KAIAPOT BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 251, 3 March 1869, Page 2

KAIAPOT BOROUGH COUNCIL.

:♦ — : — TCESDAT, MaECH 2. ' Present:— The Mayor, Councillors Kerr, Middleton, Hall, Dudley, Oranri, Birch, and Newnham. The minutes of last meeting, and copies of outward correspondence, were read and approved. Thu following letters were read : — VFrom the Commissioner of Customs, informing the Council that the Government will make enquiry into the question of constituting Kaiapoi a port of entry, but stating that it w»is not like'y that the request would be acceded to, as the number of ports in the colony already exceeded tho.?e in any otlurr country. From Mr J. L Wilson, enlosing a list of exports and imports at the port, of Kaiapoi during last year. From the Secretary for Public Works, referring an application of Mr P. L. Neibeh to leas.? Bufiick'iit land for n rijjht-oi'-way across the F'jrry Heservi- in rear of th« •■ ourt House to the* Borough duncil for their oonsidera tion. Ueirerreu to the Public Works Committee. ' Councillor Newnham moved,aud Councillor Birch seconded, a vote of thanks to Mr J. L Wilson, for !:;.s valuable statistics. Curried. '1 he Public Wurlot Committee 'reporter! that v i.ew culvert, had been put in at Hani-m'.-tt's corner at. a cost of £10 17>, and thai the culvert on Fuller street had ween repaired. One on the North Road, by Fair-

weather's Boarding House, was in atadstafej and required repairß. ■ ~"X~> Councillor Birch objected to a job which, like that at Hammett's corner, came to £10 17s, being let without tenders being invited for the work. Councillor Kerr aaid the Public Works Committee were authorised at last meeting to do the work nt a cost, of £10. . s r The Mayor aaid the case was an exceptional one, the culvert beiug in a most dangerous state, and in a place where there is a great deal of traffic, and consequent risk of accident. If this had not been the case, tenders would have been called for in the usual way. The subject of repairing the culvert , by Fairweather's was referred back to the Public Works Committee, with power to act. The following amounts were -passed, and ordered to be paid : — Clerk's salary, £4 8s 44; A. Clark, ten days, aMOs 6d; £6 15s 6d; R. Wright, £12 59; X, Wright, on account of bridge, £147 15s 4d. An account due to W. D.Buddies estate wa9 passed only, there being a contra account for rates. .Clark, .who had been, taking /the tolls for the Borough, Council, had furnished a "report of his takings during the time he had been, in possession. He handed in an amount of £18 7s 9d, for twelve days, inclusive of two Sundays, when he attended only half thedajv>' •'■■-■ ■ ' Coitncillor Birch remarked that the takings were a fraction over 30s per day, deducting salary. In ronnd numbers that left a.riett return to the Council of £1 per day. It must bo remembered that in the time there had been some bad weather, last Saturday being one of worst day sin the yean On Sundaylast, 15 threepences were taken ; on the previous Sunday,"" 24 ; and on Monday (March \), 207 threepences. Mr Clark, in makinghis return, had calculated the number of threepences taken each day. The return was valuable, ns being the first official return of traffic they had been able to procure. Councillor Birch and the Clerk offering to inspect the timber delivered by Mr Wright for the bridge, their offer was accepted. i The Mayor reported that as the burgesses had failed to elect assessors and auditors, he had, in accordance with the Act, appointed Messrs E. Revell and P. L Neilsen, assessors; and Messrs W. P. Wilson and G. F. Hewlinge auditors. Tenders were then opened for leasiug the' bridge tolls, as follows : — .■ . • • ■ .■ £ W. A. Crook (accepted) ... 520 F.,Pearce ... 50D K. Wright ... ... ... 480 Councillor Gram received permission to withdraw a motion standing in his name. ■ Councillor Hall moved " That the Clerk write to the Postmaster-General, requesting him to provide postal,- Communication twice daily between Kaiapoi, Rangiora, Leithfield, and Ghriatchurch, the Morough Oouucil. being assured that it can be obtained at a very small cost annually." Councillor Sewnham, in seconding the motion, said that if such a thing could be arranged, it would be 1 a great advantage to the residents both in Kaiappi, Hangiora, and lieithfield. He was informed on good authority that' the cost' would' be about £60.' Councillor Birch: Although it was perhaps an unpopular thing he was about to do, he should ask them to adjourn the motion for a month. He considered it very- impolitic to send such an application to the Government, unsupported by anything in the shape of statistics. In these times, when all governments, whether provincial or general, are doing all they can in the direction of economy, it was all the more necessary to shew that anything of this kind, while a convenience to the public, would pay at the same time. It would, in a very great measure, obviate the difficulty 'experienced by masters of vessels through Kaiapoi not being a port of entry. The Collector of Customs had made arrangements for the declarations to be made before the Customhouse officers in Kaiapoi, and transmitted by post to Christchurch. They could then be posted in the morning, and be back at night. He would not expect two deliveries in the day. but the night mail might be sorted into letter boxes, which many might be glad to rent for their own convenience. He thought that for that reason it would be well to go into statistics, and that they might then shew the Government an increase of revenue as well as increised accommodation to the public. With this object he trdved, as an amendment, that the subject be considered that day four weeks. Councillor « >ram seconded the amendment, which was carried. " Councillors Newnhum and Hall were appointed as the Public Works Committee for the ensuing month. The Council then adjourned. After payment of accounts passed, the Council hive it credit balance at the Bank of £51 (is 7d.