GREY COUNTY COUNCIL.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 28 November 1901, Page 4

GREY COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual meeting of the Grey County Council was' commenced at the Council Chambers last night. Present Messrs Eyall (chairman), Marshall, McKechnie, Lark'n Hm-mn M’Cv'hy, Fynr, Harris’ a. id Hargreaves. T fJ. nvu.« lender* were received for the undermentioned works : REX’.-.llls AND MAINTENANCE OF BLACKBALL HOAD. Wm. Campbell and Co. ... £242 10 J. Muir and Co. 210 0 J. Rybutt ... 219 4 Or Hargraves moved and Larkin seconded that Muir’s tender be accepted. Carried. CULVERT NEAR K4XATA.

Cr Hargreaves moved and M'Kechnio seconded, that O'Donnell’s tender be accepted. Can led. The tender of Brown was below the engineer’s estimate. CULVERT NEAR CALLAGHAN.

Or Hargreaves moved and Fynn seconded, that Buress’ tender be accepted. Carried. Newcome’s tender was below the Engineer’s estimate. CULVERT NEAR GILMER,

Cr. Harris moved and Mr M'Carthy seconded that the tender of P. Casey be arc pted. Carried. Newcome’s tender was below the engineer’s estimate. •Mr Hannan asked for leave to rt scind iho previous motion that no tenders be ac copied which are under the Engineer’s estimate. The Council would save a good deal this way; even in the last tender dealt with they could have saved £3O if that motion had been rescinded. If the motion was opposed he would give notice of motion.

Mr M’Kechnie said the mat'er was one cf great importance and should .be seriously considered before coming to a final decision. Before the resolution was on the books, contractors received tenders at sometimes just half the engineer’s estimate. As a consequence when the work was done they came to the Council and a>ked for compensation,

Mr Harris said ho was accused of having brought the motion under consideration into force. All ho could say was that at the time when be was Chf irinan the Hon Mr Cadman asked him to bring in the rule so that the contractors cou'd make a profit out of the concern instead of coming, when the work was completed, to the Council and asking for compensation.

Mr Hannan’s motion for leave to rescind was here carried. He then moved that the resolution standing on the minute books be rescinded. Cr Larkin seconded. Mr Marshall would support the motion ; it would be a great saving to the Counci'. Had not the resolution been on the book-; they could have saved £3O that evening. He thought tMt matters were not done in a businesslike manner.

Mr Hannan’s motion was then Mr M'Kechnie said tt at often times contractors had written to the Council asking for compensation. He moved that in future no compensation be given to contractors for works. Cr. Larkin seconded. Carried. From Under-Secretary of Mines forwarding £SO for Seven and Nine-Mi’e Bluffs; £75 subsidy for Maori Gully bridge, and £25 progress payment foi same work.

The Goldfields revenue was £507 3s 1.

From Under-Secretary of Mines relative to the river cutting away road and en d ngering approach to Grey Eiver bridge, and advising to the Council to construct crates. Received.

From same stating that £ll4 had been authorised to be expended on the Orwell Creek road.

The Public Health Department forwarded phamplets on scarlet and enteric f ivor, asking Council to distribute same. The Department of Agriculture wrote asking the Council to cancel the appointment of Slaughter-house Inspectors, as that matter was now under the direct control of the Department. J. Skeates wrote asking the Council to cu’j some blackberry bushes in a creek on Brighton street Cobden, which causes the creek to overflow onto his land. The Chairman moved that the matter be referred to the Engineer for report. Mr McKechnie thought that it it was done for one person it would have to be done all over the County. From A, E. Burrell asking the Council to construct a road to his cottage at Cobden. Referred to the Engineer. J. O’Brien wrote asking to be heard at the Council table relative to an accident Resolved that Mr O’Brien be heard.

Mr O’Brien stated that as he was driving down the main Grey Yally road a culvert broke causing his buggy to be injured and was very seriously hurt. He hoped the Council would give him compensation. Mr Harris moved and Fynn seconded that the matter bo dealt with in committee, Mr Marshal moved that the resolution standing in the hooks in regard to this matter be recinded. Messrs Hannan and Hargreaves opposed. Mr M’Keohnie thought that that resolution ended the matter for f<3r goed. Mr Foster wrote asking for a refund of vehicles tax pAdup by him. Received. The Chairman’s action in ordering an appeal from the Magistrate’s decision in the case of Kane v Rugg, was endorsed. From H. Barrows asking Council to make road into Pott’s Creek. Cr Larkin inovtd that the Engineer be instructed to do-1 he work at the cost of £5. Carried. From 0. Sampson stating that he had met with an accident while working on the County roads, and asking if he was covered by insurance. The Clerk stated that the policy was notin force whan the accident happened. Mr Hannon moved that Sampson be t ff rod £5 in satisfaction of all claims against the Council. Carried.

R. Paul ot Ahaura wrote stating that settle Chinamen were sluicing away the road near his ground. Asking that they he immediately stopped. Referred to the Engineer.

From the Blackball Improvement Committee asking, (1) that the Blackball Creek ford be attended to; (2) asking that the punt be shifted to its position as the bvc-wash was in reality the main stream vow; (3) asking the Council to repair R unner- Blackball track, especially near Ford’s Creek.

Mr Hargreaves moved that the Committee be informed that better arrangemi nts will be made at the expiry of the present contract, wbipb will be »n Febuary. Carried,

Mr Hargreaves moved that ihe Committee be informed that the taking over of tbe streets will be attended to at once. Carried.

The Brunner-Blackball track repairs were referred to the Engineer for report.

Mr Hannan moved and Mr Harris seconded that the quota. oa.l b. put in thorough repair as traffic ..t the holiday time would be very heavy'. Carried. The Council then adjourned till 10 30 o'clock this morning.

£ s D C. Brown ... ... 31 5 0 F. Casey ... 55 11 11 P. O'Donnell ... 39 10 0 T. Saunders... ... 41 2 0 M. Shannon... ... 44 0 0

£ 3 D H.Newcomeaad Wratt... . 31 10 0 J. Bures? , 40 0 0

U. Newcome and Wiatt ... £49 15 T<. Gilmour ... 80 1 P. Casey ... 77 9 Lampton and Curry ... 78 0