KAIAPOI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 4984, 8 February 1877, Page 2

KAIAPOI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting was held on Tuesday evening last; present—the Mayor and all the Councillors, except Councillor Milsom. On the question being put for the confirmation of the minutes of last meeting, Councillor Smethurst drew attention to the fact that the Clerk had entered a minute in the minute book after the adjournment of the meeting, and as it reflected upon him, he objected to its being allowed to remain on record. The minute referred to his having been out of order, and having been fined by by the Mayor. The Clerk explained that the minute was entered in the rough minute book at the close of the business of the meeting. Councillor Smethurst went on to say that what he had stated when called to order, was from want of judgment, and nothing more, but he had not been guilty of disorderly conduct, The minute was struck out by leave of the Council after Councillor Smethurst’s explanation. The receipts for past fortnight were, from Court fines, £3l4s; credit balance, £635 8s 4d. A letter was read from the Church Property Steward, in reply to one sent by the Clerk, asking whether Mr A. Weston had been granted permission to fence in and use part of Rich street as a paddock. The reply stated there was no record in the office of any such permission having been given, and the Rev Archdeacon Willock was under the impression that such permission had not been given. He was not aware whether Mr Pavitt had made any such agreement, but believed he had not. Councillor Blackwell said the letter asking for information on the subject had not been sent by the authority of the Council. Is was probable that Mr Weston would resist the Council’s right to erect a public pound on the land in question. The Mayor said he bad asked the Clerk to write the letter, in order to get as much information as possible. There was 18ft left between the pound and Mr Weston’s paddock, and the pound had been constructed on the street as shown on the map. Mr Weston had a vegetable garden on part of another street, and be did not think he had much reason to complain. A circular was read from the Colonial Secretary, asking for information regarding the name of the bank with which the Council did business, so that public money to be received by the Borough could be paid into it. Resolved that the Clerk reply to the effect that the Council account was kept at the Bank of New Zealand, Esiapoi. A letter was read from tjie Mondeville and Rangipra Road Board, asking the Council to pay half the cost of certain repairs necessary to the Beach road. The east end required claying, and the cost would be about £4O. They also drew attention to damage done to trees planted by the Borough Council. It was resolved, on the motion of Councillor Wearing, seconded by Councillor Mathews—- “ That the receipt of the Board’s letter be acknowledged, and they be informed that the Council agrees to pay half the cost of repairs to the Beach road within the Borough.” Councillor Moore said with regard to the damage done to trees and embankments, it would pay the Council to give the police sixpence per head for ail stray cattle and horses they impounded. A deal of damage had been done by cattle trespassing. Conn oillor Smethurst handed in the report of the Works Committee, the substance of which was—That as the Foreman of Works had refused to resume bis duties, the works in the town had not been pushed on so rapidly during the fortnight. Mr Puddle had been appointed to take charge of the work temporarily, and he was giving satisfaction. On Jan. 27 the Committee discovered that the bridge over the Ohoka drain in Hilton street was in a dangerous state, and they replaced it with a new one at a cost of about £l2. The metal contract for Cass street was not being carried out quickly owing to the inability of the contractor to obtain men and teams. A number of the streets in the eastern part of the town were becoming overgrown by gorse and broom, and the Clerk had been instructed to serve notices upon 18 persons to clear them. The lean-tos attached to Revell’s old store were in a dangerous state, and should te removed. The new pound hod been satisfactorily completed by the contractor, Mr Butt. The recent flood bad done no damage to the embankments. The report was received, and on the motion for its adoption, Councillors Wearing and Pornham objected to the expenditure of £l2 on the bridge in Hilton street, as it had not been authorised by the Council. The road only led to one house, and the work was not urgent. Councillors Mathews, Manning, Blackwell, and Smethurst, explained that the old bridge was dangerous, and the work was urgent. The report was adopted. Accounts, amounting to £ll2 2s 7d, were passed for payment, including a sura of £3O on account of metal delivered by W. F. Keoly. Councillor Farnham took exception to the manner in which the metal was being delivered. First a contract was entered into for unscreened metal. It was then altered to screened at a higher price, and the last he saw was unscreened metal being supplied as screened metal. Such a way of doing business was unfair to other tenderers, and if proceeded with it would make the Council a laugning stock to the district. Councillor Wearing corroborated Councillor Parnham's remarks. Councillor Smethurst said that the shingle supplied before last meeting was approved by the late Foreman of Works, who said that, haying been dug out"of the riverbed under the water, it was preferable to screened shingle, and contained no sand. An account of £8 16s received from Mr J. Beswick, for repairs and facing to,embankment at his wharf, was deferred till next meeting after some discussion, and the Works Committee were requested to report upon tho work. Councillor Smethurst drew attention to the dilapidated state of the swing bridge, and

•toted that the stringer* were so rotten they would not hold the nails of the planking, ft was resolved, on the motion of Councillor Blackwell, seconded by Councillor Manning—- " . 0l " k writ « to the Minister for Public Works, drawing bis attention to the dangerous state of the swing bridge through. Kaiapoi, on the line of the Great North road " On the suggestion of Councillor Parnham the Works Committee were requested to fiU up some holes on the north approach to the suspension bridge. A desultory discussion then took place regarding the Foreman of Works not haying resumed his duties as ordered by the Council, which resulted in the carrying of a motion introduced by Councillor Moore—“ That applications be invited by advertisement for the office of Foreman of Works, at a salary of £2 5s per week ; applications to be sent in at next meeting.” Councillor Moore obtained leave to defer his notice of motion till next meeting re advertising for tenders for a new survey of the town; and gave notice that he would move for the appointment of a committee to draw np conditions and other particulars required. The Council then adjourned. A special meeting of the Council was held at 8 p.m., when the following by-law was adopted:—“That any person or persons owning or occupying any building or premises used for any of the purposes specified in Clause 323 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876, shall be required to pay the sum for a license, required by the laid Act was decided to bold a special meet m Tuesday, March 6, to con by-law.