AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 94, 12 June 1877, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL

The Council held an adjourned meeting last Friday evening in the office. Present _Crs. Penlington, Annand, Bruce, Cullen, Waeckerle, Chadwick, Watkins, and Wagstaff. In the absence of His Worship the Mayor, Cr. Wagstaff was voted to the If;. The minutes of. last meeting were read and confirmed. COBBESPONDENCE. A letter was received from the Secretary of the Domain Board, Mr. S. Watkins, offering on the part of the Board to hand over to the control of the Council, the management of the domain grounds, and any balance of funds in hand that might be at the credit of the Board. The Chairman said the grounds were not in that condition he would like to see them, and on a late occasion when he had the pleasure of conducting his Excellency I the Governor over the domain, he must say he felt rather ashamed. To keep such grounds as these, under consideration, required a large annual outlay, and it was a question if the Council were prepared to add to their already large expenditure. There was one thing he should like to see the domain preserved for, and that was for educational purposes. It was important that the youth of this country should be acquainted with the trees and shrubs of Europe. Cr. Cullen.—lf it is to cost money he would let it alone. Cr. Penlington was sure the Government would do nothing more in the way of supplying funds, and if the Council took it over it must be decently maintained. The Council were the proper - custodians of all public property'in the Borough, and as .such, he would be in favour of taking it on that ground. > ' \

Cγ. Annand would like to know first-" ~^^| in what position the funds of the Board were in before taking it over. Cr. Waeckerle was sure they would never get another farthing from the . vernment. Cr. Watkins said he believed the Board had some. £60 or £70 at their credit. He was sure the Government were inclined*fco support all such institutions, and. with a little assistance from the Government, he was sure the step would be to the advantage of the Council. They could get a-gar-dner for a small annual outlay, who would contract to keep it in good order. He ■ would mention that when Dr. Hector was here last along with the Governor, he received from the Dr. a valuable collection of seeds of new vegetables and coniferas. These were sown in his brother's garden, but were the property of the public. Cr. Waeckerle moved—" That the Coun- H cilaccept the offer of the Domain Board," .^M and that the Clerk, in writing to the Board, request a statement of their financial posiSeconded by Cr. Cullen, and carried. ELECTION OF AUDITORS! The Eeturning Officer reported that Messrs James Daly, and John Hemingway had been duly elected auditors of the Borough accounts for the coming twelve months. BENOIT-STREET. H Mr. Sims wrote again, regarding the impassable state of this street. m Cr. Penlington moved—"That Mr. Sims H be written to, informing him that the Council could not move in the forming of this street until the line of it was accurately defined, and to do this they were waiting for Mr. Pavitt." t^M The motion was seconded by Cr. Bruce, j^H and carried. I^H MUNICIPAL SUBSIDIES. I^| The Town Clerk of Christchurch wrote -^PH to the Council, asking them to join in ~^J united movement of all the municipalities'' in regard to the large amount kept off the subsidies by the Government, for charitable aid and hospital purposes, and asking the Council to send a delegate to Welling--ton as being the. most central place of meeting, during the coming Session of Parliament. Cr. PEiILINGTON was quite willing to join the other Boroughs in this important matter, and one that interested the Council so vitally, as they would see from the corTes- H pondence that would be laid upon the table that evening, but he was afraid the H expense of sending a delegate to Welling- H ton was too great for so small <*nd H so young a Borough. Cr. Watkins said that some member of H of the Council might volunteer to go gratis H for the honour of the thing, at any rate it H would not cost more than £20,, and he H thought the money would be well spent on H so important an object. Cr. Penlinqton moved—"That this ■ Council heartily concur in the action pro- H posed to be taken by the Christchurch City H Council, and will support any steps they H may think desirable to take in the matter, H but in the meantime will leave the ques- H tion of a delegate open." ■ Seconded by Cr. Chadwick and carried*. ■ EXTENSION OF TIME FOR COMPLETING ' H POUND. — H The contractors for the Pound requested I im__extension of.their contract time. __ •-_.____H Cr.lDunLENnioye'd—-That the request be w '"" ■ complied with to the extent of 14 days. „ ■ Seconded by Cr. Chadwick, and carried. ■ BOROUGH SUBSIDY. '■ A letter was received from the Treasury, ■ Wellington, advising that amount of'the ■ subsidy for the Borough of Akaroafor past I quarter was £37 0s 7d., and tbe amount due by the district for" charitable aid and bos : pital for the same period was £33 10s., leaving a balance coming to the Borough : of £3 10s. 7d. The Council were unanimously of opinion that this was a monstrous state of things, and one which they had never contemplated in framing their estimates. Cr. Watkins remarked that the hospital was still unfinished, with the key in the contractor's pocket, and that the committee so kindly nominated for them has never shown face, and as to charitable aid, he was not aware that any was given in the district, and even if such was the case the representatives of the people should hold the purse strings and not a few irresponsible parsons. It was resolved that the Town Clerk . write to the Government asking what is meant by the district, and pointing out ■ that no benefit is derived from the hospital ■ in its present unfinished state, and that if I charitable aid is distributed the details should be supplied to the Council. ENDOWMENT OF WASTE LANDS. * A number of telegrams were read from . His Worship the Mayor in regard to the matter of selecting* land for the endowment of the Borough, but as the Council ~ resolved itself into committee we are unable to report the details. I On resuming. Cr. Cullen thought that a I small committee should be appointed to I answer his Worship's telegrams, as it wae sometimes difficult to get a meeting of the whole Council in so short a notice as was necessary. Cr. Annand strongly objected to any such committee, as the selection was of the greatest importance to the Council and concerned every one of them. He would be no party to any such committee. . It was agreed that the clerk adhere to his instructions of 31st ult., and call meetings of Council on receipt or telegrams from His Worship. WORKS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Works Committee report as that they have examined the footways now in course of formation, and have instructed the contractor to remove the kerbing at present laid between the Bank of New Zealand corner and Malmanche's « section, and relay it in a straight line . also that he must remove the kerbing put down with 4x2 timber, and adhere to the specification. The large culvert at end of Mutter-street crossing Balguerie-road is now finished. The new Pound proceeds satisfactorily. The committee suggest that the footways be carried right up to Meech's bridge, and that stone retaining walls be built parallel with the abutments of the bridge, and that the ends of footway be fenced Cr. Cullen moved that the report be adopted. ♦* Seconded by Cr. Bruce, and earned. FENCING BRIDGES. Cr. Watkins moved—That the bridges along main road be all fenced at both sides of each end so as to prevent accidents; f i and that the details be left to the Works '" ni Committee. .

