INANGAHUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue 72, 2 February 1877, Page 2

INANGAHUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tbo Council met in the Road Board office at 2.30 p.m. yesterday. Presents The Chairman (Mr P. Brennan), and Messrs Bayfeild, Dick, Davies Kelly, and Irvine. The minutes of special meeting relating to appointment of Returning Officer and acceptance of printing contract, were read ; also minutes of ordinary meeting. Mr Davies drew attention to what be considered an informality in the minutes. He referred to Ihe paragraph wherein it was stated that the minutes of a Tender Committee had been confirmed by the Council. He submitted that the proper course to pursue was for the committ.ee to bring np a report, and it was for iLe Couucil to either reject or accept such report. After some discussion on the subject, Mr Kelly moved, and Mr Dick seconded, that tbe minutes as read be confirmed. Mr Bayfeild desired to move before the resolution was put, ihat the minute referring to the appointment of a committee to prepare standing orders be espun^ed. The minute referred to having been expunged, tl c minutes were confirmed. The Secretary leported tbat the Print* ing Committee appointed by tbe Council had met, and had accepted the tender of Mr Potts, of tbe Inangahtta Times, On tbe motion of Mr Davies, seconded by Mr Dick, the report of, the Printing CommiUce was read and adopted. The Secretary read copies of all corres>* pondence forwarded since last meeting o" the Council. In reply to Mr Bayfeild, it was stated thafc no further word had been received i'"om Mr O'Conor relative to tbe Grey road. On the motion of Mr Dick, seconded by Mr Kelly, the correspondence lead was received. The Clerk read a laemorial "forwarded to the Council by the inhabitants on the subject of water sapply. The petition was signed by the principal business residents. Mr Davies moved tbat an advertisement be inserted in Reefton oflering a bonus of £10 for the best scheme for supplying the town with water for domestic purposes. He thought it would be well to include Mr Woolley's name as the judge of the schemes submitted. He moved that a committe consisting of the Chaiiman, Messrs Kelly, Bayfeild, and the mover be appointed to carry out tbe motion. Mr Bayfeild should he glad to see a Water supply provided, but he failed to ice tbat the Council had yet any ability 'to go into the question. However, he had no wish to discourage tbe proposal, but trusted tbat tbe Council would not be overwhelmed with petitions. Mr Dick could not undei'stand why the | application was made. If the Reeflon people wanted a water supply let them put their hands'into their own pockets to do it. It was not a County work. i Mr Davies said the Reefton people were by far the largest ratepayers, and they therefore had a right to expect some consideration from the Council. He presumed that it was contemplated by the memorialists tbat a special loan would be raised for tbe work. He did not, however, at present ask the Council to go beyond voting a bonus. Mr Dick would not oppose the grant- ! ing of the bonus, but he would strongly | oppose tbe County being saddled with a debt whicb benefitted tbe town alone. Mr Daveis said he would be content for the present with the assent of -the Council to the offering of the bonus. The motion was then put and carried. Tenders were opened from persons willing to provide the Council with a room .in which to bold its sittings. Only two tenders were sent in, namely, one from tbe proprietor of the Southern Cross Hotel, at £12 per annum, and fro ji the Oddfellows' Society at £10 per annum. Mr Davies moved that the Clerk communicate with tbe Waste Lands Board, Nelson, with a view of securing a piece of land between the Court House and the Telegraph office, on which to erepfc a Council chamber." The resolution was seconded by Mr Bayfeild and carried. Debate of a more or less irrelevant nature ensued upon a motion for the confirmation of appointment of a Returning Officer for the whole County ; and after a long and tedious discussion it was decided on the suggestion of the Chairman to adjourn tho subject for a legal opinion. Applications for the offico of Clerk to the Council were opeued. There were

four in number, namely three from Wel- 1 I lington, from persons holding subordinate J appointments in the public service, and : one from the acting Clerk of the Council. Ou the motion of Mr Davies, seconded i by Mr Bayfeild the appointment was con-, ferred on Mr Carreras. It was decided to invite applications for the office of County Overseer, at a salary of £250 per annum. On tbemotiom of Mr Bayfeild seconded by Mr Davies Mr Pitt was appointed County Solicitor, at a salary of eighty guineas per annum. Mr Davies moved that the Clerk apply to the Waste Lands Board for a reserve for recreation purposes. Carried. The Council then adjourned till 8 p.m.