INANGAHUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 12, 7 May 1877, Page 2

INANGAHUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

A meeting of the above Council was held on Thursday last. Present— Crs Kelly, Byrne, Caples, Davies, Dick, and Bayfeild (Chairman). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Secretary reported having received £263 6b lOd from the General Government, representing Ss in tbe £ subsidy out of the Land Fund, and 5s in the £ out of the Consolidated Fund. The following correspondence was read : — The Secretary read returns of leases issued for agricultural purposes in the County of Inangahua, From Mr G. S. Cooper, as follows :— " Colonial Secretary's Office, " Wellington, April 14, 1877. " The Cbairman Inangahua County " Council. " Sib,— l am directed by the Colonial Secretary to transmit to you a number of vouchers for subsidy ta the Hospital and for expenditure in charitable aid, which have been forwarded to tbe Government by the Eosident Magistrate at Beefton As there are no funds at the disposal of the Government out of whicb these items of expenditure could be defrayed, except those voted by t c General Assembly in conformity witb sections 4 and 13* of 'The Financial Arrangements Act, 1876*, pay* ments under whicb votes have to be deducted from subsidies payable to. Boroughs and Counties, Dr Pollen thinks it right to send these vouchers in for the consideration of tbe County Council. The sC'lonial Treasurer will, of course, be happy to pay tbese expenses on aocount of the County on your expressing a desire to that effect. — I bave the honor to he Sir, your most obedient set vant, " G. S. Coopbb." Beefton Hospital— Subsidies January and February, £75. Charitable Aid— On account of Mrs Marshall alios Mra Turner, deceased •—

From Mr M'Sherrie, fn support of his claim for additional services rendered in connection with the valuation of property in the Beefton, Murray, and Crush! ngton Bidißgs, showing that tbe services had been rendered necessary through the short time originally allowed for completion of , tbe assessment, and the charge was not excessive. From Oswald Curtis, informing the ' Council that under the Provincial Appropriation Act the fund applicable to the maintenance of bridges had been exhausted, and tbat aH completed bridges must henceforth be maintained at the cost of the local bodies having charge of the roads. Statement of amounts recoverable from the Council re first election :—

tion, as follows :— "The Chairmain Inangahua County CouncU. " Sla «~ !* having come to my know* ledge that some evil disposed persona havo ever sinoe my arrival here been casting ▼de aspertioua upon my oharaoter. thit tact, together with my failing health, renders it incumbent on me to resign my appointment. I wish to point out that the work I undertook should bave beeu commenced at least three montha before mjr arrival here. I waa a stranger and r*. ceived conflicting reports from every other person I met, so that to satisfy myself I determined to travel on th* roads carefully and alone. The consequence ia that in some instances tbe uotea for specifications will have to be revised* I require a few days yet to complete my work, aud I trust that my successor will tind no difficulty in carrying out his work. One of such magnitude requires great consideration and judgment, and having had all the old contracts heaped upou me just at the close of their completion, aud these of course to deal with, I wtft unable to furnish detaila immediately* and I will defy any engineer,, however able he may be. without previous knowledge. 'of the localities to grasp at one* the requirements of tbe different roads. My unfortunate illness, of course, delayed me at least ten days, and I bate not recovered froui the effects of it yet, I sincerely* urge upon the Council the utter useless-* ness of letting maintenance contract* Aft proof of this look at tbe new pieoe of road- now being made below Lardi's; thfe is being done by day labor, and mor* satisfactorily than by contact* i estimate the coat of maintaining tbe Grey Boad at £1600 per annum that is, including im* provements in the shape of new culverts,. <fee. I have inspected the proposed new line from Lardi's. It will be % rery expensive road, and I think beyond thft means of the Council to carry out without a grant in aid from the Colonial Govern* ment. I consider tbat a few men and m travelling ganger on att tbese road* would keep tbem in a much better state of repair than by a maintenance contract. With regard to the Upper Buller md, I would urge that the repairs be at once proceeded with.. Mr Stewart, & gentleman with a high reputation* haa been communicated with and h willing Co undertake the deputy -over seership, and if men were only pot on, the road would be soon open, for traffic. Mr Stewart understands tb* manner in which I want tbe work perperformed Iv conclusion, I hare te ex*» press my regret tbat our connection should cease *_*» soon* as I had made up. my mind to settle here, and but for scandalou* reports i should here adhered to my resolution. ? Th-ire is one more topic I" should like ta touch upon. I waa ap* ; pointed Engineer to the County Council,, and would you please inform me why I was made an officer of the Local Revenues. Board at the- munificent salary oi one . shilling per month,, and that just at tbe period when all the work had to be do ne.. I suppose it was meant to relieve someone else of the trouble and responsibility.—* Yours, &c, E. W. Butler, Cl. O. Davies moved and Cr Dick seconded, " Tbat a petition to-fehe Bouse of Bepre* sentatives, praying that the waste lands in tbe County be vested in the Council* be prepared by ths Olerk, and submitted ta a committee oousisting of Crs Bayfeild, Kelly* and the mover, such committee to. be empowered to. make the necessary ar* rangements for obtaining signatures to. tbe petition." Carried. Proposed by Cr Dick, seconded by Cr Byrne, " That the resignation of theCounty Bnginner, Mr K. W. Butler, beaccepted, and that the Clerk be instructed to notify him to that effect." Carried. The Clerk, tv the absence of the Treasurer, reported that the bank credit, balance was £804 10s BA. Moved hy Cr Dick, seconded hyCr Caples, " Tbat Cr Davies be empowered to inquire into the items contained in the accounts sent down hy tbe Government Nt re Hospita) and Charitable Aid." Car* ried, Cr BayfeifrPs notice of motion lapsed. Cr Davies moved, Cr Kelly seconded, " That Mr Batler be requested ta deliver to the Clerk all specifications prepared hy> him, and also a copy of his report on the various roads in the County." Carried,

£ s. d. Archer, furniture* Ac. ... 210 0 Fale*, roll 5 5 0 | Scoltock, use of booth ... 1 1 0 Gallagher* returning officer 11 18 0 Dudgeon, retarniag officer 110 G&llagher Bros., fitting up booth 3 14 6 Croft, poll clerk ... ... OIS 6 Johnstone, delivery of papers 4 10 0 Power, rent of room* .... 110 0 j M'Guigan, posting notices 110 0 Sohulhoff, lead pencils ... 0 4 6 Shaw, returning officer ... 4 4 0 Hopkins, poll clerk ... 0 10 6 Ibbetson, delivery of telegrama ,„ „,100 Davies, use of premises ... 4 4 0 Legget, special messenger 16 0 Hankin, returning officer.,,, 3 0 0 Campbell, horse hire ... 3 0 0 O'Malley, use of house ... 2 0 0 Johnston, use of store ... 110 0 £62 16 0 From Mr Butler, tendering hisreiigna-

£ 8. d. I Gisaing, dmgs ... ... 38 0 Dunn, coffin ... ... 5 0 0 Boss, firewood .800 M'Namara, nurse ... ... lIS 0 Mrt Plaskett, nurse 1 10 Q Finlay, bread 13 1 Pattinson, milk ... .... 0 9ft Mrs Green, milk ... ... 1 5 0 Dick, meat * 19 0 A iken. groceries ... ... 5 7 7 £29 11 ft