AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 557, 15 November 1881, Page 5 (Supplement)

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Council met in the offices, Balguerie street, last Friday evening , , at the usual hour, the us.ial meeting night having been altered on account of the holiday. The members present were—Mis Worship the Mayor, Crs Adams, Meech, Gutberlet, Brown, Bruce, McGregor, Chamberlain and Cullen.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The outward correspondence was also read and approved of.

CORRESPONDENCE.

A letter was read from the Secretary of the Education Department, Wellington, forwarding copy of the Akaroa High School Act, 1881, and stating that he had been requested to bring it under the notice of the various bodies, by whom members of the Board of Governors are to bo elected, and promising to communicate on the subject again after the elections are completed.

Mr Daly wrote, asking that the pipes at present laid in front of his store, end of Balguerie street, be allowed to remain as at present, so as to act as an extra drain.

The Mayor and Or Cullen approved the granting of the request, as it might necessi tate the footway being opened in the event of the pipes in question getting choked. Cr McGregor moved that if Mr Daly so desired it, the pipes remain as at present, on Mr Daly's reimbursing the Council the original cost of the pipes

The motion was seconded by Cr Bruce and carried.

WORKS COMMITTEE.

The Chairman of the Works Committee intimated to the Council that that Committee had no report to make.

The following report in connection with the works in Balguerie street was read from Mr W. D. Wilkins, the Council's en-

gineer:—

" I beg to inform you that the contractor is making a much better advance with the works in tins contract than heretofore. The protection wall is finished, except the. fence, which is now in haivl. I have passed a further progress amounting to £70 (making to this date £108), the certificate of which will be handed to you. With regard to the storm water which accumulates outside the borough, I beg leave to refer you to my letter of 31st August last, and to urge you to reconsider the necessity of taking some step 3, even if unassisted by the lload Board, to secure the road against sudden damage from such furious rain showers as those of the middle of last August. The importance which I attach to this matter must be my excuse for once more bringing it to your notice.— Yours, etc., W. D. Wilkins."

Hia Worship and Crs Adams and Cullen all agreed in the importance of getting rid of the storm water in question, but His Worship pointed out that the money was running short and the culvert would be an expensive one.

Cγ McGregor thought the matter considerably exaggerated, and thought_ the present ways and means of getting rid of

the water should be tried before undertakfre'sh culverting. It was ultimately agreod to this matter t*> stand over until Mr Burns finished his contract. FINANCE. The following statement of receipts, balance at Bank at date and accounts for payment were considered. In reply to a question as to whether any allowance hid been made for the pipes lost in the " Pawar. " ■ the Clerk stated that Messrs Austin and Kirk had sent 20 by last shipment, free of charge. His Worship stated that he had received .the Engineer's certificate for the progress payment on Bfilguerie street contract. Receipts since last meeting—General rate, 1881, £5 5 ; rent reserves (Sadler), £4 ss; total, £9 10a. Credit balance at bank at date, £328 8s Brl. Accounts to be presented—C. Burns (second progressive payment), £70; Jas. Dixon (overseer), £10 ; Jas. Danish (timber), £20 16s sid ; Austin & Kirk (drain pipes), £13 4s 8d ; Government Printer (statutes), £3 ; Jas. Robertson (repairing clock), 12s 6d ; total, £117 13s 7Jd. Cr Brown proposed, and Cr Gutberlet seconded, that the accounts as just read be passed for payment. The motion was carried unanimously. ASIIBURTON RESERVES. His Worship pointed out to the Council that the agent for the Ash burton reserves had a tendency to fall asleep. His last communication was dated 13th July last, promising to send draft lease in a few days Up to the present nothing more had been heard of the matter. On the motion of Cr Chamberlain the Town Clerk was directed to write to Mr Gundry on the subject, and generally ascertain the position. DOG COLLARS. On the motion of Cr McGregor, seconded by Cr Cullen, His Worship the Mayor and the Town Clerk were authorised to procure a supply of dog collars for 1882, and in doing so to follow the method adopted the previous 3 f e«ir. The motion was agreed to. VALUATION ROLL,

On the question of the preparation of the new Valuation Roll for the Borough, coining up, Crs Meech and McGregor, were of the opinion that the appointment was not an annual one. His Worship and tho other Councillors dissented from the view of the question. Ultimately the Town Clerk was appointed to prepare the new rolls at a fee of £5 ss.

WORK TO Bβ DONE.

Cr Bruce drew attention to the bad state of the approach to the shore end of the Government jetty. It was resolved to leave the work in question to the Works Committee.

Cr Chamberlain spoke of the large quantity of weeds and grass in the street.

Ilia Worship suggested that as St Dock's Diy was approaching the matter might be left over for consideration at next meeting of the Council. THE DOMAIN. Cr McGregor &aid that it would be remembered that he had at last meeting of the Council moved that the consideration of a letter from the Secretary of the Domain Board in reference to the Council taking it over should he deferred until the present meeting. He was afraid they were in no better position now that then to deal with the matter, accurate information on the subject was difficult to obtain, and he would now move that Crs Meech, Adams, and the mover be appointed a subcommittee to meet the Domain Trust, and obtain all possible information from them on the subject and report to nest meeting of the-Council.

The motion was seconded by Cr Bruce and agreed to. 1.1 is Worship, as a member of the trust, said they would be happy to give the committee just appointed all the assistance in their power to enable them to re port to the Council.

Tlie Council then adjourned till Wednesday evening, 23i\l inst, at 7.30 p.m.