AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 427, 24 August 1880, Page 2

AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the above Council was held at their Chambers, Duvauchelle's Bay, on Saturday last. Present:—Messrs Dalglish (Chairman), Fleming, Williams, Barker, Gebbie, Coop, Bradley, Hay, and McDonald. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. chaibman's statement. The Chairman stated that since the last meeting of the Councilhehad, asrequested, called for tenders f©r completing the Council stables, and had received two which would be laid before the meeting for their consideration. The meeting would likewise have to take into consideration the closing or otherwise of several roads in the Port Levy road district,which had been duly advertised.

Mr J. Gebbie, Lake Ellesmere,mentioned that owing to the Lake not being let out, a large amount of damage had been done to the line of railway. He thought the Council should, as a representative body, make known the amount of damage done to the ■embankment, and he would suggest that a telegram be despatched to the Government re the matter. The Lake had often been let out by the Board when it was much lower than it was at present. Mr Williams concurred with Mr Gebbie's opinions on the matter.

Mr Gebbie moved that a telegram be immediately despatched to the representative of the district, to urge. upon the Government the necessity of something being done at once to lower the level of the Lake, and inquiring if the contractor for the platelaying is bound to keep the Lake down to a certain level, and, if so, that considerable damage is being done to the works. PORT LEVY BOADS. An application was received from the Port Levy Road Board to have certain roads in the district, already advertised, closed. The Chairman stated that no objections had been lodged against the closing of the roads specified. Mr Fleming proposed, and Mr Bradley seconded—"That the said roads bo closed." Mr Gebbie asked whether any compensation was looked for in the matter from the Council. The Chairman stated that there had been no opposite, and that only an exchange of roads was asked for.

Mr Coop thought that the roads which were proposed to be closed had cost the country a large sum of rnoney,and that the new roads proposed to be opened would cost a still further sum. He was informed that the new road was already formed and opened. The motion was pat and carried. CORRESPONDENCE. Letters were read— From Mr March, Secretary of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board,furnisking a statement of the receipts and expenditure for the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board for the year ending the 30th June 1880. From Mr H. He war, as agent for the attorneys of the late Mr E. St. John, applying for L3OO as compensation for the road running through the estate. It was decided that a proper power o attorney must first be handed in from the attorneys, Messrs Harper and Harper,before the matter could bo entertained. From the Chief Surveyor, re Mr Arm., strong's conveyance of land on "his property in Balguerie road ; also from Mr Armstrong, re the. same, stating that any intention of the Council to refer the matter to the Chief Surveyor would be resisted by him to the utmost. Mr Williams thought whatever arrangements had been made by the Council with Mr Armstrong the Council should abide by the arrangement, with the exception that the Council should not pay Mr Armstrong for any land he had not paid for himself. The Chairman thought Mr Armstsong was labouring under a wrong impression, gathered from a report in The Mail, and i that all difficulty wonld be removed by communicating with him in person.

Mr Williams proposed that the Chair-

| man wait upon Mr Armstrong, and report upon the matter at the next meeting of the Council. The motion was seconded by Mr Gebbie, and carried. From Mr Wilkins, re Mr Welch's survey of the lower portion of Balguerie road, stating that he had found the alleged encroachment of the road on Mr Lelievre's land to be a little over one perch, and that the same encroachment would not make any difference to Messrs Curragh and Funnel's contract so far as it had gone, and suggesting that Messrs Curragh and Funnel should have the acceptance of the lowerlpartof the road offered them at tho same price, as they had for the previous contract, with the exception of tho first three chains, which, as the road had now been shifted 60 links, was of entirely a different character, and involved much more labor. From the Chief Surveyor, addressed to

the Road Board, stating that Mr Welch's survey of Balguerie road was as nearly correct aa possible, but as a difference was shown between Mr Welch's survey and the old peg supposed to be placed by the Government, it was likely Mr Lelievre had thought his land to be fenced nccording to the Government survey and eomo consideration to the owner of the property should be made. Mr Gebbie thought the Chief Surveyor had deputed Mr Welch to decide upon the affair, and that having decided to abide by the decision of the Chief Surveyor, or any party he : might appoint, Mr Welch's decision should be accepted. From Mr J. P. Mullen, requesting the existing fence near his property, Balguerie street, to be allowed to remain in its present state, as it did not in any way interfere with the construction of the road.

Mr Williams thought the Chief Surveyor had already stated that he did not consider the pegs in question reliable, and that the advice offered by Mr Barker re temporrising with the settlers should be accepted. Mr Gebbio urged that Mr Welch's and the Chief Surveyor's advice, except in the matter of fencing, should be adopted. Mr Williams thought one part of the letter could not fre accepted without the ' whole! He thought that as Mr Lelievre was interested, and also present, the Council should hear what he intended to do in the matter. Mr Lelievre said that he was willing either to keep the fence where it was, seeing it had been laid out according to the three pegs given by a Government survey, or he would accept Mr Welch's lino of survey, provided the Council give permission to remove the old fence, and he would erect a fence according to Mr Welch's survey for LB. Mr Williams proposed that Mr Lelievre's offer be accepted, and that he be asked to include that he would hand over th*t portion of land being part Sec 14402, required for the roads as a gift to the Council. Mr Barker thought a difficulty might occur in shifting the fence as Mr Mullen might, according to his opinion, state that the fence belonged to him. Mr Hay thought that by moving the fence Mr Mullen would receive more land, and that his permission should be asked. The Chairman said that by removing the fence it would be taking from Mr Mullen, and giving to Mr Lelievre. Mr Williams said ho did not intend to remove Mr Mullen's fence, but to place one on Mr Leliovre's land ; he would request that his original proposition might be moved. Mr Lelievre put his proposal to the Council in writing, to the effect that the Council give Mr Lelievre permission to

