AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 386, 16 April 1880, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wednesday, April 14,

A meeting of the above Council was held at their Chambers, Balguerie Street, on the above date.

Present: His Worship the Mayor, Crs O'Reilly, Bruce, Cullen, Armstrong, Chadwick, Wiggins, Bridge, Kissel, and Penlington.

MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES. The minutes of the last special meeting were next read.

Or O'Reilly naively asked whether, as an absent member at the above meeting, he could speak to them.

Being asked whether he wished to ex-

press an opinion upon their correctness, and finding himself unable to do so, they were passed.

CORRESPONDENCE.

The outward correspondence, consisting of the following, was read :—

A letter to J. Sunckell, jun., re repairing the culvert opposite his shop. ' Cr O'Reilly rose again to speak, but was ruled out of order.

To the Colonial Secretary, drawing his attention to the bjjtd state of the wharf, and requesting the Government to take steps to repair the old wharf, showing in what a bad state it was.

To Messrs Edmondson Bros, and Gundry, asking why they had not communicated relative to the leasing of the Borough Reserves at Ashbnrton.

Hia Worship thought a second letter should be sent on the matter as no reply to the first had been received.

Cr Bridge acquiesced in his Worship's opinion.

To the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, acknowledging letter, and expressing surprise at its contents as to the way in which the subsidy had been appropriated by the Government, and asking explanation of the increase on Hospital and Charitable Aid subsidy.

Cr O'Reilly asked who instructed the Clerk to write that letter.

His Worship replied that he and the Chairman of the Finance Committee had done so.

Cr O'Reilly thought it ought firet to have been laid before the Council.

Cγ Penlington said that as Chairman of Finance, he had authorised it to be written, conjointly with the Mayor, but he wondered how it had been made public in the Akaraa Mail) and did not think it was at all right that it should have been published.

Cr Cullen thought it quite right that it should have been made public, and that if it was so urgent as to require an immediate answer, a special Council meeting should have been convened. (Hear, hear.)

Cr Wiggins thought that as the Council had to meet in Such a short time from the date of receiving the letter, and as the reply was more of a protest than anything else, it might have been allowed to stand over till the piesent meeting; but he deemed it utterly wrong that a letter, coining from the source it did, should be consideied private. He, as a Councillor, strongly approved of the course which had been taken to make it public. Still, if the other Councillors differed with him, he was quite willing to let it be put to the meeting ; as it was, he would take the whole responsibility of the publishing of it. He, as a Councillor, saw the letter together with others, and had made notes of it to represent it to the public. He thought the habit of bottling up matters had been, indulged in by the Council far too long, and it was quite time they gave up the practice. He considered the Council were only trueteea for the public welfare, and that these things ought to be made public.

Cr O'Reilly said he had called in on the Srevious Saturday, and asked the Clerk if iere was any letter. He, in his usual style, replied " No." The same, evening he had met his Worship, and he had referred to the very letter in question. On the Monday he had met Cr Wiggins, and told him of it, and fetched him down to see it. He, like the other Councillors, thought it public news. The Clerk, on being requested, had produced the letter, and Cr Wiggins proceeded to take notes of it.. The Clerk had objected, he deemed him wrong in doing so. He considered thanks were due to the Editor of the Akaroa Mail for making it public, but he thought no answer should have been written till considered over and sanctioned by the Council. He thought the Chairman of Finance and his Worship the Mayor took much upon themselves.

Cr Penlington, in explanation, stated that he had been asked his opinion on the matter, end he had recommended the step which had been taken, and he considered he was justified in so doing.

His Worship paid he had spoken to at least three or four councillors on the matter, so as make it as public as poneible.

The inward correspondence was then read—

From the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, replying to letter from the Borough Council, asking for an explanation re the subsidy, and in reply stated that the subsidy was £124 9s Bd, from which £95 had been deducted on behalf of the Akaroa Hospital, and £55 for the Charitable Aid, leaving a debit balance of £25 10s 4d.

Cr Bridge thought that too much had been made about the answering of this letter. He considered that councillors were appointed to offices of trust, and as such a certain modicum of discretion might surely be left to them ; he deemed they should be entrusted to take the steps they had done ; that such were the functions of the Chairmen of Committees, and and that considering they had their time so fully occupied with the duties of the Council that they could not be expected to run here and there to apply for leave for every small trifle. They should be backed up for what they had done. Cr Bruce deemed that no over-reaching of bounds had been taken by either his Worship the Mayor or the Chairman of Finance, and that they ought to be thanked for showing such prompt energy in the matter. Cr O'Reilly explained his opposition to the matter in a lengthy speech, addressing himself entirely to Cr Bridge. His Worship called him to order. A general request being made to allow the learned councillor to talk being granted, a long speech ensued, in which the names of Kolleston, Hall, and several other eminent men were introduced. Cr Bridge suggested that if the Councillors were not satisfied with the letter sent, another stronger one should follow, but he hardly deemed this necessary. Cγ Cullen thought it would be more advisable to wait for an answer before writing. Cr Wiggins concurred, and suggested the expediency of passing on to the next letter. Cr O'Reilly said he thought if he was not much mistaken, and he very seldom was (much laughter), that the Mayor had distinctly said he had not wished it to be answered before it had been laid before 4 the Council. The matter then dropped. From J. Vangioni, requesting perrais-

sion to erect a fence round his property fronting Jolly and Brittan streets.

Cr Wiggins asked whether it was incumbent upon persons desiring to erect a fence round property in the Borough, to ask permission of the Council. He mentioned a case in point, where only a few days ago to his knowledge a fence had been erected. Permission had never been asked. He said it was only making a farce of the thing if one man could erect a fence without permission, and another had to fend in an application for leave to the Council.

