INANGAHUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 47, 27 July 1877, Page 2

INANGAHUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the members of the Inangahua Chunty Council was held on Wednesday last, at 330. p.mThere were present Messrs Brennan (Chairman), Bayfeild, Kelly, Byrnes, Dick and Caples. The minutes of the preceding meeting wero read and confirmed. The Clerk read copies of all correspondence forwarded since the last meeting. Mr C. Y. O'Connor, District Surveyor, of Westland, was in attendance, and the subject of the proposed Grey-Reefton road was introduced. Mr O'Connor said he had yrone over one of the routes for the proposed road. He had, ho.wever > si QCe een pointed out. another routo and which was recommended by. a number or people as the most suitable one. He would, therefore, like to know the views of the Council as to the relative merits of the two routes, or the particular reasons to be urged in favor of the old route. The Chairman said that before the merging of the Koad Board in the County, the former body had the control of; the roads of the district. The Board had recommended what was known as the southern route, which was by the old line. The fJoard had employed Mr

Woolley to surrey th 8 line,] and the merits or demerits of an alternate line were never gone into by the Board, and the southern route was universally assented to as the best to promote settlement. Mr O'Connor produced a map showing the line of a new route which had been rocently surveyed by Mr Woolley. It started at Lardi's and traversed the northern side of the Little Grey river to Mirfin's farm, on the Grey, aud thence to a point on the same river, opposite Donald's farm, where there was a good site for a punt or bridge. He knew absolutely nothing himself, of the merits of the proposed aew line, further than what he had heard. He had heen informed, however, that by keeping the road on the northern side of the Little Grey they could avoid all the crossings of that river, and, therefore, the road would be accessible in all reasonable weather and a permanent work. Quite the contrary would be the case by adhering to the old route. If constructed on the northern side the road would form an important link in the arterial line of communication between Greymoutb, Reefton, Westport and Nelson. So far as he could hear, the old route possessed none of these advantages, and could not be constructed so as to be accessibj c in, all weathers.. The money which it was intended to expend upon the road was General Government expenditure, but the Government had consented to the County Couucil having a voice m the expenditure. The proposed road was, therefore, not to be regarded as a local work. The vote was for an arterial line : the work of constructing local roads, deyolved upon the Council/by the aid of its own ordinary revenue. The money having been voted for an arterial line, all that remained; for the Council was to express an opinion as to whether or not the old route fully met the conditions of the yote. 3o far as the comparative advantages offered by the two routes for opening up land for settlement, that was a merely local matter. It would be for the County to promote settlement of the land within its boundaries. The arterial lines of road would be carried out qaite irrespective of the question of settlement. He should be glad, therefore, to learn the precise views ofthe Council for deciding in favor of the old route, so that he might lay them before the Gevernment.. The Chairman inquired whether the Council was to understand that in the event of the members confirming the choice of the Road Bourd in the. matter, he (Mr O'Connor) would yeto it. . Mr O'Connor did not wish, to convey that impvssion, for he had no. fijial voice in. the quitter... II*? was merely called upon 10 report on tUowork, an I Iny the matter before the Minister of Public Works in a fdip N and impartial inniiiifr. Th« vote b.eiiu r iiilentlutl for an arterial line o?ily, the Government did not wish to put tinpontrol oftlio espen.iiture out of their hands. T'lej, therefore, reserved the right to veto, as well witli regard to route as to form of construction. AH he desired to do was to ascertain the pxacl reasons of the Council for adopting the old route in preference to the proposed new oue, and then be would, after examining (he route, add his own opinion and lay the facts before the Government. The Chairman said the qnestion of an alternate line was never brought before the Road Board, nor discussed by that body. It was known aU. along that a second route existed, but the almost unanimous feeling of the Board was that it would be utter madness to think of selecting it in preference to the one vrhich had been for years regarded as the settled line. The Council had: certainly not passed a special resolution confirming the choice of the Eoad Board in the matter, but it was taken for granted that when the Board was merged in the County 1 Council, the latter acquiesced in. the de- : cision of the Board. Mr O'Conn?s.'did not see that thq Council was bound in any way by the action of the Board. It was quite clear from, what had been said that the Road Board had not even considered the merits .of the northern route, and there, was no reason why the Council should- blindly , follow the action, of the Roard, if it were shown that the conclusion arrived at bad been done so burredly or without comparative consideration. A large quantity :of land had been taken up along the new 'line, and it was represented to him, that ;by adopting the new. line, they would avoid numerous branches of the river, and obtain, a far more permanent roadi He wished it to be understood, however, that he was not at present weddedeither to the old xoute or the last one which had; been proposed* The Chairman— By whom proposed ? Mr O'Connor should have said mooted. Two routes had been mooted, and ho was called upon to recomniend one of them, but before he could do so impartially he would have to learn the precise reasons to be urged in favor of each. The Chairman repeated that the northern route had never been, mooted by the Road Board ; nor had any petition been presented to the Board either, in favor of the northern route, or against the adoption of the old one. Mr O'Connor suggested that now that the objection had cropped up, it would be the best course to deal with it, and this | could only be done by careful consideras tion. The Chairman— The chief reasons which guided the Koad Board in adopting the old route were that it passed through the earliest settlement in this part of the country ; that for the last eight years it had been regarded as the fixed line of the road, and that it was under that belief,

