Ordinary Meeting.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 656, 27 October 1882, Page 2

Ordinary Meeting.

The usual ordinary meeting was then held. Present—His'Worship "thu Mayor and Ore Waeckerle, Rich, Suott, Gutl>«rK-t, Brown, Bruce, Cullen, Penlington, and Black.

MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

CORRESPONDENCE. The outward correspondence was road and approved.

Inward correspondence was read, as follows:—

From Government storekeeper, Wellington, saying Government Statutes, 1882, would not b • ready for ton days, and that no copies of the Cattle Trespass Ordinance (Canterbury) were in stock, but that one might perhaps be procured from Mr Simpson, bookseller, Christchnrch.

From Standard Guarantee Office, re renewal of policy of £100, Town Clerk's guarantee.

It was agreed the policy should be renewed.

From Mr F. Lelievre, complaining of gorso being cut and laid too near his property.

The Clerk said that the complaint had been attended to. FINANCE. Receipts since hist meeting—General Rate £19 0s 6d ; public hall license £1 ; publicans' extension (2) 10s; total, £20 10s Gd. Credit bank balance at date £241 7s 3d. Accounts to be presented—Clerk's salary one month £G ss, H. Burke (day labor) £1 los 3d ; total. £8 0s 3d. The accounts as read were passed for payment. PETITION. Cr Wncckerle said that ho had been entrusted with the important task of presenting a petition, signed by more than a hundred and fifty of the residents in the County. He hoped the Council would favorably entertain the proposal contained in the petition.

The petition, which was a very formidable looking document, owing to the number of signatures, was then presented. The heading was as follows:—"We, the undersigned fanners, etc., respectfully beg you to abolish the by-law prohibiting the passage, at certain hours, of caUle and sheep through Akaroa, as it seriously interferes with the business, whereby we make our livelihood, and we have no means o£ avoiding the town in taking stock from one part of the district to the other."

Signed by 150 residents in the County. Cr Waecki , vie then proposed: "That the petition bo received." Seconded by Cr Brown and carried. Cr Waeckerle said that the petition had been placed in his hands some time previously by Mr A. Wright. They had had the same cjuestion before them not long ago. He thought the alteration aeked for a very necessary one, and saw no objection to having clause 42 struck out of their by-laws. Several Councillors spoke of the matter being one of great importance and requiring lengthy consideration. Cr Black moved and Cr Cullen seconded, that the petition lay on the table till nest meeting of the Council, and then como on for discussion. Agreed to. THIS ASIIBUtITON RESERVE. Cr Black moved—"That stops be taken to ascertain why the rent of Reserve in Ashburton, rented by Air McDonell, had not been/paid." He understood the rent was no|f long overdue, and they had received njf communication from their agent at Affiburton in answer to the Town Clerk's letter on the subject. He thought that the money should be sued for if not at once paid, Hβ thought they should telegraph their agent Mr Griindry, about it. Seconded by Cr Bruce and carried. THE NIGHT WATCHMEN.

His Worship the Mayor said that after the receipt by Mr Waeckerle of the threatening letter, a deputation had waited on him begging him to appoint some watchmen, as they feared incendiarism. As the people seemed really alarmed, he had consented to engage one or two watchmen till the Council met, and then : eavetho matter in their hands. Of. course it was for them to say what they thought best, but he was of opinion that it was beyond the power of the Council to take upon themselves the duties of police in protecting the to;vn. Ho thought such a course beyond the intention of the Act, which never contemplated the rates being spent in such a manner. To pursue such a course effectually would cost a large part of the rates, find if it were done ineffectually it was no good at all. He thought private people .should look after their own property. If property 'loldors showed more personal vigiiunce in protecting themselves it would be bettor. It certninly was not for the Council to undertake the duties of the police. (Hear, hear.) Cr Black suid that ho certainly did not approve of '.ho night watchman, being iippointeil, as the alarm was not sufficient, lie thought the letter a bit of a hoax. It was not right that any further expense should be incurred.

