CONNTY COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1424, 22 February 1873, Page 2

CONNTY COUNCIL.

[condensed from west coast times.] Thursday, February 20. Mr O'Donovan presented a petition from Mary Mathies, stating that her husband having completed his contract in constructing a track from the Haast, is now waiting at the Haast for the County Engineer to inspect the work, and that he is without provisions or the means of getting away to Hokitika. The petitioner therefore prayed that the Council afford such relief as they might deem fir. The petition was read and received. -- «di__ Omjiuin, _tuawan£ad_ a_Dejition from miners at the . Kamen, praying that the ground known a3 the.^Yictoria Claim, be thrown open into ordinary claims. The petition was read and received. DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE'S REPORT. On the motion of the Chairman, the debate in respect to the Departmental Committee's report was adjourned to Monday next. PAROA ROAD BOARD. Mr Barpp resumed the debate on Mr Kennedy's motion— "That this Council authorises the Chairman to pay to the Paroa Road Board the sum of L 599 5s 6d, being the amount due to the said Board under 'Payment to Provinces Act, 1871/ on condition of it being applied to the purposes mentioned in their return, furnished to this Council for that purpose." All he had to say in the matter was that if the resolution applied to the Hoad Boards generally he would gladly support it, but not when it was confined to one Board.

Mr Duncan- supported the motion, as he considered the Paroa Board had been hard by dealt with. Mr Kennedy said if it were possible to include the other Boards without delay he should have no objection. But it was not right, now that the Board had complied with the required conditions, that the contractor to whom the money was due should be kept out of it. He trusted that. there would be no opposition to the passing iof the resolution. The Chairman said that it would certainly be more convenient to deal with all the claims of the Road Boards together. But in the absence of returns that was not practicable, and it would be hardly fair to withhold the claim of the Paroa Road Board under those circumstances. The vouchers sen* in seemed forrect with the exception of an item of Ll9 lls 6d, a payment to a member of the Board, for work done as its servant. This was quite against the provision of the County of Westland Act in respect to members of the Board not holding a place of profii; under the Board, or deriving any profit from work done for the Board. Mr Kennedy having replied, the motion was carried on the voices, PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. On the motion of Mr Cassius, seconded by Mr O'Donovan, the Council resolved itself into committee to consider the reports of the Public Works Committee, with a view to their adoption. The first recommendation was. to keep in ropair and suitable for horse traffic, the several cliffs south of Okarito mentioned in the report, at a cost not to exceed L2O per month. im After a prolonged discussion thejecornmendation was negatived on a division Messrs Smith, O'Donovan, Barff, and Cassius, voting for it ; and Messrs Bonar, Ciimiug, Dungan, Kennedy, and Robinson voting against it. The second recommendation was that a track be constructed at a cost of L3OO from the Teremakau to Bell Hill. After some discussion, it was moved by Mr Cuming-" That the consideration of the recommendation be postponed for a i week." ] Committee divided— Ayes : Messrs j Cuming, O'Donovan, Dungan, Kennedy,

and Robinson. Noes: Messrs Bonar, Smith, Barff, and Cassius. The motion adjourning the question was therefore carried. . Progress was ordered to be reported, and the Council resumed. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. A long dkcuasipn took place arto a proposed alteration in the mode of election ;df Chairman, to i which! wi* refer at length in another column. Friday, February 21. The Council met at noon. Consideration of the Public Works Committee's report was resumed. Clause 4 recommended the construction of a bridge over the Greenstone and Blackwater Creek, on the Marsden and Greymouth road. The cost is estimated at L6OO ; the same to be defrayed out of the funds coming to the County under the " Immigration and Public Works Act, 1872." This was carried. „ Clause ,5 read .as iollows^-rThe Committee do not see how they can recommend the construction *of 1^ miles of road to connect the Paroa road witfr the Sawyer's Creek and Greymouth/iwad out of the funds available to the County under the "Immigration and Public Works Act, 1872;" but they suggest that the cost of this road jbe paid in land, and more particularly as the distance is capable of being made shorter than the one proposed. i A long discussion ensued; „ ' I It was moved as an amendment that all i recommendations* of the 1 Public' Works Committee, where payment is recommended to be paid in land, be postponed until a final report is brought up, and the most urgent works be undertaken first. This was carried. . A second report was brought upifrom the same Committee) which was read as i follows : — -The; Committee; - having; considered some of the motions referred to them, beg to report as follows .:— L With regard to the widening of the road between Greymouth and Omotumbtu, the Coojmittee recommend ■ that it be widiSried, sft 12in of which is to be metalled 12in in depth. 2. With regard to widening the track between Marsden and Maori Creek, the Committte recommend that it be widened to a 12ft load, 10ft of which is to be metalled iOiti in depth, to be paid for in land ; cost, of^the work estimaftqd at L2OOO cash. These , recommendations were, after a long discussion, adopted..