remove ail the fences erected fey him, and to pay him L 8 for erecting the right line of fence along the road. Mr Coop said that ever since the Council came into existence Balguerie road had been always brought forward. Hβ thought the sooner Balguerie street was done with the better. The motion was put and carried, the Chairman and Mr Barker alone voting against it. It was decided that a reply should be sent to Mr the Clerk to state that the Council would not interfere with any line of fence on his land. From Mr Wilkins, asking that the contractors for Balguerie road should be allowed to proceed at once with their contract. Mr Williams proposed that the contractors for the first section of Balguerie road should have the offer of taking the whole of the contract at the original price, and if hey refused fresh tenders should be called or the work. Seconded by Mr Hay, and carried. From Colonel Secretary's office, in reply to a letter from the Council requesting that a constable might be kept at the Head of the Bay, stating that the Government was reluctantly compelled to carry out their resolution regarding the removal of the policemen. From the Treasury, Wellington, announcing that the surplus of tne Land Fund duo to the Road Boards and County Councils would be paid during the week. From hon. secretary Akaroa Institute asking for some pecuniary assistance towards that institution. Mr Williams said if the Council subsidised one,library it would have lo subsidise all. Mr Coop concurred with Mr Williams' remarks. Mr Barker thought the library a purely borough matter. The Chairman thought it a benefit to the whole county, as there were continually strangers in Akaroa who were reaping advantages from the institution. Mr Williams proposed, and Mr Coop seconded—That a reply to the letter be sent, stating the Council have no funds in hand for such a purpose. The motion was carried. From Mr G. K. Joblin, declining to accept the office of Registrar of Dogs at Little River, but suggesting that his son should be appointed. Mr Coop recommended the change, which was decided upon. Mr Hay asked if the Clerk could state the number of dogs registered in the district, as he believed in Pigeon Buy and several other bays only half of the actual number of doge were registered.

Mr Williams thought seeing ; the police no longer received any remuneration for the registration of doge ; a ranger should be appointed who should receive a fee for every collar he caused to be purchased.

Mr Gebbie thought before taking such steps the head of the police should be eoneulted, as that officer had agreed the police should see that the dogs were registered. Mr Hay thought such a course would only be delaying matters, and he deemed it would be better to to have an inspector for the whole Peninsula. Mr Williams thought the ranger's dntios should be fixed. Mr Hay proposed that applications be invited. Mr Williams seconded the motion,which was carried. From the Okain's Road Board, stating that large injuries had been done to roads in the district during the late heavy flood ; that the Board were doing large works on the main roads in the district, and asking the Council to vote LIOO towards works on the main roads. Mr Barker said the Read Board was in a poor state of funds, and that seeing the way the Board had been dealt with in the matter of the L 56 he thought the Council should grant them tneir request. He would move that L 75 be voted to the Okain's Eoad Board —L 25 for Okain'e Main Valley Road, L 25 for Le Bon's Main Valley Road, and L 25 for Little Akaloa Main Valley Road; the money to be paid on the conclusion of the works. Mr Cocp seconded the motion. Mr Williams thought the Okain's Road Board would soon get money from the Impounded Land Fund. He could hardly agree with the motion.

Mr Barker was surprised to see Mr Williams objecting to the proposition, as hardly a meeting took place but what some money was voted to the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board, and no objection made. Mr Gebbic proposed as an amendment —That the Council have no funds to entertain the requost. Mr Fleming seconded the amendment. Mr Coop thought if the Council could grant money to one Board when necessary they might to another, and he still agreed with Mr Barker's motion. Ultimately the amendment was carried, Messrs Coop, Barker, and McDonald voting against it. ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed for payment:— J. Smith LI 14s, P. Brown L 37 10s Gd, Fenton and Wilkins Lll 4s, j petty cash L 5 ; total LSB 8s Gd. In reply to Mr Williams, The Clerk stated that the Council had about L9OO in hand.

TENDERS. Tenders were received—From Mr John Bassett,for paving Council stables with stone, Ll3 10s; from same, for same job with timber. L 29. The Chairman said that besides the paving there were several other small jobs in connection with the stables, such as fixing hay ricks, manger, etc. The tender for Ll3 10s was accepted. VALUATION BOLL. The Chairman thought it time the Council took steps to have a valuation roll prepared, but after some discussion it was resolved to allow the matter to stand over till next meeting.

WAINUI AND LAKE FOBSYTH HOAD EXTENSION.

The award decided upon by Messrs Watkins and McPhail the two gentlemen appointed as arbitrators for the Akaroa andWaintii Road Board and the Little River Road Board in the dispute in connection with the amount of money due to either Board for work done on the above Road was next considered. They awarded for the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board, £142 3s, and for the Little River Road Board, £60 13s. Mr Barker moved and Mr Hny seconded that the above amounts as awarded by the arbitrators be paid over to the two Road Boards respectively. Carried. ■ okain's summit road. Mr Williams asked what eteps had been taken in connection with completing the Summit Road. The Chairman stated that he had called upon Messrs Fenton and Wilkins repeatedly urging the matter on them but that as yet no steps had been taken in the matter. Mr Williams proposed and Mr Hay seconded :—" That the Chairman be instructed to call upon Messrs Fenton and Wilkins re conpletion of the grading the. Okains Summit road and to inform those gentlemen that if they do not complete the work at once the Council will immediately employ some other engineers. Carried. NOTICE OP" MOTION. Mr Barker gave notice that he should move at the next meeting that the Council allocate the sum of £500 to the various Road Boards. The Council then adjourned till September 25.