MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 70, 12 June 1878, Page 2

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Monday, Jvne 10th, iB7B. ■ PRESENT. Messrs. Thyune (chairman), Snelson, j McNeil, Mac Arthur, McDonald, Halcombe, and Loudon. CORRESPONDENCE. The inward correspondence "was received, and the outward correspondence approved of. PETITION. Cr. Snelson presented a petition from,' the residents of Stoney Greek, to the following effect : — ■ ; "We, the undersigned settlers, resident upon the Stoney Creek line' o£ road, respect", fully petition that as your Council is about to consider the re-adjustment of the boundaries b£ the Hidings m the; said County, we would be? to be included m the Taonui Biding, the boundary line to run from section 84 to 77 m the Special Settlement Bloofe, thence along the main line of road to the Pohangina River, so as to include section 464, being the original vorvd line." The petition was received. REPORT ON THE GRAVEL RESERVE: The sub-committee asked for, and obtained, an extended time for bringing tip their report on the above matter. CHARGE AGAINST THE FERRYMAN AT THE GORGE. The Council went into committee to investigate the charge made by William Jones, the driver of the Napier Coach, against George Boyd, the lessee of the ferry over the Manawatu, inasmuch as that he (Boyd) was not m his place to take over the coach on the 24th of January, by which the carriage of the mails and passengers was delayed for. fifty-five minutes. There was a second charge: That Boyd was intoxicated on the 20th of May. The Council determined to hear the evidence of the several witnesses, on declaration, first warning them that any false statements would amount toperjury. Mr Macara, of the firm of Hastwefi. & Macara, was also present during the investigation. Boyd had but one witness, while Jones's testimony was not supported by any verbal evidence. The Council, however, received letters from three respectable settlers, stating that ? Boyd had been drunk, to their knowledge. The first witness called was William Jones, who stated : lam the driver of the Napier Coaoh. On the evening of the 24th of January last, at about six o'clock, I came to the ferry, from Napier, having with ma both passengers and mails, but when I arrived there was no ferryman to be seen. The punt and boat were on the Palmerston side of the river. After about half an hour's coo-ey-ing, a. man named Alexander McDonald answered the call. He tried to get the punt out, but being drunk, he feU into the river. With the assistance of another driver and a passenger, we ferried ourselves across, and started for Palmerston. I savr nothing of Boyd, but was told that he had been at the hotel a short; time before I had arrived. Amongst the passengers on the coach were Mr Murray (of the firm of Murray, Common, & Co., of Napier), Messrs.* Johnstpne, Abbott, and Ellerig. The coaoh was delayed about fifty-five, minutes, I did not see Boyd at all that evening. To Boyd: — I was not before my time, but rather a little behind it. I am due' at Palmerston at half-past seven. This was all the evidence elicited, with regard to the 24th of January, and the Council then; .proceeded tp investigate the charge connected with the 20th of: May. # , William Jones stated : I arrived at the Gorge Perry, on the 20th of May, at about six o'clock. I found Boyd absent, and a man named Eeardonin charge, assisted by two other men, who were unknown to me. I do not think they were competent 'ufen -to work the punt. They took us over, but grounded the punt. Where the punt was landed there is occasion to drop about fifteen inches, and' consequently I broke the king-bolt, on account or the defect m. landing. I sa\r nothing of Boyd that night, or nest morning. On the following morning I returned with the coach at about ten o'clock, but when I came to the river there was one there." It was not the mail, bu,t an extra coach. There was one passenger on board; but I do not know his name. We- had to ford the river. There might be no danger m doing so, but it is pulling horses" to pieoea, besides, we are charged all the same. I couldnot say whether if the punt had been properly handled it wonld bave saved *the king-bolt. I wish to correct; a mistake; it was a iu.iil, but a la« e one. To Boyd: Beardpn has given you a hand with the. punt on several occassions. I told him to got the boat out, and land the passengers, and he did so. He did not tell me that if I did not leave the punt, he would take me back to the other side. I have not said I would make it warm for you, neither did I say iv Gilbert's that I would get you out oF the Ferry. I have crossed on one occasion with threequarters of a ton of oats. I have, not forded every morning for the past sir ! months. Ihavenotheldanyanimpsity against you. I did not threaten to "give it to you " but I did so. In contradiction to the foregoing statements George Boyd, the Ferryman, made the following declaration : On the 20th of May lhad beenmakinga staging; and had been beyond mjr knees m water for threeor four hours. About half past two I took a man across and he. invited me up to have a drink. While I was there Deard oame up and said Peebles was coming up. Deard, Me* Kerizie, and myself went down to the river m order to get Peebles aorossi which I did after being m, the water for

