AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 543, 27 September 1881, Page 3

AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Saturday, September 24. Present—Messrs J. Dalglish (chairman), K. R. Bradley, J. Gebbie, G S. Fleming. W. Coop, F. W. Williams, J. B. Batker, C. McDonald, and Hay. MINUTES. The minutes of laat special and ordinary meetings were read and.confirmed. chairman's statement.

The Ciiairuian read the following statement : — ••(1) Since last meeting the following correni>onclenoe has been received Jrom the ifelwyti County Council, stating that that Council has voted the sum of £2b towards dealing fl?e Halswell bur, also_asking for fuiiher information re tho letting out of Like EUeamere as to the estimated annual cost of the proposed work. (2) From the Provincial District Auditor, staling that an tho Okain's Buy Itoad Board has not yet obtained bis certificate.for the accuracy of the Bouid's accounts for the jviut year, his certificate being witheld by reason of the rales collected by the Clerk not having been duly banked and accounted for, and requesting" the Council not to pay the amount allocated to that Board until such time as the question pending the settlement of a reference he has made to the Government. (3) From the Okain's Bay Road Board, asking Hie Council to hand over the balance of the last money allosated to that Road Board. (4) From the Akavoa and Wainui Road Board, in reply to Mr Knight's letter re the Mount Bossu road, (5) From the Colonial .Secetary, asking for a return showing the Council's indebtedness. (6) from the same, asking for a return of persons holding pluraliiy of votes on the County roll. (7) The question of defining the boundary between the Sehvyn and Akajoa Counties from the Halswell river to Cooper's nob will come before you to dny —you will lemember that this subject came before you some time since, but was deferred till an expression of opinion could be obtained from the residents in the district. It will be necessary for you to appoint some person to act as a Returning Officer for the election in the second week in .November. (8) Another question to come before you to-day is the appointment of a Valuer to prepare a Valuation Roll, which if only a copy of the Road Board rolls will take a considerable time, as the 6 Road Board districts have to be divided into 9 Ridings. An offer has been received from the Clerk to prepare a copy of the Road Board rolls for the sum of £20, which I think is reasonable. Home delay has been caused in paying the cheques due to the Eoad Boards out ot the £500 allocated last meeting, through delay on the part of some of the Road Boards in not forwarding the amount of the ratable property in their districts, and until this was obtained the cheques could not be handed over, but the required information has now been received, and the cheques are ready to be issued. CORRESPONDENCE.

The- following correspondence was e Erom the Selwyn County Council, as follows: — .. " Office of the Selwyn County Council " Christchurch, sth September, 1881. " Ttie Chairman, " Akaroa County Council. " Sir,—l have the honor, by direction of the Chairman of the Selwyn County Courcil, to inform you that your letter of the 11th August was laid before the Council at its meeting on the 30th ultimo, when it was resolved that a sum of £25 be granted to the Lincoln Eoad Board, to be expended in removing the bnr at the mouth of the river Ilalswell, the grant being supplemented by a similar amount from Akaroa County. The obstruction consists of a gradual accumulation of refuse carried down the, river which has become a source of serious inconvenience and loss to landowners adjoining the river. " With regard to the proposal to keep Lake Ellesmere down to a low level, the Council is disposed to favorably conoid ci the same, but would be glad to bo fur-

nished with any information you may have as to the estimated annual cost of the work proposed. "I have the honor lobe, Sir. " Your obsdient Servant, "W. Jameson, " County Clerk.'

Mr J. Gebbie said that the money should not be paid til! it was certain a bar existed, as the money was granted on those conditions. He should oppose its being paid, as he was quite certain there was no bar at all. The other members took a similar view. Mr G-ebbie moved and Mr Bradley seconded—" That the Little River Road Board be written to, stating that this Council has voted the sum of £25. which amount has been supplemented by the Selwyn County County Council to the same amount, towards clearing out the bar said to exist at the mouth of the Halsvvell. and ask them if they will undertake the work for this Council, in conjunction with the Springs ttoad 3oard ; the understanding being that the money id only paid if the bar is found Mr Gebbie said that the real fact was thai the Halswell could not carry the water off the land, not being wide enoughThai whs the reason of the obstruction, and not a bar, as supposed, The only way to carry off the water complained of would be to cut a canal past Rabbit Island, a distance of some two miles. This would cost at least £500 or £600. A full report of the matter would soon appear in the papers. The resolution was then cariied. Regarding the Lake being kept low, Mr Williams said that as the mattor was not a pressing one he thought that the Government should be written to, asking them, as they were so much interested, to set aside a sum to be put under the control of the Council for keeping the Lake low. If the Government were not first communicated with, Ihey might object to pay afterwards. The Chairman thought they might ask the Selwyn Council to join them in writing to the Government on the question. Mr Williams agreed to this proposal, and Mr Coop and Mr Gebbie also thought it was the best course to pursue.

