AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 600, 14 April 1882, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of tha Borough Council was held on Wednesday night. Present—His Worship the Mayor and Crs Waeckerle, Gutberlet, Black, Cullen, Bruce, and McGregor. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. STATEMENT. The Cl&rk said he should like to state that the timber for the wharf had been advertised for, and he had made a mistake in saying last meeting it had not. It was the timber for Balguerie street that had not been advertised for. CORRESPONDENCE. Letters were read— From Mr Bodrigues, asking permission to open the road at the back of his premises, for the purpose of laying a drain. Granted, subject to the approval of the Works Committee.

From Mr Henning, as follows :— " Akaroa, 11th April, 1882. " Sir, —I see that Councillor McGregor purposes bringing forward the question of cattle-driving through the Borough. What direction his proposal takes, I am not aware, but trust the Council will amend the present regulations so as to ensure greater security to the public. As evidence of the urgent necessity for something being done, I may mention two recent occurrences within my own experiences : first, within the last week I met, in the middle of the town, at 9.15 a.m., a bull being driven at a running rate by a boy on horeeback and a man afoot; and secondly, some sis weeks ago, I met an ox being driven at a gallop by a man on horseback. In both instances the animals were ahead of their drivers, who would, therefore, have been powerless had their charges attacked a passer-by. I was prepared, in the first case, had the bull made for me, to jump a fence ; but such a mode of escape was not open to a school girl a short distance behind me. In the second instance, a man on ahead, thinking the driver wished the ox turned, stepped into the middle of the street for that purpose, when the driver—who was a hundred yards in the rear, and thus had not the slightest control over the animal—shouted to him to get out of the way, or he would be rushed ! Manifestly, such a dangerous animal, if allowed through the Borough at all, should have been led. A most reprehensible practice on the part of driv' rs is the lashing of them, and cracking their whips at the unfortunate animals, until they are reduced to such a state of terror or frenzy as to be uncontrollable. Stock-owners, no doubt, are much inconvenienced by the cattle-driving by-laws, but nevertheless, safety to life and limb must be the first consideration. When the Council can form Joilie street, at the back of Waeokerle's Hotel, and opposite the Roman Catholic Church, it may be possible to grant the use of that street for cattle-driving without any restriction of hours. Tins route would avoid nearly all danger to passengers, and the granting of it be a great boon to stock-owners. In the meantime, however, I beg to suggest for consideration, that in any amendments which may be made, the following points might bo kept in view :—lst No cattle to be driven through the Borough within one hour, either before the opening, or after the closing of the Government schools; 2nd Cattle not to be driven above a walking pace ; 3rd In all cattle driving not less than two persons to be in charge, one ahead and the other behind the cattle ; 4th That Joilie street, from its junction with the Cbristchurch road, to as far us Miss Hooman's, and thence the sea beach to the Mail office, be prescribed as the o&ttlo route within certain prescribed hours.—Yours, etc., j

" W. H. Henning." From the Government, stating £1 15s had been paid to the borough account for Court fines. From the Exhibition Secretary, asking councillors to walk in procession at the opening of the Exhibition. REPORTS. The following report from the Wharves Committee was read :— " The Wharves Committee met at the office at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 6th, 1882. Present—Crs Bruce and Black, and His Worship the Mayor in the chair. The Coiiiinitteo have to report as follows :— Ist. That, in order to prevent unnecessary delays, they have unanimously resolved— ' That, in all matters connected with the present repairs to the wharf, the overseer ?.v,d workmen shall communicate direct to , the chairman ; and, further, that the chairman have power to employ, or temporarily suspend any workman, subject to the Committee's approval. , 2nd. Your I Committee have also to repott that, in stripping the decking of the jetty near tho crane, it was discovered that several of the cap-sills were much decayed, and consequently unsafe. The Committee, acting under the advico of Mr Barwick, have therefore decided to replace tho rotten cap-sills by portions of the timber originally intended ior oampshears. 3rd. The Committee, being cf opinion that tho old decking is unsuitable for the proposed handrail, request /tuthority to procure sufficient timber for that purpose." Cr Waeckerle proposed tho report be received. Seconded by Cr Cullen and carried. The clauses were read seriatim and adopted.

