WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Kumara Times, Issue 2065, 12 April 1883, Page 2

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Council met at 2 p.m. yesterday; present : The Chairman (J, M'Whirter, Esq.), Messrs Gumming, Grimmond, Jack, Seddon, Rose, Hirter, M'Goldrick and Dungan. From the West Coast Times we extract the following report of business pertaining to this riding : CORRESPONDENCE. Letter from Mr John Cameron, asking for compensation for damage, £2O, done to his coach, through stacking wood on the road, if the Council thought his claim reasonable.—Recived. Mr Jack moved that the letter be referred to the Chairman to report by next meeting. Mr Dungan seconded, and suggested that theßoad Overseer should be consulted. He might say that he had, while Chairman, given instructions to the overseer to have firewood removed from the road reserves. The Chairman and Mr Hirter said it was the duty of the overseers to see that the roads were kept clear.—The motion was carried. Telegram from the,Private Secretary of the Governor, regretting that his Excellency could not visit Westland just now.—Received.

Telegram from the Minister of Mines, consenting to the construction of road (£1000) between Kumai’a and the sea beach.—Received. Letter from the District Engineer, certifying to the expenditure at the Teremakau bridge, and asking that the value of the gold obtained at the work might be deducted.—Received. The Chairman said that the value of the gold was £lB, which he proposed to pay, less expenses of getting it, into the public account.

Letter from Sergeant Moller, stating that a serious coach accident had occurred on the Goldsborough road, through the stacking of firewood on the road, and suggesting that the police be given written authority to prosecute, in future similar cases, under the Public Works Act.—Received, and suggestion adopted. Letter from Mr H. J. Wylde, offering his services as a surveyor to the Council.—Referred to the Chairman.

Letter from Mr J. Mulhearn, re protective works at Goldsborough, and stating that the overseer would have recommended the work but for the influence of a friend of the writer’s, who was dressed in a little brief authority.—Mr Seddon moved that the letter be referred back to the writer, with an intimation that it could not be considered by the Council unless the insinuation contained in it were withdrawn, Mr Jack seconded the resolution. He did not know who this Mr Mulhearn was, but thought that such insinuations were worse than lies.— The motion was carried. larrikin’s road.

Mr Seddon moved, “ That tenders be invited by next meeting for the construction of dray road from Larrikin’s road to Wood’s tramway, via Mignonette Flat, as per plans and specifications now on the table.” Mr Dungan seconded. In answer to Mr M'Goldrick, the Chairman said the cost of the work would be about £l5O. Mr Jack supported the resolution, which was carried. KUMARA ROAD TO THE BEACH, Mr Seddon moved, “ That tenders be called for construction of road from Kurnara to the' sea beach, as per plans and specifications now on the Council’s table, commencing at road now in course of construction by the Borough Council of Kumai’a, and terminating at the sea beach.” By leave he would ask to add the words, “ that the road be ten feet wide.” Mr Grimmond seconded. Mr Jack, said it was not necessary to specify the width of the road, which would be a matter for a Government engineer. Mr Hirter thought tenders should be called for an eight-foot as well as a ten-foot road. The motion was carried. COUNTY BY-LAW. The Chairman moved, “ That this Council now confirm by-law No. 3, made under special order on the 14th February, 1883, relating to the licensing of public vehicles under the Counties Act Amendment Act, 1882.” Mr Grimmond thought the tariff was too high and that private conveyances ought to be taxed. Mr Jack also objected to this by-law. Surely £5 a year was too much to charge a horse and dray for the use of the road.

The Chairman said the by-law had been advertised for three months, ami no one had ever objected to it. Mr Jack still held that the rates were excessively high. The resolution was ca.iried on n division, Messrs Grimmond, Hirter, and Jack voting in the negative.