and in fact upon tbe direct promise and assurance of tbe Government that settlement there was uuder,taken. -Moreover, it traversed goocl^ agricultural 'couutry* possessing a large Rapacity for settlement; * while the country along the other toute was a wilderness; and utterly(de*oid of all natural advantages. Whatever land had been taken up along the nejv route had been applied for since the|ifcjjut6ha<i'. been secretly surveyed by Woolley andnd" ■ doubt had been taken-, up foicv P^ucelj? speculative purposes; ]&*si?/ Mr O'Connor repealed that lllpa t'n'ot a question of the occuoation dF^land ov se tlement ; that was not to be considered n the matter, The question to settle was, which was the bes 1 . route for a permanent arterial line of drayroad from, Greymouth, to Eeefton, Westport, and Nelson. It, seemed to him that the Council bad not; regarded the subject in its proper aspect* The settlement of land was a matter ofdetail. lhe Chairman would mention that one. member of the Road Biard had men-, tioned the alternate route, but tho sense of tbe body was decidedly against it. There was not at the time any survey of the route, unless it had beea performed surreptitiously, and consequently: thVj Board new nothing concerning it. Mr Byrne said he had been ovetbotli^ routes, and he felt quite satisfied t|at, when Mr O'Connor, saw the proposed "^Jo? line, he would not $hin.k quite so indci|* of it. V?^f " Mr O'Connor said there seeme4l|o?. be some misunderstanding. He w^not," there to advocate any particular route^H^ could not do so, as he had as. yetjnilyl seen one, but he was anxious to asc^tainl; 4 which was really the most adYantag||>u£|p 80 far as regarded the argument of having taken up land upon the assu%p?|U tion that the road would go in a certainj'f direction, that could not be allowed to. carry much weight. For instance, in order to find out the most practicable line for a railway from. Canterbury to the West Coast the Government had; had to. ' survey a number of lineSj and it.might with equal justice he argued that because, people upon the strength of anyone of those surveys had settled .the.Government s'iould~ be committed to, , carry the railway past their doors; He should be s.orry to urge that-G-OvernmenJL should break fiitK with the people, but he still thought that the argument could,' riot be. allowed to outweigh the superior; merits of any one of the routes as knfc arterial line. The. onus of providing, by-roads to foster settlement rested entirely with the Council ; and if, therefore, another road was necessary to, connect with the main, line, the Council) could cons ruot it. . Chairman said a/tei; all thp question seemed to resolve itself into this,' that if tho «Tovernment were going to ignore the. Council entirely in, the. matter in the wayhinted at, it would be better for the Go» vernment to assume the* entire 1 control of • the. work, and carry it ouii as they thought fi.t. .. ' v '. Mr O'Connor waa afraid h;s remark^ had been misunderstood. He merely sugges}ed a ; certain course, to the. Council. The Cliairman, said he coujd not help, telling Mr O'UniiMor that in,this new pro-. pos««l lip saw pouvlliiug for which they. «;t>ro nof; q.iito prepared, 'I his secret-, survey of tiie iww line die Cqujicil knew n >thing, o l *. The Council, employed- Mr. . Woolley to survey a. particlur lino, and it seemed that while he was supposed to be engaged in that work he .hud fouriih, • ime to 1-iy of another line. It was placing the Council, in a false position, Mr- Woolley said the.second survey had* b^en ordered by the Waste Lauds Boards Neluon, and so paid for. Mr O'Connor — So far as 1 can under-, stand, lhe Council is av.erse to going into-, the matter, and- what the Road Boards adopted they are determined! to carry out, Chairman, said that so. far he had been merely expressing his ow.ti yiew^. upon, the subject. As, however, there were' ih tho Council gentlemen w.ho had nod been, connected with the Road Board, they bad now an opportunity of expressing their views upon. tbe subjpet. Mr Bayfrild said that as a member ofthe Council who h.id nut held a seat upon. tie Road Boar. l. He. whs desirous of-say-inu; a word or t\vo.n<>on. the suiije'-t^'He. had only recently h.«arJ that tliete was. an alternate route, but it having^been, shown that there was a second practicable, line, he was of opinion that it would'bo." throwing away a good opportunity if they did not give it careful consideration, Hd. thought the Council had; better go into, the. matter quietly, and to, enable that to> be done he would move, that Mr O'Connor^; be thanked for the jnformation he had) furnished. The Chairman fully concurred with the. remarks of Mr Bayfeild, but took the .opportunity of repeating that the question, of au alternate route had never been suggested in the Road Board. The Clerk pointed out that tbe pro*, posed new line raa partly through, the. Grey County. Chairman said that it was a subject deserving of very grave consideration, and. the Council would take it as afavor-^if Mr O'Connor would make a very careful, examination cf tlie route, making due allowance for indirect as well as direct ad? vantages. Mr O'Connor, said the Council couldr safely reiv tbaj; he would go into the. matter with every care. Mr Kelly was of opinion that there was. a good deal of self-interest at work to induce the road being, taken by the new route. In reply to the Chairman, Mr,. o Connor said that it was only within the last fort* night that he had been informed, as to the advantages of the alt:ernate>route. The Chairman having thanked Mr O'Connor, the latter withdrew. On the motion of Mr Dick, seconded, by Mr Bayfeild, the Counpil agreed to recommend tbe. renewal of Brandts right to Buller ferry, for a period, of two. years. Clerk instrupted to. request Ruben Waite to, remove fence three chains. from, the Buller road. On the motion, of Mr Kelly, seconded by.Mr Byrnes, it was decided to ask the Government for a further snmof£soo, for the Hampden rqad. It was. moved, by Mr Dick aad seconded by Mr Byrne that on the arrival in Reefton of Mr Sherman, Superintendent of Po ice, he be waited upon by the Executive Committee of the Council, relative to the pay of the police. Carried. Moved by Mr Kelly, seconded by Mrs.

