AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 341, 24 October 1879, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wednesday, October 22

An adjourned ordinary .meeting l of this Council was held on the above date at their offices, Balguerie street. Presen| —His * Worship Mayor (in the chair), Crs Penlington, Meech, Bridge, Henning, Bruce, O'Reilly, and Wiggins. The jtninutes, of the • meeting held, on October 1 were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. The Clerk read the outward correspondence. Letters were read— - From the Colonial Secretary, explaining the reasons for the deductions , from the subsidies on account of charitable institutiofflsdutside the Borough of Akaroa. From the same, acknowledging receipt of amended by-law^ ■:<■■-.

From the. Ashburton . Borough Council, forwarding copy of resolutions arrived at by that Council regarding a union of municipalities for. the purpose of obtaining united action' in matters affecting the interests of those bodies. The resolution was as follows:—

" That in the opinion of this Council it is advisable to form a Municipal Association, and comprised of all the Borough Councils throughout the Cariterbnry: Pro-t vincial District, for the purpose of furthering the interests of municipalities «in general." ■- ■ '- Cr Bridge moved a resolution that the Council agree with, the resolution of the Ashburton Council, and would offer every assistance "tcTcarry out the"~object.

The resolution was seconded by Cr Wiggins. Cis O'Reilly and Penlington concurred.

Cr Henning would not oppose the motion, but doubted if the matter would do any good. The motion was carried.

From the Reluming Officer, offering, in the present state of the Borough finances, to perform his duties gratuitously. Cr Penlington thought the letter was an ineult toithe Council, and moved that it be not received; : '■ ■ '

Cr Bruce seconded the resolution, which was carried. :

From the Colonial Secretary, stating that the Council's letter, asking when the subsidy would be paid, had been referred to the-Paymaster-General. , From Mr- C. F. Barker, asking whether, ,if his client should make acertain offer for , ■leasing the Ashburtorf Reserves "he should,' close. .• '• ' / - •' • -"'—^-*- CrPewlington move.d'-thatiiie qopsideration of the letter be deferred till j meeting of the Council,Vhich/wojfld , take I ( place in.a week. ■• v"' '" ii „ t ■'.'- Tlie ijiotion was dktst\icß:x Cr uioved -m j an. cipftendinent that the preserves be-' q£ Mr. Barkers'hands altogether/ '-' • .- was,. -second,ed by Cr HeaniHgr-^- — "__j — L ' > : - /' guggoetflft the matter be I left ovor/fbra ievi be au"th.brize<£Jo carry i Council, provicTed "that no'"answer was received from»Mr Barker-ia-the' meanjvhile.,. i After "sopie discussion, the amendment was lost,'and"tlie-reso-lutioir 1 ""earned, the votes being as follows :—For- the amendment —Crs < .anxl t foe Mayor; for tl)e~res'olution-- :: Clrs'Pe'rllrng'tSri, .JVleech, Bridge, Bruce, and Wiggins. J From ffie of ~ the"~Alairdlr I School ;Cdmtnittee, iaskyig; on behalf of theB6afd o$ Educdtion, if the' Council would ''assist the Board in erecting a retaining wall in Lavaud street, bounding the school section. • ! ' ■ ... It was resolved that the Council could not entertain tfrejjfoppsiition. j,^-^'.^..',,. PUBLIC HAIiLS. Cr Henning asked if any reply had been received to the Council's letters calling upon the proprietors of public halls in the Borough jo cause their doors to open outwards.,,-)£ appfear.jjng that no answer had been. yecQi^^^e' , , thought the licenses ought to be carieeil&d till the required alteration was made, and moved a resolution to that effect. ~Cr.,Wiggins .explained, with regard to the Oddfellows, that that body had had no meeting since the Council's letter was i .(Written. 7"; '■■■ ■i,. ~ f /'•..' '.-v ■' :; " i ' .-" The resolution was, by consent of the Council, withdrawn. pousibi l -'• '■'* /t' :.' The Pound keeper's report was laid on the recejptjs for fhe [quaffer amounting £2 7,s 11 dl Some,qohversation took- place\ in 'the* course 1 W' which if> was remarked) as; singujar.that ; when the Ponndkeeper was authorized to retaih thb fees they ; atnoimte(J to over; M 25 & year,, and now that he was paid- a' salary;thej rer, ciepts bad-''fallen'<:td>' >JeBS than,; half * that rate. The matter was dropped.. .„ ( FINANCE. ~:,-■ : , ' v Cr Meoch, as chairman of the Finance Committee, reported having had an inter- ' view with - the Manager ;of the Bank of New Zealand with reference to the overdraft. It would be nepessary for the Council to undertake no works, except" those of a most absolutely nocesaary character at present.