Cγ McGregor asked when the repairs to the wharf would be completed. The work was getting on very slojwly, and he thought more men might bo employed. It was a great public lnconvenlience.

The Mayor said that the work in the present bay was complicated, and more men would be in each others way. After this bay was finished, the remainder was simple work, and could be hurried on. WORKS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The following is the Works Committee's report ;— "The Works Committee met at the Council Office on Wednesday, April 12th, 1882. Present—Cr Cullen (chairman) and His Worship the Mayor. After giving due consideration to the letters of the engineer, Mr W. D. Wilkins, dated 15th March and 12th April respectively-, relative to the construction of that part of Jolie street extending from Goodwin's bridge to Balguerie street, beg to report as follows : Ist. Your Committee recommend that the plans herewith, as prepared by Mr Wilkins, and taking the line of Lavaud street, as already accepted by the borough as the basis of the survey for Jolie street, be adopted by the Council. 2nd. That public notice of intention to fix the levels of this street be advertised, in accordance with sec. 192 of 'The Municipal Corporations Act, 1876.' 3rd. Your Committee strongly recommend that the portion of Jolie street extendingfrom Balguerie street to the beach be taken in hand, in continuation of the works included in the specification now before you. 4th, Your Committee also strongly recommend that the construction of Lavaud street, from the bank corner "to the beach, be completed at the necessary grade and level for drainage outfall to the beach. The Committee have to state that the inlet and outfall ends of the mill stream culvert in Lavaud street have been most satisfactorily secured, with the necessary wing walls, and well-secured paved watercourse."

Cr Bruce moved and Cr Black seconded, that the report be received.—Carried. The following letter from Mr Wilkins was lead:—

"Akaroa, April 12,1882.

" Gentlemen, —Referring to my conversation with his Worship the Mayor and Cr Cullen respecting the alignment of Jolie etreet I beg to inform you that I have now laid it off, taking Lavaud street as a basis. As far as can be discovered the line of the footpath in Lavaud street ie in its original place, and as the Council have adopted it, to be consistent it appears to me that they must lay off the line of Jolie street parallel to it, as shown on the old maps. The original deeds of the sections between Lavaud and Jolie streets, so far as I can learn, appear to give a uniform depth of 2 chains, thus indicating that the two streets are parallel. Jolie, street as at present fenced, is less in some places than its width of 39ft consequently it follows that it has been encroached upon by the owners of some sections in fencing and building. These encroachments appear to predominate on the western side of the street, and in some cases (notably that of Beach House) must be of very old date. The footpaths to be formed in Jolie street will consequently be narrower iii some places than they should be. The specification and rough section are only drawn for that portion of the street reaching from lialguerie street to Goodwin's bridge but I think, as I wrote before, that it is almost a pity that the short piece to Beach House is not made part of the same contract. Please peruse the specification and if you approve of it, let me know. Yours, etc.,

" W. D. Wilkins.

" P.S.—Please do not forget that timber will be required for this work and should soon be ordered."

Cr McGregor asked what the probable expenso would be.

Hk Worship jaid he had not yet received an estimate. The plans would have to be open for objection for a month at least, so that there would be no hurry.

Clauses 1, 2, and 3 were adopted.

Cr McGregor moved that Clause 4 1 c not adopted, as he thought the main street should be all done at onso and not in pieces.

Cr Gutberlet seconded. Agreed to. The report as a whole, with the exception of Clause 4, was then adopted.

Cr McGregor moved " That the Works Committee be authorised to employ Mr Wilkins to press on the necessary plans for the purpose of fixing the level of Jolie street from the beach at the Government School to Mr Holding's property, in terms of section 192 of The Municipal Corporation Act."

