AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 529, 9 August 1881, Page 2

AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Saturday, August 6

I A meeting ot this Council was held on the above date at their offices, Duvauchelle's Bay. Present—Messrs Dalglish (in the chnir), McDonald, Barker, Gebbie, Williams, Coop, Levy, Bradley and Hay. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT. The Chairman read a statement of the business to be brought before the meeting, the first item being a ease of distress in Le Bon's Bay, which had been recommended to his consideration by the Resident Magistrate and Sergeant of police. He had afforded temporary relief, and now asked the Couucil to represent the case to the Charitable Aid Board in Christchurch. A resolution to that effect was carried. CORRESPONDENCE. Letters were read— From the Onuku Schoolmaster, asking for a grant of trees. The Chairman stated that fifty trees had bee granted. From the Okain's Cemetery Board, asking for evergreen trees. A reply had been sent that none but deciduous trees were at the disposal of the Council. From tbe Akaroa Domain Board, stating that it was not the intention of the Board, with the present funds at their disposal, to raise any more forest trees for distribution. Mr Coop thought the reply hardly satisfactory. This Domain had received a grant of £500 on the understanding that they undertook to form a nursery of trees. He thought the Board should be written to, asking what they had done with the money. Mr Williams and other members pointed out that the grant had been made without conditions being attached to it, and that it would be just as reasonable to enquire of all the other domains how they had expended their funds. The matter then dropped.

From the Colonial Secretary asking information as to expenses of valuation. The circular had been replied to. From the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board, asking the Council to place a sum at their disposal for payment of balance due on the Duvauchelle's Bay pound. From the same, asking the Council to approve the appointment of Joseph Libeau as poundkeeper at. f. s-dury of £12 per annum. Both applications w-no granted, and it \vf.\ resolved to instruct the Clerk j to take '<• .'i-'T.avy step:-.: fo the ] From Mr M.onlgomery, M..L.X., (leiej gram) giving iniu.(nation as lo tho po.-t I t:')ii oil matter,; regarding the Akaroa i ;-,:;!v.- ;■'. The b;k;-'i:un has airc;-:'y b'.eii i t-.'d.'MiU'd ;■'■ '-■;;' coiu.-n-is.

Mr Montgomery also forwarded copy of a letter which he had forwarded to tbe Minister of Public Works on the subject. The letter deals exhaustively with the subject from the time of the institution of of the Trust, and urged strongly upon tho Minister the necessity of continuing the line to Little River, in order to utilize the portion already constructed. To this letter the usual sterotyped official reply had been received to tho effect that " the same would be duly considered." While on this subject Mr Williams would like to call the attention of the Council to the state of the Lake and its effect on the Railway Line. He had been credibly informed that darnago to the extent of £2000 had been done by the lato floods. Some public body should see to the prevention of this. He thought the Council should take tbe matter up and see to the Lake being let out. Mr Coop said the Little River Road Board had done this work for 17 years. Mr Gebbie concurred in tho remarks of Mr Williams. He thought tbe Solwyn County Council should be asked to assist in the matter. From his own observation he was sure it would take at least £1000 to repair the damage done by the floods. The Boad Board had not let the lake out for two years, Mr Williams was willing to include the Selwyn County in the matter, but in any case this Council should see that the work was done. The Chairman thought it bard that the expense should come out of local funds. The land to be reclaimed should bear the cost. Mr Barker considered that tho subject was to 6 broad to come on for decision in such a hurry, and advocated notice being given. Mr Williams said there was no doubt that when the land was reclaimed it would bo sold subject to a charge for keeping tbe lake down. If the Council spent money on the work in the meantime, Government could be asked for a refund. Mr Gebbie thought that as public men they were bound to protect public property. Mr Hay moved that the Selwyn Council be written to, asking them to assist in the work. Mr Williams was willing to withdraw his proposition in favor of that of Mr Hay, which was then put and carried. On the motion of Mr Barker, a resolution was agreed to thanking Mr Montgomery for his action in the matter. From the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, enclosing report and statement of accounts. The Chairman suggested that the report be referred to tho Charitable Aid Committee, to ho repo-tcd on at next meeting. Mr Gebbie moved a resolution to that effect which was carried.

