COUNTY COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1263, 16 August 1872, Page 4

COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wednesday, August 14. fabridoed from west coast times.] Tenders were opened for sections 1 and 2, of a pack-track from Maori Creek townsnip to German Gully, payment to be made in land. Messrs Hamilton and Co. tendered for Koi 1 section at L3OO, and Mr Russell for No. 2 section at L 338. On the motion of the Chairman neither of the tenders were accepted, as they both considerably exceeded the County Engk neer's estimate of the cost. MABBDEN TOWNSHIP. Mr Dunoan asked—" Has the County Chairman forwarded to his Excellency the Governor the resolution of this Coonoil, passed on the 23rd February last, recommending the sale of the Marsden township, New River district]" The Chairman stated that the resolution had been forwarded to Wellington, and his Excellency the Governor had consented to the sale of the township, which would take place after some necessary formalities had been observed. ROADS FROM OKARITO. Mr Raws moved— " That the County Chairman be empowered to call. for ten*' ders for the construction of a pack-track, { or part of a pack-track, from Okarito to the Mapouriki Lake, payment to be made in land!" The motion passed without dissent. COURT HOUSE AT BTAFFORD. Mr Barff moved—" That the Chairman be requested to cause the necessary repairs to the Court House at Stafford to be at once undertaken." Mr Dunoan would second the motion pro forma, with the view of eliciting au expression of opinion from the members on the matter. The question had been] before the Council last session, and was then thoroughly discussed. The member 1 for Arahura must know that there was no need for the Court House at Stafford at all, and that the Warden had reported to that effect ; that the repairs to the building would be a needless expense ; and that further expense would be entailed by the necessity for another clerk. ' An irregular and somewhat personal discussion took place, at the termination of which tho motion was negatived, Mr Barff alone voting for it. LOWER FERRY, TEREMAKAU. Mr Fox moved—" That protection be granted to Williams and Houston, fernmen at the lower ferry, Teremakau, which has lately been withdrawn from them." The ford was a particularly dangerous one, and there were frequently men plying on the river who were incapable workmen. On one occasion the County Treasurer narrowly escaped drowning, through the drunkenness of a ferryman. He thought

Houston and Williams were entitled to protection for at least half, a mile of the river. They had* three good boats, and were known to be sober and skilful ferrymen. Protection had been granted to them and subsequently withdrawn. Mr Dungan seconded the motion pro forma, for the Bake. of hearing the opinion, of other members on/this subject. A report of a select committee of the Council had been adopted by the Council, which did not recommend the granting of this protection. A resolution of the Council throwing all ferries opon had also been assed. He was not aware of any complaints lately from the Teremakau ; if there were any they probably had their origin in local jealousy. The Chairman was not aware that these men-had ever 'been granted protection. He was aware they were good boatmen, but injustice could not be done to other men plying on the Teremakau who had taken out boatmen's licenses. Mr Bonar hoped the authorities would exercise careful supervision in granting boatmen's licenses. He was aware of one instance where a whole family ran a narrow escapd^of losing their lives lihroiigh" the incapacity of the boatmen they had hired. Mr Robinson said that protection had been withdrawn from boatmen on this river, principally in consequence of a petition received by the Council from Greymouth. As a general rule he was opposed to granting protection at all, unless in the form of a subsidy, otherwise it was mosi objectionable. The motion was negatived on the voices. PERIODICAL REMOVAL OF WARDENS. Mr Ralfb moved— "That the Wardens be periodically removed from one judicial district to another, as it is considered that it will be more conducive to the carrying out of their duties, and will also give more general satisfaction." Some time ago a Select Committee on the departmental expenses had recommended the periodical removal of tho Wardens from one district to another. Wardens were as frail as other human beings, and although they no doubt would not beactually biassed, still, in small communities they contracted friendships which perhaps in some instances had an injurious effect both on the public and the officers. Mr Fox. in seconding the motion, conceived it was most conducive to the efficiency of the service to remove these officers occasionally' from place to place. Judges were removed and if bo why not Wardens 1 He could not understand why one Warden should have been kept in cosy quarters for seven years, while another was knocked about all over the County. They should be all treated alike. Mr Robinson thought it better to let this matter remain in abeyance until a definite decision had been arrived at by the General Assembly with regard to the annexation question. He deprecated any action until that time, and then would prefer to see the resolution moved in a' more definite form. MrHoos said that this resolution would do away with great complaints from various districts. It would be beneficial both to the officers concerned as well as the public, if this were carried out. He did not think the resolution went far enough, and considered it just as necessary that Wardens' clerks should be removed. He was aware that certain Wardens' clerks bad acquired, thrtuyh long residence in one spot, influence which they ought never to be allowed to exercise. It was time to do away with the affectionate ties between the public and some officers. Even a publican cannot be removed without memorials and petitions being got up to retain him. He suggested the insertion of the words, "That this Council is of opinion that" in the first part of the motion, and the addition of the words " Wardens' clerks" after " Wardens." The motion, having been by leave of the Council amended in accordance with Mr Hoos's suggestion, was carried on the voices.