The resolution was seconded by Cγ Black and .agreed to. FINANCE. Receipts since last meeting — Fines R.M. Court February £1 15s, pound fees March quarter £2 9s, dog tax £1; total £5 4s. Credit balance at bank £65 15s 3d. Accounts to be presented — F. Hahn (poundkeeper) £3 15s, H. Burke (labor) 3s, do (do) 15s 9d, W. Maltby (do) £1 13s 3d. H. Burke (maintenance of lamp) £5 ss, R. Close (wharves account) £1 17s 6d, T. Martindale (do) £3 10s, J. H. Thomas (do) £2 14s, A. Scott (cartage) £1 14s 6d ; total £21 Bs. The accounts as read were passed for payment. RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE. The Mayor pointed out that it was necessary in accordance with section 109 of the Act to compile an estimate of the expenditure and receipts for the incoming year. His Worship the Mayor and Crs McGregor and Cullen were appointed a committee for the purpose. CONTRACT, His Worship the Mayor and Cr Black were directed to sign Mr O'Reilly's contract for iron work for the wharf. WIIARF COMMITTEE REPORT. The adjourned discussion on the report lipid over for consideration from last meeting was resumed. Cr McGregor said he still disagreed with the proceedings altogether, he should however like to ask if any estimate had been formed of the revenue likely to accrue from tlie new scale. His Worship said "No." Cr Waeckerle said the old scalo of dues had met with approbation for 14 years and he did not see why they should be altered. If they reduced the fees, they i reduced their capability of repairing the ' wharf. He was sorry to see that the new I scale was lower. < Cr McGregor asked why the charges on j coal had been reduced 50 per cent. i His Worship said that the list of charges ' had been published with the object of i allowing objections to be made. 5

Cr Black pointed out that the other Ports had the advantage of getting their coal direct from Newcastle, whereas they had to pay for transhipment, a great item in an article of comparatively low value.

Cr Waetkerle was in favor of outward dues to keep up the wharf. Cr Black said that if outward dues were charged, the result would be'that the grasa seed And cheese, etc., would bo shipped free from the different bays in the small crafts instead of coming to Akaroa. Cr Cullen thought that outward due. l ? should be charged for all goods going outside the Harbor but that there should be no charge for parcels going irißide, to Wainui for instance. Cr Waeckerle agreed. Cr McGregor said that they were giving themselves a great deal of trouble for nothing, for tho Akaroa Wharf Ordinance had not been repealed. Cr Waeckerle said that tho, Ordinance expired vrith Mr Letter's lease in June next. Cr McGregor said he did not see any authority for this in the Ordinance, and it was not ono of those Ordinances that had been specially repealed, The Mayor begged councillors to bring the matter to an issue. Cr Blaok moved, and Cr Bruce seconded —" That the report of the Wharves Committee of March 28th be adopted." Cr McGregor moved as an amendment— —-"That the report of the Wharves Com-

