WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Kumara Times, Issue 2777, 15 August 1885, Page 2

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Westland County Council was held in the Council Chambers, Hokitika, on Wednesday afternoon ; present—The Chairman (J. Grimmond, Esq.), Messrs M'Goldrick, Daly, Clark, Spence, Jack, Dungan, and M'Wbirter. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The following particulars of business referring to this part of the county is from the West Coast Times : CORRESPONDENCE. Letter from Mr J. White and several other miners at Larrikins, praying for a track to be made through Mignonette Flab to the foot of Big Terrace.— Received. Letter from Mr Seddon, M.H.R., stating that the Public Trust Board declined to give any aid towai'ds protecting the Arahura river banks; a ! so to the effect that the opposition came from the Maori members.—Received.— Mr Dungan said it was surprising that there was an objection to protect Native property. Letter from the same re hospitals and charitable aid proposals.—Received. Telegram from Sir Julius Vogel re East and West Coast Railway, and its reference to a committee.—Received.

Letter from Mr Duncan, agent for Mr 'Mlnerney, re lease of Taipo Ferryreserve, inquiring when the lease would be executed by the Council Received.—Mr M'Goldrick would like to know why this matter had not been settled before.—Mr Daly thought the lease should be given effect to.—The Chairman said the banding away of this property just as a bridge was being made, was not good policy. If the Council told him to execute the lease, he would do so.—Mr Dungan was surprised that the Chairman did not take tbis objection before. Mr M'lnerney had improved the land, and the Council had every right to enter the land for public purposes. The Chairman had no right to take up the position he had done, in face of the resolution of the Council.—The Chairman said he did not care to hand over the lease till some progress had been made with the bridge.—Mr M'Whirter thought it only reasonable to protect the Government interest. Mr M'lnerney's lease would be signed as soon as the contract was completed, and no one else would get the lease.—Mr Daly said that the lease provided for the ingress and egress of the contractors on the land.— Mr Dungan said that probably all Mr M'lnerney wanted was to be protected.—Mr Jack said when the lease was granted, the Council knew a bridge was about to be made. He hardly saw what detriment could arise to the public work referred to.—Mr Clarke held that the Council was pledged to Mr M'lnerney. Could not an arrangement he made with Mr M'lnerney 1 After all, this matter could have been anticipated, and he did not know that any danger, such as the Chairman had anticipated, would arise.—Mr M'Goldrick moved and Mr Daly seconded, that the lease be executed at once.—On a division the motion was carried, ayes, 5 : Messrs Dungan, Jack, Clarke, Daly, and M'Goldrick : nnrs, 2: the Chairman and Mr M'Whirter.

Letter from Mr Whitten, (Greenstone), forwarding claim for £B, for damages caused by hie horse going

through a plunk on the Temmakau bridge.—Resolved that the claim car« not be entertained.