Seconded by Cr. Cullen, and carried. CONSTRUCTION OF FOOTPATHS. Cr. Cullen moved—That the Works Committee be asked to look after the con- ' struction of footways along the main road generally, and that they_ be empowered to make the necessary drains and culverts between Britan-street and Grehan road. Seconded by Cr. Watkins. Cr. Annand said that when a matter was sent to the Works Committee it was as good as shelved, the members of that committee had neither the time nor the ability to devote themselves to the work, and beg to move as an amendment-" That Mr. Fenton be employed to superintend the construction of all footpaths,' and all necessary culverts for same." The amendment was seconded by Cr. Chad wick. On a division being taken, Ore. Wagstaff, Chadwick, and Annand voted for the amendment, and Crs. Penlington, Bruce, Waeckerle, Cullen, and Watkins voting for the motion. The motion was accordingly carried. On the motion of Cr. Penlington, seconded by Cr. Watkins, the Works Committee were empowered to consult Mr. Fenton at all times when they found it necessary— Crs. Annand and Chadwick objecting to this, too much power be given to the Committee. The motion was carried on a division. PAYMENTS. Cr. Cullen moved—" That the following accounts be paid, and that the account for last audit be held over until the return of His Worship, viz., £ 8 d Messrs Saxton and Williams 31 10 0 Clerk's salary 8 6 8 E. StaplesandCo.... ... 17 0 0 H. Billens lamps 16 10 0 E. Willis, labour 0 10 0 F. Hahn, do 3 8 0 P. Berland, do 18 0 Petty cash 10 0 Woodßros.&Co 1 12 1 H. Gγ. Watkins 2 2 2 £83 6 11 penlington's road. Cr. Penlington desired to bring under the notice of the Council the fact that the" roadway he had applied to have shingled at the last meeting of the Council was not a private road but part of Lavaud-street. He would never have applied for the re ; pairs to the roadway in question had it not been a public one. After considerable discussion, Cr. Cullen mo ved—That the Works Committee make arrangements to shingle that part of Lavaud-street leading to Mr. Penlington's property, subject to Mr. Penlington paying one half of the cost. Seconded by Cr. Watkins, and carried. Cr. Annand dissented. TIMBER. The clerk was instructed to order any timber that might be required to finish the works now on hand. GLAZED DRAIN PIPES. The question was asked if the Council would sell sewage pipes at cost price. On the motion of Cr. Cullen, seconded by Cr Chadwick, it was agreed that ratepayers have the privilege of purchasing pipes for cash at cost price. BEACH WALL CULVEBT.. . / - Cr. Britce proposed that Messrs. Vangioni and Woodall be employed to repair the beach wall culvert by day labour, using the present materials. Seconded by Cr. Chadwick, and earned. MUTTER STREET. An offer was received from Mess.c. "Vangioni and Woodall to regrade this street, taking 6ft off the highest part and making up the lower levels with the material and run it off to nothing at the top, the formation to be 20ft wide, and sides of ditches cut to carry the water to new culvert for the sum of £12. Cr. Watkins moved—That the Town Clerk write to Mr. Lelievre. and ascertain if he would gravel the road if the Council formed it, and that in the event of Mr. Leleiver's answer being satisfactory the Works Committee be empowered to put the work in hand. aylmer's valley road. It was pointed out that repairs are absolutely required in many parts of this road, it being the boundary line between the Borough and the Wainui Road Board. On the motion of Cr. Watkins,'seconded by Cr. Annand, it was resolved that the Clerk write to the Eoad Board in regard to their bearing part of the cost. The motion was agreed to. MAP COMMITTEE. Mr. Pavitt advised the Council that he would meet them on an early day next week, and the previous committee were continued, with the addition of Cr. Waeckerle's name. FINANCE. On the motion of Cr. Chadwick, seconded by Cr. Waeckerle, the Finance Committee were instructed to report to the Council at its next meeting the.state of their liabilities and assets. The Council then adjourned till Wednesday, 20th inst., at 7 p.m.