AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LIII, Issue 2767, 28 April 1903, Page 2

AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL.

A meeting of this Council was held on Saturday last. Present — Messrs Bruce (Chairman), S. Harris, Fredericksen, Reid, Eli Scott, Mason, Lelievre, J. Montgomery, and Pettigrew. MINUTES. [ : The minutes of the prior special and ordinary meetings were read and confirmed, correspondence. Outward correspondence was read and approved. Regarding a letter to the Mb. Herbert County Council, the Chairman explained that the Committee had thought it better to leave the matter of the adjustment of the accounts between the Akaroa and Mt, Herbert County Council to the AuditorGeneral, as it was thought that in any case that authority would have to be consulted. CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT. The Chairman's statement was read aud considered as under : — Bylaws, re Trackion Engines.—lt will be neoessary for the Council to formally confirm the By laws adopted at the special meeting held on the 28th Matoh, as they have now baen duly advertised in conformity with Sectien 124 of " The Counties Act, 1886," On the mofion of Mr J. Pettigrew, sec" onded by Mr Fredericksen, these By law a were confirmed. Application from Mr Stanbury for Btone. —Mr George Stanbury asks for permission to quarry 50 yards of soft rock at Caton's Bay. Mr Hurris moi ,_d—That the application be granted. Seconded by Mr Scott and carried.

Department of Justice. — The UnderSecretary for Justice acknowledges the Clerk's letter of 26th March, re error in gazetting appointment of clerk to the Licensing Committee, and states that it had been corrected and that Constable McCormack's name would be inserted in place of Mr Bristow's.

North Canterbury Hospital Board —The Secretary of the North Canterbury Hospital Board advises the Council that their proportion of maintenance this year will be £310 18s. This makes the Council's subscription to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards for the year now current £637. The Chairman said there was a decrease i« Hespital rates, bub a alight increase in the Charitable Aid Board rates.

Mr Harris explained increased expendi ture on the Charitable Aid Board was un avoidable.

Claim from Messrs Scott Bros.—Messrs Scott Bros, write in reply to the Council's repudiation of any liabiliby in the matter of paying for work done by Mr Clough, and request the Council to make further enquiries as they are satisfied of the Council's liability.

It was resolved that the Clerk write still further repudiating the acoounb, as it was certain no member of the Counoil had guaranteed the account.

Slaughterhouse Licenses. — The " Ohief Veterinarian writes advising the Counoil

that a circular und form of application f< r renewal of slaughter house l_cet_Bi?t!]..a9 bttn sent to all butchers within the district, and requesting the Council to se« that the apjjlic-tiona are in order befo c tlvy are Bent to Wellington. Tne lie nse applied for by Mr Robert Wright, of Little River, has been is v.d uud forwarded on to him by the Clerk.

Mr Montgome-y said there was a fUw in the Act, and that a Southern County hal rec.ivtd the whole of the licensing fees back from the Government

The Clerk said he had received an intimation that in future the money would be retained by the local bodies.

lb was pointed out an application for a refund should bi made, the Clerk s'atiag the amount invoked was exceedingly smill. Renewals werd rectmmended to E. F Lelitvre S T. Harris R. Wright aud Hemingway,

A diecus'ion (ok phce on the danger Gauged by Mr Narb.-y'u pigs straying od ihe ro_d from his slaughterhouse paldook, and it was resolved to communicate with him on the matter.

Mr Mason move I—That iv the event of Mr Narbey applying for a slaughter license that the Council tfill recommend the Stock Department to issue a license to Mr Narbey for the present year. Scsouded by Mr Lelievre and carried. Stone Crushing. — The Town Clerk ol Akaroa writes asking when the Borough Council will be able to have the use of the crusher.

The Chairman said he intended to visit Town nexb week with Mr Harris to arrange about an engine. The crushing at Kaituna was not completed, but tTiere was not much more to do.

Main Road —The heavy rain in the early part of the month did a good deal of damago to the main road. The waleifall c;eek got blocked up by a slip which filled iv with dead timber, vines, and earth, and civ e*l a dam to form, which the w*ter carried away with great force, injuring the formation, and greatly damaging the Water fall culvert. Further up, at tha next point of the road abeve the waterfall, tho roaling itself gave way, quite half the width cf the formation going down the bill, while on toth sides of Barry'B*Pass, and on tha Summit Road, many slips took place. Repairs are now in progress. Lake Forsyth is high, but not quite high enough to let out profitably so early in the autumn. The account shows a credit of £86, or thereabouts.

