MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 96, 11 September 1878, Page 2

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Monday, 9th Seetembee, 1878. PRESENT* Messrs. Thynne (Chairman), V Snelson, McNeil, Rockstrow, Sanson, Macarthur, Gower, and Hewson. Mr Haynes, the Engineer to the Council, was also present. tribute oe bespbct. After the minutes had been read and confirmed, Cr. Snelson asked leave to depart from the usual routine of business m order to bring under the notice of Councillors the severe loss the County had sustained m the death of Councillor Hector McDonald, , the late member for Horowhcnua. He paid a high tribute to the zeal and energy displayed by Cr. McPonald, instancing that it was only at the last meeting that a hearty vote of thanks had been passed to him for his untiring efforts for the riding he represented. He (Cr. Snelson) begged to move — " That this Council deeply regrets tbe- loss sustained by tlie County m the death of Councillor McDonald, and requests the Chairman to convey its sympathy to Mrs McDonald and family." Cr. McNeil seconded the resolution, and heartily endorsed the sentiments uttered by the mover. Before putting the resolution, the Chairman begged leave to add his testimony to the worth of the late member, stating tliat by his zeal and earnestness for the progress of his district, much of its prosperity should be accorded. NEW COUNCILLOBS. The Chairman read a letter from the returning-officer, notifying the election of Drs. Rockstrow, and Hewson, to the Ridings of Awahou and Horowhenua, respectively. PRECIS Oa? LETTERS. From the Colonial Secretary's office, stating that patients would be received at the Wellington Hospital, as the rate of three shillings per day. From Major Kemp, giving permission for the road through his property, at Horowhenua j also, that he had advised ofche. chiefs to accede to the same. From the Treasury, advising the payment of £123 14s 6d to the bank of the County. From the Stamp Office , announcing the fact that the County Council is not exempt from Btampiug receipts for monies received. From the Crown Lands Office, statingthat the Government would not be able to comply with the Council's request foe fche conveyance of a portion of the Court House . Reserve. From the Treasury, advising the Council of the payment of £1539 6s 9d, being the twenty per cent, on the land revenue) paid into bank less £22 9s Id charges. From the Chairman of the Hutt County Council, re repnirs necessary for the Waikanae Ferry, and offering to share half tlie expense to be incurred, — a most lengthy discussion upon the matter ensued, m which all Councillors took part, and the opinion was freely expressed that neither sufficient care nor skill was exercised m the management of the boat. Eventually it was decided that the Engineer should visit the ferry, and report upon what was necessary^ ; and propound a scheme- for its proper working. From Messrs. Brandon and Sons, solicitors, re Mr Barton's account. — The Chairman road the answer forwarded m reply, which appeared to have fully dealt with the matter. Petition from settlers on the Rangitikei ■ Line, against the erection of slaughterhouse m that vicinity. From the- Treasury, forwarding a statement of charges on the land revenue, with : an explanation. From the- Palmerston Borough Council, requesting a refund of monies paid m mistake to the Council. From the Crown Lnivls Office, acceding to the request, of tlie Council, for a lease of portion of the Court House Reserve, provided Ihakura had no objection. From Mr Joseph Beale, applying for a license for his slaughter-house, near AwaI puni. — Cr. Snelson said the butchers of Palmerston were placed m a very queer position at tlie present time, as they were m danger of being subjected to a line of £10— The Chairman said the only difficulty m settling the mattter, was to decide upon the amount of the. license foe. After tho Chairman had rend the Act relating to slnughter-houses, Cr. Snelson moved, and Cr. MoNbil. seconded — ."That the license for slaughtering throughout the County of Manawatu, for the present year, shall be, for both classes, £2, or £1 for one class." Carried. The license of Mr Bealo was then granted, subject to. any bye-laws which should be made, at any future time. A lons letter was read from Mr Alexander McDonald,, of Awahuri, complaining of tho disgraceful state of tho femes between Foxton and Wellington. . From the late Engineer, re Natives' claim for timber for £he groins' 'to the bridge over the