MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 72, 4 May 1880, Page 2

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

«. Monday, April v, 18S0. Tlio Council met at 2 p.m. Present— Messrs Muciirthur (Chairman), M'Beth, Lash, Sanson, Gower, Kockstrow, Linton, and Kobbell. Mr Lash, the newly.electod member for Manchester Riding, took his seat. The minutes of lust meeting wero read and confirmed. C01!l;E<r0N T DENI)B UEAH. Letter real from Mr Sanson stating he had sent a man named Andrew Nilson to Wanganui Hospital. Letter read from Public Works Ofliee, stating that the full amount of tho Kimbolton Road grant had already been paid, and that therefore the sum of £155 10m asked for could not bo posted. Telegram read from Treasury, stating that £425 3s 2<\ had been posted to credit of Foxton-Otaki Iluad Fun'f. Letter read from Secretary to Manawatu Highways Board, stating that the rates collected during: the year ended March 31, 18«0, amounted to £ltSl 12s 3d; and arroara collected during same period amounted to £434. Owing to the valuation list having been thrown out. no statement could be made of the value of rateable property for the ensuing year. Letter read from Clerk to Foxton Local Board, stating that the rates collected during tho yoar ended 31st March, 1880, amounted to £390 13s od. Letter read from Uovornmont. enclosing agreement rv £000 for Kimbolton roa'l. Letter read from Otaki Highways Board Collector, stilting that the total of tho valuation list for that body for the ypiir ending March 31, 1880, showed a rateable value of £3,199 16s, and a rato of 9d in the £ would return i! 119 19s ]0d ; also, that the amount collected on account of the year ended March 31, 1880, was A'lol 12s 2d;

