AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 402, 11 June 1880, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

••'A meeting of - the above Council was held at tHeir''^h r atti'bers,Balguerie street; on. Wednesday-lastvth-e 9th instant. Present: His Worship the Mayor, Crs Bruce, Wiggins, Cullen, Armstrong, and Henning : Prior to .the opening' of the meeting, the newly elected Councillor (Mr R. Noonan). signed the declaration Required by the Act. Cr Noonan then took his seat. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous ordinary meeting were read and confirmed. The minutes of. the last special, meeting held June 2, were next read Cr Cullen observed that his motion re advertising for a Town Clerk was not rightly entered, inasmuch as the amount of work required from'the Clerk as specified in his motion (namely, three days a jyeek), was omitted; he requested the same should be inserted. This, after some discussion, was complied with, and the minutes were then confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. The following outward correspondence was next readTo Hon Colonial Secretary, Wellington, informing him that through an omission on the. late Town Clerk's part the. Burgess Roll had not been publicly notified at the proper time, stating that it had now been done, and asking that this action might be ratified.

The inward correspondence followed—

From Mr R. Noonan, resigning his office as Fire Inspector.

From Mr Morey, re holding £23 as security on his contract, and drawing attention to conditions of contract.

From the. same,'forwarding claim for £20, and requesting that the same be paid at once, and ehclosing-.an agreement to guarantee the proper repair of hie portion of the bridge for the stipulated time, viz., six months.

Cγ Wiggins (apologising for retaining hjs seat whilst speaking, and attributing the cause to his late accident) tasked what was the exact agreement. He submitted that if the wording was simply to guarantee the work, such wording could not justify holding back money. Hie Worship stated that no mention of retaining money had been mado. He remarked, however, that the bridge already wanted repairs. He produced the deed of agreement as proof of a guarantee only having been asked for. Cr Armstrong asked whether an invert had been put in the bridge according to specification. : , His "Worship said work was passed, he could not go into the question. Cr Henning asked who had drawn up the specifications. His Worship replied that the centraotor himself had. Cr Henning remarked that such a manner of conducting affairs was hardly , creditable. . : ■■«..:-i: ■;<.,,.t..: ■: !. • ;■_'•■•' From C. Burns, asking what fras to be. done in the matter of carting gravel for footpaths. Cr Wiggins asked whether the vacancies in the Works Committee werefilled up. His Worship replied they w«ie not.•■• - Cr Wiggins asked if they conld be filled np that night. His Worship replied they could, Cr Wiggins then moved, and Cr Armstrong, seconded, that this letter be left to the Works Committee. , From the Ghfistchnfch City Council, forwarding the result of a meeting called to consider what amendments were required to the Municipal Corporations Act, and asking the Council to. consider the same, as it is the intention •of the Committee to ask the Council to invite the Mayor to attend a meeting to be • held in Christchurch on the matter. From the same, dated May 18, inviting his Worship the Mayor to attend a meeting, of the Committee appointod to consider the Municipal Corporations, to be held on Thursday, the 20th May. The amendments enclosed being exceedingly lengthy, only short portions were read. His Worship suggested that the amendments be received as read, and if the matter were considered worth while the Council could go into committee. ~ ~ From the Dunedin City Council-re the Government subsidies. Or Noonan. pointed out that the date for the meeting to which his Worship was invited by the Christohurch City Council was May 20, and consequently that the whole affair must have already been settled. ■ •: . His Worship said that although the letter was dated May 18 it had only come to hand since the last special meeting held a week ago. Cr Henning proposed—"That the Christchurch City Council be written to acknowledging receipt of letters, and pointing out the fact that they had only jitst come to hand, though dated May 18." " Seconded by Cr Cullen, and carried. The Dunedin City Council's letter, being written;in one of the manifold systems, proved too much for the powers of the Council to decipher by lamplight, and as the Clerk explained the general tenor of it to the Council,

Cr Henning proposed—" That seeing the financial embarrassment of the Government, it is clear no further subsidies can be expected for municipalities,, this Council considers it would, be .of ho 'avail further to harass the Government, and that the Dunedin City Council be writferr to to the same effect;" .. »Seconded by Cr Armstrong. Cr Bruce could not agree with , the motion ; he thought it would be going too ■far. ■ ■ • 0' : ..-\, -. Cr Wiggins agreed' with Cγ Bruce's opinion. He thought, although there might he' certain private opinions re the financial difficulty of the Government, still he hardly thought the Council should publicly express such an opinion. He would move as an amendment—" That, the letter from the Dunedin City Council be acknowledged." Seconded by Cr Noonan. The amendment being put was carried, Cr Henning alone dissenting. :. From J. Beecher, asking for permission to take up and remove piping, &c, at Bruce's hotel. Cr Cullen proposed thai permission be granted provided he leave the road in a proper state., Seconded by-Or-Bruce, and carried. REPORTS QF COMMITTEES. ;The Chairman of the Finance Committee being absent, no report was presented. The Works Committee was a thing of the past. - ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed for payment:— John Ryan, labor .... ... £0 14 o / ■ lamps 0 8 0> H. Bil lens, sundries ... 0 16 5 John Yewen, lamplighting , .5 8 4 ' •■ Akaroa and Wainui Road Board 2 18 0, £10 4 9 ' " E. W. MOREY'S ACCOUNT. His Worship read from the Minute a resolution of a meeting of the 26th May, to the effect that the Council decide to retain £20 from E. W. Morey'e contract as security for the stability of the work for six months. Cr Cullen proposed—"That the previous resolution of the 26th May, in reference to Mr Morey's contract, be revoked." Seconded by Cr Noonan and carried. Cr Bruce proposed—" That E. W. Morey be paid on his signing the guarantee and doing the repairs at present necessary." Seconded by Cr Armstrong and carried. R.M. COURT. His Worship read a statement of the fines collected at the R.M. Court during the month of May, 1880, and payable to Borough Council, shewing the amount to be £G 10s. TOWN CLERK. Applications for the office of Town Clerk were read from W. Sims and P. E. Jacquet. Cr Henning proposed that the matter should be gone into in committee. !

