COUNTY COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 950, 12 August 1871, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thursday, August 10. Mr Hoos asked—" What steps have been taken with regard to carrying out a resolution passed on the 17th February, having reference to special settlements under Part 11. of the Westknd Waste -^ Lands Act?" r The Chairman regretted to say that nothing had been done. No applications sor Jand had been made, and he-hadi«^, therefore not felt justified in: incurring tbe 'expense of a survey of those settlements. ! THE ESTIMATES. ■■_ On the motion of the Chairman, the Council resolved into Committee for the re-consideration of the Estimates. — Mr HboJ3 brought under the attention of the Council, the expediency of appointing a:j r | second clerk for the County Chairman's «. I office. Hewaß convinced that one clerk alone could not do the duty unless he ._ r , \ were to work night and day, arid in this ' -■ -•* i view! he was borne out by the fact that it was found necessary to place L6O on the Estimates for clerical assistance to the County Chairman's office, and L6O also ..-.•<- for the same assistance to the County ■..:-.' Council. If the two amounts were - amalgamated, the Ll2O would be .sufficient to pay for a Becond clerk.- -^ The Chairman said he could not agree ; with the suggestion. A second clerk was ' not required as a permanency, but it hap-i pened that in consequence of the illness of Mr Tennant, clerical assistance had been required, and that necessitated a ..». .provision on the Estimates for the pay- :r ment of the services rendered.— Mr Hoos ™~ considered that the Chairman's reply only strengthened hia (Mr Hoos') argument. The service of the County should not be rendered liable to such a hitch as had occurred.— The Chairman had no objection to put the two amounts of L6O each together and pass it in ode amount; It $ seemed that the County was getting very t rich, and the money must be spent some- ■ • • how. His reason for separating the two amounts was that in the one instance the item was exceptional, and in the other it \ •■ was incidental to each session of the ' Council. He might also say that if the rule were to apply all round, it would be also necessary to appoint a second County Chairman, in case the' present' occupant ; of the chair should become incapacitated by illness from continuing in the dis- •'.' charge of his duties. — After some few remarks from other members on the subject, the items in the Estimates were taken into consideration. On the motion of Mr Hoos, the item' "Chief Clerk" was altered to read" " Comity Secretary and Chief Clerk,". . t Mr Robinson considered that the first item should be first dealt with, and moved that the item "County Chairman" be altered from L 250 to L3oo.— Mr Hoos said he should have been glad to have made the motion himself, but he thought ' by the County Chairman's reducing the amount himself last session, that his esti-f < ■*■ mate of the ralue of his services was not higher.— The Chairman said he had been induced to make the reduction last session because retrenchment having become necessary, he thought it should commence at the head, but if the question were as to the estimate he held his services in he should not consider LSOO too muchin- ....... ...i. — «-t r>* o mi. . y ... i : ... T. , Ing— pn<s~ a division was called for by Mr Scanlan, whereupon the Chairman vacated his seat, and Mr Hoos was appointed thereto. A point of order was then raised as to whether one member alone could call for a division, and it was ruled that no less than two could do so. On the question being again put it was carried on the : voices. On the motion of Mr Button, Mr Hoos vacated the chair, and the Chair-^ . man resumed his seat.— On the motion of Mr Hoos, an item was inserted " Second Clerk, L 125." The department was then passed as follows :— County Chairman, L 30 0; County Secretary and Chief Clerk, * L 17 5; Assistant Clerk, L 125. The item "County Treasurer" was altered from L200t0L225. It was explained by the Chairman arid by Mr Hoos that the engagement with the. Treasurer had been made at LSOO per annum, and that he had been assured in a tenure of office for a term of two years at that rate, but that in consequence of the General Government having withdrawn the office of Receiver of Revenue from the County Treasurer, the County had been in ; honor bound to make up the deficiency Last session, however, the reduction had been made in consequence of the circumstances of the County. Mr Hoos moved— "That payment to members be made to those representing the country district* and Greymouth LSO per session, and L 25 for the members re- - presenting Hokitika, travelling expenses allowed extra." — An animated discussion . took place on the motion, Mr Bonar opposing it on the ground that the County Council was not more than a Municipal body, and that the members of the Borough Council might, in the same way,^ claim payment for their services.— Mr Button was also opposed to the motion, but if it v were to be carried, he thought all the members should share alike with the exception of the travelling expenses, which should be allowed to members residing in the country* — A division was ultimately taken, when Messrs Bonar, Button, and Robinson voted against the motion, and the other members in its favor, with ; the understanding that each member is to receive LSO for the session, travelling expenses not included. On the motion of Mr Button, L 25 was put down on the Estimates for increase of salary to the Warden's Clerk at Ross. . On the motion of the Chairman, L6O - was set down on the Estimates for preparing Crown grants. On the item for Weights and Measures being read, the Chairman stated that he § had received a communication that day from the Colonial Secretary, stating that i the present Inspector would be permitted to continue in his present office. The salary for the officer, Ll5O, was passed, as also LSO for contingent expenses. l The following items were also passed : —Lunatic Asylum— lnspector of Luna-, tics, L 25 ; County Surgeon, L 10 0; maintenance female ward, L 300; chief atten- v dant, L 137 10s; two assistants, L 184; one assistant (extra, for a shoit period), ■ i L3o los ; rations, male ward, L 20 0; bedding and clothing, LSO; medical comforts, &c, LSO. Hospitals — Maintenance, female ward, L 450; Surgeon-Superinten-dent; L 25 0; subsidy, Hokitika Hospital. L10Q0; do Greymouth, L 400; do Ross, L2SQ ; assistance to destitutes,: L 150; contribution to Greymouth Hospital for building ward for female patients, UOO.

Roads and Works-r^^tepairs to Christchurch road, LIOOO. MiscellaneousSubsidies to ferries, L 300; essay on County of Westland, LSO. • ; Progress was reported, and the Council adjourned.