The Engiceer described damage at the Waterfall creek, at a corner above and _t Mossy Creek. There was a considerable slip on the Summit Road, or d Lake Forsyth was high, hut not high enough to Jet out. Mr Harm paid tint Lake Forsyth w;s going down gradually, 'and had recently fallen some nine inches. Mr Montgomery thought it might be worth while to use the eooopß to loosen the shingle at the mouth of Lake Forsyth. This sometimes had the effect of lowering the Lake considerably for an expenditure of £4 or £5. FENCING THE RAILWAY. The Clerk said the Railway Engineer would he happy to meet members on the spot re fencing railway, but did not hold out any Lope of it. being done. A NEW MAIL SERVICE. Mr Harris moved the notice of motion standing in his name regarding mail arid passenger services between Christchurch, the Bays, and Akaroa. Tenders would be Issued this year for the mail services for three years, and he considered a groat im provement might be made on the present system. Since the mail was last tendered for, an additional train was run on the Thursday, and he Hionght the service might be greatly improved if the mails came via Little River on four days a week, viz., Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Katur day, instead of only three days as at present He thought if the mails went via Pigeon Bay on the Tuesday and Friday it would meet all requirements aad be better for everybody if a new timetable were adopt nl. What he suggested was that on the arrival of the trains at Little River a_t 11 a.m., the coach should at once start for Barry's Bay with the mails and passengers, that at that place it should meet the steam launch with the mails and passergers from Akaroa and take them back to Little River, the train waiting for their arrival, and etartiug with them for Christchurch about 4 p.m. Even supposing a launch did not run, another coach could meet that from Little River at Barry's Bay, bringing the mails and passengers, but there was no fear of such a thfng, tor ho had good cause for saying that in tbe event of the present launch not meeting requirements, a more euitable one would speedily be available. By this plan the mails would arrive an hour sooner, and not ooly Akoroa, but all the Bays would be better served. Tnia method would also tend to accelerate the tourist traffic between Christchurch and Akaroa. He had the authoriiy of the coach proprietor for faying that fully three-fourths ol the passenger traffic came at present via Little River, end if, instead of having to get up to leave Akaroa at half past seven, they could leave comfortably at mi_day, go in a nice lauuoh ti Barry's Bay, thence by coach to Little River, and arrive in Christchurch in the evening, the popularity of this route must be greatly increased. The railway authorities did not keep ahead of the traffic on the Littlo River line, and it bad been congested, some thirty special trains having been re quired in the last three months, acd yet a guarantee was required for eaoh special train They had had to guarantee the train on Race Day, for instance, paying some £27 to the Government before they would authorise and on writing afterwards to ascertain its earnings, found they amounted to no Ibbs than £150- During the time the launch had been running in cenjunction with the coach to Akaroa theie had been many more visitors, and for those who did not like the launch an alternato o:>ach service might be provided. He asked the Council to consider the matter fairly and squarely, as he be lieved the alteration he proposed would b8 for tho benefit of the whole community. He moved—That the Postal Department b8 requested to call for tenders for the ensuing term for the carry int. of mails from Little River to Akaroa and back in conjunc ion with a ferry service across the harbour each Monday, Wednesday, Ihursday, and Saturday, the present timetable as uaed ou Thurs days to bs adopted. Beon.ded by Mr Montgomery. Mr Lelievre agreed with the proposal as far as the carriage'of the mails to Akaroa was concerned, but objected to return mails and passengers being carried by four o'clock train to Christchnroh. At present the train arrived in Christohuroh early in the afternoon, and people could do their business and return text day ; but this would be impos' sible if '.he proposed alteration was made, as they would not reach Christchurch tiil places of business were closed, and would consequently be obliged to Btop ia Christohuroh two nights instead nf one. He relieved in the launch eervise as most direct. With regard to tbe Pigeon Bay service, he Counoil should call the attention of the postal authorities to the occasional irregularities in the running of the Oygn* t with the mails. The Clerk said this had bsen doae and a reply received \that ;the matter would be considered when the next cojt.uc: was let.

