KAIAPOI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 241, 19 February 1869, Page 3

KAIAPOI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

" Thursday, Feb. 18. An adjourned meeting was held. Present: The Mayor and all the Councillors. At the ordinary meeting on Tuesday last, the Clerk had reported Mr Johnson, the lessee of the bridge, to be £40 14s in arrears with his rent. ' After some discussion, from which it appeared that the lease had not been executed, or the bond signed by sureties, Mr Johnson was called in. He stated that the reason he was in arrear was that he was not taking enough to meet the rent. When he took the bridge, he reckoned on the repeal of the Cattle Restrictions, and on the wool traffic increasing the receipts. He estimated the receipts at £1 10s per day. The takings had fallen off considerably since he had taken the bridge. Qut of this he had a wife and family to keep. He thought that he had passed through^ the worst part of the year, and that as the grain season was coming on, the traffic would enable him to pay his rent regularly, and make up the arrears. If the Council would give him a few days, he thought he could give them a properly endorsed acceptance for the arrears, and keep his rent paid until the grain season commenced. To effect this, he would keep his house expenses as low as possible. All he had in hand towards the arrears was £9. The Clerk said another week's rent was due that evening, making the amount £61 Is. Mr Johnson retired. After a lengthened discussion, Councillor Birch moved, and Councillor Oram seconded, the following resolution : — " That the Council at once place a man in possession to take charge of the tolls of the bridge on their behalf ; that Mr Johnson be allowed three clay b, until 6 p.m. on Monday next, to find security for all arrears, as well as for future >ayments, such security to be approved by ;he Council ; that in case such security be found and approved, Mr Johnßon to pay all expenses to which the Council will be put; ihe nett balance of takings for such time as ;he person remains in possession to be placed >y them to the credit of Mr Johnson's next myment; that the cash (£9) now held by Hr Johnson be. at once handed to the Clerk ; ;hat failing Mr Johnson's complying with the ibove to the 'satisfaction of the Mayor, Councillor Dudley and the mover (who are lereby appointed a committee for that and tor all other necessary purposes), he be sued it once for all moneys owing to the Couacil; md that fresh tenders be invited for lease of )ridge." The resolution was carried.