AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 258, 7 January 1879, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Monday, Dec. 30.

A meeting of this Council was held at their offideson the above dare.

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

.Cr Billem>Kigiied the usual declaration, and toukJiis hyut.

The outward correspondence was read and approved of. The correspondence received was then read and considered.

A letter was received from E. C. Latter, Deputy Land Tax Commissioner, requesting a copy. o_ the last Valuation Roll of the Borough.

.The Mayor said the matter had been attended to.

From tlie Treasury, Wellington, advising first part payment of subsidy on return of rates to 31st March last, £191 15s lOd— £95* 17s 1 Id.* Less share of maintenance of Akaroa- Hospital for half year ending 30th June last, £46 Ist moiety of same, £23; Total,'£72 17s lid.

A letter was received from the Colonial Secretary, dated 18th December, enclosing copy of the letter addressed by the Government to the Chairman of the Hospital's temporary Board of Management, and asking the Board to nominate a member to represent them at the new Board.

Also a letter, dated 13th December, from the Treasury, stating that the Total subsidy to County of Akaroa would be £780, and to the Borough £192, and explaining that the sum to be deducted for Hospitals under clause 5 of "The Financial Arrangements Act, 1878" was—for the County. £187; and for the Borougn £46. CHARITABLE AID. The Under Secretary to the Treasury, under date of 10th Dec. last, advised that a voucher had been passed for £14, being refund for half amount of expenditure for Charitable Aid. ASHBURTON .RESERVES. Mr C. F. Barker, Christchurch, wrote stating that, owing to the lateness of the season, he had not been able to get a satisfactory bid at auction for any of the Council's Ashburton property, but that he had had a private offer for 250 acres, and 500 acres, at 3s for first 7 years, and 6s for second 7 yeaas. At the same time pointing out that the Kaiapoi Reserves, in the same neighborhood had been let for 14 years, at 4s 6d per acre. On the motion of Cr Bruce, seconded by Cr Cullen, the letting of the Reserves was deferred untill early next season. Carried.

On the motion of Cr Cullen, seconded by Cr Alger, leave was granted to Mr John Beecher to remove the Road Board Office from its present site across Lavaud street to the back of Criterion Hotel. SLAUGHTER-HOUSE REPORT. Sergeant Ramsay, as Inspector of Slaughter-houses, reported that they were clean, and in good order, and that the fees for the past month had been 4s 3|d. AUDITED ACCOUNTS, AND FINANCE. The audited accounts of the Borough, to September 30 last, were laid before the meeting, and approved of, showing a debit balance due to Bank at that date of £194 17s 2d. Cr Penlington reported that the Bank account had been reduced by £96 4s lid since last meeting, and that the overdraft that day stood at £190 7s 8d debit. WORKS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. Cr Meech as Chairman of Works Committee verbally reported that the committee had met and had resolved to ask the Council to call for tenders at once for two bridges in Lavaud street, at Meech's and Hahn's, on the same plan as that recently erected in Jollie street. They thought the same plans and specifications would answer, the only difference being in the height of the abutments and the quantity of rubble-walling. The Committee had also arranged to alter the approaches to the new Bridge in Jollie street. The Committee, rather than spoil the work had requested Mr Morey to carry out the works at a cost of £11 10s. The Mayor quite concurred in the suggestions of the Committee and Cr Henning moved that the action of the Works Committee in regard to altering the approaches at Farr's Bridge be approved of. Seconded by Cr Cullen, and carried.

A letter was received from Mr E. W. Morey, asking for a few yards of 8-inch pipes to enable him to carry out the above alterations at the new bridge. On the motion of Cr Cullen, seconded by Cr Henning, the matter was left in the hands of the Works Committee. PAYMENTS. On the motion of Cr Meech, seconded by Cr Cullen, a second progress payment of £30 was passed to the contractor for new bridge, and a sum of £1 2s to J. Manders for day labor. BOROUGH AND ROAD BOARD. The Mayor wished to again call the attention of the Council to the fact that the Borough at the time of its severance had never participated in the funds of the Road District, of which they were then a part, as they were entitled to by law. He had often moved in the matter before, but was always unable to get support. Mr J. Aylmer, R.M., had now been appointed a commissioner by the to adjust the question, and now was the time to have their share. He would move for the appointment of a small committee, to ascertain what their claim was. when they dissolved partnership in 1876. Cr Meech thought the whole thing absurd. The claim would never be ascertained. Cr Penlington reminded the Council that they had £1000 from the Provincial Government in full of all demands, and if any claim could be made good it was to a share of the office recently sold.

Cr Henning was in favor of the subcommittee, and would move that Crs Meech, Bridge, the Mayor, and the mover be appointed as such, to enquire and report to next meeting of the Council. The motion was seconded by Cr Bruce and agreed to. NEW WORKS. <_r Beecher moved that the side rails of the various bridges in the Borough be painted white, and that a new lamp be erected in Bruce's terrace, at the corner of Aubrey street. Cr Cullen moved that tenders be at once called for the two new bridges in Lavaud street.

Cr Penlington objected to the hasty way of calling for so important works in the absence of either plana or specifications. Cr Cullen here made a slashing attack ou the Works Committee for the manner in which they had managed the last bridge with all their plans and - pecifications, pointing out that the original contract price was £115 10s ; now it was £132 15s, and not finished. Cr Henning moved that it be an instruction to the Works Committee to prepare fresh plans and specifications for two new bridges in Lavaud street, and scall for tenders.

The motion was seconded by Cr Cullen and agreed to.

NEW VALUATION ROLL. Mr A. I. M'Gregor was appointed to prepare the new Valuation Roll for the Borough. BATHING OFF W|HARFS. On the motion of Cr Beecher, it was resolved that the attention of the police be called to persons ba + hing off the wharf after 7 o'clock a.in. The mover of the motion expressed, his strong disapproval of so unseemly a practice, which he had noticed with pain _0r a:long time. The motion was agreed to. committees. On the motion of Cr Meech, seconded by Cr Beecher, all the standing committees were discharged, and the following new committees elected—Finance : Crs Hen'ning, Penlington and Cullen. Works Committee : Crs Bruce, Cullen, Meech and Beecher. Sanitary Committee: Crs Alger, Billens and Henning. Cr Henning, seconded by Cr Beecher, moved that the Mayor be ex officio, a member of all committees. The motion was put and agreed to. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. On the motion of Cr Henning, seconded by Cr Beecher, it was agreed to give the Town Clerk a week's leave of absence, owing to indisposition, on the understanding that he pay for any clerical assistance that may be required in the meantime. The motion was carried. The Council then adjourned till Wednesday, the Bth instant.