AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 488, 22 March 1881, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Friday, March 18th, 1881.

An adjourned ordinary meeting of this ' Council was held on the above date at I their offices, Balguerie street. Present :— His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Crs Black, Noonan, Gutberlet, Sunckell, Brown,' Chamberlain, Bruce, and McGregor. The minutes of the previous meetiug were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. The Clerk read the outward correspondence. Letters were read— From the Marine Department, informing the Council that the management of the Akaroa wharf and, further, that known as Daly's .wharf had been vested in the Council ; also, that the amount of £424 7s 10d had baen placed to the credit of the Council, for the purpose of being spent on wharf repairs. The Secretary pointed out that, with reference to the dues, those levied on the Akaroa wharf were fixed by " The Akaroa Wharf Ordinance, 1866," which had not been repealed, but that if none had been fixed for Daly's wharf the Council should send scale o:£ what they propose to charge, so that, if considered desirable, they might be fixed by the Governor i.i Council From the Secretary to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, staling that the Hospital Committee saw no objection (o the dead house attached to the Akaroa Hospital being used as a public morgue provided the medical officer approved of the arrangement. Farther, that the question of the Mayor being authorized to bestow charitable aid in urgent cases would be brought before the Board at its nest meeting. From W. Montgomery, Esq., slating that he had little doubt of the requests of the Council being granted, as they were only fair and reasonable. From Mr G. H. Sadler, complaining that Mr Penlingion had taken the water from the ieserve he (Sadler) was renting from the Council, and diverted it to his own property, thus depriving his cattle of waler. Messrs Black and Noonan were appointed a committee to inquire into the matter, and take such action as might be necessary to protect the Council's tenant. REPAIRS TO riStICY AND WILLIAM STREETS. A report on the works required in this locality, drawn up by Mr J. Barwick, was read. On the motion of Mr McGregor, it was resolved that the report as read be adopted, subject to its being understood that the storm-water from Ay liner's Hill be carried along the old watercourse to the creek. Fur'her, that the sub-committee be authorised to get a specification prepared, to call fortendeis for the work, and accept one. REPAIRS TO LAVAUD STREET AND BEACH UOAD. The sub-committee appointed to call for tenders for the work reported that they had done so, and had accepted that of W. Burke at 4s lid a chain. Hia Worship the Mayor and Cr Black were authorised to sign this and any othsr contract on behalf of the Council, in terms of sec. 174 of the Municipal Corporations Act. RATE ACCOUNT. A report from the rate collector was read, showing that the total amount of the rate for the year ending March 31, 1881, was £256 16s. 2d ; that the amount of £253 5s lid had been collected ; that an adverse judgment had been given for an amount of £ I. Os 6d ; that two amounts ot £1 10s and £1 respectively were still due, which the collector recommended the Council to remit on the ground of extreme poverty. The matter was left over till nest meeting, the Council being of opinion that application for remission must be made by the persons requiring the relief. LICENSES. Several applications for carriers , and petroleum licenses were granted.

FINANCE. The receipts since last meeting were reported as follows: — Dog tax, £2 hawker's license, £1 Is; contractor's deposit, 16s ; Wharf Account, £424 7s 10d ; total, £428 4s 10d. The credit balance at the bank was reported to be £523 6s 7d, and the available balance £98 18s 9d. The following accounts were passed for payment:—Akaroa Mail, £4 4s 9d : W. Hinis, valuer, £5 ss; S. Watkins, half share fencing, £3 6s; sundries, los; total, £13 10s 9d. . , CULVERT. The Temporary Works Committee were authorised to employ labor to have a cul vert opposite Mr Sunckell'a filled up. An ofler from Mr W. Burke to do the work for £3 was declined with thanks, VALUATION ROLL. The Mayor reported that the Valuation Roll for the incoming year had been completed and signed . The rateable value of the property amounted to £5,101 Bs, as ■ against £5,097 6s last year, being an increase of £4 2s. REMOVAL OF GRAVEL, ETC. It was resolved to give the Mayor discretionary power to give leave for the reI moval of metal or clay from the Council's reserves. HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID. Cr McGregor proposed the resoluiien of which he had given notice for the appointment of a committee to confer with the Akaroa County Council on the subject of hospitals and charitable aid.

In spe king to the motion Cr McGregor | referred to what he termed the suicidal policy pursued by the Council some years ago in persistently refusing to take over these institutions, though the Government had offered to subsidise their expenditure with £ for £. The result had been that, instead of bearing half the cost, the borough had now to defray the whole. The speaker read extracts from a speech of the Hon. J. Hall made last June, in which the Premier refers to this refusal on the part of certain local bodies, the Akaroa Council included, and shows that these bodies deliberately preferred to~lo"se some thousands a year by having the whole cost deducted from their subsidies to accepting the Government proposals. Cr McGregor also pointed out the anomalous position which they now occupied in having to contribute the whole cost [of institutions over which they had absolutely no control. Fresh legislat:on would no doubt take place on the subject during the I ensuing session, and it was their duty, in conjunction with the County Council, to watch the progress of any measure that might be proposed, He would conclude by moving the resolution of which he had given notice.

Cr Noonan seconded the motion

The Mayor thought the thanks of the Council were dun to Cr McGregor for bringing the motion forward.

The resolution was tarried unanimously, and His Worship the Mayor and Crs Black and McGregor were appointed a committee to cany it out.

The Council then adjourned