COUNTS COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1239, 19 July 1872, Page 2

COUNTS COUNCIL.

Wednesday, July 17. [condensed 'from the west coast times. j L ■'■Mr Dungan asked-—" Has the Board of Education,' up to the present timei receiyed from the County ChM^i^^any^ portion of the grant of money ! fpfed lasfr^ session by the Council for ; Educational purposes ?" The Chairman said that oat j of the vote of L4OO, the sum of Ll5O had |; been paid over, besides L 26 for the expenses of the Board. !,1 . '„ Mr Ralfe asked— "What steps had been taken with respect to the fencing, of . cemeteries in the County ?" The Chair- , ( \ man said that the practice had Deen' for ' the inhabitants of , each distriotto raise an; fund for the purpose, which the Council supplemented on application. : n ':' 1 -[ A Mr Halve asked— "What, steps' have been taken to declare lands in the special settlements open for sale V* '."', T^e ' Chair?" man said that all that could be done had been done. The assent of the Governor, was needed, and the necessary papers had 1 1 been sent ; fe Wellington. ; , ( V. ? .. f..~ THE CHRISTdHtrRCHROAD. Chairman moved — "Thataconinnj^ee be appointed,, consisting of Messrs joonar, Button, Hoos, and the mover, to take into consideration how a more equitable arrangement could be made v WitlT~ regard to the maintenance of > the Christchurch road, to report within fourteen . days." He said that when the members of the Ministry were in Hokitika he had brought the matter under their notice as one oJHhe grievances the County suffered under. He had pointed out that it was unfair that Westland should have the lion's share of the cost of maintaining the rroad ; that the road might well be oon>

aidered a colonial work ; and that, at all events, it was but right that Canterbmy should pay an equal proportion of the cost of maintenance with the County, and that the Colonial Government should contribute a share. The Resident Minister for the Middle Island quite agreed with the views he (the Chairman) Had expressed, and had suggested the ,&>urse now proposed. It seemed to be the opinion of the Colonial Engineer that the road could he maintained at a much less cost than at present, that the whole cost in fact would be less than a third of the present charge. — After a short discussion the motion passed without dissent. SALARIES OF WARDENS. TheCHAiBMAJr moved — "That in the opinion of this Council one-half of the salaries of the Wardens, who are also Resident Magistrates, should be paid by the General Government, because the duties of that office occupy a large portion of the time of these gentlemen, while all the revenue derived from these Courts is paid to the account of the Colony, and that for the same reason the salaries of the clerks and the bailiffs attached to these courts should be paid in part by the General Government" He said that the Wardens and also their clerks and bailiffs, had their time much more occupied in the business of the Resident Magistrate's Courts than in the Warden's Courts, and the fines and fees received in the Magistrate's Courts, which were very considerable, all went to the General Government, while the County had to pay the salaries. Those fees and fines amounted altogether for one yearleaving out Hokitika— to 12042 9s 9d, Greymouth contributing L 1297 8s 6d. That revenue was obtained by the General Government by the services of officers paid entirely by the County, the cost being L 2506. It was but equitable that theGeneral Government should pay at least one-half, and he was sure that when the matter was represented .to them, the justice of the demand would be admitted and complied with. After some discussion, the Chairman consented to postpone the motion until Friday. TOLLS. Mr Bakff moved— '.'That fliere be laid on the table a return showing the scale of charges made according to special agreement, at per week, per month, or per quarter, at the various toll-gates in the County." The motion was seconded by Mr Hooa, and passed without dissent.

(For tmdinuatUm of hews see 4th Page.

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