AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 580, 3 February 1882, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A meeting of this Council was held on Wednesday evening. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Meech. Black. Chamberlain, Cullen, Bruce, McGregor , and Gutberlet. MINUTES. The minutes of the former meeting were read and confirmed. CORUESrONDENCK. Letters were read— From the Charitai le Aid Board, enclosing statement of accounts. From the County Council, enclosing resolution passed at their last meeting, in reference to urging upon the Government the necessity of continuing the direct * formation of the railway to Little Kiver, instead of diverting the line to the foot of lake Forsyth. Cr Bruce thought that they should M certainly act as requested by the County Council. In the opinion of every one present he believed, the diversion would be a mistake. Cr McGregor agreed that they should do allthey could to strengthen the hand.-) of the County Council in this matter, fur it was one of vital importance to the district. No doubt the Government had proposed to make an end of the railway by taking it to the foot of the lake. Hβ had heard good news, however, for a gentleman residing at Little Kiver had told him that he had seen the Premier in Christchurch, who had told him that it -*W was the intention of the -Government not IP only to carry the line as far as possible towards Little Itiver at once, but to propose a vote at next session for carrying it , on at lea"st as far as the Maori township, * (Hear, hear.) He begged to move " That the Minister of Public Works be written to, asking the Department to reconsider their determination, to detour the Little Kiver Railway to the bottom of Lake Forsyth, and that the Council strongly urges upon the Government the importance to the district to continue the formation of the railway on tho line originally surveyed along the northern side of Lake m Forßyth." Seconded by Cr Cullen and carried. From the Exhibition committee enclos- "*■ ing circular arid requesting the Borough's co-operation. , j§> From Mr Lelicvre as follows :— " Akaroa, February 1, 1882. " Gentlemen, — I write again with reference to the difficulty I have in reaching my houso from the Balguerie road and to ask tho Council if they] see their way to do something to that deep gully below my

house to make it passable. The most of the members are aware of the very bad state of the road I have had to use for so many years, and that in bad weather it is next to impossible to get up. I think if the Council will give the matter a little consideration tlv.-y will see that I am not asking too much from them, taking into account the land 1 have in the Borough, and the amount of rates 1 have paid to that body. Hoping you will give this matter a favorable consideration. Yours, etc., " Francois Lrlikvue, Per Etienne E. Lelievre." From Cr McGregor as follows :— "Akaroa, February 1,1882. ** " Sir, —I have to resign my position as a member of the Wharf Committee as I feel my time is simply thrown away, by acting for what I conceive to be for the „ public good. Yours, etc., "A. I. McGrkoob." His Worship said he much regretted seeing such a letter, as he knew that Cr McGregor's services on the Wharf Committee had been most valuable, and earnestly hoped ho would reconsider his determination. Aj. Cr Black said he was sorry that he had heard remarks made by a Councillor to Cr McGregor, that ho thought were uncalled X for. He was sure that Cr McGregor knew more about the wharf committee than any one else, and had given a good deal of his time to the subject. After an expression of regret from other Crs, Cr McGregor said, that for the preeent at any rate, he adhered to his resignation. FINANCE. ** The following statement was read :— Receipts since laat meeting—Rent reserves, Ditely, £5 7s; dog tax, £2 10s; total, £7 17s. Credit balance at bank, £91 19s 3d. Accounts to be presented— Clerk, salary one month, £4 3s 4d ; W. Maltby, day Jabor, 2s 6d ; total, £4 5s 10d. The accounts were passed for payment. STONE WALL ON THE BEACH. Cr McGregor culled the attention of the Works Committee to the stone wall on the beach, which was in a defective state in certain parts. The culverts also wanted looking to. fc Cr Cullen said the matter would receive the attention of the Works Committee, and had been under their consideration. The Works Committee had no report that evening, having adjourned in consequence -, of the Wharf Committee occupying the Council Chambers on the previous evening. THE TOWN CLERK'S SALARY. Cr Cullen moved the notice of motion standing in his name—" That the salary j of the present clerk and collector be increased from £50 to £75 per annum." He would not detain them, for he was sure every Cr there had made up his mind how w he would vote, and nothing he could say would influence them." Cr Chamberlain seconded. He had from the first supported the motion, thinking that the town cleric did his duty well m and deserved a higher salary. Cγ McGregor said that they were all aware oi his opinion on the matter, which was that the clerk's salary was sufficient. It was not at all a pleasant thing to have to oppose a motion like this, and such resolutions were bad, because they tended to unfit the officer of the Council for his m duties, and introduce a spirit of irritation at their meetings. He begged to testify ,/,o the great ability the clerk had shown in carrying out his duties in a most masterly manner, but he thought it was only the .— other day that this question of salary was finally settled, and this resolution they were considering had sprung from some words let fall by the late occupant of the mayoral chair on leaving office. Their clerk had a salary of £80 per annum, which he thought a very good one for the work done. It was true the actual salary of the rown clerk was only £50, m but the extras brought it up to £80, which he considered ample remuneration considering the a.nount of the rates to be expended. It was a fair and reasonable amount, and should not be increased, more I* especially as last June they had definitely fixed the clerk's salary, and yet now they were asked to alter it before the year had expired. He had spoken to no Councillor on the subject, so took that opportunity of expressing his opinions. It wa3 a most unpleasant thing to do, but he felt it his duty to move as an amendment, " That the resolution of this Council of June 22nd last, in reference to the various emoluments of the town clerk be adhered to." Cr Black seconded. He thought the application for a an increase of salary should have come from the Clerk himself. The Clerk said he had applied by letter last June. On the amendment being put it was Jost, only Crs McGregor, Black and the *■ Mayor voting for it, and Crs Cullen, Gutberlet, Meech, Chamberlain and Bruce voting against. The resolution, "That the Clerk's salary be increased to £75 per annum " * was then put and carried by five to three. The Conncil then adjourned.