AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 327, 5 September 1879, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wednesday, Sept. 3,

The Council met in their offices, Balguerie street, on the above date. Present—His Worship the Mayor (in the-, chair)!,. Crs Penlington, Henning, Bruce, Bridge, Cullen, Meech, and O'Reilly. The minute's of the previous meeting were read and cohfinned. The outward correspondence was read. POUND CHARGES. The Ponndkeoper, at the request of .the Council, sent the details of an account for charges, £1 13s 6d, in connection with a recent sale of catde in Pound. After some discussion il was agreed to let the matter rest, as it was discovered that the Council was not in possession of a copy of ''The Canterbury Impounding Ordinance," and were, as a matter of course, talking in the dark. FROM THE TREASURY. A letter was read from the Treasury in reference to certain questions as to Charitable Aid, but the letter had been originally addressed (prcsumeably) to the wrong department. The correspondence had been forwarded to the Colonial Secretary's office. UPPER JOIXIE STREET. Messrs Jolly and Slater, the contractors for the footways in this street, wrote, offering to deduct £2 from their account on the score of short gravelling ; and also stating that they had never seen any specification that required four inches of gravelling. Cr O'Reilly was sure the amount offered to be deducted would cover the difference of gravel, and in this the Mayor concurred. Cr Meech thought that £3 would be about the right thing to deduct. Cr Penlington moved that the contractors be requested to complete the footpaths in terms of the agreement. Seconded by Cr O'Beilly. Cr Cullen was sure that they could not compel the contractors to put on four inches of gravel, the whole thing had been entered into in a loose manner, and the contractors had been told by the Chairman of the Works Committee that a sprinkling of gravel would be enough. He would move as an amendment that the contractors offer of £2 be accepted. Seconded by Cr Bruce. There voted for the amendment Crs Bruce. Meech, Bridge, and Cullen. Against—His Worship the Mayor, Crs O'Reilly, Penlington, and Henning. His Worship gave his casting vote with tho noes, and declared the amendment lost. At this stage Cr Wiggins entered the chamber and took his seat. ERECTING FENCES.

A letter was received from Mr John Cullen, requesting permission to erect a fence, and also requesting to be informed of the exact levels of Viard street, so that the fence would not be injured by any alterations in the street. Cr Bruce moved that the request be granted, and the levels given. Seconded by Cr O'Reilly, and carried. Cr Meech as Chairman of the School Committee also applied for the necessary permission to erty;t a fence round the school ground, aijH also requesting the line of street and street levels. The usual permission was granted. FOREST TREES. The Clerk of the County Council wrote, stating that fifty trees had been given for planting in the Borough. ASHBURTON RESERVES. A letter was received from Mr C. F. Barker, Christchurch, asking if the Council were willing to let their 2000 acres reserve at Ashburton on the same conditions as the Canterbury Education Board leases, as he had an offer for them on that basis. Cr O'Reilly was not in favor of altering their conditions every day of the week. It looked to him as if there was something mysterious in the matter, and covered something no one at the table understood. He would move that Mr Barker be informed that the Council could not alter their conditions of letting the reserves. Cr Wiggins said the Education Department had reserves all over the Province, and of course had large experience in the matter. They could not do better than follow them, and as the Council wanted money, the matter was worth careful consideration.

Cr Penlington was in favor of Cr Wiggins' view of the matter, but should in the first place like to know the exact terms of the offer. Cr Wiggins moved as an amendment— " That Mr Barker be written to, asking him to forward the offer in question for the consideration of the Council, and on the receipt of the same, that the Council take the matter into consideration." The amendment was seconded by Cr Bruce, put, and carried. At this stage a letter was read from Mr i Barker, involving certain questions of payment. Cr Wiggins objected to questions of this sort coming on at this stage of the business, as they led to the matter beingdiscussed twice. OLD CEMETERY. A request to bear the half share of the fencing of this cemetery was received from Mr P. O'Eeilly, writing on behalf of the Catholic Bishop of Wellington, in whom the cemetery in question was vested. His Worship quite agreed with the request as the Council drew the rents for the adjoining property, and the whole cost would only be some £16 or £18. At present the resting, place o£ the pioneers of the settlement was a disgrace to any civilized community. He would move that the Council bear half of the cost of fencing sec. 108. The motion was seconded by Cr Wiggins, put, and carried. CROSSING FOOTPATHS. An application was received from Cr O'Reilly, requesting permission to make a crossing over the footway in Lavaud street to his place of business. Cr Wiggins made a similar application to cross the footway at the gate of the Catholic paddock in the same street, and stated that if- the by-law was enforced he must abandon the paddock. Cr Mooch was sure the by law was being strained, as it was never intended to apply to persons crosaiug to their place of business, it only referred to persons riding along the footway. Ho thought the police should use discretion in the mattsr. He would move that any person having business premises requiring the crossing of horses and'vehicles over .the footways bo granted authority to cross the

