AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 394, 14 May 1880, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A meeting of the above Council Jurats held at their Chambers, Balguerie etreet, on Wednesday last, the 12th instant. ' Present: His Worship the.Mayor, :Crs Wiggins, Cullen, Kissel, , Pi&ilihgton, Armstrong, and O'Reilly.. . , , MINUTES, -v n .

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed; likewise, those of the special meeting held on Wednesday ( the sth inst. . CORRESPONDENCE: Letters were read— From the Marine Department, Wellington, re repairs to Government wharf, and stating that, if the corporation were willing, the Government would hand over the wharf to that body, together with all the rents due to it to the close of the year ending July, 1880, subject to the lease held by Mr Henning. Or O'Reilly thought & reply should be sent to the Government, stating that the Council were unwilling to take over the , wharf till it was put in proper repair. Cr Wiggins thought the matter required much consideration, and he would move— " That discussion on the matter be held over for a future meeting." Cr Cullen seconded the motion. Cr O'Reilly proposed as an amendment —"That the Council write to tins Government to the effect that they refuse to take over the wharf as it is, and urgo upon the Government to rop.iir it it once." He iei'ened to the wretched light at present on the wharf, and thought the matter should be strongly represented. There being no seconder to the ajffjend-, ment, the original motion was put and carried, Or O'Reilly alone dissenting. From the Colonial * Secretary's office, Wellington, acknowledging* receipt. 6i letter referring to the Council expressing surprise at certain items in the statement rendered by the Treasury,'re the subsidy due to thei Borough for the halfryear ending June, 1880, and pointing out that no Reduction for. Hospital.and Charitable Aid had been., in ado for the previous half-year. His Worship said he thought the state; ment'waß wr<J"g.

Cr Wiggins observed that he had looked into the matter at the time it had been before the Council previously, and he found the Government wore correct. That the only deduction made for the previous half year had been for the Ashburton reserves.

-• Cγ Penlington said that althengh the letter written by tUt Council had been to ask why the grants for the Hospital and Charitable Aid bad been doubled, yet in the reply, no explanation had been given, and he did not consider it satisfactory. The letter book being' produced, Mr Penlington'e remarks as to the substance »f the letter -from the Council to the Government were proved correct. . Cr Wiggins moved—" That the letter be answered, and the same request for an explanation of the increase of the sum deducted for the Hospital and Charitable Aid maintenance be repeated." Cr'Kigeel said he thought it moat likely that the Government were in the rijrht. Cr Wiggins said he must differ somewhat with Cr Kissel's remarks. Hβ said that although the Council might not know much about expenses of other hospitals, yet he could not see the reason of the increase from £40 to £95 for the cost of the Akaroa Hospital. Cr,Kissel aslsed whether the Council wae supposed to pay a certain share of the Charitable Aid maintenance and Hospitals in the colony, or only those for the district. Cr Wiggins, quoting from the letter from the Government, showed that the charge was made for their share towards v Hospital," and not for all hoipHals. ' J'Cr Cullen proposed— ,4 That the Govern, 'ment 'be written to again, drawing their attention* toj the first letter from the Council,, ari«i aekirlg tor an explanation, more especially in regard to the Hospital." , Or 'KisseV Seconded. Carried unanimously. t, A report wae read from the Thames [Borough Council, proposing certain aliera- | tioDs to be universally adopted with regard :to Hospital and Charitable Aid uiain- ■ tenance regulations. His Worship thought it might be as well to wait to see what steps other Councils took in the mutter, before forming any decision. WNANCB COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

