AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 303, 13 June 1879, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wednesday, June 11. The ordinary fortnightly meeting of this Council was held on the above date at their oflice, Balguerie street. Present —His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Cra Penlington, Meech, Henning, Cullen, Bridge, Bruce and Wiggins. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A REQUEST. Mr Hahn waited upon the Council to ask that something might be done for the street in front of his place. The Mayor informed Mr Hahn tbat the matter was in the hands of the Works Committee, and would be put in hand as soon as possible. CORRESPONDENCE. The Clerk read the outward correspondence. ASHBURTON RESERVES. From Mr C. F. Barker, recommending the Council to give him authority to let the Ashburton Reserves either in one block or in farms of various sizes. The Mayor had already answered this letter, giving the authority asked for. The Council endorsed ■ his Worship's action in the matter, Cr O'Beilly dissenting. A further letter was received from Mr Barker, stating that, if he had not been interfered with he could already have let the reserves on favorable terms. AKAROA HOSPITAL. The following letter was read from Dr Guthrie :— " Akaroa, June 10, 1879. " Sir, —I have the honor to inform you that in a report of the proceedings of • the Borough Council I observed that Cr Meech submitted a statement referring to an investigation lie had made into the requirements of the Hospital. As Cr Meech waived the courtesy of communicating either with me or with my locum tenens, Dr Malone, I am entirely at a loss to apprehend on what authority he took such a step ; and I beg, therefore, you will inform me whether he was acting under instructions - from the Borough Council, or simply on his own responsibility. " Your Worship is no doubt aware of the fact that I. have been appointed by Government medical officer in charge of the Hospital, and I am, of course, by virtue of my appointment, responsible for the proper conduct of the institution. In this capacity I am a servant of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board in Christchurch, to whom I furnish reports, but I have received no instructions from the Government referring to any local managing body.

" Your Worship will readily perceive that Cr Meech's interference has served no purpose save to cast some discredit on the management of the Hospital by causing inaccurate statements to appear in the Press. I use the phrase inaccurate statements advisedly for the following substantial reason, viz., Cr Meech drew up his report without consulting the only person (myself) who was in a position to afford aacurate inform ati on. (e.g. —There are plenty of screens in the Hospital. The operating table is not a fixture, and is now in an empty ward for convenience sake. " I have given instructions to Mr Dixon to admit no one for the future on a " visit of inspection I" without authority from myself as head of the institution. " I have the honor to be " Your Worship's obedient servant, "John Guthrie, M.D. " His Worship the Mayor, Akaroa." Cr Meech moved that Dr Guthrie be informed he had visited the Hospital entirely on his own responsibility, and not as a CouncillorOr O'Reilly was quite amazed at the conduct of Cr Meech ; it not only threw ridicule upon himself (Cr Meech), but upon the Council. It would be in the recollection of every Councillor tbat they had always refused to have anything to do with the Hospital, although they took over the Charitable Aid, although they were required by law to subscribe towards its maintenance, that did not necessarily give them any right of inspection. Professional men would not'stand Sam, Dick and Harry giving their notions about Hospital management. Cr Meech was sure that his object in going to the Hospital had been misconstrued, and too much was being , made of it. Nothing lie had stated hod yet been contradicted. They were only discussing a report that had appeared in 'the Mail. Or Henning said that Ov* Meech made the statement publicly, and there was no upe shirking the matter. Cr Wiggins would second the motion if the words were added " and that Dr Guthrie's letter be referred to the Charitable Aid Board, Christchurch." Cr Meech agreed to amend his motion as follows :—■" That Dr Guthrie be informed