same on the understanding that footways are not injured by so doing. The motion was seconded by Cr Bruce, and agreed to. An application from F. Hahn for leave to cross to section 118, and Welch's paddock coming under the head of the last resolution was granted. DAY LABOR. A letter was received from Mr E. Staples, stating that as he understood Mr Smith had given up the appointment, he was willing to do the the work at a salary of £3 per weak, with or without a cart. It was resolved to allow the matter to drop in the meantime, and if necessary to advertise for fresh applications for the work. . REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE. Cr Penlington, as Chairman of the above committee, verbally reported that he had seen the Manager of the Bank of New Zealand here in reference to the overdraft, and that that gentleman had informed him that it was desirable the overdraft should be reduced before the 30th inst., the day of the Bank's annual balance. And he (Cr Penlington) suggested this should be done by getting in the now due rates. Mr Westenra had also informed him that the proper course'would be, after the present overdraft was arranged for, to come to the Bank and ask for a certain sum for a fixed period. The amount of the overdraft at present was £220, and with accounts to be passed that were owing would amount to another £100. Cr Meech thought that the Chairman of Finance Committee had been precipitate in the matter. The better way would have been to allow the Bank to come or write to the Council. The matter was then allowed to drop. REPORT OF THE WORKS COMMITTEE. Cr Meech, as Chairman of this committee, reported that he had employed two men to clear the slips out in Aylmer's Valley road, and the work was now nearly complete, and suggested that the Road Board should be asked to do their share of the road. Cr Wiggins was of opinion that any reference to the Road Board was impolitic, as that body was quite capable of managing their own business, and any interference would be resented. The action of the Works Committee was ultimately approved of. PAYMENTS. On the motion of Cr Cullen, seconded by Cr Bruce, the following accounts were passed for payment:— P. M'Guire, labor £12 0 H. Billens 2 10 E. Staples, labor 1 18 6 J. Ryan ... 3 10 0 Insurance 2 10 0 Town ulsrk's salary ... ... 8 6 8 C. Burns, balance of contract ... 31 0 0 E. Brocher, carting 0 10 0 Brooks, lighting lamp Jollie street bridge 12 6

£52 0 8 A long discussion took place in reference to an account received for advertising from Mr C. F. Barker, Christohureh, for £48 15s 9d. Cr Henning pointed out that the cost of the advertisement varied in different papers for each insertion. Ashhurton Mail charged 13s 2d ; Press, 9s 10d ; and the Times, 12s 4d. He thought some further explanation "was due to the Council, and would move that Mr Barker he referred to the Council's letter of Ist August, and .he requested to obtain from the several offices their accounts in detail, with scales of charges tor the same. The motion was seconded by Cr Cullen, and carried, Cr Wiggins dissenting. LIGHTING CONTRACT. Cr Wiggins drew the attentien of the Council to the state of the lighting of the town that evening. Along the beach, all that could be said about them was that they were alight. It would be much better to nip this matter in the bud, and commence with the new contractor as they intended to end. Hβ would also like to know-whose duty it was to. see the lighting contract properly carried out. It was resolved that the terms of the contract be fully carried out, and the Clerk was directed to see that the sureties signed the required bond. BATES ON POUND. MrF. Hahn, the Poundkeeper, appeared, and objected to being rated for the Pound. It was pointed out that Mr Hahn's opportunity of appeal had now passed, and that the Council had no power in the matter.

Cr Henning moved that Mr F. Hahn in the first place pay the rate, and that the Council again refund him the amount. The motion was not seconded, and the matter dropped. RE-FUND OF FOOTPATHS. Cr O'Reilly wanted to know why the late resolution of the Council in reference to ths collection of the half-cost of footways had not been acted upon. The Mayor stated that he believed the Council had not a foot to stand on, and he had done nothing in the matter. If they wished it he was quite ready to bring a test case into Court. Cr Wiggins said that was not the question. A certain resolution of the Council had been passed in reference to this, and the Executive Officer of the Council, was bound to see it carried out, right or wrong. His Worship promised to have all the footpath accounts rendered by the following day. CONTRACTS, Cr Henning moved that in future the standing order No. 53 in regard to specifications being laid before the Council strictly adhered to. The motion was put and carried. JOr,IJE STREET BRIDGE. The Committee appointed to report on this bridge had not been able to meet, but promised to report to the next meeting of the Countil. The extension of time was agreed to. The meeting then adjourned.