Mr Pettr'graw r„id the matter hid bee.* J threshed out before, as could be proved bj I referring to the b-ick columns of the Mail Since thfn the telephone had i-nprovrd communication with Christchurch ; but, otherwise, the Tsituation was tlu sume Malls ly the Pigeon Bay roue reached Akaroa earlier th**n thr.y ciuld from Litt.e River, viz,, at 1.30 p m,, and now it was Dropoaed to do away with with one of those j early mail days. Besides, if the proposed alteration were trade Akaroa would be at a great disadvantage in replyiug to corres j pondence, as letters would arrive in Christ church too late to be delive-ed on the day of sending, and this applied to the Bays as well. Bosides this people would not change nto a small steamer at Barry's Bay, particu larly with the present wharf arra gemsnle. They preferred regu'ar travel ing by coich uot : l there were greater faciliti. s. It would bs impossible t:> put on a larger and twifUr steamer, such as would suit tiuristf, for years to come.

Mr Mason would rath r see the prefer.t service continued than the proposed alteration made. Reidents in the Bays would prefer another Pigeon lUy day and oljjot to beiog detuned two nightß in Cirri tchurch.

Mr Frederickson also preferred the pre sent service.,

Mr Reid said passengers showel grea reluotanco to going with the steam'r as there was a diffijulty ia getting aboard, aad they wanted be 1 ter wharf accommodation Neither the Government nor the County Council were prepared to provide this accommodation Besides th. new Bchsme would necessitate the _hiftirg of the c ack proprietor's stables from Duvauchelle'a to Little River. He did not feel justified io voting for the alteration.

Mr Harris, in reply, said as t > the obj c' tion to a*ayi*g two ni,. hta in t..wn, ■ her<> were fsw Peaiusula peop'e who did not do so. As to tho objection to the st_mer, he was sure that the muj .rity of the people would like to break the journey in suoh a pleasant manner. r lhe present railway service would never be popular, and they should endeavour to improve it, aod he saw no insuperable difficulty to the improvement of the wharf. As to the shifting of the btables, that had not'iing to do with the matter.

The Ohairman could not s»e the proposed alteration was ff ber.efit either to Akar _ or the Bays. The necessity of staying two nights in Christchurch, and not being able to reply to letters next day —as at present —were decided disadvantages. He coul i not commend such a sweeping change involving a new wharf and launch. As far as the launch was Cit.c.._e_l there would have to be a great deal more traffic than at pre" seat to warrant the establi-hment of a suitable service. They wanted a boat like the Auckland ferry boats, la'ge and comfortable ; but they were 100 costly. After consideration he could nob support the motion. The resolution was then put and lost— Messrs Harris and Montgomery voting for, and the rest against it. PUBLIC HEALTH ACT. The Chairman pointed cut that it would be wise for local bodies to group together to pay an inspector under the Public Health Act. ANOTHER SECESSION. The Chairman further pointed out tint another part of the County—the Little River Riding—proposed io secede from the County. They would proceed in the sam-** manner as the Mount Herbert County, liy petition and getting a Bill put through ihe House, and the question was whether the Council should oppose the proceedings or Ist them go on. Discussion adjourned to next meeting. PIGEON BAY CEMETERY BOARD. Mr Pettigrew said that as they were aware the old Pigeon Bay Cemetery Board had lapsed, and the plot holders now wished Messrs A. Knudsen, E. Scott, James Pitcaithly, W. Goodwin, and himself should be appointed: He, therefore, asked the Council to take tho necessary steps to m ke such appointments valid. He moved—l hat thi3 Council take s'leps ta have those nan es duly advertised as the Pigeon Bay Cemet ry Board for the ensuing seven years.

Seconded by Mr Scott and carried FINANCE COMMITTEE.

The following report of the Finance Com mittee'waa read: —

Receipt?.—Hates 1901 2 £215s 3d, 1901-5 £129 7s 6d. rent £18, dog tax £15, grass Beed;(sale of) 10s, total £165 12s 9d.

The C< unty Fund Account shows a la!' ance at credit of £434 0s 41. ca-ih in ha; ds of Treasurer £26 3s Bd, total £460 4s.

Accounts presented for payment £284 Is, Balance £176 3*.

The Chairman commented on the excellent position of the Council at the end of the financial year, and moved the adoption of the report.

Seconded by Mr E. Scott and carried THE RATE.

Mr J. Fettigrew gave notica of motba for next meeting—That a general rate of three-eights of a penny in the £ be sir tck on all rateable property in the Akaroa County, to be made and levied for the j e»r ending March 31st 1904.

ADJOURNED. The Council then adjourned to May 3)