AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 107, 27 July 1877, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The adjourned meeting of the Borough Council, was held at the Chambers, on Monday evening last. Present—The Mayor, Crs. Waeckerle, Annand, Bruce, Wagstaff, Penlington, and Watkins. ] CORRESPONDENCE. ■ j A letter was read from the Town Clerk, Christchurch, intimating that the meeting of delegates takes place at Wellington, on the Ist August, and. that the suggestion received from the Lyttelton Borough Council re a preliminary meeting, haying been agreed to, Cr. Hobbs was ready to meet a delegate from the Akaroa Borough Council, for the purpose of hearing their views upon the question to be discussed. From E. C. Latter, advising a shipment of material for the Council per Amateur. From Sigley and Dixon, submitting a schedule of prices for work required. The schedule was ordered to be filed, for reference by the Work's Committee. PETITION. A petition was read from Mr. J. F. Roberts and others, asking for tne formation of footpath along the west side of Lavaud-street. • Cr. Penlington moved—" That the prayer of the petitioners be granted on the usual terms." Cr. Wagstaff seconded the motion, which was carried. GREHAN VALLEY ROAD. A letter was read from Mr. Nalder, requesting that the footpath from Sunckell's corner be extended to his house, as the road at present was in a bad state. The Mayor said that this road was very much cut up by the traffic occasioned by Hooper's cart. That part of the road near Borriaud's garden was a complete bed of mud. Cr. Watkins considered that tbe residents who owned land in the vicinity should adopt the same course as other people, by sending in a petition, asking for the construction of the footpath. It is just possible, those likely to be benefited, might object to pay, were the Council to do the work without consulting them. Cr. Penlington was certain that Mr. Borriaud would object to pay for the construction of the footpath. As it had been decided to continue the footway from Sunckell's to Borriaud's, he would move— " That Mr. Nalder's letter be referred to the Work's Committee." Cr. Waeckerle said that it had been agreed not to do anything to the road this winter. It would be quite sufficient to clear the ditches and let off the storm water. Cr. Annand considered it a farce to be continually referring matters to the Work'a Committee, as they seldom met, and one member of that body generally acted quite independent of the others. He considered that it was time that the Committee was placed on a proper footing. They might meet once a week, Or as often as convenient. "The Matob «ud the Conneil appointed a gentleman to superintend the works, in order to take the burden off the shoulders of the Work's Committee. Cr. Waeckerle.—Who appointed him? The Mayor.—The Council. Turn up the minutes showing the appointment. Cr. Annand said that, at a late meeting of the Council, he had proposed the appointment of Mr. Fenton, but the motion was carried against him. He did not object to a professional man being engaged to superintend the construction of public works, as he considered that members of Council were not skilled in such matters, but he would object to any single member taking upon himself the responsibility of employing the services of an engineer. The Clerk read the minute bearing on the matter, which conferred the power on the Work's. Committee to employ the services of the engineer when occasion required. The Mayor said that he had employed the Engineer day by day, and would continue to do so till the Work's Committee ordered otherwise. Cr. Wagstaff considered that the payment of two and a half per cent on the amount of contract was far cheaper to the Council than paying the Engineer £2 2s for his opinion when necessary. The Mayor was always under the impression that the Council had appointed Mr. Fenton. Cr. Watkins was not aware that Mr. Fenton'had been employed to superintend all works. It was true that he had been requested to take charge of a particular work. The Work's Committee had the power, under the resolution read by the Clerk, to employ the services of the Engineer when necessary, at two and a half per cent, but he considered it quite unnecessary lo employ the Engineer over every little job. He suggested the advisability of all officers employed by the, Council, rendering their bills monthly, which would have the effectof saying the Council getting into difficulties. Cr. Waeckerle said that the Act required a majority of the Council to carry any question. Cr. Annand held that it had been decided not to employ the Engineer on Sigley and 1 Dickson's contract, for the formation jof footpaths. The question was, who employed him—the Council or the Work's Committee. Cr Watkins.—The Mayor agreed to pay £2 2s per day, or per centage on amount of contract. The Mayor.—A per centage. The Engineer found fault with the contractors in the way they were doing the work, which, if carried out, would have been serious. After the stone wall, which had been passed by the Work's Committee, the Council should not hesitate in employing the services of a professional man. Cr. Watkins moved—"That the Standing Orders be suspended, in order to enable him to move—that Mr. Fenton be employed to superintend the formation of the footpaths." # Cr. Annand seconded the motion, which was carried. The matter then dropped. MAP COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Committee met Mr. Pavitt, and pointed out to him the reported inaccuracies in the Borough map, and also that the numbers and subdivisions of certain sections were not given. Mr. Pavitt promised to do all the Committee requested, and also to line off afresh Bennoit-street, and mark acreage and numbers on the reserves. _he CB-uuittee reported that they agreed with : the field work, and corrections on the map, and requested power to sit again and report.

