AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XLVIII, Issue 2390, 28 July 1899, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of this Council was held on Wednesday evening last. Present—His Worship the Mayor in the chair, and Ore Vangioni, Earnahaw, Harrison, Chappell, Leete and Monro. MINUTIS. The minuteg of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. OORRISFOHDKNOH. Outward correspondence was read and approved. ■'._'-■ An application was received from Mr F. T. Arming applying to have the name of Mr K. Lelievre substituted for his on the Valuation 801 l for sub-sectione 7 and 8 of teotion 61. The Clerk was directed to communicate with the Land Tax Department with a view* of having the requested alteration made. A letter was received from Mr A. Billene* Christchurcb, saying that the new lamps ordered some time ago would be sent down in a few days. From the Land and Income Tax Depart* ment, Wellington, saying that a voucher had been sent to the Treasury for the payment of the subsidy under ~" The LocaL Bodies Finance and Powers Act," amounting to £34 9a 2d. The Mayor said the sum had not as yeb been credited to the Council's account, but would no doubt be so in a few days. WHARF LAMP. An application was received from Mr J. H. Thomas, the contractor for the wharf light, asking to be relieved of hie contract owing to illness. The Mayor said ' that under the circumstances with which they were all acquainted, he had no doubt the Council would relieve Mr Thomas of his contract. Or Penlington thought that fresh tenders need not be called for the work as it conld be done cheaper by their own man. After some discussion, it was.resolved on the motion of Cr Vangioni seconded by Cγ Leete, that the wharf lamp be lit by the Borough foreman for a period of three months as an experiment. Carried. It was agreed that the Wharf Committee arrange with the Foreman as to the extra. remuneration payable for the work. THH RESERVE LEASE. Mrs Ditely wrote saying that ahe objected paying for the cost of preparing a lease of the reserve let to her by tender at last meeting of the Council, as she had never been atked to do bo before, and if insisted upon, would relinquish it. The Mayor said Mrs Ditely was mistaken as to never having signed a lease. There was one in the office prepared by Mr Hen* ning, It was true Mr Bims had prepared the last lease at no cose to the tenant, and although they had every confidence in that officer, yet he thought the Council should insist upon all leases being drawn by their legal . advisers and registered. No doubt the Couucil would meet Mrs Ditely fairly aa to cost, but the lease would be prepared by their solicitor and submitted to the tenant for signature. FINANCE. On the motion of Cr Leete and seconded by Cr Harrison, the following accounts were passed for payment:— Receipts since last meeting—Bates £3 6t Id ; wharfage £64 lie 2d ; scavengering £5 6s 9d ; dogs 7s 6d; total £73 11s 3d. Credit at Bank—£234 16s sd. Accounts to be presented—Clerk £8 6s 8d ; Foreman £4; J. Phillips £31 11s 6d ; J. Bell £3 16s 3d ; Lytteltou Harbour Board, £4 Iβ ; Domain Board £11 2s ; Interest on wharf loan; £41 Oa 2d : total £108 17s 7d. REPORT OF COMMITTEES. Cγ. Chappell, the Chairman ot the Works Committee read the following report, which was adopted :— i "I have to report that Mr. H. G. Robinson interviewed me to-day in connection, with the road leading from hie road to the beach. I visited it and found that it requires forming, the outside paring off, and also the inside, the parings being thrown in the middle to form a crown. After the work is done in spring it would be well tometal it. Your Committee would adviie that the said work be done at tho tame time the road past Mr Taylor's is taken in hand.'* Cr. Penlington thought the system of promising so far in advance, which had recently grown up, was a bad one. Cr. Chappell explained that it was purely a question of weather, and the document* would be filled in in the office and attended to in due course. WHARF MATTERS. Cr. VaDgioni, Chairman of Wharf Committee, reported that all arrangements had been made with Mr. Derbidge and the Lyttelton Harbour Board as to the getting of material and repairs to wharf. -Negotiation* were also in progress with local men to remove the ballast off end of wharf. The Timaru Harbour Board has been communicated with in referenda to the use of their Priestman dredge, but their reply was not to hand. Pending their reply no definite steps had been taken, and he had consequently to ask for an extension of time in which to report. He moved that the time for the Committee to report be extended for a tortnight. The extension of time asked for was unanimously granted. Cγ. Vangioni said that when in Dunedin, and on receipt of the Mayor's telegram, he had eeen the Manager of the Union Steam Shipping Co. That gentleman had informed him that he had been advised that the Council were illegally collecting the berthage rates. He wished to know what was the position. The Mayor, in reply, said that there we* no " Marine c'candal" in this matter. The charges were properly and legally made under |Sec. 410 of " The Municipal Corporations Act, 1886." The by-law had been prepared by Mr. George Harper, of Ohristohurch, and all the proper steps had been taken in connection with it. He was glad the question had been asked, so as to enable him to make an official statement to the: effect that the whole bylaws and regula-

fciflna ia connection with the wharf were in perfect order. The Marine Department were evidently misled by some local person who had discovered a mare's nest. NEW LAMPS , Cr. Leeta wished to know where the new lamps were to be pl&ced on their arrival The official reply was that the new lamps were intended to take the place of tho old and worn out lamps, and at present it was not proposed to increase the number of lamps. PERCY STREET. Certain works in connection with clearing the side channels in this street were left in the street were left io the hands of the Works Committee. The Council then adjourned.