inittee dated March 26tli be held over for further consideration, until a competent legal opinion is obtained as to the powers of the Council to alter the schedule of the Akaroa Wharf Ordinance, 1866." Cr Cullen and the Mayor said the Government had intimated that if a scale of dues were prepared and properly advertised, that an Order in Council would be granted. The amendment was not seconded, and the resolution was then put and carried. Crs McGregor, Waeckerle, and Gutberlet voting against, and Cre Black, Cullen, and Bruce for, the Mayor gave his vote with the Ayes, and the new scale as proposed by the Wharves Committee was therefor© adopted. The following is the report that was adopted :— "lft. That the proposed scale of wharfage dues, as advertised in the Akaboa Mail of the 28th alt., 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 cum 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 be charged Is 6d per ton, be charged Is 8d per ton. 4th. That coals be entered separately, and charged Is per ton, instead of If 6d per ton. The committee also recom- --■ - mend that a small suitable crane be procured, and erected on Daly's Jetty. The I 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." ; NOTICES OF MOTION. 1 Cγ Waeckerle moved the notice of motion' standing in his name—"'That during tho coming winter months the borough lamps T| be lighted." He said that they all knew 1 the great convenience the lamps were, and the liability to accidents in the dark winter nights without some light to guide them. ' They were not all so young as they been, and wanted to see where they wereT going. He hoped they would all agree to his resolution, for he was certain the.:lighting of the town would be a public goodj and much appreciated by the burgesses. * Cr McGregor seconded. Cr Cullen said, that he thought only s; some of the lamps required Jightftsg. r It' 1 would be a great expense to have~-<al). M Besides, he was aware of what Cr kerlo probably did not know, that lamps were in a bad state of repair, he believed it would be a job to find a dozen fit for use. He moved as an amendment: "That the five street lamps ■ used last winter, between Mr Kissel's shop ■ and tho printing office, be replaced and lit Jj during the months of Msy, June, July >ojs and August next, with the exception five nights previous to the date of,full "' moon and one night after full moon. The hours of lighting to be from sunset to eleven o'clock p.m." , Seconded by Cr Bruce and carried. .y. The Clerk was instructed to call for ,-7 tenders for the lighting. CATTLE DMVING THROUGH THE TOWN. Cr McGregor moved the notice of motion standing in his name, "Thatthe necessary steps be taken under section of' The Municipal Corporation Act, 1876, j to repeal sections 41 and 42 of tho i By-laws of the Borough of Akaroa, at A pages 19 and 20 of the said By-laws." Hβ >M thought this a matter of great interest to jfl many. The present by-laws on the subject <-jH had been the cause of a good up-JHB necessary trouble. Mr Henningis ■/abi"e~ > letter on the subject was very pertinent, . J but he thought it would be dangerous to 'J tamper with the by-law and better to I repeal it altogether. It would be in the I remembrance of some, that a I signed by one hundred of the most influential settlers, had been presented to the ' Council, begging them to repeal the by-law 4 42, and that it had somehow or other, ho ** did not know for what reason, found its way into tho waste paper basket. Akaroa was differently situated from other towns. They had belts round which cattle could be driven all hours of the day, but there was no getting round in Akaroa. The by-laws in question were not only a serious inconvenience, but were a source of great danger, as the cattle had to bo kept penned up, and then were rushed through the town, just at the worst time, when ladies were walking and children were coining out of school. If cattle were ;, allowed to be driven through the town ah—-*s all hours, they would be driven far more quietly and leisurely. In the cases toi which Mr Henning had alluded, the*'. .-. drivers had very likely been rushing tcr~ V save illegal hours. They were all depend- - ant on the fanners outside the town and 3hould give them every facility. A special meeting would have to be held as ,o whether the by law should be cancelled >r repealed. He thought that with regard o driving entire animals the common law ■ vould prevent any nuisance from - that iource even if the by-law were repealed. There would have to be a special meeting o consider this matter under the , B2nd lause of "The Municipal Corporation Let," so he begged to move "That a pecial meeting be held on Wednesday, sth mat., at 7 p.m., for the purpose of spealing by-law No. 42, at pages 19 and

Cr Black agreed with Cγ McGregor, and would second the resolution. The by-law prevented sheep and quiet horses, neither of which would do any harm, from being driven through the town. Cr Bruce objected. He did not sea

why people should be annoyed by cattle being driven through the town at all times. Ho Wcis opposed to tinkering, they had had enough of that before, and certain members had made a nice mess of it. +. As there had been some growling about the by-laws, why not make one job and ropeal the lot instead of tinkering. The resolution was then put and carried, only Cr Bruce dissenting. * WHARF DUES. Resolved that the Clerk be instructed to copy amended schedule of wharf dues and forward them to Government, authorising them to fix same by order in Council. DETENTION OF STEAMERS. Cr McGregor said that the splendid steamers of the Union Company were often detained .through there not being ""sufficient water at the wharf. Some steps should certainly be taken to remedy this evil and as they could not hope at present to extend the wharf, he thought they jaiight see if it were possible to arrange with the Lyttelton Harbor Board to have a channel dredged so- that steamers could lay alongside the wharf at all time of the ; tide. He -would give notice of motion to / that effect. ;' NOTICE OF MOTION. ret ** Cr McGregor to move at next meeting m of the Council that the Lyttelton Harbor T Board be communicated with in reference to this Council being able to obtain the .. of their dredge far the purpose of dredging a channel aiongeide the wharf, and the cost of same. This concluded the business. j