It was pointed out thai the action taken by tho Mayor in the matter required the sanction oi: the Council. Cr Rich then moved : " That His Worship's action be approved." Seconded by Cr Brown and carried. Cr Black then proposed: ,l That the services of the night watchmen be dispensed with after this night." Seconded by Cr Cullen, and agreed to. FORMATION OF JOLIE STREET. Cr Gutberlet moved: " That the Borough Engineer prepare specifications for the formation according to the levels, of that part of Julie street between the Mail Office and Fivrr's bridge.

Seconded by Cr Bruce, and after a short discussion carried. THE 311LL STREAM BRIDGE. Cv Gutberlet called attention to the unprotected state of the bridge near Waeckerle's, which rendered it dangerous at night for foot passengers.

Cr Waeckerlo said that as he was so much interested, he had not intended to speak on the subject, but now they had mentioned it, he should like to say a few words. There was no hand-rail or any tiling else to protect a man from falling over the bridge into the creek, and the lull would be a serious one, fully lOi't. He certainly thought something should be done before an accident occurred.

It was eventually .".greed—"That the Works Committee be empowered to ascertain the stsi'e of the mill stream bridge, and, if nectary, to erect a handrail."

WHARF COMMITTEE'S REPORT,

Cr Penlington then read the Wharf Committee's report, as follows:—

" Schedule of Wharfage Rates agreed to by the Wharf Committee.—The wharfage rates chargeable for and payable upon n!l goods, merchandise, wool, timber, and olhcr material, horses, cattle, sheep, and other animals, passing over or landed upon the aforesaid wharves, shall be as follows: i s d On all goods or merchandise not otherwise specified, weight or measurement, per ton ... 1 8 Minimum charge ... ... 0 2 Cheese, fruit, and grass seed, per ton ... ... ... 1 0 Minimum (taken as half a ton) ... 0 6 Dressed timber, doors, mouldings, tongned and groove.! or plain, per 100 ft superlicial ... 0 4 Firewood, per cord ... ... 1 0 Posts and rails, per 100 ... 1 6 Roofing shingles, per 1000 ... 0 4 Palings, per 100 ... ... 0 6 Timber (rough sawn), piles, and square logs, per 100 ft superficial 0 2 Horses and cattle, each ... 2 6 Calves, one year old and over, each 1 2 Calves under one year old, sheep, lambs, goat?, and pigs, per score 3 4 Do, minimum charge each ... 0 6 Carts and drays, each ... 2 6 Carriages, two-wheeled, each ... 2 6 Carriages, four-wheeled, each ... 5 0 Wool or sheepskins in bales, per bale 0 4 Coal, per ton ... ... 1 0 All empties to be free. Rent on all goods stored, at per ton, for a week or part of a week, weight or measurement ... 1 8 Minimum charge ... ... 0 3 Wool or sheepskins, per bale, for a week or part of a week ~. 0 3 Free storage allowed for 24 hours. All goods stored to be at risk of consignee." In moving the reception and adoption of the report, Cr Penlington said that the principal alteration made was, that all the merchandise passing over the wharf was liable to rates without exception, so that the burden would now be equally borne. The committee had endeavored to prepare a schedule, not altogether with a view of getting as large an income as possible, but with the idea of making the burden fall as easily as was consistent with obtaining the necessary revenue. They had, for instance, reduced the minimum rate j charged from 6d to 2d, and cheese, grass seed, and other local products from Is 8d to Is per ton. As they would see, they had made other reductions besides these, and one important-' thing was that free storage for 24 hours was now proposed to be allowed. They had given much time and consideration to the report, and he begged, as chairman, to move its adoption. Seconded by Cr Bruce. Cr Rich did not altogether agree with the report. He thought if only Is a ton were charged for cheese, fruit, and grass beed, all other agricultural and dairy produce should have the same privilege, and also flour and potatoes. They would see this was the course pursued by other Harbor Boards. They were also aware that there were a many empty fruit cases, casks, and other empties sent away. By the present arrangements, those would have to b® charged the full rate of Is 8d pei ton, and as they were of small value it was too heavy an impost. He therefore moved—"' That the schedule be altered so that agricultural and dairy produce, fruit, coals, and flour be charged Is per ton, and that empties be charged half rates or 10d per ton." Cr Gutbeilet seconded. Cr Penlington said that empties were not put on the list at all, because it was the custom here that they should go free of wharfage. Putting half rates on them really meant imposing a r.ite of 10d per ton, as if that were not on the schedule they would go free. It was best to let sleeping dogs lie.