There being no one to eecond the motion it fell through.; v,^ , -? •' Cr Oullen proposed— ,. That the applica* tion of Mr W. Sims be accepted." He stated that tho burgesses of the Borough wished to ccc Mr Sims appointed, and he was suie if the election were by vote of the burgesses Mr Sims would be appointed. He thought no better one cpffld be found. Ci Noonan jseconded the motion. Hie, Worship he was sorry no applications from; more competent men firere not , before the .Council. •.,' Qγ Henning asked whether it was not a fftct that Mr Sims had previously acted as Towp Clerk, .and. failed to give satisfaction. ; v His Worship replied that he believed such was the case. Hβ bad only lately heard that Mr Sims when acting as Town Clerk had failed greatly to give satisfaction. ■ ■. Cr Henning was sorry better and more suitable applicants had not presented themselves. He would like to see others come forward ; he considered the pay too small; bethought the Returning Officer and the Town Clerk should be two different persons. Cr Noonan agreed with Cr Hehning's remarks as tfr the remuneration offered being too email.' He knew Mr Sinas, and he was aware he was well respected by all in the Borough. Hβ. considered he was well adapted for the office. ■\ Gγ Cullen iretnembered When Mr Watfcme was Mayor that he was Well satisfied with Mr Sime,\and he get him to fcontinue to adt as Towft CJlerk. His Worship stated that he had heard quite tlie contrary; in fact, that Mr Watkine bid been-fir from satis&ed. O/senning moved as an amendment tl)tt IjJipiJoations be called for the office at ,» of £75-per same to be tlWt «i tlie 23rd inflt. i : Cf Wiggins submitted that each a motion Could not be pat till the minute of May 25 re the matter be rescinded, i His Worship agreed. ; Cr Herinjng then moved to that effect. There being no seconder, the motion was lost. Cr Oullen iben proposed 'that the appointment of Mr W. Si ins to fill the office of T6wn Clerk be accepted. % ."'' ; Cr Noonan seconded the motion, which was cairied, Cr Heniring alone dissenting. His Worship asked if he was to take office at once. Cr Noonan proposed "That Mr Sims have his bond properly prepared and signed! .by his sureties, and handed to hid Worship for accptance before assuming his duties." Seconded by Or BnlCfy ahd twrried. BiiEcmoK or AtivtevML .. Cr Cullen propoMed that the Betii&ng Officer be instructed to insert ah ad vertlibmeat calling for . , two Auottbrs for the Borough of Akaroa at a. salary of £2 2b per annum. Cr Noonan seconded the motion. ..'"':": Cγ Henning proposed as art Atbendment *—"That in consideration of th§ financial difficulties,of the Borough, there be no feee for the office of auditors, and that-ftppli-«K4k>n,be invited from persons willing to met gratuitously in the eaid office during the ensuing year." ■ .... Cr Bruce seconded tbe amendment, which was lost by four to two. ' The original motion was then pot and carried, Ore Henning and Brnce disgent•ing.;.'.u.;- ■...<;. , '■..:;... ''.'.:,,',.,,:..,.-, 7- -!.!;-'<,.,?. ' ■ ._..., ... " B*TSs<y, ■ ■■;[;■■ ~ * ',-.'. In the absence of the- Chairman of the Finance Committee, bis Worship stated that defaulter to the amount of £17 were still on the rate-book, . , Proposed by Cr Henning, seconded by Cr Armstrong, and carried—"Thatall defaulting ratepayers be sued without further notice." . . FOOTPATHS. Cγ Armstrong said he thought the matter of the footpatha should not be overlooked. It was decided to defer the diitcußaion. on that point for another meeting. BISECTION OF MAYdR AND COUNCILLOR. , Cr Bruce asked his Worship whether the election of the present Mayor and Cr Henning had been publicly notified. His Worship referred him to the Returning Officer who informed him that it had, that be had duly advised the Colonial Secretary and had received h»e acknowledgement in return. The meeting then adjourned.