- WORKS COMMITTEE. Cr Penlington reported that all the was to temporarijjt.tepajr street. With? Regard S^th^^N^^ Apposite the Magiffni|'e& resicbpnel, the Com'miftee.had any-stepa on account ot thfe gqsit^on— ;■»> Cr''Henninj£:vouldiike to have an esti,'ma > te'of li tbe>nepQSßaryWpenditure. ! Cr it depended entirely op the ground the Council desired \o re6laim. -If the Council authorized an expenditure of say £10 or £20, the Works Committee would see that ii_wa,s laidouj; as far as it would go. Affoi* Cr Mee6h|sailJ' that this -"question -epened -up the whofe - subject of drainage and water supply. There was no doubt-these wqrks were, ab-, solutely necessary, but this was not an i isdlatedcafsev? There was hardly a back yard in Akaroa that was in a fit state. Some time*.ago., .the OowncJL sought au-. thority from the ratepayers to raise a loan, but the inhabitants had refused their assent ¥o the .proposal. KHe should oppose the voting of;' any /money for these little works, .in A the hope that the inhabitants wruldlatspTne futsure; taiiae, fQxf& to consentrtb a |pe J |w|oljb| matter could be grappled with In a comprehensive? mapneri I Ultimately the Works Committee were authorized to spend £4 to £5 on the work. '.'"'., PAYMENTS. The following accounts, were, passed fqr payment: — •'' ' ,= '' ' * J. L. Manning, lighting•' ... £S 16 3 IJ. Mander, night jEork_ 0 4 0 H. Biljens, paint, &c 0 1610 F. Orchard, repairs to lamps ... 0 5 0 Returning Officer 3 3 0 A claim'amountihgHoi£3 Jsf was put in by Edmondson and Maguire for labor on the historical: Jdllie street footpaths. The claimants alleged that this, accpuot had been furnished to the' Council before, and that no answer had been received by them. ...,,'. Cr Wiggins thought 1 it .was very unbusinesslike and discourteous not.to. have answered any former letter on the Subject. Cr Meech and the Mayor reported that the work for which the claim was made formed part of the contract for which the Council had already paid., . , t It was'resolved toinform the claimants to that effect. • • • >■ ..-

FINANCE. . 'Cr O'Reilly said as ! the hour , was late he would not detain the Council, though he had some remarks to make on the question of the financial position of the Council. He would simply move the appointment of a committee, to consist of the chairmen of. the various committees, the Mayor, •dtid the mover, : t6 consider; What 'measures of retrenchment can bo adopted in the Ipresent financial position, and report to a speci.il meeting, of the Council to be held on Saturday next. , , 'Cγ Bridge "ciourd/not seeVthe object of the committee meeting first, and then the Councir having , to ■gOTover-the-satae-greund again. He thought the Council could resolve itself into a committee of the whole! and that this would answer the purpose equally well. i Cr Wiggins would personally prefei , being spared the trouble of attending a meeting, first of the committee, and theh. of the Council, but he apprehended that the reason for the proposal was that some definite suggestion should be laid before , the Council at,its meeting, , |>| • / The resolutioti was then; putjand/oanied, and the Council &diourned. f #'■ - ■