Oroua. — Resolved, That the claim be paid to Honi Mason. : PETITION. Cr. Gower presented a petition from a number of settlers on the- Douglas Special Settlement Block, asking for- a special vote of money for the making pf roads m that district. He would, therefore, move that the Council resolve itself into committee, with the object of considering the prayer of the petition. Tlie Chairman said that of course it was usual when public bodies went into committee the publicj and the Press were supposed to withdraw. Now, he had no objection to the Council taking the course- asked for, but he thought it would be much better if the proceedings were not held with closed dbArs. He was of opinion that m dealing with public matters it was advisable that all.proceedings should be open and above- board. i. Cr. Gower had no objection to the proceedings being reported, and would therefore move — " That this Council forms itself into committee to consider tho proportion of the twenty per cent, received from the land revenue to be spent upon roads m the Douglas Special Settlement/* Cr. Sanson seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. ; In opening up the question, Or. Gower snid there was something over £1500 to be refunded to the Council, out of which there would bo £1000 to be allotted to the district he represented. Say, however, that £900 would be the amount coming to its [ share, ho proposed to expend it m the following manner ; — £loo should be spent upon the land indicated by Messrs Rookell and McKenzie as the Whale line ; £250 should be spent upon the Main road ; and £250 should be spent upon the Douglas Special Settlement, as 'asked for m the prayer of tho petition. Cr. Snelson thought the proposition somewhat premature, inasmuch as it would be necessary to know how much was to be credited to Cr. Gower's Riding before voting away any specific sum, or committing themselves to any definit e aotion. Cr. Sanson qtiite agreed with Cr. Snelson) and he had therefore drawn up a scale whioh he would submit. He proposed that the money to the credit of the Riding named should be allotted m the following manner : — Thirty-five per cent, to go to the Whale line ; twenty-five to the Main road j thirty to the Special Settlement j and ten per cent, to the County fund.

The Chairman pointed out that fhe County had suffered a considerable loss in ' its land revenue through persons taking up land upon scrip, for which there was no refund. By that means the Council, had only received £1500, instead of £2204/7 Mr Sanson stated that under the old order of things, the Provincial Government, the Rangitikei-Manawatu Bloc^k was exempted from selection by scrip. '■.■-,' Cr. Go web said, that there could be no doubt it was owing to the energy and perseverance of the two gentlemen whom he had named that such a large refund was available. The Government was about to cut" up the land into forty-acre sections, for wbicb but low prices .would have, been rear, lised, when Messrs Rockell and McKenzie were the means of promoting tlie township scheme. Ho therefore thought that the. district m which they lived should obtain j some consideration iv the allotment oi the refund. He would propose that the money be divided as follows ; — Ten per cent, to he of course the property of the County ; forty percent* to be expended upon the Whale line ; twenty per cent, upon tbe Main line » and the remaining thirty upon the Douglas's Special Settlement roads ; the last-named thus — One-half upon Jones's line, the other half upon Bank's line, in -fasnglmsh and opening communication with Hommbndls line of direct road. 7 ~ The motion was seconded by Cr^Sqelson. Cr. RookstboW could see- no reasdii'for the residents at the , Whale' line receiving any such consideration. The township was a fraud, and credit should hot be given .for, a step which succeeded m deceiving a, auin- : ber of unsuspicious persons: ' ■ " ' '' The Chairman said tliat to his mind the application made by Ci\ G,ower was one of the most unreasonable it; had ever been his lot to listen to.' It was not so very long before that tliat gentleman had informed the Council that the main roads m his district were utterly impassable, and now he coolly came forward and asked that while forty per cent, should be. spent. Upon^highway roads, half that amount would be sufficient for the mains. He asked the Council to what conclusion would such action force a person : either that the frightful state of the main roads depicted by Cr. Gower m the past or that he now wished to sacrifice the interests of the County at large to the protection, of what might be almost called private rights. He objected to the motion on twoigrouMs- .