WESTLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1807, 21 May 1874, Page 2

WESTLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

Tuesday, May 19.

[from the west coast times.]

Mr Guinness presented a petition, signed by Michael Dowling and over a hundred other miners working on the Grey South Beach, praying that some alteration be made in the present survey line of the contemplated railway. The petition was received.

Mr Dungan presented a petition from Michael Ryan, and a number of miners and others located in the Paroa, Marsden, and Rutherglen districts, praying that a dray road might be constructed from Paroa to Marsden, by way of Rutherglen. The petition, which was read, pointed out that the districts referred to supported a larg» population, that great inconvenience was felt for want of a road, and chat the entire length which would require to be constructed would be about four miles. The petition was received.

The Superintendent laid on the table a copy of a letter from the Warden at Okarito, reporting on the district, likewise one from the Harbormaster there, reporting on the state of the bar and channel ; also, a letter from Messrs Kilgour and Perotti, pressing their claim against the Government for tramway compensation, owing to the construction of the Grey and Paroa road.

The Speaker stated that before entering on the business of the evening he wished to read a letter which he had forwarded to Mr Dillon Bell, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and that gentleman's reply thereto just to hand. The letter referred to the question raised in the Council last session, as to whether it was competent for Messrs M'Gaffin and Cuming to vote in respect to the sale of town lands in Ross, both being interested. The reply was to the effect that there was no doubt they could vote on the question, as their interests were only one in common with the interests of the general public. Mr Dungan asked — "Did his Honor the Superintendent receive in the month of February last, an application from any person to rent the Teremakau lower ferry, at LSO a year, and if any such offer received due consideration."

His Honor in reply said that there had been a» great deal of feeling for years between those working the ferry punts and those residing there. At the beginning of the year an application had been made by the boatmen for a subsidy, owing to the falling off of trade, and this was referred to the Provincial Council. Persons had called on him, offered to put on proper boats and carry on the ferry without subsidy, and he had also referred this offer to the Council. The Committee appointed to investigate the matter reported that it was desirable to retain the services of experienced boatmen, and recommended that they should obtain a subsidy of L 25 a year. After tins Mr and Mrs Nconan offered L 25 a year for the ferry, but the matter having been decided he told them that their offer would be considered in the succeeding year. Their offer did receive the due consideration that he hoped all applications to him would do. He might add that the only correspondence he had received were two letters — one from a lawyer demanding payment for a boat bought by the Noonaus in the expectation of getting the ferry. This letter was subsequently repudiated by them, who said that they only instructed the legal gentleman in question to write to him (the Superintendent) offering to give LSO per annum for the i ferry. '