AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 307, 27 June 1879, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wednesday, June 25.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of this Council was held on the above date at their office, Balguerie street. Present—His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Crs Penlington, Meech, Henning, Cullen, Bridge, Bruce, Wiggins, and O'Reilly. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmedCORRESPONDENCE. The Clerk read the outward correspondence, including notices to Messrs Harris and Lardner, desiring them to remove their fences. His Worship stated that Mr Harris had complied with the notice given, and Mr Lardner had promised to do so without delay. A letter was read from Mr C. F. Barker, stating that Mr R. D. Thomas, who prepared the conditions of lease of the Ashburton Reserves, declined to give them up until his account against the Council had , been paid, and requesting the Council to have the matter settled. Cr Bruce wanted to know who hud given authority to incur the expense. Cr O'Reilly moved that the account be referred back to Mr Barker. Cr Penlington said there was no doubt the Council had instructed Mr Barker to get this work done, and were bound to pay for it. Ultimately the account was ordered to be paid. sanitary. Dr Guthrie, in his capacity of Health Officer, reported a mild case of scarlet fever. He stated that he had taken measures for fumigating the house in which the disease had broken out. His Worship stated that the doctor had informed him verbally that all danger was over. engineer's account.' A letter was read from Messrs Fenton and Wiikins, asking for payment of an account amounting to £15 15s. It appeared that this account had Ijeen passed for payment at a former meeting of the Council. Cr Meech, however, had declined to sign the cheque ; hence the payment had not been made. In explanation of his action in the matter, Cr Meech stated that an arrangement had been made with Mr Roberts to superintend the erection of the two bridges for £15. He had himself arranged with Mr Fenton to do the work for the same amount. The account had been passed in error, and when the cheque was brought to him he had declined to sign it. The Council ordered the account to be paid at once. finance. Cr Penlington, as Chairman of the Finance Committee, reported the overdraft to be £185 17s 6d. WORKS COMMITTEE. Cr Meech made a verbal statement as to what had been done by this Committee. The Council having decided on carrying out the work in Upper Jollie street, the Committee had called for tenders for the work. In accordance with a resolution of the Council, they had a man employed in getting out metal from the bank near Leprous. It would be for the Council to say whether his services were to be continued or not. He also referred to certain minor works' which were being attended to. In connection with this subject, a letter from Mr S. Watkins was taken into consideration. Mr Watkins asked that something might be done to the piece of. road in continuation of Church street leading up to Dr Watkins' residence and the Parsonage. Cr Meech moved that the letter be referred to the Works Committee with power to act. | Cr O'Reilly was in favor of the work being done, but did not like these matters | being constantly left in the hands of the Works Committee. Some discussion ensued, and the Mayor suggested to Cr Meech to withdraw the latter part of his motion, substituting the words " report to tho Council." Cr Bridge disagreed with the plan of i referring all these things to the Works Committee. He did not think that Committee should have the responsibility thrown upon them involving the calling for tenders. Cr Cullen deprecated blame being attached to the Works Committee. The Council had thrown a large amount of work upon the Committee, and then turned round and abused them afterwards. He thought such conduct ungrateful. Cr O'Reilly moved as an amendment that tenders*be called at once for the work. Tho amendment was lost, the mover only voting for it, and the resolution was carried on the understanding that the work should be limited to filling up a large hole in the road in question. (Cr Wiggins here withdrew.) PAYMENTS. The following accounts were passed for payment:— H. Billens £G 4 8 Akaroa Mail 10 14 6 J. Anderson (iron rails) ... 66 12 0 T. Adams (auditor's fee) ... 2 2 0 S. Watkins do. ... 2 2 0 G. Lardner, carting 3 7 6 R. D. Thomas, legal expenses 8 3 4 J. Manning, lighting ... 8 5 0 £107 11 0 The following licenses were granted :— carters. - G. Scott, A. Scott, C. Brown, G. Lardner (2), J. Kerridge, and E. Brocher PETROLEUM. J. Daly, Garwood and Co., 11. Billens, J. Vangioni, and H. G. Watkins. (Cr Wiggins here re-entered the room.)

Tenders. Two tenders for the work in Jollie street which had been received in answer to an advertisement inserted by the Works Committed were laid upon the table, unopened. *% Or Bridge objected, strongly to the action taken by the' Works Committee in calling for tenders without the authority of the Council. Cr Meech explained that the Committee had taken the course they had in order to save time. Through that action the Council were to-night in possession of a certain amount of information which they otherwise would not have had. Cr Henning supported the action of the Committee, and moved that the tenders be opened. Cr Penlington thought the step taken by the Committee most unwarrantable. As Chairman of the Finance Committee, he might just as reasonably advertise for a loan. Cr O'Reilly agreed with Crs Bridge and Penlington, and severely criticised the action of the Works Committee in this and other matters. He moved that the tenders be not received. Cr Cullen deprecated the personal animus .shown, by Crs Bridge and O'Reilly against the Chairman of the Works Committee. These constant attacks on him were cowardly. Cr Wiggins seconded Cr Henning's motion. He did not approve of the action of the Works Committee, but no good object would be attained by throwing out the tenders. The discussion by this time had become somewhat acrimonious, and Cr O'Reilly left the room. The motion was put and carried, Cr Bridge dissenting. On the tenders being opened, they were considered to be too high, and on the motion of Cr Bridge, it was resolved to call for fresh ones. The Works Committee were authorized to retain the services of the man at present employed, and to have various small repairs to the footpaths, &c., executed. j The Council adjourned at 10.30 p.m.