MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 53, 21 April 1877, Page 2

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Council met-in the Public Hall,Foxton, on Wednesday, 18th April, at 7.30 p.m. COUNCILLORS PRESENT. Messrs. E. S. Thynne (Chairman), J.W. Liddell, A. F. Halcombe, G. M. Snelson, H. McNeil, H. Sanson, F. Gower, and H. McDonald. The minutes of the previous meeting having been road and confirmed, the Chairman presented the following report : — chairman's report. Gentlemen, — I have the honor to lay my usual monthly report before you, and trust you will recognize the importance of some of the questions therein raised. I have to inform you that I have been unable at present to take any steps towards leasing the ferries, as tho Government have not as yet defined our

auHioriiy over the reserves attached to I most of them. In the first answer that I received on the subject, dated the 24th January, the Government refused to baud over any reserves to the County, except any particular portion of land required for any specific purpose, such as for public buildings, &c. In considering the terms of leasing these ferries, I found that it would be necessary to make certain arrangements for holding the reserves at present attached to them for the purpose of paddoekirg, and had then to point out to the Government the necessity of the County being invested with the ownership ; and, under date of 9th March, a reply was received that the Government would take my letter as an application for such reserves, and they would be handed over forthwith, when -I afterwards received a letter, dated 9th April, stating that a technical difficulty had arisen preventing such being actually handed over, but that the Government would be guided by the wishes of the Council m dealing with them. I have referred thus far to the above matter, as the delay has been a matter of inconvenience, ancl I fear yet further delay before the question is satisfactorily settled. I am pleased to report, however, that by all parties interested I have been met m a very fair ancl straightforward way, so that the public will not have suffered any inconvenience. I have not received any reply concerning the guaranteeing of overdraft to our Bank further than the telegram placed before you last meeting, though I have written requesting further explanation. I have to inform you that the resolution on the manner of rating, has received considerable abtcniion both by local bodies aud the press, and I would refer to Mr Russell's letter as showing that an interest on this question is felt far ouistde the Wellington Provincial District, and I would suggest that as this Council has given the impetus to a most important question whether it would not be better to continue the publishing of our opinions by communicating with all the Cotiuties m tlie Colony.. As you will this evening proceed with the election of a Clerk to the County, I have to bring before you the question of office accomodation, ancl to propose that it, would be true economy to build at once. The Government have intimated their willingness to grant a site for any such purpose. I should therefore propose that a site m the Courthouse Reserve at Foxton, be applied for, and a building of the value ot £300 erected thereon, At the rate at which we can obtain money, our rem al would be only £21 a year, and you could not possiblj r rent ever so small a place for less. Ancl should it be deemed advisable at any future period to have your offices m some other town, the buildings with the site would let for a much larger rental, thereby being a valuable endowment to the County, I regret to inform you that the Chairman of the Manchester Highway Board, at a meeting at Feilding, on the 29th March, moved the following resolution : — " That a petition bo presented to the Governor, praying for a separation of the Manchester and Kiwitea Ridings from the Manawatu County." And I regret that he has stated no reason for such a course m tlie resolution. As the proposed county boundaries attached this portion of the County to the Rangitikei Counties, and the boundaries weich now form the county, were only obtained by a very strong petition to the Government, I believe it is the duty of this Council after such an expression m favor of retaining the old boundaries of the Manawatu District, to resist, m the interest of the County, the obtaining of the pra} r er of the petition adopted at the Feilding meeting. The necessity of the special meeting for this evening is caused by subsection 1 of Clause 177 of the Counties Act, which regulates that byelaws can only be made by special order, and subsections 2, 3, ancl 4 of Clause 183 of the same Act, clearly show what such duties are, I attach a precis of letters received from the Government since last meeting. I have also written to the Committee of the Foxton Athenaeum acknowledging the obligation of the Council to that body for their courtesy m having placed that building at the disposal of the Council for the past meetings. PRECIS OF LETTERS. Letter from the Colonial Secretary, under date 9th April: — "It has since been found that no legal power exists to vest the Ferry Reserves m the County. The Government will give all advantages derivable from any such reserves to the County." Letter from the Public Works Office, under date 10th April : — " The Government, have decided to place the control of the Rangitikei Bridge m the hands of that County, the cost of maintenance will be borne as agreed by the Counties of Manawatu and Rangitikei." Letter from the Colonial Secretary, under date 13th April, enclosing memorandum on ferries by Mr Bunny, stating that the late Provincial Government had no agreements with ferrymen relative- to taking over improvements at a valuation. Le'.ter from the Colonial Secretary, under date 14th April, requesting Council to pay £. X. as reward for recovery of Roach's ferryboat, as Government have no funds legally at disposal for such purpose. (To be concluded m our next issue.)