MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 29, 15 February 1879, Page 2

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

'T/7Wbdn__Sat£J^ 1879; Councillors. Macarthur (ohaitaajkn), .Gower, Sanson, X^arr^_-oiidon} r K-:b,beU}'Xiintwa, and Rockstrow.. .-.'■' ■■■_■-:■. v. ■ : 7 ? / ;'r i _ a azMiNxfTMj' /, -yi . V The . minutes of previous meeting wereread and confirmed; 7 n yy, t {Sj. „/ - 7 gobbWpo^pkicj^j " . From Councillbr/Ssnso^,^ to appointment of poundkeeperat Sandon.—Mr. A. Coekbumvwas apppintfd, voice Mr. J; Oakley, resigned. , ,- 7,/ —From" T: Beaven; Wa-kawa/cfrim tor £12 10s.-^Passed-for payment.^ 7..- '' •From- J. }Harvev,;.Btatinjg>prjpe asked for boat likely to'smt hiiri* rSrXferrjp^would be£iay: - — yyyyA^^m^ ~ ,/ From Public Works o_Bce;.statingtha. tenders had been aecopted-fpr_.punt at Ohaa ferry .^-It was decided to v leave' the appointment of ferryman Jn.the hands of the chairma^ _..^> : > x^ '?■?>}.*& . . ■Frprn^t^ with reference, to section jjfffpf 'lw'tiffg^ct, stating; that; an '^en'-foh"''"^^".^.^^^:!-^^-:- not be granted, except' under; very <eXwptiorial cir* cumstajnees. : r Y '"7/ •'.-' '-'W'l'i'K _ •■' • Front' Jbhil HBrpe*{t^alft, sjjking for slaughtering heerises . .waa granted, the Inspector-stating. that only a small business was doriejTand^a^uisance not likely to be created; f or ihe^paßsent . '. --Enoiri-Hepi ffat&wa, :elAfari^for, £24 f«r 7 V^prks^Ofpce, statiag that vouchar for .balapce : pf;iiP-i-0 vote for .Kimbplt9n.ismdrhad^tep).p>aj^.« From the Crown. Lands-. Qffiee, on the question - of i t he. £lQs6p .vote, for roade through deferred payments blocks. From -the .FpxtpnjLo^^Bo^Ed, drawing -the attention of the Couneil. tp.the damag» doWeTMaiir atreeti ; v which^hao^been iiut newly ., metered, b T ; thf,»n^_|anks ( along the rcrad'. matfefcj^ lg<s^n the hand* for the RJsng and th* i-Eugineer, to make wJiatjarpgjgements they thought best: ifor the protectipfivpf the road along- the-sarid-baiiks. ■».. .h y :*• '-' From landowners in Cheltenham, memo* rial praying " for alteration- of . drain.— The petition was 'gran^yiyyA./Xtx, A From £. Dalziell, : Cheltenham, ailing permission to cover in drain liii.'front of hia sections.-— Q ranted, ■ the ';iwork to be executed, to. the satisfaction; of the Engineer. From the Colonial Secretary's- Office, stating that patients could be admitted to the Wellington Hospital at the.rate ot 3s. per day. - ■.-■.•;. -y <*•'• ...-.•'^■.•. 0 . : .'. :-. From the. Chairman of. the jgounty. to th» Colonial. Secretary/ stating that the tolls oa the line from Foxtjbn -tp^ellington could not be relinquished,.- asidesiredrby Messrs. Hastwell. and Macara,y coach -prpprietors, and stating that ' the CouWudid^ot thiak the charges- made were atvalLjex^essire. • ■Frointhe J Chajrmjmftipi tn'e/so?rn Clerk, Wanganui, statir^ r that the^terms agreed to by the Conference, re- JElospital were approved of by this CouneU, r and, that the signatures of all the Counmildrs would be fpr* warded. •.•'« y-'-y I yy' /HOSPITAt ACCO-tMODATION. A letter was - tead, from, .the Boronf h -Council office,-: Wangwiui, enclosing account of contribution: due by the Manawatu Council for January. . ;•• ' ./ . The Chaibs-An stated- |hat he wished to operiV up -th? qugitipa.mtjit was only lastvWeek-theMhe had granted pas^s to two persons iri his o^tiMt^for.admissioa to th* \ .Hospital, orieof^osa. oould hot ad^ -mission,' after ygoiD^it^.thg.&«peiMie. of «'". Jbkrne>.^V;W*n^^ ?• giwt hatdshil_^n:a^^fea^fed« rrangelrierit* fshQulflnto #emjes^a*,to whit puraber of patiente Acould.c^^n admission front ,t*jis bounty. : . |They V^aicL; £25 a yea •towards the- fforling^exp^-w^f^tlie staff aridt Is:" 6d\Vper day was charged for vsfnj •patieritadmitted.besides.-t:;,*r: nijf;^ i ' -vGooncillop S^soji/BMd;^thesW»ng»n_i Hospital could only accommodate some^-ix* , teen or eighteen penons.. .. yy.?A- ■■ ,r ,\ Councillor RocsaSTBOW trusted that per* sons who could afford to pay would not bt granted free passes to thb Hospital, as it was never- intended for- persons.- who could well afford to pay a medical man .for atten-. dance/ But 'unless the Bo«p|tal:W» enlarged, he thought no satisfactory arrangements cou{d be made, as at. the present it was '-net a bit too large fo* such ap important town as Wanganui j.- not to sps»k of patients going from their cpupt-y. •CountSlOr KJEBBfiiii ;yrished- tp knpjr how - be was to act, inyliia -Ric_LDg-in~cpu»-ef any '.accidents .ocourripg. [.. „ *^ - ': The*CHAiß--AH, thorighfcitVwpnld *e best for, CounciUor,:;Kfib}jeljli 0 forward »#«?*• requiring <ntedioa_j treatment, in hia^Ricang to Wellinston. •■:•■:•'■■•'. '- -'' _, _ Cpi^cillor Gb%3B p^^jsea,«nd.Vonn«"* lor Lihtow seconded—*' -TM* the Ckainnaa be empowered t^pKOceed; ;^o WaMapui, and make the needf a) arrangements f or patiento sent to. the Wanganui ;Hosmtal v fffim t_u» MiinawatH Ooun>y,'^Ca*«ed^^ .«*C . •TSJTDEBB. For constructing, bridge. *}, Otaki, tjit. tenders of John Mißer,;atr£94.flo-;.Frede. rick Wright., at £*90; and< James t^ £97, were declined, as the %ders were cpn^ sidei!ed«oo.high} a^wasrisothe tender A • Hugh Greer, at £7^;fprrpljpafing th^qreji; at q^akj, fo^%aJm^^fer *'

