CONFERENCE OF COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 935, 23 June 1877, Page 2

CONFERENCE OF COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES.

A meeting of representatives of the several County Councils in the Provincial district of Canterbury was hold this day in the G-overn-ment Buildings, Christchurch. The Counties of Waimate and Akaroa were unrepresented. There were present the following members of Councils :—Mr Postlethwaite and Mr Cooper, Geraldine ; Mr Higgins, Ashley ; Mr Walker and Mr Wason, Ashburton; the Hon. Mr Hall and Mr Rolleston, Selwyn. The following resolutions were passed : 1. That it is desirable that the district between the Rangitata and the Hurnnui be one county, and also the district between the Rangitata and the Waitaki. Provided always that a certain fixed per centage of the land fund be returned to the Road district in winch it is raised, and that proper precautions be taken to enable districts of certain area to separate. 2. That with a view to secure harmonious action between the Road Boards and the County Councils it is desirable that the County Councils be elected by the Road Boards. 3. That sheuld the permissive character of portions of the Act be maintained, power should be given to the County Councils to meet from time to time for a move frequent distribution of

funds than is now provided for, so as to meet requirements as they arise, and for attaching’ conditions to these appropriations ensuring their application to specific purposes where necessary, instead of, as is now the case, only determining the proportion in which the funds should be paid by Government to the Road Boards. And further, that the moneys so dealt with by the counties should bo paid over in each case to the County account, and be distributed by the County Council to the Road Boards within the County. 4. That the respective functions of the Counties and Road Boards, where the latter exist, should be distinctly defined, _ the work of the Counties, where the Act is put in full force, bein'’ - restricted to arterial roads and drains and to main bridges and ferries, to be proclaimed County works by the Governor on the recommendation of the County Councils. 5. That the valuation rolls of all Road Districts in a County should be revised by the same judge of assessment. _ 6. That the valuation roll of a County be made up from the valuation rolls of the several Road Boards contained therein, and that the word valuer be erased from section 99 of the Counties Act. _ 7. That with a view to economy of collecting such rates as may be struck by the County they should be collected through the Road Boards. 8. That gravel reserves and recreation reserves should be handed over to the Road Boards, and that pounds and slaughter houses should similarly be entrusted to the Road Boards, subject, in the case of gravel reserves, to their being available for County purposes. 9. With regard to hospitals and charitable aid, that portions of the colony should be defined, comprising Counties or groups of Counties, with the contiguous or included Municipalities, which are likely to avail themselves of the same charitable institution. 10. That within such portions of the colony the charitable institutions should be administered and aid distributed by a Board, representing the several municipal bodies and County Councils included in it. 11. That such expenditure as is not met out of the consolidated fund should be contributed by Municipalities and Counties in proportion to population. A resolution was passed at the close or the meeting, requesting the chairman (Mr Rolleston) to write to the Government, calling their attention to the excessive rates of the tariff proposed to be levied after the Ist of July next, especially in respect of the transport of stock and the carriage of flour.