NEW PUBLIC BUILDING! 3. The Committee resolved that the Clerk be instructed to write to the Minister of Public Works, 'requesting that a sura of! .£3OOO be placed on the estimates for' the erection of a new: Resident Magistrates' • Court house, Police bairacks, Post, and. Telegraph office* in the B**6ughof Akaroa, and that the buildings and site used at present as .such be sold to the Board of Education for the purpose of Increasing the present public school play ground, Bay for a sum of £300, to be expended in the site of the new public offices. The committee further recommend that the site for the new public buildings be on the reserves Nos. 85, 1901, about the present site of Leprous blacksmith's . ship, and that the Council wave their interest in the said reserves so far as the said site is concerned, and also in any material that maybe required to, reclaim the necessary siteCorrespondence was received by the Committee in regard to this matter from Messrs. J.D.Garwood, and J. S. Duncan, Christchurch, which was ordered to be acknowledged. ' i -PAYMENTS. The following accounts were passed for payment;—- " " ' » £ s d Saxton and Williams ... 014 3 W.Sims ;.. 15 0 J. T. Manhing ... ... 110 0 «g Akaroa Mail ... ... 11 5 0 £14 14 3 POUND FEES. • Cr. Watkin's moved—"That-the scale of pound fees, as advertised in the Akaroa Mail, July 17, be adopted." Cr. Bruce seconded the motion, which A*aß carried. cemetery boad. Cr. Wagstaff moved—" That the attention of the. Akaroa and Wainui Road Board be drawn to the dangerous condition of the road leading to the cemetery, and that they be urged to widen 1 same. The road as far as the Council boundary was in very fair order, but beyond it the road was not more than four feet wide. The culverts were all broken, : and the road generally was in a very dangerous, state." Cr. Penlington agreed with the motion, and was sure that unless something was. done, an accident would occur. * The Mayor said that he was obliged'to travel the road very frequently, and he could fully bear out Cr.:^Wagstaff. in his remarks. . ~ BYE LAWS. Cr. Waeckerle moved—" That the Town Clerk be instructed to write to Mr. Montgomery, re the revision of the Bye Laws. The motion was seconded by Cr. Pen-lingfr-n, and carried. This concluded the business. VOTE OF THANKS. Before the members of the Council separated, Or Watkins said that he had been informed that the Council would not have the presence of Mtv Ivess. again in the capacity of reporter after that evening, and therefore could riot allow, that gentleman to depart without tendering him the Council's best thanks for the very able and impartial reports, which he (Mr. Ivess) had at all times furnished of the .Council's proceedings. Mr. Ivess, he might say, had been associated with the Council from its birth, and the airport, wfmsfc'h*? $_tf'«c i v corded to them in many ways went far to ' advance the interests of Akaroa. The paper had proved a great benefit to them, and he trusted that Mr. Ivess was fully satisfied with the result of his undertaking. ** Mr. Wagstaff had very great pleasurein seconding the motion, and. he could safely say that Mr. Ivess had faithfully and impartially reported the sayings of each member of the Council. The vote was carried unanimously. Mr. Ivess returned thanks for the compliment.