that Mr W. Meech visited the Hospital on his own responsibility, and that Dr Guthrie's letter be referred to the Charitable Aid Board, Christchurch." Cr O'Reilly would move as an amendment —"Thatthis Council, in reply to Dγ Guthriels letter, inform him that the Council did in no way sanction Cr Meech's visit to the Hospital." Cr Henning would second the. amendment, but still was in favor of the question being put to the Board in Christchurch if the Council had any right to visit and report on the Hospital. Cr Bridge was not in favor of the Doctor's letter being sent to Christchurch. Cr Meech has already explained that his visit was on his own responsibility, and there he thought the matter should end. He would vote for the amendment. By leave of the Council Or Meech withdrew the addition to his motion, and the amendment being withdrawn, the motion was put and carried unanimously. BUILDING REGULATIONS. Mr G. Checkley wrote, requesting permission to erect a stable and cart-shed with iron roof at the back of " Taceo House," Lavaud street. On the motion of Cr Meech, seconded by Cr Cullen, the necessary permission was granted. GOVERNMENT CORRESPONDENCE. A circular was read from the Colonia 1 Secretary, pointing out that the acknowledgment of a by-law did not validate or legalize them, and that they were presumed to be in force until the contrary was proved, and further advising that a legal adviser should be consulted in drawing up by-laws. A circular was also received from the same department, acknowledging the receipt of the Council's resolution in favor of the nest session of Parliament being held in Christchurch. A circular was read from the Treasury, requesting that the Borough accounts as required by section 134 of •' The Municipal Corporations Act" be forwarded to their department in triplicate. The Clerk stated that the matter had been attended to. BEPORT ON LAVAUD STREET. A report was read from Messrs Fenton aud Wilkins, Civil Engineers, in regard to the re-forming and making footpaths between Mr Kissel's shop and the Mail office. They were of opinion that the street generally did not require re-forming, with the exception of a small piece which would only cost about £10. If the whole length was to be metalled the cost would be about £110. The report was against any attempt being made to form a footpath under Cr Peniington's Hill. The report contained a further suggestion for improving that part of Lavaud street in question, viz., removing the present sea-wall seaward. The estimated cost would be about £275, but recommended the subject to be well considered, as it might be better to go in for the larger scheme of reclaiming a space from Daly's wharf to Chadwick's shop. On the motion of Cr Bridge, seconded by Cr O'Reilly, the report was received. committee's report, Cr Penlington, as Chairman of Finance Committee, brought up the annual estimate of the income and expenditnre, as required by section 109 of the Act, and which appears elsewhere. The estimate, after providing for the usual expenditure of the Council, leaves the sum of £461 14s unappropriated. Cr Bridge noticed that the item footpaths was retained, and nothing had been done in the matter. Cr Wiggins said that the same idea struck him as Cr Bridge, if the debt is a good one why not ..collect it? He had heard it stated at the Council table that it was not recoverable, and if so they should not blind themselves with a fictitious asset. He would also like to know what the item outstanding rates £22 4s 6d meant, was it an estimate or the actual amount. Cr Penlington replied that it was the actual amount, and of this £9 had been collected. He would move thai; the Council adopt the estimate as read. The motion was seconded by Cr Cullen and carried. Cp Meech moved that the same be published as reqnired by the Act, with the view of striking a rate, which was seconded by Cr Cullen and carried. Cr Meech, on the part of the Works Committee, reported verbally that he had been unable to arrange with the contactor for the three new lamps as he asked more for the work than he had Jbeen empowered by the Oounc&to give. . The lamps had, however, be'en lighted, and the contractor was willing to leave the price in the hands of the Council. He had employed Mr Morey to erect the iron railings of the. bridges at £1 per day for himself and his assistant. He had employed a man to get metal for the streets and this was being done and carted ont, some to Muter street, and some to the reclaimed ground opposite Leprous forge. Jollie street south was being proceeded with, but it was found that extra expense would have to he incurred to make a good job of it. This he did not suppoee the Council would object to. The various subjects enumerated in this verbal report led to a long and acrimonious discussion between Crs O'Reilly and Meech, which elicited the fact that neither His Worship nor Cr Cullen, both members of the Works Committee, knew anything about several of the matters with which the report dealt. Cr Henning moved that the action of the Chairman of the Works Committee be approved of. Cγ Bridge would second the motion, although he thought the metal being put on the street was a mistake, it was quite useless. The motion was put and carried. Cr | O'Reilly dissenting. Cr O'Beilly at this stage gave notice of a motion that at next meeting of the Council he would move that the various Committees be re-ccnstructed. Crs Wiggins and Bridge retired, and his Worship called the next order of the day. PAYMENTS. An account was received from M'Lucas and M'Kay amounting to £77 18s for timber, it was explained that time had not been given to check this account, and also that some of the 4x2 were not in acpordance with the specification. It was suggested that a progress payment of £50 be made. Cγ Penlington then moved, and Cr Henning secouded, tbat the following accounts

be passed for payraeut, viz :*— M'Lucas andM'Key, £50 0 0 A. Scott, carting, 2 15 0 H. Manders, ... ... 013 0 Wiggins and Co, 8 9 0 — Burns, carting, 0 4 0 Clerk's Salary, 8 6 8 £70 7 8 TOWN REEERVEB. His Worship drew attention to the fact that during his illness it had been overlooked that the period for which the reserves in the Borough were let had expired, viz, on the Ist inst. Cr Wiggins here took his seat again at the table. Cr Penlington would move that teuders be called again for the reserves in question, and that the Couucil hold a special meeting on Wednesday the 18th, to accept tenders. The motion was seconded by Cr O'Reilly and carried. PODND. Iv answer to a question from Cr O'Reilly, the Clerk stated that he had duly received the returns of certain animals sold at the pound a few days ago, amounting to £5 2s 6d, from thei Poundkeeper. I Cr O'Reilly explained that the question i had been asked to enable the Council to set themselves right with the public out of doors, who were wondering what had become of the money. Cr Meech would move that in future & statement of all monies received since the previous, sitting be laid before each meetof the Council. Th motion was seconded by Cr Henning and agreed to. HOSPITAL. Cγ Henning moved the following resolution, on the grounds that the Council were large contributors to the Hospital. That the Charitable Aid and Hospital Board at Christchurch be written to, asking that this Council as a large contributor to the support of the Akaroa Hospital, be granted the power of appointing a Councillor or Councillors to visit it from time to time, and report to the Council upon the management of the institution. It being understood that no interference in any way is proposed, but that the Council is merely desirious of being in a position to occasionally inspect an institution in which the Eorongh is largely interested, and to make suggestions to the managing Board. Cr Meech seconded the motion. The Mayor opposed the motion strongly, on the grounds that the Council had always repudiated having anything to do with the Hospital, and that no doubt during next session of Parliament some legal enactment would be made with reference to Hospitals generally. The motion he thought unwise and premature. Cr Cullen objected to the motion, as promoting a system of interference, of which they had experience in the late visit of Cr Meech. The motion meant meddle and muddle, and as such he would oppose it. Cr O'Beilly strongly opposed, the motion in a characteristic speech. On the question being pat, there voted for the motion, Crs Penlington, Meech, Henning, Wiggins and Bruce. Against, the Mayor, Crs, O'Reilly, Cullen. The motion was deolared carried. LAMPS On the motion of Cr O'Reilly, seconded by Cr Bruce, it was agreed to give the contractor for the lamps, £2 each for the winter quarter for the lighting and maintenance of the three new lamps. ADJOURNMENT. Cγ Wiggins moved that the Council now adjourn until after the special meeting on Wednesday, 18th inst. Seconded by Cr Henning and carried. The Council then adjourned. .