AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 89, 25 May 1877, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the above Council was held at the office on Wednesday last. Present—The Mayor, and Crs. Wagstaff, Bruce, Waeckerle, and Annand. CORRESPONDENCE. From Town Clerk, Lyttelton, intimating that the Lyttelton Borough Council had ordered lamps through Mr. H. Hawkins, from England.

From William Sims, calling the Council's attention to the very bad state of the street leading to and fronting his property, and requesting that the same be metalled, as his children experienced great difficulty in getting to and from school.

Cr. Wagstaff said that the Work's Committee had included the road in the list of proposed works to be undertaken during the current year.

Crs. Bruce and Armand acquiesed with Cr. Wag staff.

Cr. Waeckerle said that it was not a street, it was a mere strip of land given by the association. The Councii was bound to make all public streets, and render every assistance to ratepayers to reach their homes, but if the Council were to accede to Mr. Sim's request, they would run the risk of having Armstrong down upon them like a roaring lion.

Cr. Wagstaff moved—" That the Council inform Mr. Sims that the subject of his letter is at present under the consideration of the Council, and as soon as the boundaries of Mr. Armstrong's property are defined, the matter will receive their best attention." Cr. Waeckerle seconded the motion which was carried. From 11. H. Fenton, submitting following scale of fees for supervising works, making plans, &c.:—For laying off works, including plans and specifications, 5 per cent.; for supervising same, 2£ per cent.; at per day, if required, £3 3s.

From W. Penlington, asking the Council to metal road leading up to his residence, and offering to bear half the cost of same, as it was not possible he would have the advantage of the formation' of footpaths.

Cr. Annand would like to know whether it was a public road, for if it were a private one, he held that it would be a very bad precedent to establish, to accede to Mr. Penlington's request.;

Cr. Waeckerle concurred with Cr. Annand, and said that he would never agree to vote money for the private convenience of anyone. Cr. Wagstaff could not seethe force of the arguments brought forward by the two previous speakers. If Mr Penlington's residence were • built down to the road, the Council would no doubt agree to it at once. If the road passed through private property,, the request could not be entertained. •

Cr. Bruce thought the Council could assist Mr. Penlington.in metalling the road to the extent of a "chain from high-water mark, and allow him to construct the balance at his own expense. .Cr. Annand moved—" That Mr. Penlington be informed that the Council decline to entertain his application, the road being on private property." Cr. Waeckerle seconded the motion, which was carried.

PAYMENTS. The following accounts were passed for payment: — £ s d Sigley and Dickson ... 123 6 0 W. M. White, drain pipes 19 10 0 Freight 7 3 7 J. J. Kissel, rent - ... 113 0 H. Edmundsen 0 16 0 J. O'Brien, carting metal 3 3 0 £155 11 7 LAND ENDOWMENTS.

Cr. Waeckerle said that it was most desirable that the Council .should take steps through] the representative of the district before the next session of the General Assembly, to secure the usual land endowments for the borough. It was well known that Akaroa had a great enemy to contest against in the person of Mr. Bowen. Mr. Richardson was also opposed to Akaroa. The only person that favoured it was Mr. Reeves during his term of office. It was that gentleman whom we have to thank for bringing Akaroa into telegraphic communication with the colony, and not Mr. Rollestoh, or Mr. Moorhouse. According to the ordinance, the Borough could claim 2,000 acres within the Provincial district of Canterbury.

The Mayor quite understood the importance of taking early action in the matter, and thought it would be advisable to write to the Colonial Secretary and our member on the subject. Cr. Annand moved—"That the Colonial Secretary and Mr. Montgomery be written to concerning the waste lands." AUDITORS. Cr. Wagstaff moved—"Thatimmediate steps be taken for the election of two auditors, as required by the Act, for the ensuing year at a salary of £4 4s each, and that the Town Clerk act as returning officer."

The motion was seconded by Cr. Annand, and carried.