From Mr J. E. W. Ferryman, stating that he bad given notice of a motion in the Selwyn County Council asking for a grant of £25 towards clearing the bar at the mouth cf the Ilalswell rivei. The letter was presented by Mr Gebbie, who had been asked to givo the proposal his support. Mr Gebbio said he for one did not think theie was a bar at all. He would, however, propose that the sum asked for be granted, provided that the bar in question could be found. On a division the motion was carried by five to four. The following were the voles. Ayes—Messrs Gebbie, Bradley, Coop, McDonald and the Chairman. Noes —Messrs Barker, Williams, Hay and Fleming. ALLOCATION OV FUNDS. A letter from Mr Dalglish, as member for the Le Bon's Bay Riding, asking for a sum of £30 for the purpose of re-instating a bridge in Le Bon's Bay which had been carried away, and one from the Okain's Road Board to the same purport had been read at an earlier period of the meeting. Their consideration had been postponed till after the other business was disposed of, in order that that the whole question of the distribution of the Council's funds might be gone into. They were now taken into consideration, together with an application from the Little River Board for a grant in aid towards the expense they had incurred in letting out Lake Forsyth. Mr Hay stated that if the Pigeon Bay Board had had any idea that any money was obtainable he was sure they would have made an application to assist them in repairing damages caused by the late floods.

In answer to inquiries the Clerk reported that the funds in hand aarounted to about £1300. Mr Hay moved that £600 be allocated pro rata among the different Road Boards.

The Chairman ruled the motion out of order, as he held that it was " extraor dinary business," and notice of motion must be given before it could come on for discussion. Mr Hay then gave notice that he would move the resolution at the next meeting. Mr Gebbie suggested that the £30 asked for the bridge at Le Bon's Bay be granted, on the understanding that it be deducted from any amount to be allocated to the Okain's Board. Mr Barker objected to the grant being made a charge as suggested ; each Bay was now " on its own hook" in matters of finance. Accounts to the amount of £10 13s were passed for payment. An offer from Messrs Wiggins and Co. to print the electoral roll was accepted. REPRESENTATION OF BE HARD RIDING. Mr Williams proposed tho motion standing in his name, viz., " That this Council consider the question of the Berard Riding with regard to its representation at the Council Board with a view of increasing its representative power on a fair basis of population and valuation." Ho said it was quite evident that for the last three years Berard had been under represented. On tho last occasion the Council gave relief to Little River. The following were tbs amounts of the valuation and number of ratepayers in the various ridings:— Berard £11,337 and 175; Wainui £4,706 and 60; Little River £11,739 and 111; Tai Tapu £5,530 and 73; Port Victoria £3, 644 and 62 ; Pigeon Bay £6,616 and 51 ; Port Levy £4,631 and 29 ; Le Bon's Bay £3,900 and 89 ; Okain's Bay £2,426 and 68. As long as n-) r?,te was struck, ■'.ii.j iii:J not so much iu--Uoi\ but when they once commenced to r;ic it would I»o fo;t most s-m-mi-K-. It was n;.L j bii remedied. '' .Ho j meiciv hiv.i'j'it :!;•• mr.Uor before l:ivCosmcii iV.r thoir c-t.nddei'atit)?;. in any rH-v.-.'lo:! :' c: mado; he hop'-d that v: :?a:y' I-.-.- ':--:---h »v;'i;/;' W:j(il(l I:-!.- give;; U. '

the number of ratepayers as to rateable j value. Tbe Chairman thought the difficulty could begot over by ro-adjustin<r the boundaries of the Beranl and Wainui Pd-lings. Mr William:- comh/sttcd this view, Mr Tiny considered Mr Williams was right as to Borard being entitled ditional representation. There was moro than one way in which this could bo re-adjusted ; one would he to put a portion of Borard into Wainui and giving the part on the other side of the watershed to Le Bon's. Another plan would be to dovido Port Levy between Pigeon Bay and Port Victoria. After some further discussion the matter lapsed without any decision being arrived at. Mr Williams gave notice to bring the subject up again at the next meeting in a form that would allow of its being definitely settled. The Council then adjourned to meet again on Saturday, August 20.