The. matter of carrying put both these contracts was left in the hand vof the Engineer. Foi .metalling the Foxton arid Sandon road, Lucas and Desmond, at £4 10a. per chain, declined. For ra'etalliu/j Kimbolton rowi, contract 12 k sectiao No. 1, T. Bradley/at £3 19s. jßd. per chain, accepted • Harvey and McColl, at _J4 lis., deeUned. For, metalling Kimbolton road, contract 12, section No. 2,, R.. 80w1er, at £3 7s; 6d. per chain, accepted; Jl Fbwell, at £5 ss. per chain, Harvey and McColl, at £4 95., and T. Bradley, at £3 7s. 6d., declined. ■ y Forming , .and metalling Foxton road, T.,^/Cook, at £210, accepted. 7'V'-7 MBSH TKNDBB. -. Councillor ". Halcombe proposed, and Councillpr Cabb seconded— ".That the Engineer be instructed to call for tenders for the' repair, of the Manawatu ferry at the Gorge."^-Carried. I!HE FINANCIAL POSITION OP THE COUNCIL. Opou the motion being put that the tender for forming and metalhng the Foxton road be accepted, Councillor Goweb said that before any new. tenders were accepted he would like, to know how the financial position of the Coun- : cil stood* as votes . which were already autHojrised for the Caiupbelltown road and Jones's line had not as yet been expended, and tenders had- not . yet been called for those works ; and he therefore moved that no new tenders be accepted until previous Tptes which had been authorised, were spent. Councillor iRoCKBT,Bbw could not see any .. ..force ; whatever, in • the ; remarks ' mad(b /a by :CaunciUor. Gower, as he.t failed to see wjiat the; Kawa Kawa Riding had to do with the 'Ajrahpaiiding.^..,..^-/^/..;.;,'^ .'■. • .'. /'"'/•/ ' The Chaibman stated that- when the amounts to. be paid at the present sitting were; passed for payment, there would be a small deficiency in the banking, account ; but he expected that some money would toon be paid in to the credit of the Council. .Councillor Sanson could not understand what .Councillors belonging to other Riding* had to do with works not in their districts, to, long as the other Hidings had money to . their credit. Several Couueillors having spoken upon th* Question in a very irregular manner,, The Chaibman suggested that the Council had' better go into committee on the rote ttpdcr discussion. Councillor Sanson then moved that the . Council resolve itself into .committee, in ! -order thit it might be fully able io consider its financial position* t Councillor Bockstbow pointed bat that ' the Awahoa Riding had money to its credit at; the present time. r C^uneiUbr Loudon stated that if the work in question was not proceeded. with immediately, . a .great portion of what waa already done would have to be sacrificed, •*' and if it was left for twelve months' longer, the work, would cost dohbje. the amount r 'Wquired at the present time. Besides, as the land had been obtained from the Government for the work under consideration, it would be like obtaining it under false ' pretences if they did not utilise it. - - Councillor Goweb said that his only reason for at all opposing the work being done - Vwaa, that he wished the rotes previously authorised for his district should be expended before any fresh .tenders were aceeptad. Otherwise, he had no objection whatever to the Work being done. The Cl-AIBMAN pointed out that last year Gaaaculor Gower did the very thing iri hia ••• own ltidingjwhich he now objected to being donq in the Awahou Riding. Jones's line was delayed until the drain from Douglas's swamp was constructed, an J the Campbellproceeded with at once. /'• It was : desirable to 'have as many of the •rirpais metalled in the lummer season as jttsaible. > He did not think it was top much . for Councillor Rockstrow to ask for an ad■Aviaee 6h£l'Ao on works required in the -Awahou -Riding/ which amount was con-vs-derably less, than that obtained by Coun'Gower last year for bis own Riding. • lbs* /*m* £1088 of the rates for the pre-*V'_if^-^waf 'yet-- to come in, arid the Govern- ■. , WHtt anbsuly of £1240 would be due in /■-.