AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 357, 19 December 1879, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Monday, Dec. 15,

.An adjourned meeting of this Council was held in the offices, Balguerie street, on the above date.

Present —His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Crs Penlington, Bruce, Bridge, Cullen, O'Reilly, and Wiggins.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

CORRESPONDENCE. The Clerk read the outward correspondence. Letters were read—

From the Treasury, advising payment into the Bank of New Zealand of £8, being flues received at the K.M. Court, Akaroa, for breaches o£ the Borough By-laws u#to October 31, 1879.

From the Colonial Secretary, acknowledging receipt of letter from the Town Clerk, notifying the re-election of Mr C. J. Waeckerle as Mayor of the Borough of Akaroa..

From Mr A. I. MGregor, offering his

services as valuator for the incoming year, Cr O'Reilly would like to know when the Council was going to stop in the matter of expenditure. In their present position retrenchment was absolutely necessary. The Town Clerk had plenty of time on hia hands, and he (Cr O'Reilly) did not see why he should not undertake this duty. ' Cr Bridge supported the same view of the case. Cr Wiggins, while admitting the necessity of retrenchment, did not think they should at that stage of the proceedings, bind themselves to employ the Town Clerk for the purpose. On the motion of Cr Bridge the followlpvying resolution was agreed to: —''That this letter be acknowledged, and that Mr M'Gregor be informed that the Council consider the office of valuer for the Borough an annual one, and that his offer will receive consideration." From Mr O'Sullivan, offering to clear side channels, &c, for £22 10s.

The offer was declined. ■' From Duncan and Cotterill (telegram), asking what rates were due on town section 87.

The telegram had been answered. From Messrs Edniiston Bros, and Gundry (telegram), stating that they had let one section of the Ashburton Reserves at 4s per acre. PETITION. Cr O'Reilly presented a petition signed both by residents in the Borough and certain stockowners outside, asking for a repeal of the by-law prohibiting the driving of cattle through the Borough during certain hours. Cr O'Reilly did not support the repeal of the by-law, though he thought possibly it might be advisable to alter the hours. Cr Bridge thought sheep might be excepted, and \yould move that the police be instructed to take no proceedings in the case of sheep. Cr Penlington objected to the Council interfering with the police in this manner. They had done so in regard to driving horses on footpaths, and the result was that people considered every place that suited them a "crossing." He would point out that it was only during six hours of the twenty-four that persons were prevented from driving cattle. Cr Bruce suggested that the consideration of the question should be postponed. If they found that they could alter the hours, well and good. Cr Bridge considered the by-law useless. It allowed cattle to be driven just at the time when ladies and children were most likely to be about the streets and beach. Cr Cullen moved—" That the prayer of the petition could not be complied with, and this Council declines to repeal the by-law." Cr O'Reilly did not wish to have the bylaw repealed, but that it might be altered. The motion was carried. FINANCE. The Mayor reported that the overdraft at the Bank was £189 4s sd. Since then £7 had been paid in, and there was £10 in hand, which would reduce the debit balance to about £172. ST. DOCKS' DAY. ' The Mayor reported that he had employed a man to cut away the weeds and docks for the sum of £3. Cr Cullen thought t l ie Chairman of the Works Committee should have been consulted in the matter. The Mayor explained that time had been pressing, and Cr Penlington was not to bo found at tlie tune. After a somewhat warm altercation between Crs O'Reilly and Penlington, tlie matter dropped. LIGHTING. Cr Wiggins reported, as Chairman of the Lighting Committee, that he had spoken to the lamplighter on the subject of suspending his contract for a time. The latter had promised to give him an answer in time for last meeting, but had failed to do so. On speaking to him a second time on the subject, Yewen had simply declined to give him any answer at all. CHAIRMAN OF FINANCE COMMITTEE. The Mayor said it would be necessary for the Council to appoint a Chairman of the Finance Committee. He would suggest that as Cr Penlington was familiar with the duties of the office, it would be well to appoint him. Cr Bridge moved the appointment of Cr Penlington, which was seconded by Cr Bruce. Cr Penlington objected to holding the chairmanship of two committees such as Works and Finance, but under the circumstances would accept the office, on the understanding that it would only be a temporary affair until the vacancies in the Council were filled up. RESIGNATION OF CR HKNNING. Cr Wiggins said he saw on the table a letter from Cr Henning, iesigriirig his position cis councillor. The resignation was dated the 12th inst., but up to the time of the Council's meeting that evening no notice had been received by tlie Returning Officer of the vacancy. The Clerk stated that he had forwarded the notice that evening to the Returniug Officer's house. The matter then dropped. cv bridge's motion. Cr Bridge asked for leave to withdraw the motion standing in his name. Motion, by leave, withdrawn. The Council then adjourned.