AKAROA A MUNICIPALITY.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 131, 31 October 1874, Page 4

AKAROA A MUNICIPALITY.

A public meeting of the inhabitants of Akaroa was held in the Town Hall, Aka.oa, on Thursday evening; last, for the purpose of taking the necessary preliminary steps to have the town erected into a borough under the Municipal Act of 1864. The meeting was largely attended by the principal inhabitants, and also by Mr Westenra, the member for the Provincial Council. On the motion of Mr J. D. Garwood, Mr Justin Aylmer, Resident Magistrate, was elected to the chair. The chairman at considerable length point'd out the desirability, indeed the necessity, for such a step as the meeting was called upon to take, Where population increased and was concentrated, more stringent sanitary regulation were required, as well ns the proper keeping of the roads and byways. a thing the Road Board had quite failed to do. The chairman was followed by Mr Westenra, who explained certain sections of the Act as regards rating, and the proper method of setting about the matter in the way of getting up the petition to the Governor. Mr A. J. M‘Gregor at considerable length pointed out the advantages of local s> Ifgovernment, and thought the present moment peculiarly opportune, as in the event of the province being abolished, they would be in the

position of an existing corporate body, and the Premier could not overlook such. Even in the absence of any declared scheme for local government for the future, they could hold their own. A great deal of difficulty had been made about what was called an estate, but was it not possible for them to have conveyed to them the work of reclaiming the tidal swamp between what was called the French and English ends of the town, a work on which any of the spare Government immigrants could be put to, and when finished would form one of the finest sites in the island. Again there were the reserves and the Domain, which they should ask his Honor to declare open for lease as building sites, and which their Christchurch friends would take up rapidly. He concluded by moving—“ That this meeting resolve to take all prompt and necessary steps to have Akaroa declared a Municipality under the Municipal Act of 1864." Mr Stephen Watkin heartily seconded the motion.

It was proposed by Mr H. G. Watkin—“That the following gentlemen be elected a committee for the purpose of carrying the matter through ;—Mr J. D. Garwood, J. Daly, 0. W. Bridge, C. A. Nalder, and the mover.