COUNTY COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1267, 21 August 1872, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

Monday, August 19. TRACK TO STILLWATER CREEK.

Mr Dungan moved—" That this Council empowers the Chairman to call for tenders for the construction of a packtrack from Maori Gully to Stillwater Creek, Arnold district, payment for the same to be made in land." The motion was seconded by Mr Fox, and passed without dissent. GREYMOUTH COAL RESERVE. The Chairman moved— "That the resolution passed by this Council on the 22nd February, 1872, with regard to the offer of the Grey Coal Reserve asa security to the General Government for an advance of money by them, for the reconstruction of protective works for. the Boroughs of Greymouth and Hokitika, be rescinded*" He said that isoon after the disastrous flood in Greymouth, the General Government was applied to for an advance of money to construct protective works on the Grey river. The money was obtained on the security of the Coal Reserve, and the Greymouth Borough Council had undertaken to repay the loan from the wharfage dues, which amounted to about LIOOO yearly. The money would be consequently repaid in about four years, when the reserve would again fall into- the hands of the County. At the time the resolution, which he now wished to rescind, was passed, Hokitika was inserted as well as Greymouth, and he wished to get the former struck out. He had received a telegram from the Minister for Public Works for the Middle Island (Mr Reeves), requesting him to induce the Council to give this reserve as a security for the Greymouth loan only. Mr Hoos ,said that this was the first opportunity the Council had obtained of coping with the General Government, which had condescended to apply to the Council for this reserve. He was of opinion that it was required for the Government railway scheme, and this was one mode of getting it into the hands of the Government. The only question was whether Hokitika should be struck out of the resolution. He considered the coal mine, the railway, and the protective works were merely component parts of one scheme, and not for the benefit of Greymouth, but for the benefit of the Nelson coal mines. This resolution could well be put off for six months, until the result of the annexation scheme should be known. He would oppose the motion.

MrBoNAR, under the presumption that the LIOOO a year was being paid regularly, would support the motion. He thought it unfair to take advantage of the fact that the General Government had advanced the money before they obtained the security. The Council was morally bound to give the Reserve. Mr Fox thought it was a simple matter of form, and that it did not require much discussion. It was merely pawning the Reserve for a sum of money.

Mr Robinson did not look at the question only from the pawning point of view. If L4OOO was the utmost the Council could obtain, the motion was of little consequence, but if it were possible to get another sum of L4OOO, it might be advisable to allow Hokitika to remain in the resolution. Circumstances might easily arisej which would place Hokitika in exactly similar circumstances to the Grey. Although Mr Fox had depreciated the value of the property, it was worth considerably more, and parting with it would reduce the ability of the County to raise more money. Mr Button would support the resolution' if the Chairman consented to make certain alterations in the next resolution. First that the sum to be secured be specified ; secondly, that the time be fixed for the repayment; and thirdly, that the Greymouth Borough Council should give a second mortgage to the County Council on the wharf dues. He would not have; suggested these amendments if he anticipated fair dealing from the Government. If the reserve was once unconditionally in their hands, they might allow the Grey payments to stand over, and then pounce upon the security. The Council should be enabled to see that the repayment was made regularly. The Chairman replied shortly, contending that the Reserve had no right' to be given to any place but the Grey, Whatever revenue was derived from the Coal Reserve was intended to be spent in improving the navigation of the Grey River. The motion had been spoiled by the insertion of Hokitika.

The motion was carried on a division ; Messrs Button, Bonar, Fox,. Dungan, Ralfe, Barff, and the Chairman voting for it, and Messrs Robinson and Hoos against it. The Chairman moved— " That the Chairman be empowered to offer the Coal Reserve, in the Grey District, to the General Government as a security for an advance of money by them to the Borough of Greymouth, for the- construction of protective works in the said borough." The Chairman, by leave of the Council, amended the resolution according to Mr Button's suggestion, inserting the words " L 4000" in lieu of the word "money," and by adding to the motion, after the word " Borough," the words "for a period of four years, provided that the said 'Borough give a mortgage of their wharfage dues to secure repayment of the said sum at the rate of LIOOO per annum."

Mr Hoos opposed the motion, principally on the ground that the security offered by the Greymouth Borough Council on the wharfage dues was sufficient, and superior to the security of the Coal Reserve. The Reserve was only wanted to endow Mr Brogden. Mr Fox could not comprehend why Mr Brogden was introduced into the debate. No arguments had been adduced to show him why the security he asked for should not be given. Frivolous obstacles were certainly thrown in the way, which he hoped members would not notice. The motion was carried on a division ; Messrs Hoos, Barff, and Robinson voting against it. '