Cr Kissel said the only report to be made would be contained in the Balance Sheet. Hβ stated that the Clerk had inspected the books, drawn up a Balance Sheet, and placed the same before the Auditors, and that the accounts bad now been Audited. He read a letter from the Manager of the Bank of New Zealand, stating that the Mayor, in arranging for an overdraft in February lent, bad informed him that the Council would strike a rate of amounting to about £240 within a month from that date, and asking whether that part of the agreement had been carried out. Cγ Kissel informed' the Council that he had taken it upon himaelf to inform the Manager in reply that euch a stop would be taken as quickly as possible. BALANCE SHEBT. The Clerk read the balance sheet for the half-year ending March 31st, 1880. showing, total receipt" to be £355 15s 9d ; expenditure, £208 7s 2d ; and stating at the same time that he had found there to be a deficiency \'6£ tiien»y which should have been paid into ,the Bank, amounting to £56 8* !2d.iv He also read the certificate frqm, .the>'anditore, in which they stated that tkef had examined the balance sheet ~ laid before them ; that no books or 'accounts had been kept since the last audit; thas the result showed a deficiency of •'£s6 8s 2d. iEhey also remarked that two cheque* of, £3. each, paid to petty cash, together with many other cheques paid by authority of the Council did not appear in the Voucher book. Cr Wiggins aaked whether it was a fact that the auditors found cheques had been paid away and no entries been made in the voucher book. .■; Cr Kissel stated that such was the case. Cr Penlington asked whether there were not receipts for the various sums to be found in the office. Cr O'Beilly asked whether the present temporary clerk had furnished the Council with any particulars aa to what source the deficiency has arisen from. Cr Kissel stated that it was imposnible to etf.te any certain thing as to whether the deficiency ocetirred , f rom the dog collars, rates, or what not. That it could only be given as a lump sum. Cr Cullen agreed that setiing the manner in which the late clerk hadfcramiacted business, it would be impossible to give any particular* (W there had only been one fund, kept. . •■_ ' , 'Ct_ tenlington thought the main point to tiofasider was the deficiency, arid as to who was to make it up. He thought the h'rat thing to do was to acquaint the surety of the deficiency. Hβ ra«J*ed—" That the surety or sureties of the Iftte Town Clerk be written to, acquainting him or them with the amount of the deficiency." Cr Kissel seconded the motion. The document of the surety was produced.

His Worship likewise produced the withdrawal of the surety, and stated that, it had been written in his own house, and in the presence, of the Town Clerk, and said that he had at the time considered it had been meojit more as a threat or a caution to tho Clerk: tlian an actual with drawal, lience the reason of his not having laid it before the Council at the time. (Jr Cullen thought the Clerk should be the first party to. be written to, .and that the Council should first ascertain whether the money could not be obtained from the Clerk. He thought it unfair that the surety wne known to be able to pay he should be jumped upon. He moved as an amendment that the Council first take proceedings against the Clerk to find out whether he was prepared to' meet the deficiency. Cr PenJiugton differed ; he said he considered it was going out of the way to have anything to do witli the Cleric ; that before the Clerk was appointed it had been necessary for him to tirfd a surety, and it was to that surety the Council had to look. Cr Wiggins thought the amendment a little vague; lie said there were two different sorts of proceedings, and he thought the only one in this ease was a criminal one, and he hardly thought the Council were willing to take such steps. Cr Cullen still advocated' first applying to the Clerk. Cr Penlington said he tied no doubt that the Burety himself would see whether the Clerk was worth the money. He had riot in his proposition mentioned, anything about taking proceedings ; had.only moved that the surety be acquainted with the amount of the deficiency. Cr O'ReWly said he considered nothing had been proved against the Clerk, and that talking about taking proceedings was somewhat premature. He thought a public, meeting'of the ratepayers should be called and the matter bo laid before them, and that it should be found out

