AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 437, 28 September 1880, Page 2

AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Saturday, Sept. 25

A meeting of this Council was held on the above date at the Council Chambers, Duvauchelle's Bay. Present—Messrs Dal-' glish (in tho chair), Bradley, Gebbiei Fleming, Coop, Williams, Barker, Hay. / * The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr Barker said he had a resolution to propose at a later stage of the meeting. He would like to lay it on the table, that members might have an opportunity of thinking it over. It had reference to the vote of £75,000 for the unemployed, a portion of which, he thought, might be spent on the Summit road. chairman's statement. In making his usual statement, the Chairman said the most important business to come before them was the proposed stoppage of two roads in the Port Victoria district. PROPOSED STOPPAGE OF ROAD OVKR MANSON'S HILL. With reference to this road, the following documents were read :— Description of the road proposed to he closed. Letter from the Port Victoria Road Board, informing the Council that all necessary steps had been taken. Letter signed by seven ratepayers, asking the Council not to close the road, stating that the preseut road was the most convenient, and expressing the opinion that a better line had not been obtained. Mr Bradley ssid tho main point was whether they were infringing section 93 of the Public Works Act. Mr Gebbie said the opponents were the only persons who could possibly object to the proposed stoppige, but he had not the least doubt that the new road was the best for the County at large. Mr Williams said it was unfortunate that there was any opposition, but he did not see how they could go against the express wishes of the Road Board and the majority of the ratepayers. Mr Gebbie proposed, and Mr Hay seconded, a resolution —"That the road known as the upper road over Manson's Hill, through section 5097, be stopped, in accordance with tho Public Works Act--1870, section -S,, sub-section 10." Carried. With regard to the road starting at Blatchford's corner, it was resolved to postpone consideration of it till next meeting, to allow of a map being prepared. CORRESPONDENCE. The following letters were read :— From the Treasury, containing the following stitement re the 20 per cent of the Land Fund up to July 31, 1880. The gross amount due was stated to be £341 4s Id. Fces,.&c nmounted to £44 2s. From these amounts were deducted. Hospital charges, £118 8s Id. Amount overpaid to December 1879, £85 15s 5dThe balance £184 Is lOd had been paid to the Credit of the County Fund. From Messrs Fenton and Wilkins notifying that the contract of Messrs Funnell and Curragh had been completed, and that they wore entitled to payment. From Mr Forbes, Tai Tapu, accepting the appointment of a dog registrar. DOG RANGER. The Chairman stated that he had only received one application for this appointment, viz., from Mr H. Hewer. His terms were much higher than anticipated by the Council, and he (tbe Chairman), would suggest that the matter should stand over till next year. Ultimately it was resolved to defer the question of a ranger for the present, and in the meantime that the police be written to askin°" them to summons all person 8 having unregistered dogs in their possession. SUMMIT ROAD. The following report on the Summit ) and Balguerie roads by Messrs Fenton and Wilkins was then read :—We beg leave to inform j'on that in accordance with your instructions we met Mr Barker and went with him over the route from the graded diversion line, Snmmitt road to a junction with the Waterfall road leading to the Little Akaioa Saddle and have now connected them as requested at a grade a portion of the way of 1 in 10 and the remainder (except one very short piece) at 1 in 9. The short piece is a little better than 1 in 8 and is to avoid rock. A line of 1 in 10 is possible right through but it would go over bad places and steep siding whereas the piesent line is a fangrade and can be (benched at a moderate cost, we therefore recommend its adoptionISALGUEIUE ROAD. Wo have to report that Curragh and party have finished their contract and the road is now completed from the western end of sec. 924 to near Mr Armstrong's proposed mill site. Mr Lelievre in adopting Mr Wolch'a survey has at the northern end of sec. 1044 fenced in a small piece ol tho benching which leaves

a very Barrow corner to get around ani s>?oils the roadway. To remedy this we recommend that tho bench be lowered a distance of 3 1 to 4 chains so as to get on the rolid at a lower "evel and also provide materia] for filling. The cost of the alteration would be about £5 or £5 10s if the present contractors do it before their tools are removed. Please instruct us if we eli_.ll put it in hand. With regard to the Summit road, it was resolved that the lino as laid off by Messrs Fenton and Wilkins be adopted by the Council, and the Chief Surveyor be written to, asking him to have the line defined on his map. . fc i.. Regarding the -' Balguerie road, the Chairman stated that he understood at the -last meeting that the land was to be given as compensation, bnt now it appeared that the fence had been shifted 4ft further on the road. It was resolved that Mr Lelievre be written to, asking for an explanation. VALUATION. Mr A. I. McGregor wrote, offering to prepare a valuation roll for the county. The Chairman was of opinion it would be necessary for a valuation roll to be prepared, although a rate was not necessary. Mr Williams was not in favor of a roll being prepared. If the roll were made, it meant doing away with the Road Boards, and before that was done he thought the ratepayers should express their opinions in favor of it. Mr Gebbie thought the question might stand over for another year. It was proposed by Mr Williams, and seconded by Mr Barker—That the Council defer having a valuation roll of the county prepared till a greater cause be shown for its necessity,—Carried. PAYMENI'S. The following accounts were passed for payment:—Clerk's salary £32 10s, Inspector of Slaughterhouss £5, Akaroa Mail £10 18s 9d, J. Bassett (stables) £13 10s, Funnell and Curragh £52 17s, F. Lelievre (compensation) £8, Fenton and Wilkins £18 18s, members' travelling expenses £40 19* ; total, £182 12s 9d. . SLAUGHTERHOUSES. The report of the Inspector of Slaughterhouses was read, enclosing one from the police stationed at Port Victoria on the slaughterhouses in that locality. BALGUERIE ROAD. The Chairman said that in accordance with tho resolution of the Council he had waited on Mi Armstrsng, but could make no definite arrangement with him. He would suggest that a reasonable time be given for Mr Armstrong to produce his title. Mr Armstrong's letter to the Council was here read. It was proposed by Mr Williams, and seconded by Mr Bradley—That Mr Armstrong be written to, asking him to give the necessary title to the Council for the divi-r.don of the Balguerie road, and that if he does not do so within a month from date tbe Council will put the road through in accordance with tho Public Works Act. —Carried. THE UNEMPLOYED. . Mr Barker proposed that the Council apply to the Minister for Public Works, asking him to put 100 men on the Summit road from Pigeon Bay to Le Bon's saddle, to be paid out of the £75,000 voted to give work to the unemployed.—The motion was seconded by Mr Coop, and carried. NOTICE OF MOTION. Mr Barker asked leave to withdraw the motion of which he had given notice re allocation of funds to the Road Boards. LE BON'S RAY POUND. Mr Barker wished to ask when the Council intended to open the above pound. The Chairman said he considered the matter was in the hands of the Road Board. The Council then adjourned till October the 23rd.