COUNTY COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1437, 10 March 1873, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

Friday, March 7. the christchurch road. The Chairman drew the attention of the Council to the report presented by the County Engineer respecting the Christchnrch road. The C-tuity Engineer, it appeared, was rather dubious whether he had the power to grant a certificate to the contractor for the month of January while he was employed in placing the road into repair under his contract, which terminated at the end of January. The matter had been complicated by two contracts running concurrently together. The report of the Public Works Committee was adverse to the contractor beinsj paid under the new contract while employed in doing what he was bound to do under the old contract. It would, however, be a matter for the Council to consider when in Committee on the Estimates. INSPECTOR OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. Mr Barff asked— " If the Chairman has communicated with the General Government upon the subject of this Council having made no provision for the payment of the salaries of the Inspector of Weights and Measures, and of three bailiffs now employed in the County 1" The Chairman said that a letter had been forwarded to the Government intimating that no provision would be made by the County for the salaries of the Inspectors of Weights and Measures and of Cattle, but not with respect to the bailiffs. On the motion of the Chairman, the Council went into Committee for the further consideration of the Estimates. The .following items were passed without discussion : — Engineering Branch. — County Engineer, three months, LI 00 ; Clerical assistance, L 25. Total, L 125. On the item " Harbor Master, Westland, L 162 10s," discussion ensued. Mr Cuming moved the reduction of the amount to LI SO, on the grounds that the salary had been increased only recently : that the duties of the office had not increased ; and that the cost of living had decreased. The amendment was opposed by Mr Bonar and Mr Barff, who pointed out that the salary had originally been L4OO per annum, with LBO extra from the General Government, and that in consequence of the boatmen being dispensed with, the Harbor Master had extra work to do. Mr Kennedy supported the reduction because he did not see why the Harbor Master at Greymouth should have a smaller salary than the Harbor Master at H-ikitika; and the Chairman supported it <«n the scnre of economy, a measure which he indie >ted he would apply also to the Harbor Master at the Grey. The Committee divided on the queston, and the reduction was carried by 6 to 2, Measrs Bunar and Barff constituting the minority. On the i f em " Harbor Master, Greymonth, L 137 10s" instead of Ll5O, as originally set down, another discussion ensued, followed by a division, which resulted in the lower amount being carried by 6 to 2, Messrs Smith and Kennedj alone voting for the larger sum. The vote then passed as follows : — Harbor Department. — Harbor Master, Westland, L 150; d», Greymouth, L 137 10a ; do, Okarito, three months, L37 10s j Signalman, Hokitika, L 9 6; Boatman, three months, L 4 5; hire of boatmen, LSO ; Materials and repairs, LSO. Total, L 566. The following items were passed without discussion : — Eddcationalt. — Grant to Schools, L 50 0; Exnenses of Board, L2O. Total, L 250. Weiuhts and Measures Department. - Inspector, three months, L 75 ; Coutingent expenses, L 25. Total, LI OO. Charitable. — Lunatic Asylums ; Inspector of Lunatics, L 25 ; County Surgeon, L 10 0; Keeper and Chief Attendant, L 137 10s ; three assistants, L 244 7s ; Matron, L 37 10a ; Female Attendant, 1j32 103 ; Rations, L 250 ; Bedding and clothing, L 75 ; Medical comforts, L 35 ; Utensils, tools, and materials, LSO ; Incidental expenses, Lls ; Maintenance lunatic patients, Christchurch, Ll7l 12s. Total, L 1173 9s. On the item " Totara Hospital, L 250," discussion ensued, but eventually it passed unaltered, and the entire vote passed as follows : — Hospitals. — Subsidy to Hokitika, LI4OO ; do Greymouth, L 40 0; do Totara, L 250. Total, L 2050. - The following items passed without amendment ; — Charitable Aid. — Grant to Benevolent Society, LIOO ; Aid to Destitutes, &c, LIOO. Total, L2OO. Public Buildings. — Maintenance and repairs, L 25 0; Contingencies, Lsl. Total L3OO. On the item, "Maintenance Christchurch Road, L 3800," a very long discussion took place in respect to the vexed question as to the two contracts. Eventually the amount set down was passed, it being understood that the Chairman would take care that the interests of the County would be protected. The vote passed as follows : — Roads and Works. — Maintenance Christchurch Road, L 380 0; Repairs to Roads, L 250 0; Kokatahi Road, L7IG4 10s ; Arnold do, L 102 175. Total, L 14,485 17s. On the item, "Lithographer, Llso,"Mr Barff pointed out that the officer was very frequently employed in work which it would be cheaper to put out, while, the work of lithographing maps was allowed to get into arrear. The Chairman said he would take care that the work required in the Land Office was done in preference to other work. On the item for the housekeeper and gardener at Government House, some discussion ensued. Ultimately it was agreed that L 135 be set down for the two services, with the understanding that the amount should be LIOO in future. The vote then passed as follows : — Miscellaneous —Lithographer, LI 50 j Cattle Inspector, Lls ; Messenger, Government ufficfcs, LB2 10s ; Under do, L 26 ; Gardener and Housekeeper, Llls ; Government Storekeeper, Ll2 10s ; De6ciency Bills, L 6765 ; Interest, LSOO ; Furniture and repairs, LSO ; Subsidy to ferriea, L 250 ; Printing ami advertising, L4OO ; Stationery, Ll5O ; Fuel and lich>, LI 2O ; Telegraphic communication, L6O ; Postage, carriage, <fee. L2O ; Travelling expenses of officers, L 35 0; Police rewards, LJO ; Outstanding accounts as per schedule, L 3927 18s lid ; General contingecies, L4OO ; Toll collectors, L 34 0; Insurance, L 47 83 ; Municipal Corporation Hokitika, Land Fund, L 29 7s 6d ; do, Greymouth, do, L 142 Is 2d ; Comoensation to Officers leaving the service, LI2OO.