AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 250, 10 December 1878, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Thursday, Dec. 5. A meeting of the Council was held in the Municipal offices on the above date. Present—Crs Waeckerle (in the chair), Penlington, Henning, Bruce, Alger, Cullen, and Meech. The minutes of the last meeting wore read and confirmed. correspondence. The Clerk read the outward correspondence, which was approved of. A letter was read from Mr H. B. Bridge, Secretary Regatta Committee, requesting the permission of tlie Council to let the reserve on the beach, opposite Garwood and Co's store, as sites for booths, &c, on 16th inst., regatta day. Cr Cullen did not see why the reserve should be given.to the Regatta Committee, and he would suggest that it should be let by the Council, as they wanted all the money they tould get. Cr Penlington moved that the request be granted, as it was a general good for the town the holding of a regatta, and the Council should assist it by every means in their power.

The motion was seconded by Cr Bruce, and carried.

Mr C. F. Barker wrote, informing the Council that he had advertised the letting of their Ashburton reserves in the Christchurch, Ashburton, Timaru, and Rangiora newspapers. Cr Henning noticed that the Lyttelton Times, Canterbury Times, and Weekly Press were omitted from the list, and moved their insertion. Cr Bruce said it was a matter of expense, and thought, the auctioneer was the best judge of the matter. Cr Henning's motion was not seconded. Cr Meech then moved that the action of the auctioneer, Mr Barker, in advertising the letting of the Ashburton reserves be approved of. Seconded by Cr Cullen, and carried. Mr Barker also wrote, requesting that the plan of the reserves be forwarded to him for the purpose of making tracings of same, and promising to return the same. . The Town Clerk explained that the request had been complied with. Mr. Barker also wrote, under date 28th November, requesting the Council to fix the amount of the deposit on letting, and at the same time requesting the Council to instruct their solicitor to draw up eight copies of the conditions of letting, being a copy for each farm. Cr Meech stated that the fixing of the deposit was a matter, of importance, and one requiring knowledge of the circumstances. He should have liked a suggestion from the auctioneer. Cr Penlington moved that Mr Barker be instructed that a quarter's rent be required as a deposit on the letting of the reserves. The motion .was .Beeended by Cr Meech, and carried." The Clerk was directed to instruct Mr Nalder, their solicitor, to prepare , eight; copies of the conditions of letting at once. I Cr Henning wished to know if tbo conditions had been quite settled.

The Chairman informed him that they had, and the question could not be opened up again. J. L. Manning, the lamplighter, wrote, complaining that-tlie putty holding the glass in.the-first /seven. lamps Jiad fallen out, and-rain camejtf&dwettedjthe wicks •so thatlij* was jmpdssible to light them, and 'after being;*«|! the wind Jblew them ''out. . ' ' \ - any defect of tlfe sl?rt fcipntione'd -jhould be made good by tlie'.bontfactor/folv-iti'aking.tho lamps. .' T_s tJnainnaiC explained that the lamps in question had beqn erected ,'over twelve months, and had been settled for. Cr Cullen moved that the lamplighter's request .be left in. the hands t of the Town. Clerk. ;.. -■' '„ \ ;,/. /\ - : <* : \ The niotioh was seconded by Cr Alger, and carried. THE POUNDKEEPER IN TROUBLE. ... MrF. Hahn, tha Poundkeeper, waited upon the Council, and wished to know what he was to do with three sheep he had had in the pound for some time. He had tried to sell them, as directed by the Ordinance, and could not get a single bid for them. He wished to know if the Council would pay him the charges for their keep, and also what was to be his further course of action. Cr Cullen suggested that they be fattened on the reserves for the next Mayoral banquet. The Chairman pointed out that the poundkeeper had the Ordinance to guide him, and that beyond this the Council could not go. He would be informed of their decision by the Cleik. -WORKS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Clerk read the report ot the Works Committee, which stated that the bridge in Lavaud street, at Hah ._, was not safe, and that carts having to keep on one side of the bridge only, a serious accident might happen at any time, and suggesting that something should bo done in the matter at once. The report also pointed out that approaches were wanted to Farr's new bridge. Iv reference to the approaches to Farr's bridge, the Clerk was instructed to see Mr Morey, the contractor for tho bridge, and get a price for the whole matter, and submit the same to next meeting of the Council.

