COUNTY COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1116, 24 February 1872, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thursday/ February 22. [abridged from the west coast times.] . compensation to tramways. The Chairman moved— "That' the Committee appointed, re Compensation to Tramways, be empowered to continue their inquiries during the recess, with a view to prepare, a report for the next session of, this Council." He said that the Select Committee which had had the matter under . consideration during 'the present session, had taken great pains to come to a conclusion, but they were unable to do so, and as the Council were about to be prorogued the re-appointmetit of the Committee became necessary. v Mr Hoos would like' the Chairman to postpone his motion until the. following day. It was evident that the Council could not be prorogued before the next day, and in the meanwhile the Committee would have an opportunity to see Mr Reeves, the Minister for Public Works for the Middle Island, on the subject. There wasnothing to be gained by holding the matter over untiljnext. session, but on the contrary, the longer the question dragged along, the heavier;; would be the compensation to which the tramways would be : entitled. The companies were now placed in a very unsatisfactory position, as they were utterly- debarred from dealing with their properties while their claims were in suspense. -It would be far better, therefore, to settle the matter at once. The Council certainly could not give compensation in money,|but it could do so in land, and the Tramway Companies were willing to take land. .'.'.■•,, Mr Robinson said .that the information furnished by the ; Tramway Committees was of .; the most :• meagre description. It was the want of information which' had caused the delay. Mr Fox opposed the postponement; The question appeared to him to be of vital importance, requiring great consideration. He could not see why the motion of the Chairman could not be carried," arid he would support it; The Chairman could foot agree to the suggestion of the member^ for Hokitika, and could see no object that could be obtained by postponing the motion. If the Committee desired to confer with Mr Reeves, they could do so as' well after the motion was passed, as .they could" if it were possponed. ; Mr Hoos moved, as an amendment to the Chairman's resolution— "That: the question be considered at 12 o'clock tomorrow." •.-•■• Mr Scanlan seconded the amendment. After some further discussion, the Council' divided' on the amendment-4-Ayes, 4 ; Noes, 3. .'.''- '■■■■ The following is the division list :— Ayes— Messrs Dungari, Scanlan, Barff, Hoos. Noes— Messrs Robinson, Lahman, Fox. ■= ■ The amendment was therefore carried. COMMITTEES DURING. THE RECESS. The Chairman moved— "That the Committees appointed re construction of railway from Greymouthto Hokitika and from Hokitika to Ross, and re petitioning the General Assembly to relieve the County of the payment of Interest and Sinking Fund on the Canterbury Loan, be empowered to act during the recess of Ihn County Council." : ; ; The motion was carried on the voices. PETITION OF THE BOROUGH OF HOKITIKA. - Mr Hoos moved-V That the report rV the Petition of the Borough of Hokitika be adopted.'' He contended that the Municipalities were still entitled to receive 50 per cent, of money received for the sale of land within the Borough, and that the amount should be free of all charges. Mr Dungan seconded the motion pro forma. ' ■ ' ' ' the Chairman said the question before the Council was very simple. The resb- ; lutiqn passed ,on the 18th of February,.---1859V provided that 50 per cent, should be distributed to the Municipalities, and 50 per cent, be dealt with as tho revenue of the County. What did that meant Was it not plain enough that half was to go to one body and half to auother ?'.' Yet it was contended that the County was to pay all the expenses out of .the 50 per cent, it was to deal with.as the revenue of the County. He. would mention that the expenses are those of the Land Board^ and not those of the Survey Office^ which, the County had to pay besides. If the Council wished to make a present to the Borough of Hokitika, they would have to do the same to that of Greymouth (Mr Hoos : " Hear, hear,'!) and the financial position of the County would not permit that. After some further ; discussion, the motion was negatived on the voices, RATES OF TOUS. : .' Mr Barff moved that the Couctqil go into Committee to consider the advisability of reducing the rates of tolls' on the various roads in the County." He did not consider that the Council was justified in perpetuating a system of exorbitant charges which so seriously interfered with traffic. Mr Robinson seconded the motion, which passed without dissent. " : In Committee, a resolution was passed, after considerable discussion, " That tolls be only charged one way, if the j return journey be on the same day." ' On the motion of> the Chairman, the j resolution passed in Committee was I adopted.; " - ,' THE GREY" VAIIEY TRAMWAY COMPANY. '{ : Mr Fox (for Mr Button) moved— i ".That the report of the Select Con: - i mittee to inquire into the claim' for com- \ pensatioh^of the Grey Tramway * Company, be adopted." The report, t

: which was signed by Mr Fox as chairman, was as follows : — " The Committee having carefully considered the grounds preferred -by the above company, find they have not complied with the preliminary conditions, as set down in the County Gazette, and therefore cannot jecommend compehsation.'! "-'■''": , -'' The Chairman seconded the resolution, which passed without dissent. lEITER OF THE PREMIER; «« .*vii« The Chairman ; moved— " That the Council go into Committee to consider the letter of the Hon. the Premier, with ' reference to 'endowiug! 'the Borough of Greymouth with ! the Grey -River Reserve." The motion passed' withbiit dissent. : In Committee, the following resolution was agreed to— -"■ That the Chairmati be empowered to Offer the Coal Reserve m the Grey district as. a. security f to the Generar Government '"."for an advance by the latter, to the Boroughs 'of Greymouth and Hokitika, for the reconstruction of the protective works at Greymouth and Hokitika." '■ " ■.;;■"..•- ■>■,;,'/>,,, On the motion of the Chairman, the resolution passed in Committee was adopted. , ' - ■ v : ;y>