three quarters of an hour. I got to the other side about half-past four* black, and blue from the cold. At about firo. o'clock I saw a man, named Keardon, who lives near, coming from his work. I asked him if he would put the Napier coach over, and he said he would* When the coach arrived it was put across all right, as I was watching it from my garden fence on the beach It was landed m the same place as I would have placed it had I been m charge. V As it did not prooeed on its journey I called out to know what was the matter,, whenit startedoff. Owing to the peculiar state of the river on that night it was impossible, the punt could be landed, with its head to the stream. The coach was put across about sis o'clock, t could see it and the punt at that hour- ' Reardon is a most competent man. T deny being intoxicated on the night im question, but may have had from fourto six drinks, still I had servants to domy work. Jones was not a$ my house,, and therefore had I been intoxicated, he* could not have seen me. To Jones: loan see my punt on the darkest night. I cannot say what sort of a night the 20th of May was. Edward Beardon, on declaration, questioned by Boyd, stated:— -I had charge of the Ferry on tke 20th of May. When the coach arrived Hans . Olsea and myself were waiting for it. : Wo put the coach across without any unnecessary delay, at least if there were any, it was not on our part. When I landed the punt I put the flapdown and told Jones to drive ahead. There wajf no danger. He said he would not, as he thought there would be too much, water. I have been employed occasionally for more than eight years to take charge of the Ferry, and during that time I have put the ooach across at least one hundred times. I saw you on the evening m question, but not nearer than fifty yards, but I did not see you after the coached orossed. I have heard Jones threatening to make it hot for you. I never saw you give Jones any provocation. As far as lean judge yoti pay all attention to the F,erry. \ I have ■seen you drunk once or twice since you became lessee, but cannot say ifjonv have been intoxicated sinoe the Slat of March. . * This concluded the evidence on both sides, and the Council adjourned for five minutes. On resuming. Cr. Loudqn spoke m strong terms of; the conduct of Boyd, sinoe the issue of his first lease, and stated that to hia mind the charge had been most distinctly proved. He moved a resolution to the effect that Boyd's services as Ferryman be dispensed with im« mediately, , ; ; Gr. Hai»combe seconded the resolution, thorougly coinciding with theremarks of Councillor Loudon. Or. Sanson failed to see th* chargehad been proved, and criticised th© evidence of the driver, pointing out that his written statement did not at allagree with the facts elicited. on exmination. Although he felt satisfied that Boyd had been intoxicated on. some aeoasions, as. there was no proof that he had heen so without having competent persons m charge, fie did " not think the ease called for his dis* missal, and moved an amendment* ■ giving him a warning instead. Cr. SseiiSON' , seconded, and Councillor McNeil supported, the amend* ment, the latter pointing out that there was but the unsupported testimony of Jones, inasmuch as the written statement handed m could not be taken aa evidence. On a division being called for, it waa found that there were for the amendment Councillors, Thy nne (chairman,) Snelson, McNeil, and Sanson. Against it:— Crs. Loudon, Halcombe, Macarthur, and McDonald. The Chairman, gave his casting vote for the amendment. ' RESOMJTION.S CARRIED. V Moved by Cr. Loudon^ and seconded by Cr. Snelson, "That, as £3000 voted last session for the purpose of making a road from Otaki to Foxton» and as the expenditure of the same wasr only delayed for want of funds* tha* Council would respectfully ; ask the Government to place the above sum to> the credit of the Council,- for the ahov.e> purpose." ■ .- ,'■';.■■'... Moved by Or. Loudon, and seconded j by Cr. Snelson, " That Or. Thynne ba, appointed deputy to represent this County at the forthcoming Conference,, and that this Council defray his ex* penses." Moved by Cr. Snelson, and seconded by Or. Halcombe, "That the petitioA asked for by Kenneth McKenzie and others be referred back to- them ■ m. . order that it can he re-presented in* forms prescribed by the T^e-lajwi of the Council." ' Moved by Or. Halcombe, seconded by Cr. Macarthur, "That a special meeting of the Council be held at they next ordinary meeting of •_ the Council* at 2 o'clock p.m., to consider the following; resolution i— -' That t!»e number/ of members for the Tapnui-Bidin^be. reduced to one, m order to give the* second, member to> the ManchesterJtiding.'" Moved by Cr. Snelson, and seconded by Cr. MoNeil, "That a special meet* ing be held at the next ordinary meet* ing, at 2.30 p.m, to consider the follow-, ing notice of motion i "That m the- ■ event of the representation of theTaonui Riding being reduced to pney member, m accordan.ee with Gr. Halcombe's notice of motion, that the boundaries of the existing riding* beconsidered, with a viiew to a re-adjust-, ment of them.' ** Moved by Cr. Macarthur, and seconded by Cfc Sanson, ** That, m the opinion of this Council, it is inexpedient at present to establish an hospital within the boundaries of this County, and ■ that the Chairman be authorised- to endeavour to make arrangements with the Wanganui and Wellington Hospital authorities to receive patients- from the County;" '...''.," ! Moved by Or. l^EcNeil, and seconded by Or. Suelson, " That Grs. Macarthur k McNeil, and the Chairman he appointed a committee, to decide a? to the appoint* ment of an engineer to the Council m terms of an advertisement calliug for.; tenders for an engineer for the pqunctt>'* " Moved by Cr. McDonaldi and;secpn» ; ded by Or, Macarthur, 'VThat the un. expended balance due to the riding of Horowhenua be expended op the main line of road between Foxton and OtaH^ Moved by Or, Sanson,, and aeooadftd

by Cr. Siielson, :' That Gr. McDonald be -empowered to expend a sum not exceeding 4530 m repairing the main road and removing two sand-hills near Otaki, and to «uperintend the work, as at present there is no engineer m the* employ of th.c Council." Moved by Cr. London, and seconded l>y Cr. Halcombe, " That the Council meet again here at noon on the Bth day of July, next."