Cr Rich said that for the present he would withdraw that part of his resolution relating to empties. At the same time he could not understand how the wharfinger could avoid charging for them, as they certainly came under the heading of " any other merchandise," and therefore in his opinion without something were done Is 8d per ton would have to he paid, if demanded, as their regulations were the laws by which they were bound to be guided ; besides, he thought everything going over the wharf should pay something.

Cr Waeckerle said it was best to have the old understanding, as proposed, that empties should be free.

Cr Cullen was of opinion a small sum should be charged for everything going over the wharf, never mind what it was.

Cr Partington said that with regard to potatoes and Hour, mentioned by Cr Rich, in the case of potatoes, it only meant 2d a bag, surely t\ sin ill enough sum, and in (lour only one penny a bag, which seemed moderate. They had tried to make the schedule as short as possible.

Th<« amendment upon being put was lost, only Crs Kich and Gutberlet voting for it.

Cr Rich said the schedule proved there was no option in charging for empties at full rates, he for one would havo to pay Is 8d per ton i'or thorn, as they had to go with the other things. He moved therefore—"That empties be charged at 10d per ton." Seconded by Cr Grutberlet, with the same result.

Cr Black said that as there seemed some doubt whether empties could go free unless specially mentioned, he begged to move that the words " All empties to be free of charge " b« added to the schedule. Cγ Bruce seconded this. Ore Ci.llen, Rich, and Gutberlet opposed the resolution, on the ground that anything going over the wharf should pay something, towards its support.

The resolution was, however, carried with these three dissentients.

Or Rich said ho desired to point out that no charge was made for transhipments, which he thought an error. Suppose a steamer or other vessel came and moored at the wharf, and then discharged into a boat alongside, were they to do so free of cost ? The vessel would actually bo using the wharf, though not putting her cargo on to it At Lyttelton they charged half rat.es in these cases.

The Mayor said such a case would occur so rarely in Akaroa that he hardly thought it worth while to provide for it, besides he did not know if the Council had the power, as they only had authority over the wharves. Their object in framing the schedule had been to give satisfaction to the public generally, not to try to get the most revenue. In reply to a question as to whether

cheese or other produce from Wainui or other parts of the harbor would not be charged twice, as it would be loaded «t the wharf ami then shipped from the wharf, Cr Penlington said there was no fear at all of bucli a thin? occuring, as nothing would be charged twice for that w,ib landed on the wharf and not removed till shipped. Of course, if it were taken into the town before being shipped it would have to pay double, not if it never left the wharf.

Cr Cullen moved—" That the further consideration of the schedule he deferred till jnext meeting, as there seems to be such a difference of opinion regarding it." Cr Brown seconded. The resolution on being put was lost, only the mover and seconder voting for it.

The schedule as amended »vas then unanimously adopted. It was then proposed by Cr Cullen, seconded by Cr Black, and carried, '• That the schedule as revised be advertised once in the Mail." WORKS COMMITTEE. There was no report presented by the Works Committee, the Mayor explaining they had never even met to elect a Chairman. Some necessary information required by the engineer had, however, been given to him.

Cr Cullen moved, and Cr Scott seconded —" That the surveyor be requested to superintend Hewitt's and MoGuire's contracts." (Agreed to.j NOTICE OF MOTION. Cr Rich gave notice of motion for next meeting as follows :— " That the necessary stepa be taken nnder section 339 of 'The Municipal Corporation Act, 1876,' to repeal sections 41 and 42 of the Borough By-laws at pages 19 and 20 of Hie said By-laws." The Council then adjourned.