Bruce.

Before taking their seats, the three latter gentlemen made and subscribed the usual declaration prescribed by tbe Act.

The minutes of the meeting held on Nov. 4 were read and confirmed.

CORRESPONDENCE,

The Clerk read the outward correspondence. Letters were read—

From Mr C. F. Barker, suggesting an alteration in the conditions of letting the Ashburton Reserves. Mr Barker stated that one of the conditions, prohibiting taking more than two root crops in succession from the land, would be most inadvisable.

A long discussion ensued, during which the question of whether the business were " special " or "ordinary " cropped up, and at one time the whole question appeared likely to be involved in a hopeless amount of fog. Finally, Cr Bridge proposed that Mr Barker's suggestion be acceded to, and the clause in question bo amended accordingly.

The resolution was seconded by Cr Cullen, and carried unanimously.

From Mr A. Rodrigues, asking permission to construct a cellar trap-door in the footpath opposite his premises. Leave granted, the work to be subject to the approval of the Clerk.

From Mr A. G. Wiggins, resigning his position as auditor, explaining at the same time that he did not recognize that the Council were entitled to assume any control over the auditors.

From Mr E. W. Morey, asking permission to. make open brick walls instead of timber rails as balustrades for the bridge he was constructing. The alteration was approved of. WORKS IN PROGRESS,

Cr Meech stated that he had no report to present from the Works Committee, but he .might state -that he had frequently inspected the work at Farr's Bridge, and thought that it Was going on satisfactorily.

finance.

Cr Penlington, as Chairman of the Finance Committee, was sorry to have to report that the overdraft at the bank amounted to *£250, and the rates were coming in very slowly.

charitable aid.

A conversational discission ensued on the general aspect of the finances of the Borough, especially with reference to the heavy drain on its resi-urces which the present amounts paid fir charitable aid entailed.

Cr Bridge thought that these amounts might very well be reduced, and the opinion mot with general concurrence.

Cr Meech said he saw in the Press that th* whole Tfeontribution to hospitals at , which Akafoa wftsfaiseSiieid was only £26. ', , Cr Pen that the reason 'for taking the '\\ administration of charitable aiq* was to-save their subsidy. Lajst year nearly '-j-he whole of the subsidy Wills deducted. . \No\v Government had premised to/ pay -half the amount dia-b-ar^eoVHyth'ehi aid, and to pjxy the flubsidy;in.fuiir "*' The Matter was dropped without any action being taken, SLAUGHTER-HOUSES. (The-Inspector's -report for Ootobetx was read', showing the number of cattle: slaughtered to be 8; sheep, 104. Fees received, 4s 2d. The reported the yards to be clean and in good order. POUND. ' | The Poundkeeper's report was read, showing receipts for. the month, amounting to £1 14s 3d. , VACANCIES IN COMMITTEKS. Cr Henning was elected a member of the Finance Committee, to fill the vacancy caused' by Cr Billens' resignation, and Cra Bruce and Alger were similarly appointed on the Works Committee. 't ' WHARF. The Mayor reported that during the recent visit of the Stella, he had seen the captain of that vessel, and pointed out to him the parts of the wharf most urgently needing repair. From what the officer had said he (the Mayor) gathered that there was every probability that the Government - would either undertake the repair of the wharf themselves, or place funds at the disposal- of the Council to do so.. DOG REGISTRATION. His Worship called attention to the' fact that very few dogs were being registered. The police would not summons people now for neglecting to register, unless desired to do so by the Council, and individual cases were pointed out. Cr Waeckerle thought that one or two owners should be proceeded against by way of an example. On the motion of Cr Cullen, it was agreed to insert a notice in the Mail, cautioning owners of. unregistered dogs that they would be prosecuted unless registra tion were at once effected. NUISANCES. The Mayor stated that it was within his knowledge that persons were in the habit of depositing dead animals and offensive matter in the' harbor. He would wish to call the attention of the Inspector of Nuisances tpthe fact, with a view to steps being taken to prevent the practice.

The Inspector said the difficulty was to catch the offenders in the act. These things were'generally done at or before daylight. The Council then adjourned.