Oroua County Council.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 33, 21 August 1883, Page 3

Oroua County Council.

The Council met in the Manchester Bond Board's oiiice on Monday lust, at 10 a.m. Present— Crs Macarthur (chairman), Bailey, Skerman, Eugeis, Walker, Sly and Linton. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The following correspondence was also read : — From Clerk of Mannwatu County Council, giving advice of having forwarded parcel of minutes, papers, and documents now the property of Oroua County. . . From Cr Skerman, containing number of sections and value as per roll, in township of Bunnythorpe. From Bentley Bros, Palnierston, applying for a hawker's license. From chairman of Otaki Road Board calling attention to a public meeting to be held at Otaki, for discussing the question of separation from the Man»•watu County, and staling that a petition would be presented to the Uorernor, praying that the riding be added to the Oroua County. From manager of Bank of Australasia, Feilding, re application for overdraft, stating the bank would be willing; to accede on being inforaiei as to the amount of rate to be struck to cover the overdraft. From Cr Macarthur, re adjustment ■committee's report, and calling attention to the fact that certain amounts had been improperly charged to the various wards of the Manawatu Road Board, also to Kiwitea, and, on the other hand, certain amounts improperly credited. Tk« Chairman presented aud read the report of the adjustment committee, which met at Foxton on Wednesday iast, and which report appeared in our last Thursday's iisue. The Chairman said the report had been added to since by a resolution to the effect that arrearj of rates be collected aud appropriated in the county in which they respectively ••ccurrtd. He then moved and Cr Bailey seconded. That the report as read be adopted. The Chairman said lie had engaged Mr 33eattie to audit the accounts, and could inform tho council that they were correct to a penny. After some conversation, in which no opposition was expressed, the motion for adoption of (he report was put to the .council, and unanimously carried. The Chairman then moved, and Cr Skerman seconded a resolution that all arrears of rates on property within the Orona County be taken over by the same this being a similar one to that passed at Foxton. The resolution was carried. The Chairman and Cr Bai'.ev were authorised to sign and seal the agreement between the two counties. Some conversation ensued with reference to Messrs Bentley Bros' application for a, hawker's license within the county. Cr Siy moved, and Cr Engels seconded, That the application be granted on the payment of the fee of two pounds sterling. - Carried. 'lhe Chairman moved, and Cr Skerman seconded, That the report of the committee for adjustment of accounts between the Manawatu and Siwitea Eoad Board be adopted. — Carried. The Matter of the application for adding Otaki to the county was discussed. The object sought by the application was to facilitate the abolition of the Counties Act. The general opinion of the council was that not the slightest advantage to the Oroua County was to be gained by the proposal. CrEngeU then moved and Cr Bailey seconded, That the Chairman be authorised to write to Mr Simcoz, stating that the council could not see its way to accede to the request of the Otaki Highway Board without prejudice to the action of the council with reference to the suspension of the Counties Act.— The council then went into committee •on the matter of the proposed overdraft, and the striking of a rate io meet liabilities. After a discussion Cr Skerman moved and Cr Sly seconded, that a rate of |d in the £ be struck at the next meeting of *he council on all rateable property withan the Groua County.— Carried. The Council resumed its ordinary sitting, when tke resolution was put before .the couneil for discussion, and after a short conversation was carried. Cr Engels moved, and Cr Mcßeth seconded, That a separate dr and cr account be kept for each riding within the eoaaty.— Carried. The matter of payment of wages to the maintenance men employed within the <county was then considered. Ct Sly moved, and Cr Engels seconded, That the accounts f»r wages and several others which wera named bo passed for payment. — Carried. Cr Douglas here took his seat at the council table. Cr Engels moved, and Cr Sly seconded, That Crs Linton and Bailey be authorised to sign cheques for accounts in addition to the Chairman. The Chairman was authorised to employ clerical assistance, and was duly appointed the treasurer to tha council, and, together witb|Cr|Bailey, was authorised to sign and seal debentures under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act. It was resolved, That Mr Beattie be paid five guineas for assisting in the adjustment of accounts. The tender of P. Cavannah, £202 10s, for construetioa of Fitzherbert road west was accepted, subject to the Goyernment accepting the county debentures. The tenders of Messrs Younger and Laing for the following contracts in Kimbolton road were also accepted on same condition :— No 1, £65; No 2, £149, No 3, £274 195. Cr Skerman proposed, and Cr Kngeli seconded, That the area to be rated in th» Taonui Biding for. the grant of £U4O

for the Stoney Creek road as agreed on by the committee appointed be hereby confirmed, and that the Chairman insert the requisite advertisement for taking the poll in the Manawatu Times and Standard. Cr Sly spoke of the great energy, tact, and perseverance which had been displayed by Cr Macarthur in the matters of the large amount of limfe he had given and was still giving to the interests of the ratepayers, and i^e would sucjjest that some remuneration for his services should be granted by the council. Several councillors spoke to the same effect. Cr Macarthur thanked the councillors for their complimentary remarks, but said he oaly wanted to be refunded his actual personal expenses, and should refuse to take any salary. The chairman was authorised to call lhe nest meeting of the council. Eesolved, That the councillor for FitzherUert be authorised to confer with the engineer with regard to the portion of the work on the Fitzherbert main road most desirable to be executed out of the present grant under the Eoads and Bridges Construction Act, nnd that the Chairman bo authorised to call for tenders for such work. The Chairman moved and Cr Mcßeth seconded, That the councillors for Waituna, Ashurst and Kiwitea have power to arrange with Mr Bray for earryiug j out the work under the Eoads and Bridges Construction Act, and supervising the maintenance.— Curried. Proposed by Cr Skerman, seconded by Cr Engels, That a committee of the members of the Fitzherbert and Taonui Eidings be appointed to carry out the work under the Eoads &, Bridges Construction Act in the ridings, and the maintenance of the roads with power to employ an engineer. — Carried. Eesolved, That the Chairman make application under the Eoads and Bridges Construction Act fora grant for repairing the Awahuri Bridge, and that Mr Bray jrepare plans and estimates for the same. Eet?olred, on the motion of Cr Sly, seconded !>y Cr Linton, That members of the council be paid their travelling ex« penses at (he rate of Is per mile for attending council meeting* and committee meetings of council, and in the case of Cr Kngels, his actual outlay. The council then adjourned.