WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Kumara Times, Issue 2800, 11 September 1885, Page 2

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Westland County Council was held on Wednesday, at 7.30 p.m. ; present— The Chairman (J. Griramoncl, Esq.), Messrs M'Gold rick, Daly, Spence, Dungan, and M'Whirter. The minutes were read and confirmed. CAPTAIN SUTTER. The following telegram, sent by the Chairman to Mr J. H. Sutter, M.H.R., was read :—"A letter, alleged to have been written by you, to the Canterhuiy Railway League stigmatises the West Coast residents as a lot of ' State paupers.' This letter has been published in the West Coast newspapers and (naturally enough) has aroused great indignation* I cannot believe that a gentleman and a legislator would write such a letter, or give expression to such gratuitous calumnies. It is far easier to credit my own supposition that the letter is not genuine. I would thank you greatly if you would be so good as to give me authority to deny its authenticity." Mr Dungan said the Chairman deserved great credit for challenging Mr Suiter, M.H.R., who appeared to him the embodiment of a worn-out old sundowner. He moved that a special vote of thanks be passed to the Chairman for his spirited telegram to Mr Sutter. Mr Daly seconded the motion. Mr M'Whirter did not understand why a member of Parliament should slander any community. He eudorsed the motion, and denied Mr Sutter's aspersions. The motion was carried. From the West Coast Times we make the following extracts of other business of the Council, of general interest, or relating to this part of the county. CORRESPONDENCE. Letter from Mr C. Harris and other miners at Shamrock and Shallow Leads, applying for a track in the neighborhood.—Received. Letter from Messrs Whelan and Miicnamara, contractors, asking for two months' extension of time for their contract.—Received. Letter from Secretary Kumara Hospital, applying for a subsidy to that institution.—Received, and referred to the Finance Committer? to report. Letter f.oin Mr A. B. King, applying for a. sub.-u'-ly 10 the Ksmieii Coal Prospecting Association, :) nd >s!dnLi for the iiho <;f (he Tiffin bon'm: m^hiu".— Received.—Referred to the Finance Committee i the Tiffia Borer to be lent.

Letter from Mr Seddon, M.H.R,, respecting the Haast Pass road.—Received. _ Letter from Mr Seddon, M.11.K , applying for two months' leave of absence. —Granted. Letter from Minister of Public Works, respecting grant under Roads and Bridges Construction Act. ReC6l VGCI Letter from Mr J. White, Dillman's, complaining of floods damaging residence areas, and asking that a culvert might be opened. —Received, and referred to Mr Kerr. PAYMENT OF LICENSING COMMITTEES. Letter from Mr M. F. South, Clerk to Kanieri Licensing Committee, expressing astonishment that no payments had been made to the committee for the year 1884.—Received.— Mr Dungan would like to know whether it was illegal or not to pay these com-mittee-men. The matter should be definitely settled. There was a motion on the minutes that they should be paid.—The Chairman said all that the Council could pay was traveling expenses. The House had refused to amend the Act so as to grant payments.—Mr Dungan contended that it was unreasonable to expect people to do the work for nothing.—Mr Daly said it was a pity that men could not be paid for their time and labor.—Mr M'Whirter moved tint the Licensing Committee-men be requested to forward accounts for their traveling expenses.—Mr Daly seconded the motion, which was carried. Letter from the Licensing Committee, Arahura, re payment to commit-tee-men.—Received ; to be answered in the same manner as the letter from the Kanieri Committee. COUNTY CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. A report by the County Chairman was was read received. In it he remarks : "The Kumara sea beach road, and two miles of the widening of the Dillman's Town - Christchurch road are now finished in a workmanlike manner. The Government have made a grant in aid of the last-mentioned work, of .£1125, so that tenders can be immediately invited for widening the ieuinining portion of this road • and as £3OOO has been set aside by the Mines Department for the Council to expend on the Cedar Creek, road, tenders can also be now invited for five miles of this dray road. It is my intention to visit the southern district of the county between this and the next meeting, and to report generally on County matters in that part of Westlaud on my return." TENDERS. The following tenders were accepted : Cook river track, Purcell ; Okarito Forks bridge repair, Landers ; repairs Waitaha cattle track, Tliiel ; maintaininc ferry at Teremakau special settlement, Millson; supply of metal, Arahura road, Whelan. [At this stage of the proceedings, Mr Jack took his seat.] FINANCIAL. The Chairman moved, " That the August accounts, as revised and recommended for payment by the Finance Committee, amounting to £1399 12s, be now passed for payment."—Carried. dillman's road. Mr M'Whirter moved, " That tenders be invited by next meeting for widening the remaining portion of the Dillman's Town-Chriutchurch road." The money for the work had been handed over by the Government, and the work was urgent.—Mr Dungan secouded the motion, which was carried. [The Finance Committee's Report and other items will be given in tomorrow's issue.]