GREY COUNTY COUNCIL.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 13 February 1901, Page 4

GREY COUNTY COUNCIL.

A meeting of the above Council was held yesterday afternoon. Present : Messrs McKechnie (chair), M'Carthy, Harris, Fly ua, Hargreaves, Larkin, llyall and Hannan. After the outward and inward correspondence had been read, tire Coun,cil adjourned till after the Charitabl Aid Board meeting. On resuming Mr llyall moved that the Harbor Board be requested to put a light at the engine shed at Cobden. —Carried. From J. Ross, relative to the road to the Rod Jacks’ claim and stating that he had the contract for the carting of machinery. Cr. M’Carthy moved that the letter be received and that £lO be spent on the road. Ross offered to spend another £l.O. Cr. Hargreaves supported _ the motion and said it would help five different companies. He was in favor of a permanent rood, as it would be used for taking coal and sundries to the dredges.—Carried. Resolved that Cr. Hannan bo reappointed to the District High School Board. From Mr Scott, of Bell Hill, asking to have the track from Kotuku to Bell Hill put in repair. Cr M'Carthy said that it was the Company that destroyed the road by running a trolley. The speaker as the member for that riding objected to a penny being spent on it. The Government could do so if they liked. Letter received.

Cr Harris said that the Government ought to repair the roads out of Goldsfield Revenue. A lively discussion then ensued in reference to the power of the Council.

Cr Harris moved that the Government be requested to turn the track into a dray load. Seconded by Cr M'Carthy and carried.

From Mr Whellan complaining of the ferry service on the Grey River between Ngahere and Blackball. Crs Harris and M'Carthy spoke in the highest terms of the management of the ferry. Cr Hargreaves said the service was very bad. From Mr Church complaining of the statp of the Maori Gully road; stating that he had lost a valuable horse through it. Letter received and no action taken. Letter from G. Samuel was held over till next meeting, the member for that riding not being present.

FromP. Liddy, by his solicitors Messrs Guinness and lutchingham, claiming £6 for work done. The clerk had written refusing the amount. Letter received and no further action deemed necessary. From the secretary of the Mosquito Gold Dredging company, in regard to the road, also statin" that other companies would benefit by the construction, and asking the council to approach other companies on the question. From Mr Ponsonby in reference to the Maori Gully road, stating that the bridge was unable to carry heavy machinery. Resolved that the Engineer be instructed to visit and report on same before next meeting. Prom Mr Hannan on behalf of the Perret Gold mining Co.y, asking permission to put a water-race on the road reserve. Application granted subject to the race being constructed on the side of the road.

The Council resumed at 7 p m. The Overseer was instructed to report on a road to tho Leviathan Freehold Company’s claim at Paroa.

Circular from Treasurer forwarding in all authorities for tho expenditure of £1,377 7s. A large amount of routine business and correspondence was dealt with.

From Public Works Department intimating that tho main Grey Valley bridge and Nelson Creek footbridge were unsafe and asking that warning notices be posted. Cr. Larkin moved that Mr Thompson be asked why Nelson Creek footbridge had not been put in repair, tho Premier having given instructions to have work done at once.—Seconded by Cr. M’Carthy and carried.

From Agricultural Department, stating that all dairies in the County would he put under the control of the Department. From Health Department, asking the County to give all assistance in carrying out the Act of last session in regard to sanitary matters.

The question of payment of rates on Midland Railway up to date of taking over of lino. The clerk said that Government now declined to pay anything. The Council’s legal adviser said the Government would be compelled to pay.— Resolved that the Premier be again communicated with, and in the event of the amount not being forthcoming, legal action bo taken.

Cr. Ryall hoped that the Harbor Board would agree to erect lamp at Cobden during progress of the work. At present owmg to alterations made the road between Cobden and the bridge was dangerous. ■ Resolved that next meeting be held on March 15 th. Cr. Harris moved that a bond instead of £ls be accepted as a guarantee of noninterference with a road by reason of a tail-race being put through it.