Saturday, August 10.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1260, 13 August 1872, Page 2

Saturday, August 10.

THE ESTIMATES. ; On the motion of the Chairman, . the Council went into' Committee, . for the consideration of the probable expenditure for the ensuing six months. r !"' Mr Robinson would like to know, before proceeding to pass the remaining items upon the Estimates, in what manner the Chairman intended to provide for the deficiency shown on the statement. He thought it would be advisable to reduce, the estimated expenditure, and considered it a waste of time to vote items which could not be expended. 'The only item 3 likely to. be paid, wero first,the outstanding liabilities ; second, the departmental expenses; and third, the liability to the Bank. He did not feel at. all satisfied with the financial position of thiß County." There was a prospect lof very heavy liabilities to be liquidated at the coramenceinent of next year, and he could not reconcile it with his conscience to vote away money which could hot be paid. It seemed that the majority in the Council wert solely impressed . with a desire to hurry the business. The revenue might not even reach the estimated amount set down by the Chairman, and there was already shown a deficiency of nearly L4OOO, which might be increased to L6OOO or L7OOO. He understood the Bank declined to increase the deficiency bills over L6OOO. ; _

The Chairman said h6 would like \o have advice from members as to what course he was to pursue. He was aware that there were heavy liabilities to pay in the year 1873; such liabilities, indeed, that even : with/strict economy the obliga? tions would not be met. The next six months, however, he thought would be tided over safely. At the end of that period some arrangements would have to be made, or the General Government miist step in and pay the liabilities.' : He did hot intend that the Bank should impound the revenue of the County, if they did so he would have the account removed. He had every hope of an amicable arrangement with the Bank. .

Mr Barff imagined that the deficiency was caused by the steps taken by the General Government, which had resulted in the seizing of a large sum from the County revenue. v .': The discussion was continued for some time. Ultimately progress was reported .without any item of the Estimates having been passed, and the Council resumed. . '■ MAIN ROADS. Tho Chairman moved— "That the re f solution of this Council, : passed on the tjth August, 1870, regarding the handing over • l -t6 the Paroa ' ' Rbad^ . Boards of the Cock-a-Bull'a and Clifton and' "Nemona

roads, be rescinded, for the purpose of declaring those roads main roads." He stated, that the road referred to was in a miserable plight. Although the Paroa Road Board had taken the tolls, they had neglected to keep it even in a tolerable state of repair. The best thing to be done was for the Council to-cpllect^the tolls and repair this road. The Road Board would: be only too glad to get rid of it. The motion passed without dissent. ; MARSDEN ROAD. The Chairman moved— "That in accordance with section 116 of 'The County of Weattahft : Act, 1868,'' the Marsden and Nemona, and Marsden and Cock-a-Bulla, roads be declared main roads. That in accordance with section 128 of the above Act,"a toll-gate should be , erected on the above roads, and the following be the schedule of "tolls authorised to be levied : — Marsden and Nemona road— Horse ridden or driven, Is ; cattle, Is ; sheep, 2d. Marsden and Cock- a • Bulla road—Horse ridden or driven, Is 6d; ; cattle,- Is 6d; sheep* 2d. 'That in accordance with section 1 30 of the above Act, Mr James Austin. Green be appointed toll-collector for the purpose of collecting the above- mentioned tolls." He stated that Mr Green had been recommended to him by the Paroa Road Board, for -tollcollector, and as -he was living -at the tollgate, and had tendered to do. the work for 203 per week, he thought- the best course was to employ him. The receipts from the tolls on this road amounted to about L 3 per week. Although the tollgate was already erected, he had moved for its erection in his resolution, in order to comply with the meaning of the Act. The inhabitants were willing to jpajrthe tolls, and only asked for the road' to be kept in repair. Mr Robinson asked why the Council could not compel the Paroa Road Board to keep- the road in repair, or recoup itself for making the road good. He did not go so far as some members in denouncing Road Boards, but he would be one of the first to compel them to fulfil their obligations. It seemed that now the road had become, impassable the Council was to take charge of , it. ,r,.^ The motion was carried without dissent. "WATER-RACE. • 'J . The Chairman moved— "That, as the . question of Water Supply for the Gold Fields in the County of Westland is of the utmost importance, the Chairman be requested to urge upon the General Government the advisability of inimediately constructing at least one of the works- recommended by this Council, and that this Council would prefer that 'the high level . waterrace, from :Kawhaka Creek to Ballarat Hill, with a branch' to Tunnel Creek, supplying forty heads of water, of which a complete , survey has been made, and which promises to be highly remunerative, should be taken, in hand first." 1 • He need hardly point out. to the Council the. advisability of- making this'waterrace. It was beyond the means of the County to ,do the work. The "General Government had promised to construct two.water-races, one in the Province of Nelson, and the: other in Auckland, and he contended Westland had an equal right to one. A survey of the proposed race had already been made. ~ It-would be about sixteen miles long, and: the cost had been estimated at L 47,500. The probable return would amount to about L7OOO or LBOOO.

MrHoos moved- that the words, ," the Chairman be 'requested; 1 ' be struck tout, and the words "the Council desires to urge" inserted in their place, and also that .all the words from " and... that thin Council" to the end of .the resolution be struck out. .'..•: .y-.^.Jf Mr Robinson seconded the amendment. The Chairman had hoped members would have agreed to his. motion .without petty local jealousy. The proposed race would be of vast importance to the County, and had already been surveyed at a cost of LllOO, and a report of it forwarded to Wellington. He considered this race the most promising one, and; the best plan was to endeavour to get the Government to make it, There was a sum of L 300,000 set apart for .the purpose of constructing these works, to be spent in three years ; two years of which period had already expired. The Ministry had promised to construct similar works in - Auckland and Nelson, and he thought Westland was entitled to as much as those provinces received. The County would not be; debarred from having other works constructed, as only three pro* vinces had claimed any portion of this sum. If the General Government shoiujl^ refuse to undertake the work, a private company would no doubt be formed" for the. purpose. The: Mikonui, race, members were aware, had already been applied for by Mr Brogden. y |T Mr Boxar said whenever dry weather set in, the first district to feel the want of water was the Waimea. There was not a single good water-race in that district — a district which was well known to be one of the best sluicing grounds in the County; The Government has already gone to the expense of : surveyingrthis race, and he should therefore; support the Chairman's motion. ... Messrs Fox and Button, also : supported the motion, \ ; • >i' ..-•• The amendment was then put and'negatived on a division, and the original motion was carried on the voices. : TIMBER RESERVES. '; Mr Robinson, moved— "That in t c opinion of this Council it is desirable that the Westland Waste Lands Board should be empowered fby an amendment in the VVeafcland Waste Imnds Act, or by,provision under the Gold Fields Act) to make reserves for timber exclusively for mjning purposes," ..".:.'■* _ .... r^,J^ The motion vas not seconded.