WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Kumara Times, Issue 3152, 10 December 1886, Page 3

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Westland County Council was held in the County Chambers, Hokitika, on Wednesday afternoon ; present—The Chairman (Jas. M‘Goldrick, Esq.), Messrs Dungan, Jack, M'Whirter, Grimmond, Hansen, Daly, and Claike. The Times reports:— In the absence of Mr Rae, through ill-health, Mr Dungan read the minutes and Mr Grimmond the correspondence. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence approved, CORRESPONDENCE. Letters from residents at special settlement, Teremakau, asking that tenders be invited For ferry service.— Received. From Canterbury Acclimatization Society, through Hon. J. A. Bonar, asking if the Council would pay the transit of fish to Westland.—Received, and a resolution was moved by Mr Jack, seconded by Mr Dungan, that the offer be accepted with thanks.—Mr M'Whirter moved as an amendment that before any expense be incurred full inquiries be made as to the most suitable localities, and as to treatment.— Mr Hansen seconded ; he thought breeding ponds were necessary.—Mr Grimmond supported the amendment; he would be in favour of making a vote towards the construction of breeding ponds.—Mr Clarke concurred ; there were too many natural enemies to warrant the fish being let out, as at present they were too small.—Mr Daly also supported the amendment, which was put and carried, and, becoming the substantive motion, was agreed to.

Telegram from Mines Department, notifying further contribution of £3OO towards Cedar Creek tunnel. Received.

From Comity Clerk, Greymouth, explaining why it was not possible to meat the Westland County Council at the Teremakau bridge as desired, and asking for particulars as to works projected,—Received. From M. Millson, Diliman’s, offering to maintain Teremakau ferry for £SO per annum.—Received ; resolved that the County Engineer be asked to report as to most suitable place for ferry. From the Premier intimating that the County Chairmen could not be paid salary after the 21st January.—Received. RAILWAY DEVIATION. Mr Seddon, by leave, read the following telegram from the Minister of Public Works;— It is not possible to answer your questions categorically, but I think the following figures give substantially all the information that is necessary in order to understand the state of the case:— Summit leave, on best deviation, 212 feet; summit on coast line, 78 feet; north bank Teremakau, at crossing, 27 feet ; Kumara township, where branch comes in, 257 feet. The best of the deviation adds one and a quarter miles to the length of the line.

He explained that not being satisfied with the figures supplied by the Public Works Department, he had caused levels to be taken, and asked pointed questions which elicited the reply just rend. The Minister in reply to a further telegram said the extra haulage required for the additional 134 feet was equal in consumption of steam to seven miles.

Mr Clarke thought it unwise to again go into this question of a deviation, which had in his opinion procured repeated delays. All the surveys that had taken place hy Government engineers were opposed to the Kumnra deviation.

Mr Seddon, in finder to answer some of Mr James Clarke’s objections, said I,lie cylinders for the Arahma bridge were not cast until October : they could not arrive for some months and the contractors bad eighteen months for the work after the cylinders were landed on the wharf. The deviation could not hinder the completion of vhe work, and if it was not agreed to, there was no prospect of go'ting u branch to Knmnra for some years. Jle thought it would have to be sanctioned as a new work.

Mr Jack thought there was a great -dr-ntfn wha* Mr Seddon h ut brought forward. lie would he pleased to see - public meeting held ; there had been

too many insinuations at work about what had hindered the line; he had thought them most uncalled for; he had seen them in print only recently and had objected to them very much ; they should be sheeted home, or else not spoken. The telegram was received. [Mr Seddou here entered and took his seat,] finance report. The Finance Committee reported : “Your Committee have the honor to report as follows : Receipts since last meeting £6O 0 3 Payments since last meeting £lsll 13 0 Bank overdraft at date ...£2300 0 0 AccountsforNovember, 1886 £1855 11 0 The following sums are due by, and have been applied for to Government:— £ s. dCrown lands rates, 1886-87 7200 0 0 £ for £on prospecting vote 291 18 0 Balance Cedar creek dray road vote 1350 0 0 £BB4I 18 0 “ Goldfields revenue and gold duty for the months of October and November are also due, and these will amount, probably, to £7OO or £BOO. These moneys should be available in a few days now. “The balance remaining unpaid on contracts in hand amounts to a total of £6BOO. The assets at date are some £3OOO in excess of the liabilities. “Your committee recommend that the Chairman and the Chairman of the Finance Committee wait upon the manager of the Bank to arrange for the payment of the amount passed at this meeting. The committee again would recommend the absolute necessity of curtailing the heavy expenditure going on for some time in the county.” Mr Daly moved the adoption of the leport. The monthly payments were so large that economy was absolutely necessary.

The Public Woiks Committee reported : “In accordance with a resolution of your Council at its last meeting, we, on the 11th November visited the scene of damage at the Arahura river, in company with your Engineer. “ The north bank at the upper end of the protection work has been very much cut away. There is no immediate danger, and as the property endangered is Maori property, we should recommend the Council to apply to them for some assistance, as the work required would cost over £IOOO. “ The south bank above the site of the railway bridge has sustained slight damage, and we instructed Mr Kerr to get it repaired; cost £SO to £6O.

“On the following day we visited

the- Teremakan bridge, and inspected the damage done to the approach from the Knmira side of the bridge. To repair this work, Mi Kerr recommends the tilling in ot the first span with large stones and otherwise repairing the damage; cost about £2OO. To this might be added, if the county funds permit, the construction of two dolphins which were carried away by the same flood ; cost from £4OO to £500.” Report received. REPORTS. The Prospecting Committee’s report as to alterations in the scale of allowanees was held over for consideration. Reports, were read and received from the Comity Engineer and road overseers. chairman’s annual statement. The County Chairman read the annual statement, which was received.— [We purpose publishing this in another issue.— Ed, K. T.] The Council then adjourned for fifteen minutes. LOAN ACTS. —SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the Council was then held, at which the same councillors were preeent, Mr Seddoii moved that the resolution passed at. a special meeting of the Council on 21st November, with reference to the Council placing itself in a position to take advantage of the Loan Acts of last session, be now confirmed. The motion was seconded by Mr Jack, and supported by Messrs Daly and Dungan, and carried. The special meeting then adjourned. tenders. The Council then resumed, and went into committee to consider tenders. ACCOUNTS. On resuming, The Chairman moved, “That the accounts for November, 188 G. as revised 'Hid recommended for payment by the Finance Committee, amounting to £1855 11s be now passed for payment.”—Carried. committees. Tli-■ following (Standing Committees woi e appointed : Public Works Committee.—Councillors Jnck (chairman) Grimraond, Hansen, Seddun, and the County Chairman. Finance Committee.— Councillors Dungan (chairman), Daly, M‘Whirter, Clarke, and the County Chairman. Prospecting Committee,—Councillors M‘Whirtcr (chairman), Hansen, Ddy, Seddun, and Jack. COUNTY chairman’s SALARY. At the instance of Messrs Seddon and Grimmond a resolution to rescind a m tiou fixing the County Chairman’s s.i ,ny, w;i S mled out of order. Am*; resolution, to vote Chairman a sub ry of £250 a yen', -was withdrawn, P <'SP’ CTI'O REGULATIONS. 'll J ck ue v o—“ Fruit the fresh pro'iier'ing n-gn nio is, as recotn'r .'M'b d Ly th > unnm: 1 tee, be adopted.” foe lion was seen,did by Air ill Whir I( I- ,1 lid C fried. l ii" ! ‘o i a n .ben adjourned.