from what particular source tho deficiency arose, and then if the ratepayers wished let the Borough lapse, find the Government seize the 2000 acres, Cr Armstrong asked Cr O'Reillywwhetherr r because the Cl srk had made a dfieiciency in his accounts, he would Jet the Borough lapse. The amendment being put was negatived by 5 to 2. The. original. motion being then put was carried. WOBK3 COMMITTEE REPORT. Cr O'Reilly then read the report front the Works Committee, showing that the , lower part of the drain in Balguerie street had been cleaned out. and put into proper order. That all the laborers had been discharged with the exception of one man, who was employed at the lower end of Jolie street; calling attehtioa to there being no provision made for the carrying off water near Hahn's bridge, and asking permission to clear the channels on Bruce's Terrace and Aubrey street. Calling attention to the desirability of removing, gorse fence now encroaching on the Aylmer'e Valley road. . Cr. Kissel asked . whether a clause necessitating the removing of gorse was not contained in the By-laws of th'eife BoroAgh Council. Cγ O'Reilly replied that it was, but the Clerk; had neglected to give ; wotioe; -; Cr Culleri proposed, and Cr Armstrong seconded—"That the report from, the Works Committee be received." . Hie Worship stated that as the Council funds were low, the Chairman of the Works Committee had been requested to dispense with the laborers as quickly as possible. Cr Cullen drew attention to the very bad state of Church street and Bruce's terrace, from Bruce's Hotel to Fall's bridge, and. urged that the Works CoitttrtHtee be empowered to cause that portion to be put in proper repair. ■ Cr Kissel agreed with CrCullen's remarks, especially as connected with that portion of the road near Farr's bridge. He asked what was meant by Cr Gallon's proposal that the report be received. Cr Cullen explained that .the term implied that the Council express their approbation of the report. The motion being put, was carried unanimously. ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed for payment :— John Ryans, labor £8 6 & C. Schubert ... 15 2 J. Borland ... 11 0 Cγ O'Beilly eaid he would suggest that the accounts passed might be pnid at once, and not to let the men he kept waiting for their money as bad bo often, been the case. (Hear, hear). RESIGNATIONOF COUNCILLOB . Or Cullen anked the Mayor to inform the Council whether he had not received a resignation from Cr Bridge. Hie Worship replied that he had, arid produced the resignation, dated May 5. Hβ likewise read a lettor from Mr Bridge, dated May 11, asking for permission to withdraw his resignation as some miminderetaMding might artae as to , the cause of his taking such n ntep when municipal matters were in the state they were. Cr Penlington pointed out that the resignation of a councillor had nothing whatever to do with the Council ; that the matter rested with his Wor.-thip alone to deal with. His Worship stated that he had considered Mr Bridge ceased to be a councillor after the receipt of the resignation, and he had decided to receive it. SIGNINQ CHKQUKS. Cr Kissel said he thought, seoing ho had been elected Chairman of Finance Committee, ho should be authorised to act as one of the three empowered to sign cheques. He believed «ne of the reasons ho had been elected Chairman was that he iVos easily to b» found when wanted, and he thought the same argument should apply to the signing cheques. He would suggest tliat all cheques might be signed at the conclusion of each inpeting when the councillors would most 1 k'ly be present. Lie could not see any reaaon why the plan could noi be adopted, nor did he he see either the necessity or the fairness of the Clerk being required to run all over the town with the cheque-book in hie pocket to find the necessary councillors required to sign the cheques. Hie Worship said he approved of Cr Kissel's suggestion, but feared it could' not be carried out, as very often the necessary councillors might not be present. Cr Cullen proposed—•• Tli.it Cr Kissel be authorised to sign uhequus in place of Cr Bridge, resigned." Cγ Armstrong seconded the motion, winch was carried.

HAHN'S BHIDGK CONTRACT. His Worship etated that the contractor for repair's to Halm's bridge was not going according to specifications signed t/ him j that he was not using, cement as required. Cr Armstrong confirmed His Worship's statement. His Worship explained that he had not been able to interfere to any avail as he be had been unable till last Friday to. find the specifications, ns they were mixed up with the re.*<t of the council papers. Cr Cullen said he was sorry to hear Mr Morey was not carrying out the contract according to specifications. lie had proposed that the 'tender be accepted, and had at. the time observed that he considered Mr ■Morey would cany out his work honestly and conscientiously. His Worship thought h would be well to allow the contractor to go on with the work, and at the conclusion they could see what, might be done in the matter ; that it, was part of the specifications fqr the contractor to guarantee the work for six months, and that if that time was not considered long enough by the Council, it might be increased to twelve months ; or some reductions on the payment might be made. MOTION ON NOTICE. Cr O'Reilly moved— ,. That the resolution ot the Council, dated August 6, 1879 to the effect that a returning-officer other ;han the Town Clerk be appointed tor the Borough be revoked." Carried. Cr O'tteilly moved that the Acting Town Clerk be appointed retnining-pfficer. Carried unanimously. The Council then adjourned.