£ he objected m. the first place to. the proportion upon which it was sought to base the distribution m tliat particular Riding and he sternly opposed the whole principle of spending the money alone m the particular Ridings where it might happen to be raised. He held that a very large proportion of the amount should be handed over to the County for works' of a general character, such as main roads, bridges, &<x Cr. Snelsox wished to point out to the Chairman and Council,, that it wasneverintended that the twenty, per cleat should have any connection with bridges. That work was provided for by general draw upon the rates of the County. Cr. SANSONsaid that at a former meeting he had strongly supported the views held by the Chairman. He however saw "by the Public Works Statement, that it in- . tended by tho Government 'to make special provision m the future for.main roads, by placing upon the estimates,, snms for such roads as that from Foxton to Waikahaei' With regard toT the apportianment mado by, Cr. Gawer, he thought it very fair arid equitable. There weie about one hundredsettlers upon the block, and he considered, they were- entitled to something. 'He thought that ten per cent of the. money should ; have been hauded to the Highways Board.- .;-.-.:..-■■•:'; '-yAyy .y.-.y.yyi'yy, The Chaibmak moved as an amendment, and Dr. RooKSTuaw seconded— " That the matter be held over for further-expression of opinion." The amendment was, however, lost, Cr.Gower'sbeingthe only vote recorded, beside those of the mover and seconded ; after which the original motion was put and carried. Our reporter- was then compelled to leave by the train, but the following are the different motions carried later on m- the evening :r— resolutions passeo. Proposed by Gr. Snelson and seconded by CivM-CARTFFa— " That the Land Fund due to the Taonui Riding be-, expended ! thus s On Taonui-Paliherstori- Main road, S froiri Jackeytown platform towards Palmera- ; ton, fifty per.:.csnitTa_i_-/'fromy!^mei»t4n ; towards Fitzherbert, clearing fifty per cent,. iless the deduction of per cent, due to the j County Council.'* Proposed by Mr Macarthttr, seconded [by Mr Snelsok, and carried :.— -That the | portion oi the. 20" per cent accruing to'the 'Kiwitea Riding, be handed to the Manawatu Highways Board for expenditure on the continuation of the Mackie's -load, Kiwitea. A determined attempt was'} then; made) ; by certain Councillors to withhold the pay-. ment pf the apportionment for the- present,: but on the motion of Cr. Snelson. to, its im--mediai c- payment was ordered. '."...'A'*"' Proposed by Cr. Snelson^ =-ecohded>- by Cr. Macarthur— That Mr Haynes be allowed the sum of £5 per annum- for use cimstruments. , zAA'A yyyiy. Proposed by Cr. Snelson, seconded by Cr., Macarthur — Thattb«'Governs»ieht:bVaß_edto give the Engineer aireep'suspivthefßMl-' way when m execution of his duties. " "'.-• Proposed by Cr. Gower, arid-^econdsdby Cr. Sanson — That a return of unpaid rates,/ showing the amount of each Riding, be laid on the table at each ordinary meeting of the Council. - . Proposed Cr. Macarthur, and seconded by Cr. Gower— That this Council declines to make any payment: to Mr Barton for services on Kimbolton Road, Kiwitea, other than the £3,2 already forwarded to him: ;. . Proposed by Cr. Snelson, and seconded by Cr. M'acarthtir-^That" the Engineer be instructed to prepare, plans for the'metalling and reforming of the road from Jackeytown ' street northward, the .; outlay not tp , exceed £200, to come but of Taofiui -and; revenue and special grant. \.\ y r .... Proposed by'Cif. Sanson, and 'seconded ; by Cr. Gower— That, m. the opinion of this. Council, the County of Manawatu could employ at least 500 good additional laborers, and that the Minister of Immigration be requested to send such number of ablebodied men at his .earliest convenience..:. Proposed by Cr. Sanson, and seconded by Cr. Gower — That the Engineer be requested to prepare an estimate for all works which will have to be done before the next winter and report at his earliest convenience. . Proposed.hy C jvSne,3on,- and seconded by Cr. Macarthur— That the iiext ordinary meeting of tho Council be held at Foxton on Wednesday, the 9th October, at 1.30 p.m. . Proposed by Cr. Sanson, and seconded by Cr. Hewson— That Cr. Rockstrow be requested to .sign cheques with the Treasurer , for this present month.