also, back rates collected during same period amounted to £5-1 9* 9d. BIiAUGHTEniHCi LICENSES. John Purcell, of Foxton, applied for a slaughter license. The licv. Mr Stewart, of Marron, applied on behalf of his sons, for a slaughter license to be lised at Kiwitea. Slaughter license granted to Messrs Wm. and David Stewart, to apply to sections •J3B, and 240, Kiwitca. Slaughter licenses were granted to John Purcell, of Foxton ; PI. H. Svanninge, of Makino ; F. Anderson, of Taouui. THE BOG TAX. Letter read from Constabulary Office, declining to allow tho police to be engaged iii collecting dog tax, it being a County revenue. The Chairman thought it Would be better to call for tenders for the dog tax, as in tho case of the ferries. That course would relieve the Council of a great deal of troubb. This opinion was generally shared in by the other members. Proposed by Mr Sanson, seconded by Mr Linton, and carded:— " That an advertisement be inserted in each of the County papers, calling for tenders for collecting the dog tax. Tenderers to state the Ridings for which chey aro willing to collect. Tenders to be in in time for next meeting." Proposed by Mr Kebbell, seconded by Mr Lash, and earned : — " That it bo an instruction to the Chairman in drawing up the specification for collecting the dog tax, to state that parties tendering will have to pay a lump sum quarterly for the right of collecting." HOROWHEXUA KOAP. Letter read from Dr. Buller, enclosing translation of letter sent by Major Kemp to Ihaia Tarehi, requesting him to allow the Horowhenua road to be proceeded with . TOXTON I'EREY. Letter read from lesses of Foxton ferry, asking for reduction of rent as compensation for losses sustained through the fecry not being in working order at the time expected when 'he Council voted the previous sum of £5. Tho Council granted £10 as compensation. PETITION. Mr Grower presented n petition from 29 settlers on the Taipo road, Carnarvon, asking that a special grant be given for their road, they having paid seven years' rates to the Highways Board, and to the County Council since its creation, but received no benefit. They asked that a sum might be voted which would enable the Highways Board to erect several bridges, and improve the formation on tho road referred to. Petition recfiived. Consideration deferred till tho Riding was in funds. CHAEITAHLE AH). Letter read from Wanganui Hospital Committee, referring to a deduction made from the amount payable by the Council for hospital maintenance, and declining to nhurge the amount deducted against the Palmerstr-n Borough Council, the two patients referred to — Messrs Hogan and Swaddling — having been sent up by Mr Linton in his capacity as County Councillor. Mr Kockstrinv s?ii(l the question of what constituted a resident would have to be settled. He found thesu men had been under treatment in Palmevston fr»r some time, before going to Wanganui, and thought the Borough, of Pahnerston should pay for them. Mr Linton denied the persons mentioned were in any sense residents of Palmerston, one having come from Ashurst, and the other being a workman lately employed in the Taonui swamp. Mr Rockstrow repealed hi 9 former remarks, as to the men being residents of Puliuerstou, and said the Borough Council had never jet paid for a single patient. His view was that from whatever place a man was sent that riding or Borough should pay for his maintenance. ■PUKEHOO 110 AD. The following letter was read: — "We want to know about the road which crosses our land lit Pukehou. We agree to let the road go, but require payment at the rate of £3 per acre for the ground taken by the road. — Kenao to Wliaro Pakaiu, Hoeta Kahuhiii." Mr Kebbell expressed his surprise that this matter had come up, as ho understood from Mr A. M'Donnld, who was agent for the nfitives, that some months ago the matter was settled. He moved — " That Renao te Whare Pukaru's letter be forwarded to A. iU' Donald, Esq., of A wahuri, asking him to state what agreement the natives made with him about the road, at the meeting he held with them and Mr booth on the subject." Seconded by Mr lnnton. , Mr Sanson objected r,o the matter being handed over to Mr M'Donald, a gentleman who was travelling all over the Colony. He would rather see the Chairman and Mr K^bbeli appointed a committee to deal with the matter. Mr Kebbell said his resolution simply asked for information from Mr M'Donald. Mr Rockstrow thought Mr Kebbell had taken too much on him throughout regarding the Foxton- Otaki Road. If they asked Mr M'Donald for information, they might have a iJaiin for a fee sent in. All native matteis should be dealt with through the Chairman, and not through individual Councillors. The Chairman thought as the resolution simply asked for information, no harm could" bo done by passing the resolution. Upon a division, tho resolution was carried. Ayes— Messrs Kebbell, Liuton, M'Beth Macurthur, and Lash. Noes — Messrs Suuson, ltockstrow, and Gower. HETUKNIXG 01-'I'ICKKS. Letter read from Mr W. Jackson, stating he intended to leave Sandon district, and therefore resigning his position as Returning Officer for Croua Riding. Mr Jackson's resignation as Returning Officer for Oroua was accepted, and Mr Gco. Williams was appointed in his place. Letters; were road from Messrs Knocks, fiobiusou, and Hammond, forwarding dedurations as Returning Officers. THE 11OA1) TO THE BEACH. Letter read from tho Public Works Oilice. authorising Mr F. Owen, of Feilding, '' to f nter upon such native lands as may be necessrry for the purpose of surveying a roa'l from tho Foxton ferry to the beach," in terms of section 78 of " The Public Works Act, 1870." Mr Rockstrow morel — "That tbo following minute of tho Ist March, 1880, proposed by Councillor Kebbell, and seconded by Councillor Linton, to wit — 'Referring to the letter of Nativo Lands office, of 24th February, 1880, that the Council declines to nccept the responsibility of obtaining a title to a road through nativo lands, and prays that tho Government will at once take action to define and acquire the necessary right-of-road,' bo rescinded." Seconded by Mr Gower, und carried. Proposed by Mr Kookstrow, seconded by Mr Linton, and carried, " That the Chairman be authorised to engage a surveyor to survey the roau from the Foxton ferry to the sea beach." PRIVILEGE OF THE PRESS. Mr Rockstrow a9ked the ruling of the Chairman upon what ho deemed an important matter. It had be&i stated in tbo

&anawatu Herald that a ratepayer sould demand tho privilege of seeing any locument belonging to a public body to which he pays rates. He asked whether he Clerk was bound to show documents which had not been laid before the Council. Tho Chairman said if any matter were i Drought before the Council in which he was 1 lskcd to give a ruling he would do so, but y^ the present was a suppositions case, and he • ivould declino to rule. Mr Rockstrow added, thnt he asked for the sake of the Clerk, so that that officer would know what reply to give, if thequestion arose. The Chairman adhered to his determination not to rule. He thought the question might be settled by a resolution. Proposed by Mr Rockstrow, seconded by Mr Linton, and carried : " That the Clerk be instructed not to hand to any person letters or documents for publication until those letters or documents have passed through the Council." (Left sitting.)