COUNTY COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1089, 24 January 1872, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

Monday, Jan. 22. [abeidgbd prom west coast times.]

FENCING-IN CEMETERIES.

Mr Dungan asked—" Has the County Chairman appropriated any sum of money for the fencing-in of cemeteries in Westland up to the present time, as provided for by a motion passed in this Council on the 24th of July last.

The Chairman said that he had only received one application on the subject, and that was from Stafford, where a sum of money had been raised for the purpose of fencing-in the cemetery, which amount he had promised to subsidise. He would, however, remark that when he was placed in the unpleasant position of having votes passed by the Council amounting to L 28,000, while only L 23,000 was provided for, it cuild not be expected that he could carry out all those votes. He had placed LIOO again on the Estimates for the purpose referred toby the member for Paroa, and when the County Engineer visited the Greenstone again, the cost of the work would be ascertained, and it would be carried put.

BRIPGJNG CREEKS.

The adjourned debate was resumed on Mr Scanlan's motion : — " That in the opinion of this Council foot . bridges should be immediately erected in the Okarito district over the following Saltwater Creeks : One over, a creek between Cook's River and , Hunt's Beach ; one over a creek at the north end of Gillespie's Beach ; one over a creek between Okarito Township and the Five-Mile Beach ; one over a creek south end of Saltwater Beach ; arid one over a creek north end of same beach.

After a brief discussion, the motion was passed wfthput dissent,

Montgomery's petition,

Mr Fox moved — "That a Committee, consisting of Messr3 Hoos, Button, Dungan, and the mover, be appointed to inquire into Montgomery's petition." ;. MrBoNAR seconded the motion. He thought it was quite disgraceful that such an occurrence should take place between two Governments in one colonj. Had the act of the Nelson Government been committed by private individuals, there would, in all probability, have been a breach of the peace. It was quite intolerable that a Government should interfere in such a lawless manner as to cut down the wires of a punt which an individual had erected by authority p,f the County Cov.ernin.ent, There surelywere other means of settling differences of the kind. It would have been a nice thing if the County had mustered all its police force and resisted the action of the Nelson Government. There would then have, been a Battie of the Grey to record. : Mr Button : And we should have walloped them, too ! >

The Chairman said that nothing lawless had been done. What the Nelson Government had done was on their own land. The County had gone to some expense to procure a settlement of the matter by arbitration, but it was found impossible to come to a conclusion.''! It was a question whether Montgomery had any claim for compensation upon the County, though no doubt he had a good claim "against thp Nelson Government, and he had' been advised by the County Solicitor to bring an action against that Government. However, when the road shall have been finished there would be no need of a ferry, and all cause of dispute would bo removed. The motion passed without dissent.

THE ESTIMATES,

The Chairman, asked permission to postpone the consideration of the' Estimates until Thursday evening. Two members were absent who wore desirous of hearing explanations of the Estimates, and he should not wish to make his financial statement in their absence.

Mr Sqanlan said that at the rate the business of the Council w"as being proceeded with the session would last, three months. He protested against business being continually postponed because members neglected their duty. Mr Dungan and Mr Fox both commented strongly upon the absence of the two members, and upon the delay which that absence occasioned,

The Chairman said that he intended to send those members notice, and whether they were present or absent the Estimates would be proceeded with on Thursday. The motion that leave be given to postpone the consideration of the Estimates was then agreed to.