COUNTY COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 960, 24 August 1871, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tuesday, August 22,

THE CAPITATION ALLOWANCE

Mr Hoos moved — "That in the opinion of this Council the Capitation Allowance to the County, in lieu of the amount contributed to the consolidated revenue by the same is disproportionate, and that a readjustment should be made, based on the following facts : — lst. That Westland's yearly Capitation Allowance is wholly insufficient to defray the departmental expenses under the control of the General Government and the charges for interest on the apportionment of tho Canterbury I Provincial Loan allotted to Westland. 2nd. That it is inequitable to defray, out of the Capitation Allowance, the expenses of 'the departmental'staffs under the control of the General Government, through which the consolidated revenue is derived. 3rd. That the expense of the above departments, tinder the control of the General Government, should be charged against the consolidated revenue, and not as at present against the Capitation Allowance of the bounty. 4th. That in accordance with ' The Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870,' the County will shortly be charged with interest, &c., on sums of money expended in SVestland on immigration, and for the construction of roads and water-races, the Council desires to bring under the notice of the General Government, that unless such modifications as pointed out above are carried into effect, the County of Westland will not be able to carry out the imposed engagements on thesamo." Hesaid that his object chiefly, was to keep the matter continuously before i the Assembly until some measure of justice had been awarded to the County. The Capitation Allowance was in fact barely sufficient to defray what are termed the Provincial charges. He had ha lan opportunity that day of inspecting the pay sheet for the month of May, and he found that L 27 was all that was left to the County 'tfter paying expenses and sinking fund interest. It appeared plain that the General Government should pay the expenses of officers through whom they received the revenue. He would prefer that tho Capitation Allowance should be reduced, and the General Government pay their own officers. It would not then appear that we were getting L 2 5s per head, when in fact we are not actually receiving 2s 6d per head. The motion was seconded by Mr Baßpp, and passed Avithont dissent. Mr-floos moved — "That copies of the resolution be forwarded to both Houses of Legislature, and the Colonial Secretary." The motion was seconded by Mr Barff, and passed without dissent. TENDERS. On the motion of the Chairman, the Council resolved itself into Committee to consider tenders for the construction of the Kokotahi road, and a track from Maori Gully to Italian's. For the former no tender was apcepted. There was one tender from Messrs Smith arid Burrows for the construction, of, the track from Maori Gully to Italian's, for L7OO, which was accepted . Progress was reported aud the; Council resumed. THE WEST COAST ■' GOLDFIFLDS. Mr Hops moved — r> " That ,in the opinion of this Council it is highly desirable that the Middle Tsland West Coast Gold Fields be placed under one administration and one code of gold fields laws, and that to give effect to the above, it is necessary •that the Nelson South- West Gold Fields be annexed to the County of Westland." He said that some time since the Nelson Government had sent down a commission to ascertain what the portion of the County north of the Teremakau was worth to that Province. The Commissioners came down to Hokitika and examined our books, but the information they obtained was not apparently very satisfactory. Still, as there were some people, and one person in particular, not far from the Grey River, who were continually agitating for annexation, he (Mr Hoos) desired to put on record that it was considered by the Council that the County should be rather extended than diminished. He believed that if the matter were brought before the Assembly, the expediency of placing the whole of the West Coast Gold Fields under one Government, would, be so evident that that annexation would never be spoken of again. — Mr Button seconded the motion with much pleasure, heartily concurring in what had fallen from the mover. He was so fully impressed with the necessity of placing the whole administration of the West Coast Gold Fields under one head, that he believed even Nelson would admit it was only a wise matter to place the gold fields within the County of Westland. — Mr~GrjiNNESs, in supporting the motion, said he had means of knowing that the. people on the northern side of the Grey River; were anxious to be joined to the County. After some further discussion, the motion was put and carried unanimously. Mr Hods moved — "That copies of the resolution be forwarded to the members of both Houßes . of Legislature}] and the iColonial Secretary." The, motion was seconded by Mr GtJiNNESs,!.and passed without dissent, ; ■ . . -. C.OAN FOR BUILDING HOSPITAL AND LUNATIC ASYIUM. . ' Mr Button moved— " That the resoliu tion_ of this Council, empowering the "Chairman, 1 Mr Bonar, and Mr Hoos to negotiate a loan of L3OOO for the building of a Hospital and Lunatic Asylum, be not acted upon until after the next session of this Council."-— Mr. Guinness seconded the motion.— Mr Hobs regretted that the motion was brought forward in bo thin a

House. He moved— "That the debate be adjourned until to-morrow evening." — Mr Button had no desire to press the motion to a division that evening, and would therefore second the adjournment of the debate. The motion for adjourning the debato passed without dissent. THE PUBLIC-HOUSE ACT. On the motion of the Chairman, the 1 Council resolved itself into committee for the further consideration of the report of* the Public-house Act Committee.— After some considerable discussion, • Mr. Hoos BuggeEted that a resolution should be passed affirming the necessity of passing an Act, without entering into details as to the- provisions it should contain. He moved — "That this Council is of opinion that a Public-house Act should be passed during the present session applicable to boroughs in the County of Westland only." —The motion was seconded by Mr Barff, but was lost on, a division Some further discussion ensued, and an understanding was come to that nothing should be done in the matter. On the motion of the Chairman, progress was reported with leave to sit again, and the Council adjourned.