Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1251, 2 August 1872, Page 2

[abridged from the 'west coasthjos.j Monday, Jolt 29. . Mr Robinson moved— "That this Council desires ; to record its^most emphatic protest against the excessive losses of revenue entailed upon the. County- by the financial measures of the GeneraljGovernment during the past two years/ and especially as regards the appropriation by the General Government of the sum: of L3OOO out of the gold fields revenue of the County as most unjust and oppressive, and as indicative of an extremely unsatisfactory and uncertain state of financial relations between the General Local Governments." The resolution, he said, spoke for itself, and the facts it referred to were too well known to need that he should say much. - With respect to the first part of the resolution, itwas perhaps not to be expected that the the fact that the County was especially made to suffer in the development of the policy of the Government, But the latter part of the resolution referred to a matter which the Council -was bound to notice in the . moat marked way that was possible. It was a most unsatisfactory estate of matters: that the General.Government should have the power to instruct their officer to impound the revenue of the County, and that their officer should be able to carry out that instruction. He did not think that any one of the Provinces, however insignificant in importance, would have been similarly treated, and it was evident that the County was regarded as a weak institution which' could be treated with impunity, just as the Governi^Bnt pleased. ■• ■ ■• > ■ *«• Mr Button seconded the motion., ;• Mr Hoos had no objection to bring under notice the injustice with which the County had been treated by the General Government, but it must be borne in mind that the County, was owing the money which had been impounded. The illtreatment consisted in the manner in which the payment" Was 5 enforcedp'in the suddenness of the demand, in the want of notice, and in the arbitrary appropriation of revenue to procure. payment. He woujd suggest the insertion in the resolution 4 of the words "without due notice," so that the sentence should read, "as regards the appropriation by the General Government without due notice, &c." The Chairman said that although he did not expect the resolution would do the County much good, still' he quite agreed that a protest should be made. "The General Government had treated the County most shamefully, and he meant to tell . them , so when he got to Wellington. ' " J |_ Mr Bonar considered that although the feeling of the Council on the subjec^ might be understood to be unanimous, v each member was. bound to, testify, by. individual expression, his disapproval of the action taken by the General Government in • confiscating the revenue of the County. He did not .■think .that the Ministry had ever done the like in .respect of any of the Provinces, nor would it have been done if occasion arose. It was a great hardship that, after striving to maintain faith with the public credit tors and to economise its resources, the County should be suddenly swooped upon by the General Government and denuded of its resources. . ■■-...-: ■"■'• Mr Button had so often Mid so heavily

reviled the Genoral Government that he would have refrained from saying anything now bat that he agreed with the member for Hokitika (Mr Bonar) that it jrai not enough to five a silent vote. The County had been most shamefully treated, * and the conduct of the Government was utterly disgraceful. j The Chairman said that, in answer to his remonstrance to the Government, he had been informed that the step taken •was advised by Mr FitzGerald, the Oonr troller, thegentlemau to whom the Connty was indebted for the heavy amount of Canterbury debt with which it had been saddled. The motion was then put and carried unanimously. ■ TBAOK KBOM ICAORI GULLY TO BTILLWATER. Mr Dukoak moved—" That the Chairman be authorised to instruct the County Engineer to report without further delay upon the necessity of a pack-track from Maori Gully to Stillwater Creek, Arnold •District." ' ■ The motion was seconded by Mr Hoos, and passed without dissent. ■ Tuesday, Jtjiy 30. ; lioknßbd viotoallkr8 1 petition. Mr Fox moved, by leave, without notice— " That the petition of the licensed .victuallers of Greymouth be referred to the Select Committee appointed to consider the question of an alteration in the ' iW respecting licensing public-houses." The motion was seconded by Mr Bonab, and passed without dissent. 11 ' fnrriusuEXT of immigrants. Mr Bonar moved—" That the attention of the General Government be drawn to the great extent of unoccupied land in the southern part of the County, which this Council recommends as suitable both -' in quality and situation for the settlement of immigrant* under the 6lst section of the ' Immigration and Publio Works Act, 1971.' That this Council desire specially , to, point out that block of land extending from the Okura to the Haast River, to a point two miles south of the Arawata River, comprising about 50,000 acres, which was originally set apart by this Council as a special settlement, but has 'not yet been disposed of, as a peculiarly suitable locality for the above purpose, the country being well timbered, possessing good soil, and having navigable rivers running through it. That, for the above purpose, the foregoing block of hind be memed to be a special block of land in accordance with section 66 of the ' Westland Waste Lands Act, 1870 ;' and that the upset price at which such hind may be .sold to the Governor, shall be fixed at 10s per acre." The Council divided on the motion : - ' Ayes : Messrs Bonar, Ralfe, Hoos, and Lahman. Noes : Messrs Button, Robinson, Fox, Dungan, and Barff. The motion was consequently lost. GRSYMOUTH LITERARY ASSOCIATION. ; . Mr Fox moved— '^That a sum of money be placed on the Estimates as a grant to the Greymouth Literary Association.** Mr Dungan seconded the motion pro forma, but he would point ont to the , ( mover that he had not taken a wise * ' course to effect his purpose, as there were other institutions of the kind which had equal claims to assistance. Mr Bonar advised the withdrawal of the motion. Mr Fox insisted on having it put to the ...vote. The motion was negatived on the * voices. ?,: , KBW POEM OF GOVERNMENT. Mr Barff moved—" That this Council is of opinion that the new form of government proposed by the member for the '•Grey Valley, Mr W. H. Harrison, is far too cumbrous and complicated, and en.tirely unsuitedto the requirements of the West Coast Gold Fields." Mr Robinson seconded the motion. The Chairman said he thought the member for Arahura would have withdrawn his motion, seeing that the Council had already decided as to what they con- -; sidered was the best form of Government, and the resolutions of the Council were the best answer to Mr Harrison's proposal. After some discussion, the motion was carried on the voices. THE MARSDEN ROAD; The Chairman moved— "That in order to make the Main Trunk Line of Road from Ross to Greymouth of real v benefit to the County, it is of the utmost importance to finish the road between