COUNTY COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1248, 30 July 1872, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

[condensed prom the west coast tlmes.j Friday, July 26. gold duty. The Chairman stated that he had received a communication requesting him to obtain the opinion of the Council on the question of a reduction of the gold duty. He therefore moved, by leave, without notice — " That the reduction of the gold duty, at the present time, would deprive the County of the means to carry out the Government effectively." Mr Dunoan said it was both desirable and expedient to reduce this obnoxious tax. Miners had protested against it for mauy years, and he hoped the Council would express a strong and unanimous opinion on the necessity of reducing it. ■ Mr Hoos suggested the withdrawal of the resolution. Mr Barff moved, as an amendment — " That this Council is.in favor of a reduction in the gold duty." Mr Button seconded the amendment. The Chairman merely wished to- elicit' from the Council an opinion as to the expediency of reducing the tax at the present time. There could be only one opinion as to the obnoxious nature of the impost, but still the business of the County Government could hot be carried on without it. After some discussion the amendment of Mr Barff was then put and carried on the voices, the motion being consequently negatived. THE BELL HILL KOAD. Mr Robinson resumed the adjourned debate on Mr Hoos's motion — "That 5000 acres of land should be set apart in lieu of payment for the construction of the Bell Hill road." Mr Barff moved— "That the con-; sideration of the question be postponed '< until the report of the Reefton Road Com-j mittee was presented." Mr Dunoan seconded the motion pro \ forma, and considered the original motion premature and hostile to the formation of a road more useful to the County and more urgently required, namely, the road from Marsden to Greymouth. The amendment of Mr Barff was then put, and was carried on a division. Messrs Barff, Fox, Dungan, Ralfe, and Lahman voting with the Ayes ; and Messrs Robinson, Button, Bonar, and Hoos with tho Noes. HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL PETITION. MrBoNAR moved— "That the report on the petition from the Municipal Corporation of Hokitika be adopted." He hoped that immediate consent would be given to the request of the Borough Council, and although it was not politic a3 a rule to endow municipalities, yet, taking into consideration the exceptional position of the Boroughs of Hokitika and Greymouth in having to maintain wharves on so large a space of river frontage, he hoped the Council would agree to the motion. The motion was seconded by Mr Hoos, and passed without dissent. THE COLONIAL LOANS. Mr Hoos moved — "That this Council desires to bring under the notice of the Colonial Government, that the County Council is of opinion that the full proportion of the Colonial Loans to be expended provincially for Public Works and Immigration should be allotted to Westland in accordance to its population, and that .this Council from time to time will set apart sufficient land to guarantee the liquidation of the monies expended out of loans for the construction of needful public works and immigration in Westland." He said that large loans were being raised, and would be expended by the General Government in other Provinces. The County should have its share of the money, as it would most assuredly have to bear its full share of the goats. He (Mr Hoos) would refer to a similar instance. It must be known to everyone that the Couuty was already saddled with L 207,000 for public works enjoyed by the Canterbury people in the matter of the Lyttelton Railway and its tunnel, and that the people here would be similarly saddled as regards Colonial works, unless they take timely steps to get what is due to them.

The motion was passed without dissent. COMPENSATION TO TBAMWAY COMPANIES.

The Chairman moved—" That the report of the Tramway Committee be adopted." He would move on an early day the Council into Committee to consider what amount should ba awarded.

Mr Button seconded the motion, which was carried on the. voices*