COUNTY COUNCIL.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 450, 1 December 1877, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCIL.

'•• raeoting vi tha Mani.-'toto ; County Council was held in the Council Chambera on Wednesday afternoon last. Present—Crs. Rolland (Chairman); Laverty, Stuart, Ewing, Williamson, Shannon, Brown, and Foster. MTXUTES. The Clerk read minutes of last special and ordinary meetings, which were confirmed. COKKESPONDENCB. The Clerk read schedule of outward and inward correspondence. OUTSTANDING RATKS. Letter read from the Collector, informing the Council that the sum of £57 19s. was still outstanding for rates, and asking to he advised what procedure to adopt in order to recover. Moved by Cr. Ewing, seconded by Cr. Shannon, and carried unanimously—•'That in regard to outstanding rates, an advertisement be inserted in the ' Mount Ida Chronicle' to the effect that a]l unpaid on or before Ist January the Collector will be instructed to sue for." RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE. The Chairman laid on the table an abstract of receipts and expenditure—certified by the auditor—of the Council for the period ending September 30, 1877 (nine months), and a statement of receipts and expenditure from September 20 to November 28, 1877. D. M'CRKADY's APPLICATION TO PURCHASE LAND AT KVEi'URN DIGGrNGS. Cr. .Shannon read and presented a petition signed by twentv-eight residents at Kyeburn Diggings, praying that the Council'would co-operate with them in endeavoring to stop the sale of the land applied for bj M 'Cready, as it is auriferous, and that early action (if any) should be taken in the matter. , After a ltngthy argument, in which Crs. ■••hannon, Williamson, and Brown urged that the memorial should be dealt with by the Council expressing an opinion against the sale, while the Chairman and other Councillors were /of opinion that the Council could hot deal with the matter,

Cr. Ewing moved, Cr. Stuart seconded—- " That in the matter of the petition from miners and others at Kyeburn, asking for the assistance of this Council to prevent the granting Mr. M'Cready's application to the Waste Lands Board to purchase 120 acres of land staled to be auriferous, and situate in the midst of the workings tuere, this Council is of opinion that, altogether aoart from the particular case brought under its notice by this petition, until provision is made in the Waste Land* Act whereby a right to mine on prjvate properly proved auriferous is easily iihlnined, the Crown should not pnrt with the iVcehold of any land in the vicinity of gold w ikings, whether proved auriferous or not,, s in many cases land has been proved highly auriferous in which the existence o" gold had bo'ti undreamt of even by miners in its vicinity for years ; also, that it is expedient that ihp mining interest should be represented on the local Bonrd of Inquiry; and that the Clvirman be instructed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Waste Lands Board." Curried unanimously.

REMISSION OT RATKB. Letter read from T. Lewis, asking that the amount of his rate be remit; ed, on the ground of age and poverty ; from Kyeburn Church trustees', that the 'rate should not have been imposed, as churches were exempt from rates ; and from Secretary Mount Ida District Hospital, asking thut rate be remitted, because the institution was' supported by charitable contributions.

Moved by. Cr.. Ewing, seconded by Cr. Brown : —" That the applications for the remission of vales be dealt with as follows: T Lewis and Kyebufri Church Committee, grunted.: Secretary Hospital Committee be refused, as t he Council has no power to grant." Carried unanimously. GRANTS TO ATHEN2EUM AND LIBRARIES. The matter of grants to Athenaeum and Libraries was again brought up, on application from Blackstone Hill. Moved by Cr. Ewing and seconded by Cr. Shannon—"That various applications having been sent in to thiß Council for aid to public libraries in the County, and the A'aseby Athenseum having made a .similar request, this Council decides that assistance be granted as from January, 1877, as follows : £1 to £1 to the public libraries in the County on the amount annually invested in book's and periodicals up to £lO in each case, and a siniUiiV subsidy to the Naseby Athenaeum on any 'amount up to £2O, such subsidy to be paid on the declaration of the Chairman or Secretary of the body assisted ; and that the Financial Committee be authorised to make payments of any sums authorised under this grant." Carried unanimously. ROAD AT GARIBALDT. Letter read from .(> aribaldi Diggings, asking the attention of the Council to.the state df the road at that place. The Chairman stated that it w< s the intention 6t the Engineer t'o visit that district in a few days. ROAD AT OEUMAN Hir,L. The Chairman read a telegram from thr> manager of the Ida Valley Station, stating that the road there was almost impassable for teams. It Was agreed that the attention of the Engineer be drawn to the condition of the road, so that it may be speedily improved. ~ ADJOOKNMBNT. The Council adjourned until 7.30 p.m.

Evening Sitting; The Council returned at 7.30 p.m. HEFOUT. The Chairman read the report of the Finance Committee, which was adopted on the motion of Cr. Brown, seconded by Or. Stuart. COUNTi' POUND. Moved by (Jr Browi?. seconded by Cr. Ewing. and carried unanimously—"That John Morrison be appointed Inspector of the County found, and that Mr. M'CJuskey be informed of such appointment." NEW COUNT? .OFFICES. The Chairman read the report of the Committee appointed at .last meeting to report on the must suitable sites for County offices. After some discussion on the various sites under offer to the Council, it was moved by (Jr Brown, seconded by Cr. Stuart, and carried—'"That Mr. W. J. Millar's offer of allotiniint without buildings for the sum of £220 be accepted." IKSIGN OF OFFICES. Moved .by Or. Shannon, seconded by Cr. Brown, and carried—" That the Engineer be requested to draw up a design f r Council Chambers, the cost of such building not to exceed fcliOO, and to submit it to the Finance lominittee at its next meeting." It was also agreed that, should the Committee select a suitable design, tenders should be called for. BRIDGr: ACROSS TAIERI. The Chairman read the Engineer's report «n the iron bridge and proposed erection site at Mardling's Ferry. Moved by ( r. Ewing and seconded by Cr. Laverty—'• That the district member in the House of Bepreseutatives having signified that an iron bridge in the hands of the Odveruinent may be secured for erection over the laieri t'iver at Mardling's Ferrj, and the County Engineer after inspection having reported that the cost of repairs, cartage, and erection of said bridge is l'kely to he about t;*2000, this Council resolves that, provided the County of Waikouaiti agrees to pay half the required expense, an endeivor shall be made to secure the,bridge, and this < oujicii shall pledge itself to its erection ; that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Chairman of the Waikouaiti Council." Carried unanimously. CONTRACT NO. 6. Tenders for contract No 6, from Manuherikia Biver to Cumbrian via-St.' Bathans, • were considered, four tenders were opened;' whoa it wm moved by Or, Brown, seconded

hy Cr. Williamson, and agreed io—"That John McKay's tender for contract No. 6 I»a accepted.

Accepted. JohnM'Kay ... ... £3Ol 14 4 Declined. Patrick x'Caffry ... £4OO 7 0 John Col<» Chaople ... £558 16 8 Informal, —Giles Talty. CONTRACT HO. 7.

Tenders for contract No. 7, from Cambrian coal pit to junction of main road near White Jlorse Hotel, were considered. Two tenders were opened, when it was moved by Cr. Brown, seconded by Cr. Laverty, and agreed to—"That Caleb Dongee's tender for con tract No. 7 he accepted." Accepted. Caleb Dongee £346 9 0 Declined. John Cole Chappie ... £558 16 8 ADJOURNMENT.

Moved by Cr. Fester, seconded by Cr. Laverty, and carried —"That this Council adjourn until following day at 9 a.m."