In reference to the bridges in Lavaud street, Cr Cullen was of opinion that plans should be got ready at once tor them, and that it be an instruction to the engineer that they be constructed of either brick or stone. Cr Penlington moved that the report be adopted, and thatthe bridges be temporarily repaired, and that the Works Committee be instructed to prepare plans for new bridges, to be laid before the next meeting of the Council. The motion was seconded by Cr Cullen, and agreed to. SANITARY. Cr Meech brought under the notice of the Council tbe state of the tidal flat opposite the Roman Catholic Church grounds, and stated that many of the residents in that locality had complained of the intolerable stench proceeding from it. He would suggest that a new culvert be formed and the most stringent measures taken to prevent people throwing offensive matter on that part of the beach. Cr Cullen moved that the matter of the new culvert, &c, as suggested, be left in the hands of the Works Committee. Seconded by Cr Henning, and carried. Cr Meech moved that the Inspector be directed to make a house to house inspection of sanitary convenience, and also state number of cesspools in the borough, and report to next meeting of the Council. Seconded by Cr Penlington, and carried. FINANCIAL.

Cr Penlington, as Chairman of the Finance Committee, reported that since last meeting the bank overdraft had been reduced by £2. The total overdraft at date was £248 ss. The Clerk, in reply to questions, said only one more dog had been registered since the threatening notice had been issued. The rates collected to date were £10515s lOd, and the outstanding rates were now £174 16s lOd. Cr Henning thought it was high time the rates should all be paid, and he would move that every tenth defaulter be summoned at once. After some conversation it was agreed to issue summonses for all outstanding rates of last year, and an effort be made to collect the current year's at once. The subject then dropped. auditorship. A letter was read from Mr A. G. Wiggins, one of the borough auditors, resigning his office, but denying that the Council had any control whatever over the auditors, any more than over the Premier of the colony. Cr Meech moved that the resignation of Mr. Wiggins be accepted, and that the fee of auditor up to 3lßt May next be two guineas, and tbat an advertisement be inserted in the Mail giving notice of a fresh election, Cr Bruce seconded the motion. Crs Penlington and Henning thought the matter might be left over until the next meeting of the Council, to enable them to look round for a suitable person to fill the office by appointment of the Council, as they had power to do so under the 93rd clause of tlie Act.

BY-LAWS. Cr Henning asked when it was proposed to bring the by-laws into force by printing them the second time. The Chairman replied that some time ago it had been resolved, on the motion of Cr Cullen, to wait until the expiration of six months after the date of the Colonial Secretary's letter acknowledging the receipt of corrected copy of by-laws. TABLET ON FAR&'s BRIDGE. Cr Henning said he had been informed to the effect that a marble tablet had been inserted in tho parapet of Fairs-bridge, bearing an inscription unauthorized by the Council, and if such was the case he wished to know by what authority it was so inserted, and also who was to pay for.t. Tho Chairman replied that the slab in question had been assented to by the Council some time ago, on the motion of CrO'Beiliy. Cr Penkngton said such was the case; it had been unanimously agreed to by the whole Council and inserted in the minutes, and the minute had been read and confirmed without challenge. Cr Alger wanted, as a new member of the Council, to know if there wore any objection to the tablet. Or Meech said he had read the migger

tion of Cr O'Reilly in the Council's minute book, and he wanted to know if such could be called a minute. Anything of the sort should have been done by direct permission of the Council, and a distinct resoliF* tion moved and seconded _n the mattei*, and such had never been dbne. 77He< further objected, as" „h& v Mayor had! nevedone anything for tlui Borough, but bring them into constant twrar)glings. jlf he had been of any good to tha Borough lie might have said nothing it. The whole thing was disgrac-eiltl-fp cil, and he would always mlse against anything out of order. He remembered quite well when the subject was mooted ; it was at the end of "a ineeting, the Councillors were on their feet ready to go, and Cr O'Reilly suggested the thing out of fun and pure bunkum ; lie would not see the bridge disfigured with placards unless by tbe express wish of the Council. , Cr Cullen, to Town Clerk: Did you order the tablet ? Town Clerk : No ; I never wrote to any one on the matter. The Chairman thought as no hill was before them the whole discussion was rather premature; it would be quite time enough to cry out when the bill was presented. Crs Cullen and Penlington agreed in this view of the question, and the matter was then allowed to drop: PAYMENTS. On the motion of Cr Cullen, seconded by Cr Bruce, the following accounts were * passed for payment:— J.O'Brion ... £0 16 0 James Daly 0 8 6 J. L. Manning, lamps ...6 5 0 George Lardner 0 9 0 E. W. More}', 2nd progress payment 40 0 0 £47 18 6 The last sum being subject to the certificate of the Engineer. The motion was put and carried. 'The Council then adjourned until tomorrow evening at 7.30 p.m.