AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 509, 31 May 1881, Page 2

AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL.

A special meeting of this Council was held on Saturday, tbe 28th inst., at their offices, Duvauchelle's Bay. Present —J. Dalglish, Esq. (in the chair). Messrs Gebbie, Williams, C. McDonald, Barker, Bradley, Fleming, and Coop. The Chairman announced that this was a special meeting with reference to considering tho yearly balance-sheet, which had been duly audited and already advertised. Mr Williams, seconded by Mr Barker, proposed that the accounts be adopted as read. Carried. This concluded the business of the special meeting, Oiuunary Meeting. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. Letters were read— From the Manawatu County Council, stating that the date of meeting of Conference had been postponed to the first Wednesday in June. It was arranged that Mr Montgomery be asked to take part in the business. From Mr Montgomery, acknowledging receipt of letter relative to the Little River Railway. From the Wallace County Council, forwarding petition to the House of Representatives next session on the restoration of the 20 per cent, of the Land Fund. Mr Williams remarked that they had already asked for a £2000 grant, and that would be better than these small sums. Mrßarkerthoughtthatif the petition was signed it ought to go before the delegates. Mr Williams thought we should cripple our member entirely by asking for too many things. The Chairman thought we were more likely to get the land endowment than anything else. Mr Barker begged to move that the petition be supported. Seconded by Mr Bradley, and carried. From the Rangitikei County Council (circular) forwarding resolutions for the Council's consideration. The circular stated that the Council were of the opinion that the present state of affairs was so exceedingly unsatisfactory that they thought that all local bodies should combine together to obtain a more satisfactory state of things.

Tho Chairman was of opinion that tbe two circulars referred to the same thing, therefore both should be roferred to the Delegates. The Council fnlly concurred in the idea. The Chairman dien read the report of the Committee appointed to consider the provit-ions of the new Fencing Bill. Mr Williams suggested that as Mr Montgomery was coming at an early date the business be brought under his notice, and that the Council especially request that he tako notice of it in the House early in the session, Mr Bradley proposed that the report be adopted as read. The recommendations it it contained could not be I ettered. Seconded by Mr Gebbie and carried. Mr Gebbie proposed, and it was seconded by Mr Bradley, that the Chairman he requested to seek a personal interview with Mr Montgomery and state the Council's views on the matter.—Carried. A letter was read from Messrs Harper and Co. re closing the old Duvauchelle's Bay Road The dession given was adverse to its being closed, as . although the proper number of notices, had been given in the Mail they had not bean given during twelve consecutive weeks. Mr McDonald said than that must be the fault of the Mail Proprietor who had had all proper instructions given him. The Cierk read correspondence showing that twelvo insertions had been made, but that they were not consecutive. The Council thought that the matter had better bo held in abeyance until the next meeting. Mr Bradley moved that the correspondence from Messrs Harper and Co. be forwarded to the Road Board for their consideration.—Seconded by Mr Gebbie and carried. From the Crown Lands Department re Duvauchelle's Bay Public Pound Site, giving permission to erect it on the spot chosen. The Council thougl't it was quite sufficient and as the Clerk had already forwarded a copy to the Road Board they could leave it in their hands. From the contractor for the pound, requesting an advance of money for material—that being already on the ground and ready for erection. It was proposed by Mr Gebbie, seconded by Mr Barker, that the sum of £30 be paid to the Road Board on account of pound.—Carried. From the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board re tho bad state of Duvauchelle's Bay and Shadbolt's bridges, stating that as they had no available funds, they requested the Council to advance a sum of j money for their repair. ■ '

Mr Barker thought it would be unfair to other districts. The same thing had been done or nearly so in other cases. He thought a better plan was to take some of the roads over. Mr Bradley coincided with Mr Barker, Mr Gebbie thought that the feeling cutside was the same, and that in tho course of twelve months more, something very like it would happen. Mr Williams agreed to the foregoing, but said the question was. were the floods to be allowed to come and do the damage. He looked upon it that it would only cost thirty or forty pounds; the bridges had cost somewhere about £150 a piece. The Chairman said it would require to go before the ratepayers, and by that means they would get the sense of the feeling of the public, as to whether they should take roads over or not. Mr Coop said he was almost ashamed to sit at that table. What was to be done ? Neither Council or Road Board had any money, and it was coming to the question what should be done. Mr Gebbie thought the letter was badly worded, and had no business to have been been sent to this Council. At the same time he quite agreed with Mr Williams about tbe loss that would occur if the money were withheld. Mr Barker said that it was all very well, but where was the money to come from ? He must say again he thought it very unfair to all other districts. Mr Coop said that there must be a stop put to it some time. The Akaroa and Wainui Road Board had had far more than the'r share already. Mr Williams said the question was were we going to have all these roads destroyed or not. Mr Gebbie then proposed that the sum of £40 be voted for the purpose, but at the same time, if _at any future occasion any money be allocated to the road boards in the county, that the above amount be charged against the said road board. Mr Bradley seconded the motion. The Chairman put the motion, when the numbers were four in favor and four against it. He gave his casting vote against the resolution, which was accordingly thrown out. From the Little River School Co mini ttes, asking for trees to be planted in the school ground. Mr Williams proposed that the Domain Board be written to as to what kind of trees would be available, and that this request be the first granted ; and that if the Chairman considers that there is a sufficient number available, that public notice be given in the papers, as before. Seconded by Mr Gebbie, and carried. From Mr Duxbury, secretary to the Farmers' Club, requesting a copy of tho correspondence between the Council and Government relative to the promotion of local industries. The Clerk was instructed to forward tbe papers. PAYMENT?. The following accounts were passed for payment:—Harper & Co., £4 14s 6d ; Akaroa Mail, £14 15s ; Lyttelton Times, £2 4s ; total, £21 13s Gd. NOTICE OF MOTION. Mr Barker gave notice to move at the next meeting—" That this Council take over the whole of the main roads in the county." It was decided that the next meeting be held in five weeks from date. The meeting then adjourned.