AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 369, 3 February 1880, Page 2

AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Saturday, Jan. 31. The Council met on the above date in their new offices, Duvauchelle's Bay. Present—Messrs Dalglish (chairman), Williams, Cocp, Hay, Gebbie, Barker, and Bradley. Mr M'Donald entered the room shortly after the commencement of the meeting. The tninuies of the ordinary meeting held on Jan. 3 were read and confirmed. chairman's statement. The Chairman read a statement of the business which would be brought before the Council. These various matters appear hereunder. clerk's illness. A letter, accompanied by a medical certificate, was read from Mr B. C. Latter, informing the Council that his son, the Clerk to the Council, was seriously ill. The Chairman said it would be necessary to provide for the clerical work. Mr Coop moved that Mr A. I, M'Gregor bo requested to undertake tho clerical work of the Council during Mr Latter's illness. Mr Williams seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. I'JGEOX BAY RKOP.EATION GROUND. With regard to the grant for this ground, which had again lapsed, Mr Hay reported that they had not been able to secure a, situ*. Tho money was re-voted for throe months, it boing- understood that this was to be the last time. The same proceeding was adopted with regard to the vote for Port Levy Cemetery. lavebick's bay. An application was received from this locality for a grant i'or cemetery purposes. Resolved that the petitioners be informed that tho Council has at present no funds at its disposal for the purpose. LITTLE RIVER AND AKAROA ROAD BOARDS. A letter had been received from tho Little River Board, in reply to a communication from tho Council as to the allocation of certain funds remaining in the hands of the Council for the purpose of the Mount Bossu and Lake Forsyth road. The Akaroa Board contended that they had expended considerably more money on this work than they had received from the Council, and that they had constructed a considerable length of road in the Little River District. They, therefore, asked the favorable consideration of the Council of their request for a portion of the funds in hand. This letter having been referred to the Little River Board, they replied by the following resolution : —" The Council to be informed that in consideration of the fact that this Board have entered into a contract for forming four miles of road in continuation of the road alluded to in the loiter of the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board, and that the funds in hand will have to be supplemented in order to complete tho contract; also, that the road represented as having been made in the Liltio River district was done without the ! consent of, or consultation with this Board, and in fact was completed without their knowledge ; and further, that the Board have been put to costs in repairing , it. The Board cannot therefore admit that any portion of the funds, part of original ; ':T;ini" at piv.sont in tho hamhi of the Council i.s due t<; l':o Akaroa and Wainui Road Board."

