COUNTY COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1086, 20 January 1872, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thursday, January 18. [abridged from the west coast times.%_^ Mr Fox presented a petition from Alexauder Montgomery, ferryman at the Rocky Island, stating that the wires erected "to: - work his ferry had been cut down by order of the Nelson Government," and praying that the Council will make in--, quiry into the matter and afford Mm buclT* relief as might seem meet. The petition was read and received. The consideration of the probable expenditure for the ensuing six months was postponed until the- next meeting of the Council. ■ Mr Barff moved the resumption of the debate, and after a brief discussion the motion that a sum be placed on the Estimates for the purchase of the bridge . was passed without dissent. ■ '■' > ■ ' '<' REVENUE FROM SALE OF GOLDFIELDS TOWNSHIP. '-■■■'"' Mr Barff moved — " That 60 per cent. ; • of all revenue derived from the sale of sections in gold-fields townships, in the County, be paid over to the Road Boards of the districts in which such townships; are situate, and this resolution shall apply to any sale of town sections which hafcf 1 taken place in Stafford or Goldsbofough." He said that he saw no reason Why thfc Corporations of Hokitika and Greymoutli should each receive the half of the. sale of sections in the towns, and the country districts should not be cared for in the. same way. The townships of -Stafford and Goldsborough had even more need of ' means for purposes of urgent"necessity 7' and it was unfair to ; deprive them of a revenue to which they were justly entitled. . Mr Scanlan seconded, the motion pro forma. He could not, however, give his support to it. Mr DuNGAN felt that he could not vote" for the motion of the member for- Arahura; The Road Boards for which that member was seeking a revenue had not managed' their affairs satisfactorily, and it would not be wise to place moneys in their possession, which it was likely would not be used advantageously tp the district. / . , , , Mr Button supported the motion. The Chairman could not help expressing his surprise at the motion of the member for Arahura, and also at the remarks of the member for Totara. He. should like to be informed where the money was to come from? Comparisons were made between County townships and Hokitika and Greymouth, but there really was no relevance between them. The expense of surreyingthe townships of Stafford and Goldsborough. actually exceeded the amount realised by the sale of sections, and yet it was demanded that half the, proceeds should be paid to the Road Board in that district. No better instance .of the incapacity , of that Boprd could be adduced than the manuer in'which they had squandered moneys at their disposal in making a road which was of little or no use, and which had better never have been constructed. After some further discussion, the motion was put, and the Council divided with the following result :-~Ayes, Messrs Barff, and Button. Noes, Messrs Bonar, Robinson, Fox, Dungan, • Scanlan, and Lahman. The motion was accordinglynegatived. ' :: TRACK BETWEEN MAOBI GREEK AND GERMAN ' GULLY.. Mr Dungan, by leave, amended his motion to read as follows : — "That ih'the opinion of this Council, it is -highly desirable that a sum of money be placed upon the Estimates for the construction of a pack track between Maori Creek and German Gully to avoid the present dangerous track by the New ißiver, anil that on completion of the said track payment be made half in land and half in cash." He said that the district was a large one, a great many miners being located there. The great want felt was a track, as the New River was very dangerous to cross in time of freshes. The late engineer, Mr O'Connor, had surveyed the track, and in his report to the Council had stated that the work was much required. Mr Fox seconded the motion. ; Mr Bonar suggested that the motion be withdrawn, and the matter be referred to Select Committee for inquiry. Mr Dungan accepted the suggestion, and the motion was, by leave, withdrawn. FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE COUNTY. Mr. Robinson moved — "That a committee be appointed, consisting of Messrs Bonar, Hoos, Barff, and the mover, to consider the financial position of the * County of Westland towards the General Government, to report on Feb.rqary 4." He said that as his motion was merely for tho appointment of a committee, it was not necessary to say much. The position of the County had been rendered bad enough by the measure passed by , tho Assembly in 1870, but that of last session was still more oppressive, and it was the duty of the Council to bring the matter before the Assembly. Mr Barff seconded the motion. The Chairman said that he was afraid the appointment of the committee would not effect any good, though, of course, it could do no harm. Mr Robinson had no doubt that the Chairman's efforts had been directed tq the utmost for the benefit of tb.e County, but still his failure should not preclude the Council from expressing an opinion, even again and again. The motion was then put an.d "passed without dissent .^ ; ROAD FROM KAIfIERI TO ROSS,. Mr Robinson moved — "That it is, in the opinion of this Council, advisable for economical reasons to proceed with the construction qf the Ross road from the Kanieri township, as the r^te^ of ; wages ruling in the Kauieri district is consider ably lower than in Ross." ' Mr Scanlan seconded the motion. Mr Barff, in supporting the motion, pointed out that there was such a scarcity of laborers in the Ross district that advertisements were being inserted in the local papers for men to work in the mining claims. ! The Chairman said he would support the motion, not because of the, cheaper cost of labor, because the district Engineer would see to tljat, but because it would probably result in pushing the work on. Mr Button would vote for the motion on the same grounds. ■■ The motion— "That: a copy of the resolution be fprwarded to the Colonial Secretary," was also passed without dissent. " '- L --"-i.