WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Kumara Times, Issue 2698, 15 May 1885, Page 2

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

COUNTY CHAIRMAN’S REPORT,

The Council met in the Council Chambers at half-past seven o’clock on Wednesday; present—The Chairman (J. Grimmond, Esq.), Messrs Seddon, Dungan, Spence, Jack, Clarke, and M‘Go Id rick. The following report of business referring to this part of the county is from the West Coast Times : CORRESPON DENCE. Letter from Mr J. B. Lewis, forwarding Mr M'lnerney’s lease of Taipo ferry.—Referred to the Finance Committee to report. Letter from Mr Olden, Secretary Kumara School of Mines, asking for compensation.—Received. Letter from Dr. Monckton, stating that he proposed to send to the Exhibition medical preparations from the phormium tenax.—Received. Letter from Minister of Public Works, stating that the sum asked for closing Otira toll-gate would be considered by Government.—Received.

Letter from Mr Sperry, PropertyTax Commissioner, requesting that the rolls be open for inspection by persons applying for the appointment of assessors.—Received, and resolved that the request be granted. Letter from the Town Clerk, Kumara, applying for assistance in repairing the cemetery fence.—Referred to the Chairman to report.

Several reports were read and received j among others, the County Report, as follows :

“ I have the honor to report that since the last meeting I have attended to the various matters referred to me. Meetings of the Public Works Committee have been held, with the view of deciding on the nature of the protective works to be erected on Miller’s farm, Arahura. The committee finaUy decided to refer this matter to Mr Kerr, and his report on the proposed works, with plans, estimate, and recommendations will be laid before you. I have communicated with the Native Commissioner with the view of getting him to defray a portion of the cost of these works, and expect a favourable reply. I have also communicated with, the Minister of Mines relative to the expenditure of the vote of £3OOO for the dray road to the Cedar Creek, and I have fair reason to believe the money will bo spent, A meeting of the Exhibition Committee and the Prospecting Committee was held during the month. Very little progress has been made with the Exhibition. With regard to prospecting, the subject will be brought before you at this meeting. “ The finances of the County are now in a sound condition, as the applications I have made to Government for revenues due to the Council have all been entertained. Very strict economy most now be observed to enable the Council to keep out of debt.

“ I have had notices served on some of the contractors for County works who were not carrying out their contracts with expedition, and I again recommend that contracts should be completed within at all events a reasonable period from contract time. There are at present 28 contracts in hand, nearly all of which are approaching completion. The roads, generally, are in fair order. I may mention that the reason the track to Browning’s Pass has not been blazed is, that the County had already two parties of surveyors out, aucl I was waiting till one of these parties had completed their work. ” FINANCE. The Finance Committee reported as follows :

“Your Committee have the honor to report that, since the date of last meeting, accounts to the amount of .£2519 2s have been paid. “The accounts for the present meeting to pass, amount to £1432 18s, of which £3OO is for the repair of flood damages. “Receipts since last meeting have placed the Council in funds, but it will now be necessary to conserve our resources in the strictest manner, as large works are in hand, or about to be commenced, while the greater portion of the available revenue for the year has already been received. Your committee therefore reccommend in the strongest manner that care should be exercised tn incurring fresh liabilities. “ As it will be necessaty during the ensuing week, to hold a special meeting under the Counties Act, to consider the financial position of the Council on the 31st March last, it is unnecessary for your Committee to say more at present than that the audit of accounts for the year ending on that date, has been the heaviest and most laborious known since the Council came into existence,

upwards of 2300 vouchers having to be examined, and receipts to the amount of £22,282 15s 6d having to be accounted for, together, of course, with the expenditure of a corresponding sum. The audit has already occupied several weeks, and is not yet completed. “ Your Commit tee think it necessary to draw your Council's attention to the very heavy expenditure for district road maintenance in the Kanieri riding. Your Committee think the present rate of expenditure is most excessive, and steps should at once be taken to reduce it considerably.” BROWNING PASS ROUTE. Mr Spence introduced a deputation of settlers, miners, and others, resident in the Kanieri and Arahura districts, whose object was to induce the Council to open up the track from Kokatahi to the lately discovered Browning Pass reefs. After the deputation had been bowed out, it was found that no quorum was left. Mr Dungan called the Chairman’s attention to this circumstance, whereupon the Chairman declared the meeting lapsed for want of a quorum.

At this stage of the Council’s proceedings the tenders had not been dealt with, and the Order Paper was not reached. The members present when the meeting lapsed, were the Chairman, Messrs Dungan, M'Goldrick, and Spence. Two members, Messrs Daly and M‘Whirter did not put in an appearance at all while the Council was sitting. The tenders were opened, subsequently to the close of the meeting by the Public Works Committee.