COUNTY COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 632, 5 February 1870, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

(Abridged jErqui the ; W<%t£oa*t£iyne», ) Wednesday,- FEV&txKrS/ The ' Auditor's "repoirt'%Sß laid upon the table, and ordered to' be "printed. The report of the 5 Piiblie'Works^eom- { mittee ou the petition of Henry Hearn was brought rip, to the' effect that the^pe- ■■> titioner had no valid ■ claim Against the Council for compensation, and that his remedy, if- any, was against the Jockey Club. The report wajs read, received, and adopted., ; _ ...-..-_. ■■-•-./* The report' pf the' same on the subject of ;th'eferry at tlie Teremkkan was read-and Teceive^. - l^r^mmielßded that no protection shoukV be granted to | any one person, but. that two kpats and owners be licensed, »nd ' that" Me 1 ihenf working the boat should also be licenseSf . A discussion ensued, the 'Chairman informing the .Council that whatever was ita, decision he should exercise his poweis as " Governor's delegate v aad, : lease .the ferry or not at hi 3 discretion! " " MtCarbekas obtained leare to move^ the adoption of the report, whereupon Mr Harrison movedas aparoendmef»t— " That the Chairman be requested to call for separate tenders for ths righjrof working the Tereroakau from the north to the south side, and vice versa, and that it be a condition, p4 -each tender ,that the boat employed and the : nien k to "work it be licensed by the County Harbor Master, and that the master of the boat reside on that side of' the rivey£iprgi*h^olvhis.£er,vicea .; are. contracted for."" 'i* !_ " ' ' ' ) .A, djscutjsjon, ensued, during which . '.!' ; Mr Harbison expressed his' wiflingn.ess to withdraw ..the- amendment in favoWf the re-c»inmittal of the report. The- recommittal. was: iinoVed ; ; by Mr, Lahman, seconded, and carried. The same committee, on the question of the insurance, of ; th,e 6o\er»ment buildings, recommended ihat the Treasurer communicate with the various insurance companies, with' the view of obtaining a reduction in the premium now paid. ; Mr Robjnson, by l«jave> asked if the Clwruinn hail taken. »Ny steps to provide a Cattle Reserve in the neighborhood yj Hokitika, in.lieuof tliat occupied; by th;\ Jockey, and Cricket Clnb ? The Ch airman" referred' the. hon. ? nu^bber to the Waste Ignds Board. Mr White, i» mtfvrag; for a copy of the report of the Visiting Justices and other correspondence respecting an alleged, difference between the Chief Warder »nd tli.? Overseer Of Works, expressed the' opinion that the late Chief Warder (Mr Stoddarf) had been unfairly treated; aiid tkat his dismis.al, althcmgh ostensibly decided upon as a matter of economy, was really owing to personal disa'^reenjents. M r Harrisox seconded the resolution. The Chairman had no objection to lay the papers required up>h the table, as he* had. acted entirely on the advice of ths. Visiting Justices and the gaoler. A discussion ensued,, , and the motion, was carried. ' •■-•■-■-' The. motions by Messrs White and Carreras were referred to committees. Mr CARREBAs : nioved that "all repairs i>f roads He Jot by tender. He spoke strongly in fa vor. :< >t/ th<^ coil tract as opposed to., the day-labor system . After a discussion^ tjie motion was negatived^ qn' the graundltfat at present the roads were not in a stateto let th&worfc whh accnracy. .:!/.'; -,V An amendment ; was . moved by Mr Reeves, thai the Council adjourn, which, was carried;. .'./.;;'-,■: '■■;.;.-- :•;'•■ y.: "• ■. ••; Thursday, Feb. 4. The rejporVof tlte Printing Committee was brought up, read, ai^reeieiv.eth The members of .the committee' strongly 'condemned the manner in which the previous ■ contracts had been carried out.' : . ; The. following tend.ers^for the construction of Arahura Road were opened : — J. 4 Barrett, L 382 5; Kerr and Co., L 4444 : 1 T. W. Hnmjerford, L 3906.' ~ l^r Hakrison moved that the ocmsi deration of 'the tenders be postponed for six months. fi[e said that he had voted for the inpfion of Mr Reeves, ©allingffW tenders simply in order tpjahceictaiu-ihe cost. He was opposed most strongly to the system of deferred payments as beinc delusiyje and dangerou?, and should only "be listvailM bf in cases bt' ? extremetir|Jenoy. Mr Rk|;veSv mo yed as an amendment, to the effect" "tenders lie called for a road on a more modified scale. Mr Blrpf' would'have preferredUtkai ■■* the lowest tender-should be at once accepted. Mr Harrison again strongly opposed | -the principle of constructing th© road on deferred ipaymentSv Ilf that A*almra*K*>cl were thus made, it would simply forli a precedent for numerous othei-woiiks, and the Council would never get out of financialembirrassniftnt; • •■-" -v-m'-vI. ;T Mr Clarke supported the amendment. Mr, fygifjM K although he had seconded the* motion, tfonld 1 agree to : the-ebnstruc-tiou of the road if it would not cost more than L 2600Tlie CiAiR^AN Btrongly' support^ ~|he motion, and hoped the good sense* of -the Council wovtfd lead thenv to avoid farther difficulties. .:,. =*, :; ..:.<£, After a discussion, the amendment was carried. Mr HARRKQN.-ende.ivoied ;to wove a further amendment, to the effect thatsuch fresh tenders be not openeS utitil the. JQtb, February u,ext, b,ut va» jule." outof order.' .' : S| MryHARRisoN: moved, and Mr^White seconded, a resolution reducing the price of unsold town sections in Greymouth, Mr Lahman opposed the motion. A discussion and on a diviaio:, the motion was carried. On. the motion, of Mr Cakrkras, tht.

Council went into committee upon the articles of contract, which were passed and adopted by the Council. Mr Barpf moved that a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into and report upon the alleged existence of pleurq pneumonia in Westland. Mr Reeves seconded the motion. The Qhaikmak opposed the motion as being unnecessary. A desultory discussion ensued, and the motion was, 6y leave withdrawn. The Chairman moved a resolution fixing the scale of travelling expenses to be .allowed, to, the. ollicers in the Survey and Engineering departments which was carried. ' ' On the motion of the Chairman it wjis agreed that certain portions of land at present included within the limits of the Borough of Greymouth, and which are being worked by miners, should be withdrawn from the municipality. t The Chairman explained that this step was necessary in order to secure the interests of the miners interested. At the same time all receipts for the occupation of this ground would be handed to the Greymouth corporation. The Public Works Committee's report,; on. the application of certain water-race companies for remission of the charge for the services of the County Engineer, was brought tip. The report was to the effect that the applicants had no right to a remission of the charges made. The report was read, received, and adopted.