KAIAPOI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2692, 23 November 1882, Page 3

KAIAPOI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of this Council was held on Tuesday evening. Present —■ The Mayor (Mr Caleb Smith), Crs. Parnham, Woodford, Pinching, Fraser, Moore, Peldwick. May, Mathews, and Champion. The clerk thanked the Council for his leave of absence during illness. Letters were read —Prom Mrs Hunter re remission of rates. Prom Mr Hewson complaining of part Akaroa street having been fenced; referred to works committee. The surveyor’s report stated that Mr Holland would remove the gate on Raven street on regatta days, and erect a wicket gate on the embankment. Leave had been obtained from Mr Bugg to straighten Puller-Akaroa street drain, the works committee advised making a 3ft culvert a length of one and a half chains. There had been found to be no encroachment of Adam street as complained of at a previous meeting. Darnley square had been rolled, and notice boards ordered for the bridge. The report was adopted. Tenders to be invited for the culvert if the surveyor’s estimate was not exceeded. The chairman of the finance committee pointed out the increasing overdraft to be considered before further works were gone on with. Cr. Champion complained that this overdraft question was being always put up; if a street wanted repairs it was barred by overdraft; if a lamp was required the same obstacle was raised. Now, if the Council could not go in for a small overdraft to carry out its works the sooner it shut up and loft the better. Regarding obstruction on Adam street, the Mayor, Cr. Parnham, and the surveyor wore appointed a deputation to wait on Mr Hiller to arrange for a roadway, or compel him to fence the whole of his frontage. Cr. Woodford thought that the frontage, being on a navigable river, the Council could insist upon a chain reserve. The finance committee reported receipts Bates, .£3 10s; kerosene licenses, f-T 10s; refund charitable aid, .£ls 7s; the present overdraft being £204 10s 3d. Accounts, .£lB Gs 6d, were passed. The Mayor reported that the bridge committee had met and considered four designs sent in for the bridge, and recommended the Council to adopt one under the motto of “Kaiapoi,”to bo principally built of iron, with a centre opening lifting in two halves. It was found this design was drawn by Mr Otto Peez. Cr. Moore moved, Cr. Prasor seconded “ That Mr Peez be asked to forward details and specifications, and his attention be drawn to the Council’s letter re limit of cost, and though above the estimate, if the plans meet the approval of the Government, and the accepted contract should not exceed the designer’s estimate, his plan bo accepted.” Carried. It was decided, on the suggestion of the Mayor, to intimate to the Government that the Council intended to meet its portion of the cost of the bridge out of the rent of the endowment reserve, which would obviate the necessity of making a rate. Cr. Peldwiek moved—- “ That a return of the expenditure on account of the Pire Brigade for the past two years be laid on the table, together with contributions from outside sources.” Cr. Pinching seconded. Carried. The Mayor drew attention to the sections of the now Bating Act respecting the assessment roll, also to the fact that the Kaiapoi Cemetery Act was repealed, and provision made in a now Act dealing with the same, also a consolidation of the Public Works Act, one section of which relieved the Council from the whole care of boundary roads. _ A petition for lamp at corner of Beswiek and Charles streets was considered. Cr. Pinching moved, Cr. May seconded, it be referred to the lighting committee, to report generally on the lighting of the town. Cr. Woodford moved, Cr. Peldwiek seconded, pro forma —“ That the application be deferred, as there were five applications, and the summer evenings were coming on.” Cr. Champion considered the amendment was too severe on the lighting committee, who would b e hardly likely to stick up a lamp and light it at midday. The motion was agreed to. Cr. Mathews was elected a member of the finance, fire prevention, and lighting committees. The half-yearly statement of accounts was submitted and read, showing a total of —receipts, £826 2s 9d; expenditure, .£987 Is Id ; overdrawn balance, .£l6O 18s 4d. The statement had been duly audited. After an animated discussion in committee the accounts were adopted. The Council then adjourned.