COUNTY COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 944, 5 August 1871, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thursday, August 3. [west coast times.] The Chairman said that before going into the business on the order paper, he desired to draw the attention of the Council to a leading article which had appeared that morning in the West Coast Times, in reference to advertising public notifications. He desired to state that he had only carried out the wishes of the Council in the matter, and that with respect to the Waste Lands Board, he (the Chairman) had no control over the insertion of their advertisements. He -^^^idd^^also^Jhat^he had never received any censure fro m~t&e~ Genera MJo-" vernrnent in respect to the matter. He mentioned the subject in order to state that the statements were utterly untrue from beginning to end. Mr Hoos considered the course taken by the Chairman a very unusual one. Had his complaint been in respect to the incorrectness of a report in a newspaper, the Chairman would have been perfectly justified in bringing the matter before the notice of the Council, but to animadvert on a leading article was altogether unprecedented. Every writer had a right to make such comments as he pleased, and if his statements were incorrect, they would correct themselves. THE ESTIMATES. The Council resolved itself into Committee for the further consideration of the Estimates, when the following items were passed : — Engineering Branch. — County Engineer, L 175; clerical assistance, L 80; messenger, L 75. Contingencies. — Survey labor, L 450 ; travelling expenses, L4O j incidental, L4O. Harbor Department. — Harbor Master, Westland, L 150; Harbor Master, Greymouth, L 75; Harbor Master, Okarito, L 7 5; Signalman, Hokitika, L 96 ; Signalman, Greymouth, L4B; Boatman, Hokitika, L9O. Contingencies. — Hire of boatmen, L3O ; materials and repairs, LIOO. Education. — Grant to schools, LSOO. Public Buildings. — Court-house find police-quarters, Maori Gully, L 20 0; shed and chimneys at the Hokitika gaol, L6O ; maintenance and repairs, L 40 0; contingencies, L6O. .j Roads and Works. — Repairs and maintenance, L 100 0; maintenance, Overland Road, L 187 5; Upper Arahura road, L 235 ; construction of tracks, L 160 0; contingencies, L3OO. Miscellaneous. — Salary, lithographer, L 137 103 ; Cattle Inspector, L3O ; messenger, Government offices, LB2 10s; under messenger, L 26 ; housekeeper, Go-vernment-house, L 52; Fire Brigades, Hokitika, Greymouth, and Ross, each, L 25 ; Literary and Mechanics' Institutes -^Hokitika, LSO ; Greymouth, LSO ; Ross, L 25 ; Kanieri, L 25 ; Stafford, L 2 5; Callighan's, L 25. The next item, that for printing, adverr tisenienta, and stationery, evoked considerable discussion, some of the members requiring more definite information on the subject; and on the motion of Mr Robinson, progress was reported with leave to sit again. On the motion of Mr Bonar, the Council adjourned until Monday evening, at half-past seven ; the Estimates to take precedence on the order paper.