Mr Williams then moved, "That the Government be written to, asking them to place a yearly amount to the credit of the Selwyn and" Akaroa Counties, jointly, for the purpose of keeping Lake Ellesmere down to a low level, and that the Selwyn County Council be asked to join in urging upon the Government the necessity of the work being done." Seconded by Mr Bradley and carried. From the Provincial District Auditor, in leplylo a letter reaped ing theaccounts of the Okitin's Bay Road Board, sent by the Clerk, as follows: — •To the Akaroa County Council. " Provincial Auditor's Office,

Christchurch, Sept. 13th 1881. t* Sir, —I find your Council has voted the sum of £500 to the Okain's Road Board, being part of a grant paid to the County for distribution amongst Road Bo'irde. "I have to request you will not pay this amount to tho Board in question pending the settlement of a reference I have made to the Government. My certificate for the accuracy of tho Boards accounts for the pant year has not yet issued, and is withheld by reason of the rates collected by the Clerk not having been duly banked and accounted for. _ •' I have this day written to the Minister for Public Works and asked that he will authorise this course being adopted, and in accordance with my suggestion. '• I have the honor to be, Sir, "Your obedient servant, "J. Oli/vikr, '• District Auditor." The Clerk pointed out that there was an error in the letter. The sum of £500 had not been alloca'ed to the Okain's Bay Rood Board alone, but that sum had been divided amongst the Peninsula Road Boards. Mr Ollivier, when auditing the county accounts, had spoken to him on the matter, and he had in consequence written a letter to him (letter read). The Provincial Auditors letter had been received in reply. Mr Williams thought that a great deal of officiousness had been shown. The Council had nothing whatever to do with the money affairs of the Okain's Bay Road Board. Mr Barker said he agreed with Mr Wil - Hams that no such correspondence as that regarding the Okain's Bay accounts should be read. There had been a deficiency of £97, out it had been paid into the bank since. The Bank slip had been sent to Mr Ollivier, and there had been some correspondence on the subject, which Mr Ollivier had not had the courtesy to answer. Mr Williams thought the first complaint should have been laid before the Council. Tne treasurer had no right to have written before this meeting of the Council. The letter should have been laid before the Council first.

The Treasurer said that the auditor had told him ebout the matter, and he had written asking what course to pursue.

Mr Williams and Mr Barker both said they wished it to bo distinctly understood that no business should be transacted without coming first before the Board. Mr Gebbie then moved—"That the letter of Mr Ollivier be acknowledged and a copy forwaided to the Okain's Bay Road Board. Saconded by Mr Williams and carried. From the Okain's Bay Itoad Board, as follows: — "Eoad Board Office, "Okain's Bay, August 27th 1881, 11 The Clerk Akaroa County Council, '•Dear Sir, —I only received your letter dated the 11th inst." at our meeting this day, and now beg to forward you the information requested. " The total amount of saleable property in this district for the year 1881, is £6340 10s. " I am also directed by the meeting to remind you that there is a balance in your hands due to this Board since the last allocation, and if you will kindly send me the amount of this balance I will forward you receipt for same and you can then, pay it into the Bank to the Board's account. „ 11 1 have the honor to be, bir, " Your obedient servant, " David Weight " Clerk to Board." It was resolved, on tl>e motion of Mr Williams, seconded by Mr'Gebbie—" That the amount due to the Okain's Bay Eoad Board out of the last allocation of funds, viz. £4 17s, be passed for payment, but be held by this Council until the Board's accounts are passed by the Auditor. From Akaroa and Wainui Road Board, as follows;—

"Akaroa and Wainui Road Board, "DiivauchelVs Bay, 21st Sept., 1881 "The Chairman, " Akaroa County Council.

« Sir,—l have the honor by instruction to acknowledge the receipt of copy of Mr Knight's letter ol the Ulch August re opening the Mount Bossn toad through Itinides's flat, Wainui, and in I'M.ly am directed to submit the folio. v'-ug t'acis for your information, and to show th-f falsity of that gentleman's unji'st'fiahlo rensure of the Board's action in the matter without knowing the facts of the case. l«t "With regard to tlio deed oi : conveyance referred to in his letter as having been signed by Mr Rhodes in March last, I have to point out that the deed was not ready before the 21st June last. 2nd " That since receiving notice thereof, the Board have not been able to do anything in the mutter for want of funds to pay the amount required for excess of land taken, and additional fencing required. As regards the trespass on private property complained of by that gentlemen, I have to point out that ihe Board some time ago made arrangements with Mr W. McKay for a right of way through 1-iis property until sjch time as they are able to open up the said Flat road, and for such Übe they have already paid Mr McKay £9 4s. Further, I am directed to point out that the cost for land, fencing, and making the said road loft wide will entail a further outlay of £250, which at present is quite beyond the means of the Board. " I have the honor to be, Sir, "Your obedient servant, "John Barwic;:, "Clerk to Board."