Letter from Mr R. J. Seddon, M.H.R., denying thai he had requested Dr. MacCarthy to report on a case of diphtheria at Kumara, or that he. had authorised expenditure in the shape of a fee of £lO 10s to be paid to Dr. MacCarthy. It appeared to him that Dr. MacCarthy had acted without authority. Received. The Chairman said it was Dr. MacCarthy who had placed Mr Seddon in a wrong position,—Mr DungHn said under the circumstances, it was a cool piece of impudence on the part of Dr. MacCarthy to bill the Council for £lO 10s. Letpr from Mr Seddon, M.H.R., enclosing voucher for £5, forwarded for the purpose of defraying the passage of Thomas Walshe to Sydney.—Received. FINANCE. The Finance Cummittee's Report showed the total receipts since last meeting to be £2095 17s 7d, and the total pay merits to have been £1839 19s; bank account, £3781. The July accounts amount to £2OIB 9s. The liabilities on the 12th inst., including, of course, the July accounts, amount roughly to £9OOO. Approximately the assets at date are £IO,OOO, this sum including the rate for Crown lands for the year 1885-86, now due. The final payments on several contract works are included in the accounts for July, and it is in consequence of these payments that the accounts are so heavy this month. A large sum has been expended by the county on new works and maintenance works during the last three months, during which period the payments have averaged nearly £2OOO per month. COUNTY CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. The County Chairman's Report was read and received, as follows : "I have the honor to report that, during the month I attended public meetings at all the centres of population in the county, from Kumara to Ross, in furtherance of the East and West Coast Railway. It is a matter of deep regret that the strong and unanimous expressions of public opinion in favor of constructing the line, have had no effect, but if it is found that further efforts are likely to have any weight in inducing Parliament to reverse the decision already arrived at, or if it is at all possible to get the Government to undertake the work out of a loan, I shall of course continue to press this question forward with all energy. " The resolutions of the Council with regard to the local government bills now before the House of Representatives, have been communicated to the Government and the members for the district. The Government have not yet replied to our representations. • " While at Kumara I inspected with Mr Kerr the new road now completed from Kumara to the sea beach. This is a very useful work, and is completed in a satisfactory manner by the contractors. Its total cost has been £ISOO. " The widening of the Kanieri Lake road is finished also, and this work will be a great benefit to the residents of the Kanieri districts. "In reference to the question referred to me, of the appointment of a pound-keeper at Arahura, I recommend, in the first instance, the erection of a new pound on a suitable site. The present site is on Mr Miller's private land, and is not erected in compliance with the Impounding Act." Several other reports from the overseers and engineer were also read and received. ACCOUNTS. The Chairman moved that accounts to the amount of £2OIB 9s be passed for payment.—Carried. TEREMAKAU PERRY. Mr Dungan said that by some mistake, his notice of motion, which should have preceded Mr M'Whirter's, had been misplaced. Mr M'Whirter moved—" That a ferry be established at the Special Settlement, Teremakau. That application* for ferryman be invited for next meeting of the Council; applicants to provide boat, and state the amount of subsidy they will require." Mr Dungan rose to a point of order. His resolution was in the office before Mr M'Whirter's. Under those circumstances was Mr M'Whirter in order? The Chairman ruled that he could not go behind the Order Paper, even if a mistake had been made.

Mr Duugan said that a mistake had been made, as notices of motion should be placed on the Order Paper in the sequence in which they were received. Mr M'Whirter did not want any notoriety on die sulj^ct. Mr Duncan olijfcted to such m remark. All he wan ted w>* his right to. precedence, to which ha was entitled.

Mr M'Whirter then moved his resolution. He said trade would be encouraged by establishing this ferry, and argued at length on the necessity for which it would prevent a great deal of unnecessary travelling. Mr Daly seconded. Mr Dungan said the want of this ferry had been a grievance for a long time. Land was taken up on both sides of the river. He hoped that the Council would support the motion. When the river was in flood the ford was dangerous. In his opinion the Grey County Council ought to pay onehalf of the expense. Mr Jack seconded. He congratulated the members of the Arahura distant upon their eagerness to do good for the district. He would support the resolution. Mr M'Goldrick supported the resolution, provided the Grey Council would pay one-half of the subsidy. The motion was carried. BIG TERRACE TRACK. Mr Dungan moved, " That the County Engineer be instructed to carry out the construction of a foot-track, leading from Mignonette "Flat and Larrikin's road to the foot of the Big Terrace, distance about 10 chains; cost not to exceed £15." A petition for this track had been sent in that day to the Council, and the work was necessary for the miners. Mr M'Whirter seconded the motion, which whs supported by Mr Daly, end carried. TEREMAKAU FERRY. Mr Dungan moved, by leave, " That the County Chairman be requested to communicate with the Grey County Council, with a view to ascertain if the Grey Council will consent to defray half"the cost of a subsidy of a ferry over the Teremakau river." Mr M'Whirter seconded the motion, which was carried. The Council adjourned at six p.m. Bine die.