AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 382, 19 March 1880, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A meeting of the above Council was held at their Chambeos, Balguerie Street, on Wednesday night last. Present: His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Chadwick, Bruce, Cullen, Penlington, O'Reilly, Bridge, and Kissell. MINUTKS. The minutes of the previous meeting were read. Cr O'Reilly said before passing the minutes, he would draw the attention of the Council to the fact that the motion for dispensing with the Returning Officer had not had the regular fourteen days notice, and he wished to know who was to act as Returning Officer. His Worship said that a motion to appoint a Returning Officer must be made seven clear days, and suggested that Cr O'Reilly should bring forward the motion, to come on next meeting. Cr O'Reilly said -he considered the Mayor had the power to appoint some one. The minutes were then passed. CORRESPONDENCE. The outward correspondence was read— 1. A letter to A. I. M'Gregor, dispensing with his services as Returning Officer. 2. To J. F. Roberts, re the reduction made in his account. 3. To Mr Jones, granting his request to place a crossing over the footpath opposite his residence. 4. To the Hon. Colonial Secretary, Wellington, asking when the Government intended to pay the subsidy due for the year ending June, 1880. The inward correspondence was then read— 1. A notice from Mr Trigg, calling attention to his bankruptcy ; the amount due by him being 3s. 2. A letter from Mr Jones, asking leave to place a crossing over the footpath opposite his residence, Lavaud street.

3. From J. H. Haskins, Town Clerk, Christchurch, asking for an expression of the opinion of the Council re Sunday trading, accompanied with the expression of the Christchurch Council.

Cr O'Keilly suggested that this Council should not interfere in the matter.

Cr Cullen said he deemed the law had sufficient power to deal with the matter, without the Council being called in. He did not see as much desecration of the Sabbath in buying a little fruit, as buying drink in hotels.

It was decided not to interfere in the matter.

Cr O'Reilly asked why J. N. Roberts had not been paid, and the matter settled long ago. He held that no proper explanation of the taxation of bis bill had been sent to Mr Roberts, but the other Councillors contended that there had, and His Worship said that when Mr Roberts called he could get a cheque for the amount the Council decided upon. ACCOUNTS. There being no petitions or reports from Committees, the accounts next came under consideration. His Worship stated that the balance on the Dr. side at the Bank was £176 7s 10d. The following payments were passed :— J. Daly, £1 14s 3d ; P.O. Letter Box, £1. ORDINARY BUSINESS. Cr Kissel proposed that the Clerk give notice to residents to trim their fences. Cr Bruce seconded. Cr Chadwick thought an advertisement to the effect should be inserted in the Mail. Cr O'Reilly moved as an amendment, " That the Clerk take proceedings against offenders," and added that the first case reported in the newspapers would be a sufficient advertisement. The amendment not being seconded, the original motion was put and carried. Cr Penlington gave information of a satisfactory nature with regard to the reserves at Ashburton, which he had lately seen. Cr Cullen asked, on behalf of the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board, that the Council grant power to the Board to carry out the Borough's small portion towards improving the Onuku road to the Catholic Cemetery. After some discussion, it being shown that it would be to the pecuniary benefit of the Council, Cr Cullen proposed, " That the Council pay for their share when the work be completed by the Road Board." Cr Bruce seconded. Carried. Cr Penlington alone dissenting, on the ground that he objected to passing the mo tion when nothing had been produced to show the Council the amount they might be incurring. EXTRAORDINARY BUSINESS. Cr O'Reilly moved that by-law 42, concerning the driving of cattle be repealed. He enlarged upon the hardness of the act, seeing that the welfare of the town depended upon the incoming trade, and that Akaroa was only blessed with one street, and that it was impossible to drive cattle from one end of the town to the other without driving them through the borough. He moved that the hours be relaxed.

Cr Cullen said the subject had been before the meeting before, and that it had been decided not to rescind the by-law, but to do all that the Council could do to suit the requirement, and he advocated a relaxation of the hours.

Cr Penlington suggested that power be granted for the driving of cattle to the pound any time during the twenty-four hours, but thought an alteration in any other particular unnecessary. His Worship said he thought the evil might be remedied by inserting the words "from all parts", to by-law 41, about driving cattle to the pound, making the

by-law read " that it be lawful for persons to drive cattle to the pound at any hour, from all parts."

Cr Penlington suggested that section 2 of by-law 41 be altered from " cattle found trespassing within the borough may be driven to," &c, to " within or without the borough."

Cr Penlington moved the above as an amendment, and Cr Cullen seconded. Carried.

Cr Bridge brought forward a motion in connection with the Government wharf, but was ruled out of order. The Council then adjourned.