Reports. ~ The following reports were read and received :— BOROUGH map. " The committee appointed in regard to reported inaccuracies in borough map met on the 22nd May, 1877, and have to report generally that the reserves in the borough should be coloured red, and the acreage marked on each reserve, which has not been done on the map. Without making a detailed enquiry into all the number of sections the committee find that several are wrongly numbered. "Your committee have further to report that without employing the services of another surveyor, they have discovered discrepancies in the borough map between the linkages on the ground and those given in the map, as regards existing fences of a nature that demand further enquiry as to their accuracy. The committee recommend that in the present state of the evident errors, whether desired or otherwise, the Council request Mr. F. Pavitt's attendance on the ground to explain or correct the discrepancies as he promised at time of settlement —-G. Scarbrough, Chairman." The report of the Borough Map Committee was adopted, and the Town Clerk was instructed to write to Mr. Pavitt, requesting him to meet the Committee. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE. The Works Committee met on the 22nd May, and have to report as follows:— " Cr! Waeckerle reported that • Levaudstreet had been metalled from boundary of borough to Grehan Valley road, and that the large stones required breaking. The committee authorised Cr. Waeckerle to employ the necessary labour to break the stones. Men, to find their own tools, to be paid 8s per day.; The committee indicated to the clerk the exact position of the culvert at Mrs. Kearney's in Balguiiestreet, viz—three feet from the corner of her section, and going in an angle of 45 deg. across the street to the creek. The necessary quantity of timber to be supplied from stock in hand, and Messrs Vangioni and Woohill to do the work by day labour as previously directed by the Council. The committee recommend that Britton-street be metalled from Levaudstreet to Joliie-street, and that the stonewall seaward be freshly backed up. The Committee recommend that tenders be at once called for the work. The committee have to report that the culvert in newlyreclaimed part of Beach-road has given way. In the meantime measures have been taken to prevent accidents. It is, however, thought desirable that the culvert should be re-built by day labour. The side walls being re-built with the largest possible stones that can be found on the beach opposite Wood Bros. The same timber and other materials of the old culvert to be used in the new. At the same time, the committee think it desirable that sharp corner of the beach wall opposite LeProus be made a gradual curve to that part of the wall at present pulled down. The committee think that Messrs Woodhill and Vangioni from their large experience in these matters, should be asked to do the work by day labour. The committee have ordered wood for the lamp posts 14ft long, 8x 8 at one end, tapering to 6 x 6 at the other, and have instructed the clerk to get estimates from local smiths for the price of top at per each in terms of a plan supplied. Cr. Waeckerle has to report that the new pound proceeds satisfactorily."

The Mayor said that urgent repairs were required to the work executed by Everall and Gunning. It was intended to erect a lamp-post close to the natural wash of the sea, and to carry that out, it would be necessary to reclaim a little more land. He was of opinion that a little more excavation under the hill would disclose suitable stone for the construction of the breast wall.

Cr. Annand thought it would be advisable to extend the wall the whole way.

Cr. Wagstaff considered that it would be too costly, and before discussing the matter, it would be well to request the Engineer to report upon the work. Cr. Annand said that it would be better to call for tenders, as they all knew what the work would cost, as the respective cost for the old and new wall was well known. Cr. Waeckerle remarked that if the Council had a good working overseer during the time the wall was under progress, it would never have been allowed to pass. Crs. Cullen and Penlington maybe very good carpenters, but they are certainly not capable of examining such description of work as that now under discussion.

The Mayor—The Council appointed Mr. Fenton when it was found out that we had made a mistake.

Cr. Wagstaff moved—" That the Works Committee's report be adopted, with the exception of that part relating to the culvert and breast wall." Cr. Bruce seconded the motion which was carried. TOWN CLERK'S SECURITY. The Town Clerk intimated that he had made an application to the Guarantee Association for the necessary bond, and they were now making the usual enquiries. UNPAID .RATES. The Mayor reported that only two ratepayers had up to the present paid their rates, and that it was necessary according to the Act, before issuing a summons for recovery, to give each ratepayer 14 days notice. The Clerk was instructed to order the necessary printed notices, to be dated June Ist., and serve each ratepayer with a copy of same. The Clerk was also appointed rate-collector. The Council then adjourned.