KAIAPOI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1756, 6 October 1879, Page 3

KAIAPOI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of this Council, for despatch of ordinary business, was held on Tuesday evening. Present—The Mayor (Mr Blackwell), Crs. Moore, Ellen, Wearing, Pinching, Woodford, and May. L?ave of absence was granted to Or. Fraser. Or. Moore, chairman works committee, reported that two offers were sent in for filling a vacant section on Hilton street, and the lowest at £5, accepted. Or. Ellen raised the question whether the Council had power to fill sections, and could legally claim the cost from the owner. He contended it had no power to fill up low land, and recover costs in that way. The Mayor pointed out that the work had been done in accordance with sections 236 and 237 of the Municipal Corporations Act, which were quite explicit on the point. Or. Ellon replied that this matter had been fully discussed at the first municipal conference, but the amendments giving the Council the powers to deal with low lying sections had not passed into law. The Mayor observed that in this case there was a nuisance arising from stagnant water, and under the quoted sections, the Council had power to deal with the question in the way it had done. Crs. May, Moore, and Pinching took the same viow of the matter, and the subject dropped. The town clerk reported the receipts to be, rent of reserve £225; dog tax, 10s. The overdraft was £323 8s 2d, £4O having been charged for the half-year's interest. Accounts amounting to £4l 4s 6d were passed. An agreement between landholders interested and the Council in reference to the Beach road was submitted and read. Or. Woodford noticed that tho agreoment did not refer to "heirs and assigns." Or. May pointed out that tho parties interested must make and maintain a proper flood gate, otherwise some adjoinining land would be liable to flood. On tho motion of Cr. Ellen, it was resolved—- " That these matters be included in the agreement." Or. May moved, Cr. Mathews seoonded—"That the works committee be requested to report on making a footpath and kerbing same from bridge approach towards Post-office on south side of Charles Btreet." Carried. Cr. Mathews reported on the cost of concrete culvert for drain from Wesleyan Church along Black street. Cr. Ellen moved—" That Crs. Woodford, Moore, and the mover, report on the oemetery reserve at next meeting." Either.ghe said, the site ought to be üßed or changed for another. Or. May seconded ; carried. On the motion of Cr. May, seconded by Cr. Woodford, it was decided —" That the works committee report on the forming and metalling of Meadow road." Cr. Ellen moved—" That the Council take steps with a view of forming a Board of Conservators for the district north of the south branch of the Waimakariri, in accordance with the Canterbury Rivers Act, 1868." He pointed out that the conservators of the south side, who were by law allowed to carry their works into the centre of tho river, had gone on encroaching into the centre till they had sent the river about two miles from its original course. He simply intended the new Board should watch and prevent the occurrence of damage from the over zeal of the Board already in existence, and also as it was probable damage might ensue to the district, the new Board would be at once able to meet any emergency. Or. May seconded, remarking that the farmers near Eyreton held a very serious view of the matter, and should the river break away not only Eyreton but the town would be injured. Or. Moore said he was somewhat in the dark as to the intention of the proposer. He could hardly see the good of creating a nominated body to do this work. If there was danger the councillors might inspect and report before other action was taken, seeing the proposal, if adopted, must impose another to an already long list of taxes. After further discussion, the motion was carried, it being also resolved to invite representatives from the Eyreton, West Eyreton and Mandeville Road Boards to meet at the Council Chamber on October 13th, at 2 p.m., to consider the question. Cr. Ellen moved bis notice of motion for a return of the cost of a footpath on the west side of Akaroa street. Cr. Wearing seconded. The Council divided on the motion, the mover and seconder alone voting for it. Cr. Ellen then demanded the production of the papers, twitting the Council with shirking an enquiry into the matter. The Mayor ruled these remarks out of order. Cr. Moore said the works committee did not shirk any enquiry, but objected to the spirit in which the motion was made. After a desultory conversation the Mayor requested the clerk to enter on the minutes that Cr. Ellen had demanded the papers. The Clerk—There are no papers. Or. Ellen—Well, I simply want a plain statement of the sums expended on the footpath. Or. Pinching Jhanded in notices of motion for a return of the cost of No. 1, 2, and 3 embankments, and that all rates be paid before October 31st. The Council then adjourned.