At the request, of Mr Williams, eoti.sideralion of the hilar wj;s postponed u.itil the arrival of Mr Wilkins, who was expected to bo in attendance at a later period. SUMMIT ROAD. The report of Messrs Fenton and Wilkins on the re-grading of this road was read. They reported that they had taken a diversion through a low saddle, and that it was almost level the greater part of the distance. Mr Barker objected to the proposed diversion. The engineers should have taken the line into the waterfall road. As it was, they had two roads running side by side within a few chains of one another. Ihe consideration of the matter was postponed till the arrival of Mr Wilkins. EXTENSION OF BALGUEME STIIEET. A report on this work, drawn up in accordance with a resolution of the Council by the Chairman and Mr Wilkins was read. The report stated that a road was much wanted to the land in this valley, as there was a large area cleared and laid down in English grasses, to which the settlers had no available access. That the settlers in Flea and other bays on the other bays on the other side of the range at present came to Akaroa through Mr Lelievre's land, and were dependent on his courtesy for the track which would not be used if a biidle track were made. The report gave rise to considerable discussion, in the course of which Mr Williams defended the action of the Akaroa and Wainui lioad Board, and contended that the Council should not single out this Board for the purpose of interfering in a matter which they (the Road Board) were quite competent to deal with. Mr Barker moved that the question of this road stand over until the Council decided as to taking over the main roads. The motion was seconded by Mr Gebbie, and carried. LE BON'S BAY POUND. A letter was read from the Okain's Road Board, recommending , the appointment of Mr Hartstone as poundkeeper. Mr Hartstone was appointed poundkeeper. A letter was received from Mr D. Wright, Clerk to the above Board, in explanation of a former letter which had been forwarded to the Council. MOUNT BOSSU ROAD. Mr Wilkins, being now in attendance, exhibited a plan which he stated was approximately correct, showing that of this road there were 127 chains in the Little River district, 129 chains in the Akaroa district, and 34 chains were on the summit which formed the dividing line. A somewhat irregular discussion ensued, and finally a resolution was carried, referring the matter back to the Boards, with a view to their effecting an equitable agreement on it. ALLOCATION OF FUNDS. The Chairman said he understood that there was a deputation in attendance from the various Road Boards, who had a grievance to bring before them. Mr Moore, Chairman of the Okain's Board, said he was there in consequence of an invitation from the Chairman of the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board. He did not see Mr Chappell present. Mr Shudbolt said he believed that he was answerable for this matter. With the leave of the Council he would make a few remarks. He thought it was a great pity for the Council to keep a sum of money locked up. Let them distribute the money so that it would be of some use to the public at large. Mr Barker moved that the sum of £1500 be allocated among; the Road Boards. Mr Williams, asked what the balance in hand was. The Chairman replied about £1800. Mr Williams suggested that it would be better to alter the wording of the resolution so as to make it read " all available funds." Mr Barker would accept the suggested alteration. The motion, as altered, was put and carried, the ayes being Messrs Williams, Bradley, Gebbie, Barker, and Hay ; no, Mr Coop. EALGUERIE ROAD EXTENSION. Mr Coop moved that £250 be voted for the construction of the above road in accordance with the report of the engineer, the money to be handed over to the Akaroa ahd Wainui Road Board for that purpone. The motion was seconded by Mr Gebbie. Mr Wiliiams strongly opposed the motion. He considered the roaJ, as recommended, would bo utterly useless, and would be ;. disgrace to the Council. The grade was such that the road would bo quite useless. On the motion being put, Messrs Gebbie, Hay, Coop, M'Donald, and Barker voted for it, and it was accordingly declared carried. MISCELLANEOUS. Mr Barker moved that each Road Board be requested to bend in a statement of its assets and liabilities. Mr Williams wished to move an amendment, but tho Chairman ruled that it amounted to a substantive resolution. Mr Barker's resolution was negatived by four to three. Mr Williams then moved that the Council at its next meeting proceed to allocate the funds pro rata, as on a former occasion. The motion was carried. SLAUGHTER-HOUSES. The report of the inspector for the month of December was read. PAYMENTS. The following accounts were passed for payment: — Akaroa Mail £7 13 0 Fenton and Wilkins. re-grading Summit road ' 50 8 0 £58 1 0 STOPPAGE OF ROADS. Mr Montgomery, M.H.R., who was present, at the rosiest of ihe Chairman, reported what he had done in answer to the request contained in a letter of the Council to effect certain alterations in the Public Works Act towards facilitating the closing of old roads. Willi regard to the plans being taken from the Crown grants, he was informed by the Chief Surveyor that such plans would be verified by him. They would see, therefore, that this saving of expenses of survey could be eil'ected without an alteration of the Act of Parliament. He noticed that they also asked to have the time of notice reduced from three

months to four weeks. Will: regard to i:lii:;! point, ho should liko f.o licar aumo reasons from tho.;o who advocated this change. Those members oil the House to whom he had spoken'on the subject were of opinion that the latter notice was insufficient.

Messrs Williams and Hay, as two or those who had supported the change, expressed themselves as satisfied. The? great expense and difficulty consisted in the surveys. As they learned that this could be dispensed with, they did not think that the question of time was a matter of moment.

Mr Williams moved a vote of thanks to Mr Montgomery for his attendance that day.

The motion was seconded by Mr > lubbie. and carried unanimously. The Council then adjourned till Saturday, February 21.