MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 76, 8 March 1883, Page 2

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the County Council was held at Foxton on Tuesday last. Prsesent — Crs Rockstrow, (in the chair,) Mcßeth, Linton, Gray, Hadfield, Bruce, and Fry. The minutes of the previous ordinary meeting, and of the special meeting were read and confirmed. Ihe folio wing correspondence was then read : — Telegram from Under-Secretarr for Public Works ; J. G. Wilson, M.H.E., re application Public Works ; notice from Property-Tax Commissioners, re section 269, Foxton ; letter from Government Printer, explanation re credit for Gazettes ; Mr A . Knox, re having his appointment sealed ; Treasury, vouchers and re- funds made ; Property -"ax Commissioner, re valuation list; seven Countr Councils having no bye-laws ; Wanganui Harbor Board, covering cheque, £243 13s 6d ; editor of Manawatu Times re advertisements ; a number of letters and accounts from Mr Haultain, clerk LicenCommittees; balance-sheet of Manawata Road Board ; balance-sheet of Foxton Eoad ßoard; Mr T. Gilbert, complaint against lessess Gorge ftrry ; i.> arvey and Falloon, lessees Gorge ferry. Proposed by Cr Bruce, seconded by Cr Fry, That it be intimated to Mr Gilbert, in reply to his letter, that his charge against the Gorge ferryman is not sufficiently substantial to call for any action on the part of the council, but that he is at liberty to bring the matter forward again in fuller detail should he think fit. Proposed by Cr Linton seconded by Cr Fry, That the account sent in by Mr H. L. Sherwill re charges in sending Joseph. Pickering to Wanganui Hospital be paid, amounting to 22s 9d, and be charged to the Charitable Aid Account. — Carried. Be advertising in Manawatu Times, Mr Russell wrote as follows :— I notice in several of the county papers two or three advertisments relating to, County Council affairs. As I understood all notices not of a local character was -to be sent to all county papers, I beg respectfully te apply for an order to insert same, thinking that by an oversight or accident the order has not been sent to his office. The Chairman said the clerk had sent a reply, That the Finance Committee had ordered all advertising in the Mana* w atu Times to be suspended until the ordinary meeting of the council on March 6, when the matter will come up for discussion. • ; . The Chairman said the reason why the advertising in the Manawatu Times was suspended was because Mr Russell had made a charge against the Finance Committee, to the effect that an account sent in by him had been held -over through the personal spite of the Chairman; and further, because Mr Kussell had threatened to send in his account month aftermonth, and if not paid would take legal proceedings. He (the Chairman) now asked that the matter stand over, inasmuch .as two members of the Finance Committee were absent, Crs MeLennan and Sanson.Proposed by the Chairman) seconded by Cr Gray, That an inquiry into the charges brought by Cr Gray against the proprietor of the Manawatu Times be held over until next meeting. — Carried. Re application from county to the Go* vernmont for borrowing money under Eoad and Bridges Construction Act, die Chairman read the following ; Eeply from Hon. Walter Johnston. — The clause that the county would find one-fourth of costs of tramway, had been misread to apply to whole application. An amended letter will be sent to the Chairman at once. — J. G. Wilson. The Chairman then read a.. telegram from MrC. T. Benzoni, Assistant Undersecretary, which was as follows: — County Council's grant for roads under sections 9, 10, and 11, will be £10,116,, and for tramway £8,587, under same sections as above. These grants are subject' -to Council's compliance with the Act. Letters will be sent" by to-day's mail. The understanding is that the work for Awahuri bridge is to be considered part of Awahuri road. Letter will explain. Cr Linton said he had been asked to apply for a remittance of the license fees of the Halcombe Hotel, and proposed a resolution, That the Halcombe Town Board be allowed a grant of £100, and that the license fee of the Halcombe Hotel be refunded to the board. Cr Fry seconded the motion. 'i he Chairman was sorry to object to the resolution, but the Council had not the power to make a grant, unlesfor works specified. He would suggest that the motion be withdrawn for the present, and Cr- Linton could take the hint and propose a resolution at the next meeting. Cr Linton then withdrew his motion. The report of the engineer for northern ridings (Mr Bray) stated that all the completed roads were in fair order, and that he applied for 3,000 feet of timber to repair culverts, etc. Cr Mcßeth proposed, That the Chelfcen - ham Cross-road, about two miles, be scheduled as a main road under the Koads and Bridges Construction Aot. The motion was agreed to. Some accounts were passed for payment, and the Council anjourned.