AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LIII, Issue 2804, 11 September 1903, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A meeting of this Council was held on Wednesday evening. Present-Ore. Armßtrong, Henning, Checklev. Newton, Chappell Leefce, Taylor, and Munro. Cr Armstrong was unanimously voted to the chair. MIN CTES. The minutes of last ordinary and special meetings were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. Outward correspondence was read acd approved. Inward correspondence was read — From Valuation Department re request to alter roll in connection with the late T. Martindale, saying that the roll could not be altered till 31st March, 1904. From the Akaroa Football Club complaining of the bad state of the Recreation Ground and asking that the Counoil would consider the matter of improving the ground. From Whangaroa Girls Hockey Club, making the same request. Cr Newton moved thDt the matter be re ferred to the Reserves Committee to report at a future meeting. Or Checkley, in seconding, Bald the matter of materially improving the Reoreation Ground was a large order. _~,_. From North Canterbury Hospital Board informing the Counoil that the Akaroa Hob pital is to brconnected with the telephone From Mr A. W. Haylock complaining that he had a water rate to pay and yet got no water frora the Borough. The Chairman explained that Mr Haylock only paid the special rate aB a householder. The Council had no power to exempt any resident of the Borough from the special Cr Henning" moved—That the matter be referred to the Waterworks Committee to report) a-t a future meeting. Cr Newton, in seconding, said he did not see how the matter could be rectified, and it seemed a hard case. Cr Checkley said that another householder was placed in exactly the same position. . , The motion was carried. From W. Jeason saying that, as the light ma of the streets interfered with his daily work, he would ask the Council to release him from his oontracb. Cr Newton movad that the resignation be by Or Taylor and carried, From Mr J, Phillips,^ resigning his position as Borough poundkeeper, as he had moved out of his old house and was boo far away from the pound to carry on his out tee. Or Munro maved-That this resigna ion be accepted andf a fresh tender be called with the same conditions attached. Seconded be Cr Chappel and carried. WORKS COMMITTEE. The Chairman of the Works Oommittoe presented the following report:----1 Tho Committee recommend the Counoil to call tenders, ucder existing specihcauoes, for the Borough carting, to be in by bept. 23 2,'_ hat the foreman 1 ! »»»Wtottt (V.

Magee) be offered the street, and wharf igh'ing at a remuneration of 12a per week, street, lamps to be guagod with sufficient oil to hum out at eleven p.m.

The report was adopted. WHARF SHED.

Cr Newton said he had spoken to (he wharfinger re looking up the wharf ehed, and had suggested to him tliat he take one key and accept entire responsibility of the abed. The wharfinger suggested that the shed fhouid be kept open every day between 8 a.m. aud 5 p.m., and that anyone using the shed outside those hourfl be oharged 2b 6d an hour up to 10 p.m., and 5s pr hour after that time. The wharfinger would thus take the whole responsibility. Cr Newton considered the arrangement unsatisfactory, but thought in time affairs would settle into a better condition. He moved—That the matter of locking' up the wharf should be left in the wharfinger's hands.

Cr Henning seconded the motion. He said he felt sure that matters would soon come to a hewl, as they could not remain in their present unsatisfactory condition. He strongly advised the Council do refuse the offer of a key, as they would thus bo able to dikclaim all responsibility, and the responsibility shouM certainly remain with the wharfinger alcne.

Cr Taylor strongly opposed the motion, and wanted to know how the key was to be got at a late hour. Cr Newton explained that the wharfinger would open the she! for any vesssl which arrived outside the ordinary time, miking a charge of 2s 6d up to 10 p.m., and 53 after wards.

Cr Taylor considered the charges prepos terous. He could not see why the agents ol the various vessels could not be'entrusted with keys. It appeared to him absurd that theagerte could not be looked upon as per fectly trustworthy. He therefore moved as an amendment —That the whole matter be left over till next meeting. Cr Newton agreed, with his seconder's approval, to withdraw his motion. Cr Munro seconded Mr Taylor's motion. Cr Henning could not Bee why the matter should be adjourned, or how an adjourn ment could improve matters. Cr Cheokloy could not see why the matter should be he'd over. Cr Taylor's amendment was then put and carried. FINANCB COMMITTEE. The following report of the Finano Com mittee was presented : — The above Committee met on Tuesday, Sept. 1, and decided, after discussion, the Mayor proceed to Wellington and ascertain the best terms for arranging a lo_n of £2700 for the proposed installation of the eleotrio light. The report was adopted. FINANCB REPORT. Receij t3 siucj last meeting—Rates £2 19i 3d, Water Supply £2, Scaveogering 18* 3d, Dog Tax £1 10s, total £7 7a 6d. C**h at Bank of New Zealand—Waterworks Loan Account £284 7s 6d, Debit to Bank of New Zealand— (Jeneral Account £23 8i lOd, toiul £260 18s Bd. Accounts to be presented—General Account—Foreman £5, Victor Magee £1 9s 2d, J. Hammond £2 Is, J. Brown £2 2e, W. Johnson £2, Jas Glynan £1 12s, J. Bell £7 7a, M. Lyons £1, J. H. Newton £2 14s, F. Keegan £12s 6d, J. S. Dodds 5s 7d ; totil £26 13s 33. The accounts as read were passed for payment. ORDINARY BOSINHSB. Cr Henning, on behalf of the Electric Light Committee, suggested that the Committee be discharged as the work was done. Cr Newton moved —That the Committee bs discharged with the thanks of the Council for their excellent wonl. Seconded by Cr Checkley and carried. Cr Henuing said he !iad heard many complaintß about tlu way in which the Fire Brigade were turned out last week, and asked if auything iv the by-laws made iho action a punishable one. Cr Checkley said theie was nothing in the by-laws to con"ie' a mm who gave a falße alarm of fire. \\ lieu the Brigade turned out for a chimney they were paid for it. Cr Newton said that he had heard one Christchurch iiremau say he would rather be turned out to a hundred false alarme than miss one real fire. BAD TRAIN. The Chairman spoke of the bad state of the draiu in Balguerie street coming from the home adjoining his. which had caused slokness to bis family, and was nothing but a cesspool. Cr Checkley taid, as Chairman of the Works Committe he would take the responsibility of teeing the drain attended to. Cr Chappell asked who was responsible for the drain which had been flushed out that day.

Cr Taylor asked wheu the new drainage eobeme would be under way, as it was not fair to ask ratepayers to put down new pipes, when the drainage system was Just coming into force. He considered it was a very ur satisfactory state of affairs, and asked why <he new drainage works were not under way. The Chairman explained that an error re advertisement had delayed the matter slightly ; but the work would prooeed as soon as possible. The Oouncil then adjourned.