AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 407, 29 June 1880, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Friday, June 25. The adjourned meeting of this Council was held at their Chambers, Balguerie street, on the above, date. Present: His Worship the Mayor, Ortf Black, Noonan, Bruce, Armstrong, aud Kissel. MIN-TEB. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and coufirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. • The outward correspondence was read. Letters were read— From Mr Rodrigues, referring to the muddy stale of the road opposite his hotel, and asking the Council to take Some Steps to remedy the evil, stating that it was owing to the bluegums opposite his premises. Cr Bruce proposed, Cr Armstrong seconded, and carried—"That the matter be left to his Worship the Mayor to deal with." From the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, acknowledging letter re Burgess roll, and granting the extension of time for inspection of roll till June 16. FINANCE. His Worship the Mayor stated that the overdraft at the Bank at the present time was £264. The Clerk stated that at a meeting of the Finande Committee an estimate of the : income and expenditure for the ensuing year, had-been arrived at. Proposed by Cr Noonan, seconded by Cr Bruce, and carried— '* That the above estimate be adopted." WORKS COMMITTEE. His Worship stated that there being no Chairman of the Works Committee he had authorized two dangerous holes near the Mail office to be repaired. ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were presented for payment :— M. Dunbar, dog collars... ... £2 14 0 H. Burke, labor... 0 4 0 T. Adams, auditors fee ... 4 4 0 S. Watkins, do ... ... 4 4 0 A. Scott, carting ... ... 3 17 6 Edminston and Gundry ... 8 9 0 AKauoa Mail 20 7 9 His Worship stated that in the last account the measurements had'been found to be incorrect, and consequently he would not present it. He would simply present accounts to the amount of £20 17s 6d. I Cr Bruce proposed, Cr Black seconded, and carried, that the accounts as read be passed. GORSE FENCES. Cr Bruce asked that the fences in [ Aylmer's Valley and Jollie street be cut down. He proposed that the Clerk be instructed to give notice to the effect. Seconded by Cr Armstrong and carried. Cr Noonan asked whether there was an Inspector of Nuisances, and, if not, he would propose that the Clerk be authorised to act as such. Seconded by Cr Black and carried. SIDE CHANNELS. Cr Bruce called attention to the obstruction caused by the heaps of stuff near Beecher's Hotel. His Worship stated tbat as there was not a full Council he would not move for the appointment of a Chairman of Works Committee. He thought it would be better to reorganize all the Committees at the first full meeting. It was proposed by Cr Bruce, seconded by Cr Armstrong, and cairied, that his Worship be requested to effect the necessary repairs till a committee be formed. RETURNING OFFICER. Cr Armstrong asked whether the appointment of R. M. Barry as Returning Officer was yet cancelled. His Worship replied that the dismissal from his situation as Town Clerk included the appointment of Returning Officer. TOWN CLERK. His Worship requested the Council to specify the exact duties of the Town Clerk. Cr Black thought it rather a strange thing to appoint a Clerk and then tell him his duties.]

Cr Armstrong proposed—" That the Clerk be in attendance on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and upon all other occasions when the Couiicil may require him ; that he act as Returning Officer and Bate Collector.?' Cr Noonan seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. BLACKBOARD. His Worship stated there was a great necessity for a blackboard in order to publicly notify the various desires or orders of the Council, as up to the present they were simply posted on the outside of the building, and not seen. UAIIN'S CREEK. His Worship stated that he and Cr Cullen had inspected the creek near Halm's, and found tbe average width of the stream to be only seven feet, there being several obstructions in it, nnd it had been decided by them to recommend the Council to have the Creek cleared, and to notify to all that if they obstruct the creek again they will* be strictly proceeded against in accordance with the by-laws. He would not ask for any unnecessary works to be done, as the overdraft was close upon £300, and the. Council had received notice from the Bank that the overdraft must.not exceed that sum.

Cr Armstrong drew attention to the fact that a resolution had already been passed to the. effect that Mr Hahn remove the obstructions, or tho Council would do it at his cost

His Worship stated that an alteration on the opposite side was what was desired. Proposed by Cr Armstrong, seconded by Cr Biuce, and carried—" That his Worship be authorised to empley labor if necessary for removing obstructions in the Old Mill Race." Cr Kissel 1 dissented. THE LATE RETURNING OFFICER. His Worship stated that Mr Wood had mentioned the fact that he had been mulcted in the expense of 15s owing to a mistake made at the late election of auditors, and would wish to know whether the Council would refund the amount. It was proposed by Cr Black, seconded by Cr Kissel, and carried—" That the amount of costs in late caße of .disputed election of auditors be refunded." FOOTPATHS. • .:' Cr Armstrong thought some steps should be taken towards collecting the rates for the footpaths ; the Council would then be ableto make tlie necessary repairs in Balguerie street and other streets. He thought that his end of the town needed repairs as well,as the other end. He would piopose ■-■*$.lliaf notices be sent to all persons indebted for footpaths in Jollie Btreet." Seconded by Cr Black, and carried.. With regard to the other footpaths in the borough, his Worship quoted a clause in the Municipal Corporations. Act, from which he thought the amounts charged for the footpaths might be recovered.. He stated that the late Mayor had not taken any active steps in the matter, as he was personally interested. He would recom»iend that proper legal advice on the matter be obtained. It was a case of obtaining £120, which sum, he urged, would be most acceptable to the Council. RATES. His Worship stated that now the Town Clerk was properly appointed, legal proceedings would at once be taken against defaulting ratepayers. The meeting then adjourned.