AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 103, 13 July 1877, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Borough Council met on Monday, July 9th, at their offices. Present —His Worship the Mayor, (Chairman), Councillors Peulintr.ton, Wagstatt', Bruce, Cullen Ann and, and Watkins. The minutes of the last meeting wore react and signed. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was received from the Secretary of-the Domain Board, Mr. S. Watkins, in which it was stated that at present no means existed of relieving the present Board of their trust, and at the same time requested the Council to vote them (the Board), a sum of money to cany on their contemplated works in the domain grounds. The Council were of opinion that to grant an irresponsible Board a sum of money out of the BorcnigTi funds would bo absurd, and establishing- a 'most dangerous precedent. If sums of money were required fur public works iw the Borough, the Council were the sole responsible body, and as such, declined to delegate their functions to any other body. Cr. Wagstaff moved, and Cr. Annand seconded—"That until the Domain Reserve was handed over to the Council, the Council would not be justified in expending public funds in the matter. Carried. aylmek's valley? eoad. A letter was received from the lload Board, repudiating all liability of the Board in regard to the maintenance of Aylmer's Valley road. The Council, in consideration of no rates being received by them for this road, thought that in fairness the lioad Board should be half of the expenses of the maintenance of this road, especially as the Board had been receiving rates up Aylmer's Valley for years, and never expended a penny. On the motion of Cr. Penlington, seconded by Cr. Watkins, the matter of repairing this road was left to the Works Committee to report, and if the Road Board refuse to pay their fair share of the cost, to put the clause of the Municipal Corporations Act in force. It was further proposed by Cr. Watkins, seconded by Cr. Bruce, that the Works Committee bring up a report on this subject at the nest meetingjof Council. Carried. . - v GoRSE FENCES. The question of the encroachments of gorse fences came before the Council, and it was resolved that all fences of any sort whatever, be trimmed within the boundaries of the properties in which they grow. Cr, Cullen moved that owners of gorse fences be written to by the Clerk, requesting them to have their fencea trimmed. Seconded by Cr. Penlington, and carried. OFFICERS OF COUNCIL. A return was received from the Colonial Secretary, requesting a jeturn of all the salaried officers of the Council, and the amounts of their respective salaries. The Clerk was instructed to reply that he was the only salaried ofiicer of the Corporation. PUBLIC POUND. In reply to the Council's letter in regard to Pound, a reply was received, stating that the new pound should be gazetted in the local papers, along with scale of fees. . It was proposed by Cr. Watkins, that the pound and scale of fees be gazetted as required by sec. 334 of "The Municipal Corporations Act, 1876." —Carried. In regard to the question of the pound it was further resolved, on the motion of Cr. Annand, seconded by Cr. Watkins, that the Council olfer the custody of the pound to F. Halm, the present poundkeeper, at a salary of £15 per year, and that he account for all pound fees received, monthly, to the Council, and that in tha event of Mr. Halm's non-acceptance of this offer, the pound be put up to public tender; the arrangement to take place from Ist July current. Alter some discussion, the motion was carried. HOSPITAL SUBSIDY. The Colonial Treasurer replied to the inquiries of the Council, that the sum remitted, was correct, vis;., Aid 10s. 7d. The amount of subsidy was calculated at the rate of 10s. per pound on £70, and that the word district meant the late Provincial district of Canterbury. The Council looked upon the matter as a fine example of the method the Government had adopted of conjuring local bodies out of their rights. TIMBER. The ordering of timber for all works was, upon the motion of Cr. Wagstaff, seconded by Cr. Watkins, relegated to the Works Committee, with power to order what timber is required. DELEGATE TO WELLINGTON. The Council considered a telegram from His Worship the Mayor, while in Christchureh, saying that Akaroa would be about the only municipality unrepresented at the conference of Municipal Councils at Wellington. The Council, while quite agreeing to the desirability of sending a representative to Wellington on the subject of subsidies to hospitals felt that the expense of so doing was more than they were warranted, for so small a Borough in the present state of their funds. The Council resolved that the Clerk be instructed to write to the City Council of Christ church, saying that tbe Borough Council of Akaroa quite sympathised in the movement, and ask their repreaenia>. tive to appear for them in the matter at Wellington. . ••_.■• - ; ■ >. ■ , PITCHING OF CROSSINGS. The Council resolved that all traffic ; of horses and carts be put a stop to under'the Act, and that Mr. Fen ton be requested to , make a plan and specification of level crossings for those who may require them,

structed to lay information against persons taking horses on the footway .under the 288t clause of the Corporation Act. The specification to be seen at the Town Clerk's office. PAYMENTS. On the motion of Cr. Watkins, seconded by Cr. Cullen, the following accounts were passed for payment:— £ s d H. H. Fenton ... ... 4 19 5 J. J. Kissel 1 12 0 Gγ. Lardner 14 0 C. CufE, land selector ... 25 0 0 ■ Clerks salary 8 6 8 J. Woodall, labour ... 3 15 0 E. Staples 4 15 0 £49 12 1 NEW COURT HOUSE BUILDINGS. The motion of Cr, Wagstaff, of which previous notice had been given, was then \ considered—••' That the General G-overa-iment be written to, calling their attention !to the unsuitableness of the present buildings used as' Resident Magistrate's Court, Telegraph and Post Offices, Police Offices, and Lock-up for the pnrposes required, also to the immediate and urgent need that exists for some measures being at once taken to remedy defects that exist in matters appertaining to the sanitary condition of the said places, and urging that a sufficient sum be placed upon the estimates to procure a site and erect suitable accommodation for the above-mentioned offices, further, to recommend them the site of the present offices be handed over to the School Committee, for the purpose of including the play-ground, the present accommodation in that direction being very insufficient, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mr. Montgomery, requesting him to urge the matter forward at the next sitting of the General Assembly. Cr. Penlington looked upon the question before the Council as probably one of the most important that had ever come before them, and he begged to move that a committee of the Council, consisting of His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Wagstaff Annand, Watkins, and the mover, be appointed to instruct the Clerk in regard to the matter. The motion was seconded by Cr. Cullen, and carried. The Council then adjourned till Wednesday, 18th inst.