AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 499, 26 April 1881, Page 2

AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Saturday, Apiui 23. A meeting of this Council was held on the above date at their offices, Duvauehelle's Bay. Present —Messrs Dalglish (in the chair), Gebbie, Hay, Bradley, Williams, McDonald, Barker, and Coop. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman read the usual statement of business to be brought before the Council. CORRESPONDENCE. Letters were read— From llie Manawatu County Council ('telegram), stating that the principles enunciated in their circular (read at last meeting) had received almost universal support. It was resolved that the Council give the circular tiieir support, and that Mr Montgomery be written to informing him him of the Council's ileci-.ion. and asking him to support the question when it comes before the House of Ui-preseiitatives. The Council di'l not consider it necessary to send a delegate to the proposed conference in Wellington. From Mr Montgomery, M.ILIv., pro mining to present the petition for endowment of County Councils, and to give any well-consideied and practicable scheme his hearty support. From the same, enclosing copy of a Fencing Bill which passed the Legislative Council last session, and saying that as ii wan likely to come before the House this session, he would be glad to receive any suggestions from the ''Council respecting llu/bill. Members of the Council considore.l this a most important subject, and Mr Williams suggested thu appointment of a committee to consider the bill and report to a future meeting of the Council. Mr Hay thought the whole Council should resolve itself into a committee to consider the bill, and hold a special meeting for the purpose. Ultimately the following gentlemen were appointed a committee for the purpose : — Messrs Dalglish, Barker, Hay, Coop, McDonald, and Williams. From the Colonial Secretary, re error made in altering the boundary line between the Pigeon Bay and Port Levy Koad Districts. In reply the Secretary informed the Council that the Government was advised that the only way by which the proposed adjustment could be effected would be to abolish the two districts as at present existing, and to re-constitute them as desired. The Secretary asked whether it was considered wortli while to go through this process, involving as it would fresh eleclions for the two road districts, for the sake of so slight a rectification as the one in question. Mr Gebbie thought that the letter should bo referred to the two Boards interested. Mr Williams concuired, and a resolution to that effect was agreed to unanimously. From the same re the Little River pound. The Chairman read a letter which be had written to the Government, calling attention to the fact of the Little River B(i : i 1 Board having received a letter from the Colonial Secretary's Department conveying to them complete control over all pounDs in their district. This, the Chairman submitted, was contrary to the provisions of the Counties Act. 1876, and the Amendment Act, 1880. In reply, the Secretary informed the Council that as the Little River pound had been erected by the Board on land which was their own property, and not vested in Her Majesty, the Government had been advised that the provisions of the Counties Act Amendment Act, 1880, did not apply, and that the only way to legalize it was to advise His Excellency to deal with it under the '• Canterbury Trespass of Cattle Ordinance, 1872." The action had been taken at the instance of the Little River Road Board. From the Akaroa and Wainui Koad Board, forwarding plan and disciiplion of the :;ite on which it is proposed to erect a pound, and asking the Council to expediate the matter in accordance with the former lofti'i of the Board on the subject. Mr Go'-bie proposed that the plan be received, Hud tlie Government be asked to Hanclion the erection of the pound on the reserve in question. OICAIN S KOAD i;0A!!D. The Chairman rend some correspondence which bad taken place between liiiiitclf and MVO'livicr. District Au iitor, on matters

connected with the accounts of this Board. (As the greater part of Mr OUivier's letter has already appeared in our columns we do not consider it necessary to reproduce it.) Mr Williams thought a breach of confidence had been committed by the Chairin n making public the contents of a letter before it had come before the Council. The Council should not be dragged into quarrels between an individual and a Road Bonrd. The Chairman explained that he had published a portion of the letter because lie was attacked as Chairman of the Council. Mr Bradley did not see that the letter was before the Council at all. He would suggest that it be shelved, if that was the the proper Parliainentry expression. Alter a brief conversation, in which Mr Gebbie supported Mr Bradley's suggestion, the matter dropped. duvauchelle's bay road board. Mr Williams asked what had been done in the matter of closing this road. The Chairman said he thought it best to refer the matter to the legal advisers of the Council. The Clerk was going to town shortly and would lay the case before them. BALGUERIE ROAD. The Chairman reported that no objection had been received to the taking of land for the extension of this road. It was resolved, on the .notion of Mr Gebbie, to forward a memorial to His Excellency praying that the land in question be taken for the purpose of. a road. AKAUOA RAILWAY. Mr Williams moved the following resolution, " That in view of the first contract for plate laying on the Akaroa Railway, this Council begs respectfully to urge upon the Government the desirability of calling ior tenders at an early date for the intermediate ballasting required to make the section fit for traffic ; and that a copy of the above resolution be forwarded to our member, W. Montgomery, Esq., asking him to urge the same upon the Go vernment." Mr Gebbie thought they might embody in the resolution an expression of opinion as to the necessity of constructing at any rate, two or three miles more of the line. Where it terminated at present, it was almost impossible to approach it with wheeled traffic. The general opinion of the Council appeared to be, that, while Mr Gebbie's suggestion was perfectly reasonable, it would be better to confine themselves to one point at a time. Mr Williams' resolution was then put and carried, and the Council adjourned to Saturday. May 23.