TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 798, 3 August 1877, Page 2

TUAPEKA COUNTY COUNCIL.

At a special meeting of the Tuapeka County Council, Mr H. Bastings was elected Chairman.by a majority of one vote over Mr Brown, the votes being 5 and 4 respectively. According to the Tuapeka Times, the meeting was a particularly noisy one. Mr Clayton and Mr Morrison were also proposed, hut declined the honor. In supposing the nomination of Mr Clayton, Mr Bastings is reported to have said—Ho had promised, if elected to the Council, to support Mr Brown’s nomination, but without going into explanations, he had since had good cause to change his mind, owing to the way that gentleman had acted towards him. (Mr Brown here quietly ejaculated, “ You will bring retaliation.”) He believed a Chairman should he dignified and above suspicion. (Here Mr Bastings made some scathing remarks, pointing out what a Chairman should be, the inference being that the member for Browns riding would come far short of possessing such qualifications.) If Mr Clayton would agree to stand, he would support him, and place at his disposal whatever knowledge he possessed. In thanking the Council for the honor they had conferred upon him, said that as far as the business of the County was concerned, he was prepared to devote a large amount of his time to the duties, and a good dealot the work that had been hitherto done by inspectors and engineers, he would himself do personally, after the manner in which ho had done the Provincial Government work while in office.—(Hear.) After passinganything but a compliment upon the maimer in which the Council had been expending the revenue of the County, Mr Bastings referred to the Conference of County Chairmen, recently held in Dunedin, and pointed out that it was a complete failure, the very subjects that should have been discussed having been overlooked. He contended that the main roads of the County at present unmade should be formed by the Government, and it would l>o his endeavor to gather around him in the Assembly others like minded with himself on this point, and if possible get the Government to grant money for the construction of the main roads. After some further remarks, Mr Bastings concluded by saying that while ho occupied the position of Chairman he would not expect any emolument for his services beyond what he might actually pay out nt pocket on visiting Tapanui, or any of the outlying portions of the County, while on County business. These remarks were received with applause, and the general public made signal marks of approval. The proceedings were then brought to a close.