AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 572, 6 January 1882, Page 3

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of this Council was held on Wednesday night. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Crs Gutberlet, Bruce, Chamberlain and Cullen. minutes. The minutes of the prior, ordinary and special meetings were read and confirmed. OUTWARD CORRESPONDENCE. The outward correspondence was read and approved. INWARD CORRESPONDENCE. Letters were read from Mr A. I. McGregor as follows:— Sir, —Kindly excuse my attendance at ■meeting of tbe Council on Wednesday, as I will he absent from Akaroa on public business. The holidays have prevented anything being done either in tha matter of the domain or wharf. In reference to the domain, Mr S. Watkins promises to look tbe matter up at once now, and in reference to the wharf, Mr Dalglish promises the timber next week, when the work will at once be p«t in hand, in terms of the specifications now in your office.— Yours, etc., A. I. McGregor. From Mr W. H. Gundry forwarding four Crown Grants of Borough Reserves at Ashburton. From Mr C. ArtßStrong announcing bis int. ntion of erecting a fence round his bouse in Ba guerie street. From Mr Lardener stating his intention of building an addition to his house in Jollie street. From Mr Vangioni as follows :— «Ak roa, Dec. 21, 1882. " Gentlemen, —I beg you to grant to me permission to rise About 3 inches the footpath in front of my shop in Lavaud street, by doing so I shall use all care not to spoil tha present gradient. Yours, etc., "Joseph Vangioni." Cr Bruce pointed cut that it would be a dangerous precedent He moved that hie request should be granted subject to tbe approval of tbe, Works Committee. This was seconded by Cr Chamberlain and carried. rate account. The Mayor said that he had a rather uncommon document before him. It was a statement nf the General Rite account from Ist April, 1881, to 31st March, 1882, and showed that every halfpenny of the rates had been collected. He thought this showed that tbe borough was in a good financial state, and also that their Town Clerk and collector had shown great care and diligence. S veral councillors also spoke in high terms of Mr Sims' diligence in collecting the rates. FINANCE. The following statement was laid before the Council :—Receipts since last meeting —Customs, Christchurch, S.s ; dog tax, 10s; total, 15s. Credit balance at date, £104 13s. Accounts to be presented— Jas. Dalglish (timber), £12 10s 8d; John Dixon (overseer). £1 6s; Aldridge (day labor), 3s 6d; W. Thomas (day labor), £1 2s 9d ; 11. Edmondson (day labor), £1 2s 9d ; W. Maliby (day labor), £1 2s 9d ; F. Halm (pounukeeper's salary, three months), £3 15s ; total, £21 3s. sd, The accounts were passed for p lyment. INSURANCE OF THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. It was pointed out by his Worship that although the furniture and map were insured for £200, there was no insurance on the building. It was resolved on the motion of Cr Cullen that His Worship the Mayor and the Town Clerk should make arrangements for insuring the office for £100. THE TOWN CLERK'S SALARY. Cr Cullen said he had a proposition to make, which was that the Town Clerk's salary should be raised from £50 to £75 per annum. He did this because he was the Councillor, who had originally proposed the reduction of the Clerk's salary to £50 a year. At that lime he had been told that it was impossible to get the services of a good man for £50 per annum, but tbey wore then in debt, and he said try, and they had tried, and got Mr Sims, who was certainly a most efficient servant to the Council, and had done much to get them out of debt. He did not like to say too much before Mr Sims, but they all know his great value. Mr Sims was their only servant, and he believed in paying him fairly. He had beard many outside the Coancil say that they thought the Clerk's salary should be increased. He would move'"That the Clerk's salary be raised from £50 to £75 per annum." Cr Chamberlain seconded, speaking in strong terms of commendation of Mr Sims' services. Cr Bruce wished the question to be deferred till next meeting, as there was barely a quorum present. He moved an amendment to that effect. This was seconded by Cr Gutberlet, who said he quite agreed with Cr Cullen thai the Clerk's salary should be raised to &li per annum, but thought such an important matter should not be decided when so few were present. The Mayor then put the amendment, fo] which Crs Bruce and Gutberlet voted, Cn Cullen and Chamberlain opposing. The Mayor gave bis casting vote for tin i i amendment. Whilst quite agreeing witl what had fallen from Ur Cullim as to thi thorough efficiency ol the Town Clerk, h thought.it was too important a matter ti i settle in the absenoe of so many council [ • lors. The amendment was then carried.

G iRSSE ON CEMETERY ROAD. Cr Cullen called attention to the necessity that existed for grubbing up the gorse growing on part of th" Ometery red, Cr Gutberlet moved—"That the Works Committee be empowered to employ laborin removing the gorse from that part ol the Cemetery road near the D •main,'" This was -seconded by Cr Bruce, and carried. The meeting then adjourned.