WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Kumara Times, Issue 2723, 13 June 1885, Page 2

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

The following is the remainder of the report of the County Council proceedings on Wednesday and Thursday ; CLERKS TO LICENSING COMMITTEES. The Chairman moved “That a sum of £lO he voted for the year 1885 to Messrs South and M.'Ennis. Clerks to the Ivaninri ami Aralmra Lionising Commin ees, as traveling expenses, under Section 109 of the Licensing Act, 1881,”

Mr Whirter supported the motion. At first, he was opposed to this, hut now he would support it. The motion was carried. ARAHURA PROTECTION WORKS. The Chairman moved “That the steps taken hy the Public Works Com. mittee, relative to protective work along Arahnra river bank, near Miller’s farm, be approved and adopted; and that the class of work (marked B) shown on the County Engineer s plan (as obtained by the Public Works Committee) be adopted and carried out by clay labor, at an estimated cost of £1450. Also that a sum of £2OO be expended at upper crate, on north side of river, as also recommended by Mr Kerr,” Mr Dungan said that as Mr Miller was leaving or had left the district, his agreement with the Council was so ranch waste paper. The Chairman said a deed had been prepared, binding Mr Miller’s successors. Mr M'Goldrick thought there was a lot of expenditure connected with this matter which could be done without. ' Mr Seddon proposed an addition to the resolution, that before the work was commenced a guarantee should be obtained from the Maori Commissioner, to contribute to the cost of the work. The motion as amended was carried. PROSPECTING. Mr Seddon moved “That with a view of developing the mineral resources of the County and encouraging prospecting, a prospecting party of not more than four men in each riding of the County, be subsidised at the rate of fifteen shillings per man per week. That applications be called from intending prospectors; that each party send in the full names of the party, accompanied with inferences as to fitness, sobriety, and character, stating also the locality they intend to prospect, and as to nature of prospecting—whether for gold in alluvial drift or quartz, or other metals and minerals.” Mr M'Whirter seconded. There was the danger of unfit applicants being selected. Some means would have to be taken to select good men. Mr Jack suggested that there should be a sliding scale. Men working near settlements should not get so much as those working at a distance from them. After a long discussion, the motion was carried. The Council adjourned at six o’clock, and resumed at 7 p.m. DUNEDIN FLAT. Mr Dungan moved “That the track leading through the Tichbome Claim, near the lower part of Dunedin Flat, be further extended towards the Shamrock Lead, for a distance of 10 chains, cost not to exceed £l2.—Carried. STAFFORD PROTECTION WORKS, Mr M'Whirter moved “That Mr Kerr be instructed to have protection work constructed along the bank of the creek near the upper end of Stafford. Cost not to exceed £20.” The last flood had gutted out a great portion of the right way to the creek. Mr Seddon seconded. Mr Jack said if this work was merely temporary, it would be wrong to undertake it. Mr Dungan said the engineer had reported upon the necessity of the work. Motion carried. REGULATIONS FOR PROSPECTING. Mr Seddon moved “That the Council go into Committee to consider the regulations for aid to prospecting.”— Carried. In Committee, the regulations drawn up by the Committee were considered, and after amendment, adopted. The Council resumed. browning’s pass track. Mr Seddon moved “That the County Engineer visit and report on the cost of putting the track via the river Styx to Browniug’sPassin passable repair.”Carried, adjournment. At this stage of the proceedings, Mr Dungan said he would now move an adjournment until eleven o’clock next day. The Council had been left without a quorum. Mr M'Goldrick seconded. He did not intend to sit after ten p.m., which was late enough. Mr Seddon said time was precious to him, and he failed to see why the members should be kept another day. He hoped they would go on. with the business. The motion for adjournment was carried on a division, and the Council adjourned accordingly till eleven next day. TnuitSDAY, June 11. The Cumiml met- at eleven -i.m. ; present —The Cli.riui n {.] . O imniond, Esq ), Messrs M'Goldrick, Daly, Spence, Jackj Dungan, and Seddon.

TENDERS. Mr Seddon moved “ That the action of the Tender Committee in accepting the following tenders be approved and confirmed, viz., widening Humphreys Gully Road, Gale and M‘Keegan ; track from Kumara Sea Beach to Hughes’ diggings, Whelan and Macnamara; track from Larrikins to Loopline road, section 1, Martin and Go.; section 2, P. Corrigan ; section, 3, C. Murtba and Co.” Mr Daly seconded. Carried. browning’s pass reefs. Mr Spence moved “ That the County Engineer be instructed to have the track now leading from Kokatahi to Browning’s Pass reefs put in a proper state of repair as a pack track.” Mr Spence asked leave to withdraw. There was a motion on the order paper in Mr Seddon’s name, which he thought was more to the point. Leave granted, and motion withdrawn. arahura bridge approach. Mr Seddon moved “That the old approach to the Arahura bridge be fenced off, and that side fences be erected at each side of the new approaches.” Mr Dungan seconded. Carried. CONTRACT TERMS, Mr Seddon moved “ That the County Engineer be instructed in all cases to strictly enforce the terms of all contracts as to have the various works completed within contract time.’’ Carried. browning’s pass track. Mr Seddon moved “ That the Minister of Mines be communicated with, and asked to subsidise the amounts expended by the Council in repairing the Browning Pass track, and in constructing the track via Arahura Yalley to head of the Taipo and the reefs at Browning Pass.”—The reason for his moving this motion was, that the Minister of Mines had assisted a wealthy council (the Selwyn Council) to make a track on the other side of the range, and he thought the Westland Council should receive some support. Mr Dungan seconded. Messrs Jack and Daly supported the motion, which was carried uananimously. A. QUORUM. Mr Seddon moved, “ That the following bye law be now made, viz; *On the attention of the County Chairman being called to the fact that a quorum is not present he shall immediately suspend business, if, on counting the members present, he finds such to be case. If, after the lapse of ten minutes thereafter, there is not a quorum present then the Chairman shall adjourn the meeting till another day, not later than seven days thereafter. The names of the Councillors present at the time of adjournment to be entered in the Minute Book.’ He thought it was absolutely necessary that the by-law be framed. The Chairman seconded. He did not wholly agree with the resolution. It might delay the business of the Council, but thought it just as well to have the matter discussed. He thought that the word “ five ” sbonld be inserted in place of “ ten ” minutes. The Chairman’s suggestion was agreed to, and the motion carried as amended. GENERAL RATE. The Chairman moved, “ That it be publicly notified that it is the intention of this Council at its next ordinary meeting on Wednesday, July Bth, 1885, to make a general rate of one penny halfpenny in the £ on the rateable value of property within the County ; said rate to be for the year ending on 31st day of March, 1886, and to be payable in one sum on July 10th, 1885.” Carried. The Council adjourned at one p.ra., sine die.