AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 596, 31 March 1882, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A meeting of this Council was held on Wednesday night. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Crs Waeckerle, McGregor, Bruce, Cullen, Brown and Gutberlet. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. OUTWARD CORRESPONDENCE The outward correspondence was approved. INWARD CORRESPONDENCE. Letters were read— From Mr Dalglish as follows :—« 11 Akaroa, March 26, 1882. " Sir, —Your favor of 21st to hand re timber. I have to say that lam willing to supply the timber, 8x 2 totara, at 13s 6fl, same as before. I will forward part of it within three weeks and the remainder first chance after that. Yours, etc., " Jambs Dalglihh." Cr McGregor said the action of the Council was illegal and referred the Mayor to section 175. which stated that all contracts exceeding £20 should be tendered for. He held the whole affair was illegal. The Mayor said they had previously made enquiries and ascertained the cheapest way of getting timber. There was so much delay in getting timber that it was necessary to have an order on hand. The Clerk said a supply of timber that cost £24 had been ordered by the Wharf Committee without tenders being called. Cr Cullen said that next year they would have money in hand and no doubt would require the timber for footpath kerbings. jlt was better to get it now as totara was getting scarce on the Peninsula. Cr McGregor said the legal course should be pursued and moved "That in procuring the 8000 ft of timber required by the Works Committee, the eouree required by the Act be carried out, viz., to advertise for tenders for the same. The resolution was carried. From Mr B. T. Missen asking for certain necessaries for the Licensing Committee. It was resolved that the 'Jleik should be authorised to procnre the things required. From Mr Thos. Parsons, stating he intended to erect a wooden fence in front of hia section in Balguerie stree*. From Mr Banvick as follows :— , " Duvauchelle's Bay, March 29,1882. \

" Sir, —In accordance with instructions I have examined and measured the timber on the crane T, Government Wharf, Akaroa (herewith find list): with regard to quality I believe it a very fair class of timber, but I could not find an idle hand to have it turned over, I have been unable to examine it critically, but have seen Mr Martindale, and have asked him to put aside any piece he has a doubt about when shifting it in order to commence work. With regard to tbe timber on the outer

part of the jetty, Mr McGregor informs me that it was examined, measured to the best of his belief and taken delivery of when landed, account of which is in your office, however, should this not be the case lean take an account of it on Friday, the 31st inst., whon in Akaroa. Yours, etc.,

"John Barwick." It was agreed the Clerk should see Mr Barwick on the matter.

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION

A letter was read from Messrs Joubert & Twopenny, inviting His Worship to the opening of the Exhibition.

REPORT OF WHARF CQMMITTEE

The following report was read :—

" A meeting of the above Committee was held at the office at 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28th, 1882. Present—Hie Worship the Mayor (chairman), and Ore Black and Bruce. The Committee, having considered the followitsf objections to the proposed scale of wharfage and storage dues, viz., from Jas. D. Ganvood, Jas. Daly, Henry Billens, Elizabeth M. Watkins, H. M, N. Wntkins, and also a letter containing objections from the wharfinger (Mr W. H. Henninef), beg to recommend as follows :—lst. That the proponed scale of wharfage duos, as advertised in the Akaroa Mail of the 28th ult., be so altered as to allow all goods for export, the produce of the Akaroa and Wainui districts, to be landed free of charge. 2nd, That the sum of 2s per ton, under the heading of all goods and merchandise not otherwise specified, be altered to Is 8d per ton. 3rd. That goods under the heading of grain, flour, peas, &c, and proposed to bo charged Is6d per ton, be charged Is 8d per ton. 4th. That coals be entered separately, and charged Is per ton, instead of Is 6d per ton. The Committee also recommend that a small suitable crane be procured, and erected on Daly's Jetty. The Committee have to report that the timber for repairing the Akaroa Wharf, ordered in October last, is now to hand, and the repairs decided upon by the Council have been commenced."

Cγ McGregor said that he and others believed the action of the Council ultra vires as long as the old Provincial Ordinance was in existence. They intended to test the question at an early date by refusing to pay except under the old scale. He had never never heard of the Ordinance being repealed, and if it were not, they were certainly not acting legally. Regarding Daly's Wharf.he asked where the funds were to come from to buy the crnne spoken of. It could not be taken from the funds in hand, as they were a special grant to the other wharf, and the earnings of that wharf. He thought Daly's Jetty ought to earn the money to buy the crane first.

His Worship said that before the jetty could earn the money it must be put in a position to do so.

Cr Bruce said it had been proposed at the meeting to borrow the money from the other wharf.

Cr McGregor moved, and Cr Gutberlei seconded •— "That the report be nol adopted."

Cγ Cullen moved, as an amendment, that the report be adopted. This as seconded by Cr Waeckerle pro forma, but withdrawn, it being pointed out that it was not an amendment, but a direct negative. Cr McGregor said that Crs Waeckerle, Gutberlet, and himself wero taken by surprise by the proposed reductions, and thought that the matter might be deferred for a fortnight, in order that Councillors might have an opportunity for consideration of the recommendations of the Wharf Committee.

The Mayor agreed, and Cr McGregor then withdrew his resolution, and Cr Brown moved the adjournment of the discussion till next meeting. This was seconded by Cr Ctillen and carried. WORKS COMMITTEE, Cr Cullen, Chairman of the Works Committee, reported that the wall at Mr Bayley's was in progress. Ho asked for extension of time to bring up a report on Jollie street, as he had received a fresh communication from Mr Wilkin on the subject. Cr McGregor had great pleasure in proposing that an extension of time be granted to the works committee to bring up a written report next meeting. The resolution was agreed to. FINANCE. Receipts since last meeting—Dog tax, £2 10s. Credit balance at bank, £77 lls 3d. Accounts to be presented— J. Aylmer, returning officer nnder Licensing Act, £4 4s; Clerk's salary, one month, £6 4e; H. C. Jacobson, stationery, 18s; G. Lardner, cartage, 3b 6d ; J. Dalglish, timber, £5 10s 6d ; do, do, Wharves account, £24 3s 6d ; total, £41 3s 6d. The accounts as read were passed for payment. CONTRACTS. The Mayor said it was necessary to apj point another person to sign contracts, in ! place of the iate Mayor. It was agreed that Hie Worship the Mayor be appointed, in lieu of the late Mayor. LIGHTING THE TOWN. Cr Waeckerle moved that tenders be called for lighting the town. It was pointed out that Cr Waeckerle would have to give notice of motion on the subject. He then gave notice of motion as follows: —Cr Waeckerle to move at the next meeting of the Council, " That during the coming winter months the borough lamps be lighted." CATTLE DRIVING THROUGH THE TOWN. Cr McGregor gave notice of bis intention to move at the next meeeting of the Council. <l That the necessary steps be taken under section 339 of ' The Municipal Corporation Act, 1876/ te repeal sections 41 and 42 of the By-laws of the Borough of Akaroa, at pages 19 and 20 of the said By-laws." The Council then adjourned.