l^l^^lWMPw'^fc Vqad, aerossf/Eern ll&sMm&i<>rW Bsfc of metalling the u r^ived on UilmMM- W*We ||iM^|rp^oa%tl by.Mri B. ay Mid, that the llfllQlork , write' to tho Waste Linds Board, |^gWe]|j()t^ t iyil{,ini{ that..., the .wnsto hind at pg|^n*lun<*ton, known as Kane an.d Lyneh's *'*" "''' ■ i&ddoek, bo reserved as, v public reoreti•iiqtf ground, and that public notification te^guren, to all. persons to remove fences along the river '''IbjWtWf proposed by Mr Byrno and soconded By Mr Dick that m soon as the engineer, has completed tho work ordered on the Grey and Buller roads, he be requested to survey a" pack track, from the main Grej^road to 4ntonios, tho gradient to be'sucn as to bo available for a drayroad nt some future time ; also, -that he lay, off a pack-track, from tho Grey road tothe junction of Blackvvater and Big Biver, one and a half miles, with gradient as before mentioned. Plans and specifications for both works to be prepared at the earliest possible date, with thciview of calling tenders i'or the works. On the motion of Mr Dick, seconded by Mr Byrne, it was resolvtd in instruct the engipoer to }ay> off and prepare plans nnd specifications for the formation of '"J^rankfyn street, Black's Point. ? ' "t^Mr Kelly moved ond Mr Byrne t /^seconded, tbat the engineer inspect the country between M'Dowal's and Caples- * 46 topf^th the view of finding an easier f J VY L f gradient for the track between those Carried. \ * f \ _ moved and Mr Kelly i t " ' 'flic6ria|() ( that the engineer prepare plans <j/{ ?*fn&, specifications as early as possible, for ♦, between Caplesion and tho "f i! c /Jtf^ih^Time machine. Carried. '/ ,^Mr Dick moyed and Mr Bayfeild " t that the engineer prepare esti« y \' mate of the cost of a track from No. 2 <£$ P e ff» Ajax track, to Andersons Extended mine. Carried. V Movdd by Mr Kelly and soconded by Mr Byrne, tbat the engineer prepare plans .and'specifications for the formation of Sniitt i street, full "width. Carried. yhje following accounts were passed for payment :*—

On, 'the motion of Mr Dick, seconded jby Mr Kelly, the Council adjourned (Until Wednesday next, 1 at 2.30.

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