COUNTY COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 809, 1 March 1871, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Chairman piesented a petition from Mr Ar>am Irving complaining that a proposed diversion of the New River would have the effect of seriously injuring his property in that neighborhood. Mr Robinson brought up, as the report of a Select Committee, the draft of a petition proposed to be forwarded to the General Assembly, complaining of the detrimental effect of the Payment to Provinces Act upon the interests of Westland. He also brought up the report of j the committee appointed to revise the < Mining Regulations. The Chairman said he had received from the Colonial Secretary a letter enclosing a report by Dr Knight on the matter of water supply for the Westknd Gold Fields, and requesting the Council to give an opinion on the subject. The report having been read, the Chairman said it would be noticed that the contents tallied very much with the report and resolution adopted by the Council. He left it to the Council to say whether they should again go into committee on the subject. He imagined that the resolution passed by the Council would form a suitable answer to this report and letter. — Mr Barff suggested that the Chairman should himself table a motion on the subject. Mr Guinness moved — "That the regulations published in the County of Westland Gazette, No. 7, March 24, 1869, relative to protection which may be given to tramway companies, be amended by striking out section 7." He explained that these regulations were passed on a report which was made to the Council in February, 1869. The concluding paragraph of that report stated that the Committee could not admit any compensation to tramway proprietors in the event of the interests of the public making it desirable to form a road contiguous. The regulations gazetted were, however, diametrically opposed to the resolution of that Committee. The Committee recommended that no compensation should be given, but in the face of that he found that the County Chairman, or the Council, had passed a resolution to the opposite effect. He therefore moved that the regulation referred to be struck out. The Chairman explained that the member for the Grey was so far wrong inasmuch as the regulation gazetted was not in contradiction to the resolution of the Council. The report of the Committee had been adopted, but without the particular recommendation referred to. Mr Guinness, notwithstanding, adhered to his resolution. The clause must act injuriously to the public interests. The question would likely soon arise, and he did not consider that it was just to the public to have the country monopolised by tramway companies, who, when public roads were wanted, could claim compensation. Mr Robinson seconded the motion. After a short discussion, the motion was put, and agreed to. Mr Guinness moved — " That the report of the New River Committee be adopted." The report recommended that L6O should be paid to Mr Maurice O'Conor for closing the river, to be payable twelve months hence, and in the event of that not being done, that a fore should be constructed in the river at ac expense of L2O. Mr Scanlan seconded the motion. Mr Robinson opposed tli« report, which he thought provided rathei for private than pubUc iuterests. Mr Reid opposed the resolution, as there was not sufficient evidence to justify them in carrying out the suggestions embodied. J^—GftAißMAN^onDosedthe motion, adding that Mr CPUonor had De¥n~tnTeatened with a lawsuit if he did stop the river, and that he now only sought tc place the responsibility on the Council. The Council had no right to undertake a responsibility that would benefit a private individual. Mr Guinness pressed his motion in a long-winded speech, which had m^re or less reference to the matter at issue. The motion was lost, Mi O'Connor withdrawing when the vote was taken. The following tenders for the maintenance of roads to the 31st July were accepted : — Arahura Road, Sheedy and Co., L 160; Chesterfield Track, James Preston, L 45 ; Greenstone Road, Patrick Dea, L 51 4; Maori Gully Road, Crawford and Johnston, L 283 10s ; Ross to Woolhouse's store, Benjamin Svkes. L2OO.