WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 18 January 1927, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

THE FIRST ATEETINT

( 'West Const Times.’’ January 5, 1677) TTio iirst mooting of llio Westland County Council took place at a quarter of an hour after noon yesterday in the Supreme Court House. Nine chairs were placed around the solicitor’s table so that the members were rather closely packed. In former County and Provincial Councils it was usual to provide each member with a separate table for his own special use, and it would lie well to do so now. About twenty of the public were present. Shortly before noon, Mr Bonar and M.r Grevillo entered, and after a hurried whispering, Mr Grevillo was left in company with a few Acts and a bundle of papers. Presently to him arrived two of the newly-elected members, Messrs Seddon and and Dale, followed at intervals by live others. The members who took their seats were: Messrs Seddon. Dale. Beale, McWhirter, Robinson, Coles and llirter. .Mr MeGaffin was an absentee and the members for Jackson Bay, Mr Collycr, had not arrived.

On the motion of Mr llirter, Mr Greville was voted to the chair. The Chairman read a letter from the Executive Officer, giving the names of the members elected lor the various ridings, with the exception ol Jackson’s Bay, the returns from which had not boon received. The proclamation fixing the date and first meeting of the Council was read, and several acts, including the County Act, Rating Act, Public Works Act and Financial Arrangements Act. were laid on the table. The Chairman then read the oftli clause of the Counties’ Act, which provides that at the first meeting of a County Council, the Chairman must be elected.

Air llirter proposed, and Air Coles seconded. Air IT. I. Robinson to be County Chairman.

Mr Robinson thanked the gentlemen who proposed and seconded him. Ho thought, however, it would be better to postpone the meeting lor twenty-four hours, as there were only present, seven menders out ol nine. He would prefer to see all the members who had been elected, in their seats, prepared to take their share of the responsibilities of the position.

Air llirter did not think that either Air AleGaffin or Sir Collycr would be present. They were only losing time. They came there to forward business, and the longer they waited the greater the loss would be.

AI r Seddon agreed with the last speaker. AVhat would be gained by delay? Unless ho was certain Air Collycr was on the steamer outside be would oppose a motion for adjournment.

Air AlcAYhirtor would agree to an adjournment, if there were any probability of Air Collver’s arrival. Air Coles said that Air Tennant, the Returning Officer, was on the Beautiful Star, and in nil probability Air Collyci was with him. Air Robinson moved an adjournment until half-past one. Mr Dale seconded. Air AfcGaffin might in the meanwhile be telegraphed for. Air Beale would oppose an adjournment. lie wanted to proceed to business. Air Seddon made some remarks which wore quite inaudible, and concluded by proposing Air AIcAA llirter as (Thai) man.

Mr MiAYhirter thought that one proposition should bo dealt with before another was brought forward. Air Robinson bad been already nominated. Mr Seddon thought the usual course was to take down all the nominations.

Mr llirter pressed his motion, as Air AfoAA Hirter’s nomination had not been seconded.

Air AlcAYhirtor proposed Air Seddon s Chairman.

After a pause, Mr Hit-tor said they had been waiting for half an hour, and had done nothing. He again requested the Chairman to put his motion. The Chairman pointed out that neither Air AfcAYhirter’s nor Air Scddon’s nomination had been seconded. Mr Deale said ho would second Afr Sudden's nomination.

.Mr Givville: What about Al.r AlcWhirfer. who is also not seconded? ,Mr Deale: Well, I’ll second them both.

Mr Ilirter’s motion was then put, that Mr Robinson ho Chairman, with the following result:—Ayes, -Messrs Coles, ] lifter and .Robinson. Noes, Alessrs AleWhirter. Deale. Dale and Seddon. The motion was consequently lost.

Air Seddon’s motion proposing .Mr -MoWhirtor as Chairman, was then put, when there voted in the affirmative, Messrs AleWhirter. Dottle, Dale, Seddon and Robinson. Noes: Alessrs Coles and Hitter.

Mr AlcWhirter’s motion in favour of a.r Seddon was about to he put when .Messrs Robinson, AleWhirter and Coles left the room. Subsequently the other members followed, and Air Greville remained in sole possession of the chair and the room. After an interval of about ten minutes, Air Seddon returned and declared the Council adjourned until six o’clock that evening. On examining the clause in the Act respecting adjournments, it wits found that the adjournment must he moved at the earliest to the following day. Air Greville finally adjourned the Council, in the presence of Air Seddon, a reporter, and one of the public, until noon next (this) day. and so the proceedings terminated. At a. subsequent meeting, Air AlcWhirter’s appointment to the chair was approved. At the first annual meeting of tile Council in Afarcli following, Al.r 11. L. Robinson was elected Chairman of the Council with a salary fixed at £2OO.

CHAIRATAN’S FIRST REPORT. (January lltli, 1877.) Afr AlcAVhirter (the Chairman) rose to make the statement he had promised the Council at the previous meeting. He said:—Since our last meeting, I have received from the Executive Officer of the Provincial District of Westland a memorandum showing the amount of revenue collected last year within tiie boundaries of the County, and in consequence 1 have been able to arrive at a very fair approximate estimate of the probable revenue for the ensuing year, and the sums with which it will lie our duty to deal. I have also been furnished with a tabular list of current contracts by the late Provincial Engineer, which I shall read to you, and from that statement and from the books of the late Province to which I have been allowed access, I have been able to compile an estimate of the probable expenditure necessary for maintenance of roads for the current year and other matters, to which t crave your attention. The revenue at our command amounts in round figures to nearly £15,000 and it is made up of the various items I will now enumerate. I find the goldfields revenue of 1876 amounted in round figures to £7500 ; the publicans and other licenses to (.’2,500 ; the dog fees to Cl3o. and the tolls on roads to £2,700 —making the total revenue £12,830, and adding the pound for pound on the estimated road hoard rates £I9OO. we arrive at a gross revenue £14.730. But although I have taken as a basis the figures of 1876, still I. think an increase may be confidently expected during this year. The recent valuable gold discoveries at Kurnnra and elsewhere in the County, and the strong probability of large silver mines being shortly opened In ■

the southern district, all point to such a conclusion. Referring now to the expenditure of the current year. 1 think that soinew here about £SOOO will he required for the maintenance of roads; for public works contingencies £1000; and for new works £3.025; lor hospital and charitable institutions £2,200; for ferries £705; (this sum being actually the amount paid by the Provincial Council) and for miscellaneous expenditure, inclusive of ministration and engineering £I,OOO, making a total oi £14,730. and exactly squaring with the revenue. Should our good fortune allow us to have a surplus at the end of the year as I have already prophesied we shall have, there will he plenty of useful works that will occur to the Council, in which it may he judiciously spent. The Chairman then read the following statement of probable reeoipts and expenditure: STATEMENT OF REVENUE, 1*77 £ Goldfields revenue 7500 Publicans, Bottles, an d Wholesale licenses 2500 Dog Fees I*3o Tolls on Roads 2700 £12830 ESTIMATED ROAD HOARD RATES. £ Totara 350 Okarito L>o Kanieri TSO A rail ura 250 Kumara '“TO CL for £l out of Consolidated Revenue 100(1 Total £14730 ESTfMATED EXPENDITURE 1377. Administrative: Chairman Secretary and Treasurer, Consulting Engineer, miscellaneous expenditure, contingencies, etc 1000 Maintenance of Roads ... 5000 Public Works Contingencies and new works 4925 Hospital and Benevolent Society ... 2200 Ferries 'Oo Total £14730