The letter was ordered to be received, and it was further resolved that a copy should be sent to Mr Knight. Circulars were read from the Government, which had been replied to by the Clerk. From the Selwyn County Council, as follows:— " Office of the Selwyn County Council, "Christchurch, December Ist. 1880, "Chairman Akaroa County Council, Sir, —I ara requested by the Selwyn County Council to communicate with you on the subject of the boundary between the Counties of Selwyn and Akaroa. A portion of the boundary is described in the Schedule to the Counties Act as " a stream rising on the western side of Cooper's Knobs to its junction with the Halswell." But it appears that this stream cap only be traced for a portion of tho distance, when it becomes lost in the swamp, hence the boundary cannot be clearly defined. The same stream also forms the boundary between the Halswell and Little River Road districts. It has been proposed with a view to settling the question that tho boundary line should be nlteied, .md that from the corner of section 1353G it should follow the southern boundary of sections 794, 857, and 944, thence along the centre of the reserve for road and drain to the river Halswell. '• I shall be glad if you will bring the matter before your Council, and let me know whether such an alteration would be acceptable. " I have the honor to be. Sir, " Your obedient servant, "Edw. E. Lea, " Chairman. , '

Mr J. Gebbie read cojrespondence on the subject. He fm iher said he undeistood that the LUUe River Boaid would lose some icn acres. At ihe same time he thought there could be no objection. The Chairman under-loud there was to be no alteration except in the definition of the boundaries.

After further discussion Mr Gebbie moved —" That the Se'wyu County Council be written to, stating that this Council will agree to the boundary as mentioned in their chairman's letter of Ist December, 1880, as follows :—' Commencing at the river lialswell and following tho centra of the Road and Drain Reserve, following the southern boundary of sections 944, 857. 794, to the corner of section 1351)G. 7 " Seconded by Mr Bradley and cairied. RETURNING OFJ?:CEB. The Chairman said that it was necessary to appoint a leturning officer for the county at this meeting. Mr A. I. McGregor was appointed to the post. TOG VALUATION. An application from the Clerk was read, offering to prepare a valuation roll for the sum of £20.

Messrs Barker and Williams were of opinion it was premature. The new Courier would have time to do the work before the 15th of January. Mr Barker then moved—"That the question of preparing a valuation roll for J the Counly stand over until the election ! of the new Council." This was seconded by Mr Hay and carried. LITTLE RIVER RAILWAY. Mr Coop asked il the Chairman had received any communication from their member regarding the extension of the Little Itiver Railway. It was a farce to leave the line where it was. Mr Gebbie said that he had heard that it was intended to extend tho lino, from Mr Austin, but knew nothing of particulars. He beleived a sum of £21,000 had been passed in the supplementary estimates for the Little River Railway. Mr Coop then moved—"That the Council telegraph to Mr Montgomery, and (isked him to interview the Minister of Public Works, to ask what steps the Government intend to take in the further extension of the railway to Little River. Seconded by Mr Bradley and carried. CID.RITABLK A]l). It was resoived that the sum of £3 10s, paid by the Chairman for Richard Clarke, be forwarded to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. ACCOUNT?. I Accounts amounting to £87 10d Gd were passed for payment. ALLOCATION. The Chairman read the following allocation of tho £500 voted for the Road Boards by the Council :—Port Levy, £42 14s 7d ; Pigeon Bay, £61 Is Id ; Okain'a Bay, £57 15s 9d ; Little River, £148 10s 9d; Akaroa and Wainui, £151 13s &! (less £45 12s Gd) ; Port Victoria, £ISG 5d 9d. Total, £408 Iβ 7d. COMING ELECTION. Mr Coop moved " That the Returning Oflicer, Mr A. I McGregor, be paid tho sum of £27 for the general election in November next, and that the elections bo held at the following places:—Eerard Riding, County Council Chambers ; Okain's Buy Riding, schoolhousu, Little Akaloa ; Le Bon's Bay Riding, sohoolhouse, Lo

Bon's Bay; Tai Tnpu Rifling, Library, Tai Tapu ; Littlo River Riding, schoolhouse. Little llivor ; Port Victoria Biding, schoolhouse, Governor's Bay, south : Port Levy Killing, schooiliouse, Purt Levy ; Pigeon Biy. ilitling, Bchoolhnijue, Pigeon Bay ; Waiinii Killing, schoo'hmi c. French Fa:-:n. Seconded by Mr IVirker and carrel. ADJOURNMENT. Tho Council then adjourned to Saturday, Ocioje' ±2.