Cr O'Reilly gave his opinion to the effect that it could be done, but that it would be at the erector's own risk,

And it was generally admitted that persons might erect fences without permission, but that should some fence encroach upon the footpath the liability was at the owner's risk.

From Mr Fer Hahn, re holding the Council responsible for any damage which might occur through water overflowing the creek in Lavaud street.

Cr O'Reilly here called several Councillors to order, for, whilst speaking, not standing on their feet and addressing his Worship.

Cr O'Reilly rose, candle in hand, to pass a few remarks on the letter. He said he was used to rather cool things and rather hot things too (much laughter), but that that was the coolest thing he had ever seen. He then referred to the way in which Mr Hahn had acted with regard to the management of the pound, and sneered at the coolness of the present letter, claiming, in the cheekiest manner, compensation, simply because he himself had blocked up the course of the stream, thereby actually ruining the ratepayers' bridge. He thought if his previous euggeetion, that the pound should have been let at a rental to_ the highest bidder, had been carried out, it would have been better.

It was ruled that he having diverted from the letter he was entirely out of order, but one Councillor generously euggested that the discussion was an illuettation of Councillor O'Reilly's meaning, and should, under existing circumstances, be allowed to proceed.

Cr Chadwick moved—" That Mr Hahn receive notice, by letter from the Town Clerk, that the Borough Council will hold Mr Haha responsible for any damage that may occur by flood, in consequence of his having contracted the width of the natural creek, and in default of his not complying with the notice, the Council to clear the creek in accordance with any plan the Works Committee may think tit, charging him with the expense." Cr Cullen seconded the motion, and deemed that Mr Hahn had, by his own action, ruined the ratepayers' bridge by stopping the natural course of the creek. Carried unanimously. FINANCE. The Chairman of Finance stated that the Dr. balance at the Bank was £172 12s 2d. The Bank book was produced. WORKS COMMITTEE REPORT. The Chairman of the Works Committee stated that three men were engaged clearing culverts, and that that was all employed by the Council at present. Nothing had yet been done with regard to repairing Hahn's bridge. A long discission ensued as to the advisability of performing this work by contract or day work. .Cr Cullen said that as he had been the one to move for calling for tenders, after what he hai heard he would be willing to withdraw his motion. Cr Wiggins said that the Council should consider whether it was legal to grant leave without formal dotice being given. He read the report from the Works Committee, showing by the minutes that the Woilcb Committee had not recommended,, as liiad been alleged, day work, but had only recommended the immediate repairing ot the bridge. Cr Penlington said that as they knew that the Council wan adverse to day work, it had not been mentioned. Cr O'Reilly said he believed the Council was compelled by the Act to call for tenders for all jobs over £20. The Act being produced, clause 175 referring to the subject was read, and it was shown that Cr O'ReiHy had mis-read the Act. The clause referring only to jobs let on contract. Cr Penlington here left the Chamber. Cr O'Reilly suggested that an insertion be put in Friday's number of the Akaroa Mail calling a special meeting for Monday next to consider tenders. Cr Kissell thought possibly Cr O'Reilly was just a little in a fog on the matter, as there had not been sufficient time to draw up specifications. Cr Wiggins thought a fair chance should be given to all, both within and without the Borough, to send in applications when tenders were called for. He considered that to call for tenders one day, to be sent in the next, was both a foolish and unjust plan—foolish inasmuch as it did not givethe Council a fair chance of getting the tenders well known and receiving several applications, but confined the knowledge to one or two in the town ; and unjust, inasmuch as the contractors outside the immediate vicinity were deprived of a chance of applying. Cr Armstrong thought too much time had already been wasted, and thai no further time should be allowed, he said already over a month had been wasted in discussion over the matter. Cr Wiggins deemed tint specifications would be necessary were the job let either by day work or by contract, and that it would not do to leave the work in any one man's bands to carry out. Cr Cullen moved that his Worship be empowered to have specifications prepared for the work, and tenders called for it, to be laid before the meeting to take place on Wednesday, 21st inst. Carried. , TENDERS. The following tenders were opened for supplying gravel for the footpaths in the Borough:— C. Burns, at 2s per load. G. Lardner, at Is 9d per load, provided * he might draw it from the beach between the Government jetty and sandy beach, otherwise 2s 6d. Cr Wiggins suggested that tlje specimen of Mr Burn'stender could scarcely bedeemed formal; he likewise asked whether the Council was in a position toj grant the , permission asked for by Mr Lafdner. ";'■

His Worship said he had not asked, but thought they might do so anywhere within the chain reserve. Cγ Wiggins proposed that Mr Bnrns' tender be accepted, as the Council were • not in a position to give the authority applied for by Mr Lardner. Seconded by Cr Armstrong, and carTied. m Cr O'Reilly asked wh^t, constituted a load. O Cullen stated a yard of gravel. RESIGNAMON. A letter was read from Cr Penlington, ■resigning his position as Chairman of Works Committee and Chairman of Finance Committee. MISCELLANEOUS. Cr O'Reilly wished to move that some timber be supplied to Mr J. Sunckell, jun., * for the purpose of repairing the crossing opposite his shop. The feeling of the Council being evidently against the proceeding, Cr O'Reilly *• <lid not press the motion. The same conncillor intimated that on a future occasion he would bring forward a proposal to raise a loan to be expended on the wharves. Cr Kiseell wanted to know how it was that the sergeant of police was not furnished with a list of those who had registered their dogs. The sergeant had informed him that he was left without any — information on the subject, _ and conse- "" <juently could take no proceedings. Cr Wiggins corroborated this statement. The Clerk said Constable Scott had had *" a list, and he would furnish one to the sergeant to-morrow. The Council then adjourned till Wednesday, April 21.