■/A. „y. y < PWricfllor Goweb then withdraw his ' " IQoltlorii as he - had - accomplished, all he wishad, sd far as ascertaining how thefinan- ' 'inalipof ition 'of the Council stood . He now {found that the Council was in a flourishing ■7 sjat^ttion,.'ahd ha thought he would have • s^W/cu-inoeVof having the work done in hia Riding. f .. (Cotraoillor Halcombe,, who bad arrived by tbe Wellington ooaeh, took bis peat after . tha adjournment.). ; 7 ''''/■,/'•, «»OINBBB'a MPOBT!. ...- ; , /,' "'" Eba Engineer's report, giving a detailed Statement of the works in progress in the ' Countj.wsTs read and adopted. " -.- "'>,7',.' piFBBBBD PAYMENT LAND. ■ • i.AiCif^ita^if^TOV. wished to bring under ' • tte^nojrtetf 4ft /iJjjs Council a promise made by the Waste Land Board to have the 8000 ■-■ s>e*eß of Land on t|jeTaorihi Block, near; ' Palmerston, placed open for settlement as /' toon '* aa possible, and he therefore moved— ■ "That the Cbj-irman ;«f this Council press upon the WasteV Land Board the great ne^ ceseitj o{ atjc>iice th Taomii De- '" for sale/ «dV-tikirigs|^s^ jeet(&raadttHr^^ /*ir^B^y^yA/yAy- ; '' '■.C^iieWo»*' v /Cißir seconded the motion, ;' _ir_tfcbV'wai> earned umniraously. ■• . ;■ . W-B' : »__-WItV QUESTION, . •• Ctotttu^or Gowßßmoyed that the Stand- ,-, rag Orito* bds^^ order that hia 'Jttbtioti/oii the railway question might be considered, as Councillor Kebbeil was desirous of getting home. He did not propose 't^.i|i»^^jtetotb* question at any great length, ' asfiis opinions were well known, ai^d his lad l>e«ri to fully given at the public parts '■'.(Bf the district, that he consideredjt would be useless repeating them that .evening. He thought that, at the Chairrnan of ■ the County .arid Other. Northern members had moved in this matter, he would not be . r .doiag hie duty if he did not use his utmost tfidaayon, to have the railway carr'ed to, Foxton, He did hot intend •to spy . any ' '• .joreti present, but reserved to himself the -v- right of stating anything he tioughtrpWpOT . . ii^ j^ply. i:^^ mpya,— ?",That in the opinion of this-Council the kresent and future/ interests of '''the - -Hanawattt County would be. best consulted '■ by bringing the WeUingtbri Railway into the Port of Foxtqn " Councillor. Itoos^i-toV briefly seconded the motion. . %: / Councillor Hapc<mibb thoaght the mover should hare given \w reasons on such an imyortant question a»,th-rt hrbught forward; Cpuneilh^^wJßß; said he had already stated his'bpinions at the public, meetings whieb>'h_4beeri heW on (|he subject, and he ■" fd'nsider^d it unnecessary to repeat them | it evening. ...... The Chaibhak said that Couival : had ■ nothing whatever to do with whafe had ;been - »sat9d at other- meetiags. As the matter V had- been brought forward, he considered .tlie; mover should have fully explained his rtawhs-fdr asking the Council to adopt the ppUey set forth in his notice, of motion; 'Councillor Linton did not think any good . clpnld eotae put of a long, discussion that ereajng. The. whole affair, was a foregone epnetusion. The Northern members were well aware that /they .would be. out-voted i '.'• >pftre they. : ;^^d4 , *Bt<>> Foxton, that day.

be -five for the motion, and four against it. For that reason, he. considered it was quite riseleas wasting their time in the discussion of the question. He did not think it fair to the Northern members to introduce the matter in the Council, for although they would be in a minority of one upon that jjueotion, yet it could not be denied, that they represented a. majority of the wealt'u and population of the County as a whole. To. save any further waste of time, he begged leave to move as an amendment — "That in the opinion of this Council the route of the proposed West Coast Railway Line should be left entirely in the hands of the Government j to' be decided by perfectly disinterested referees." , No matter what action that Council took, the Government would bs guided by the opinion of its edgineers, and would carry the railway through that portion of the country which offered the most advantages for settlement. For his part, he was quite content to let the matter rest, entirely in the hands of the Governmena,-and he knew that the people of his district were of the same opinion. Councillor Halcombe seconded the amendment moved" by Councillor Linton. He was of opinion there was not the slightest use discussing the quession. ' If; he could bring forward the most " incontrovertible reasons' to sustain the amendment, he did not expect to alter the vote that would be taken that evening. He did riot think itfair to the Northern members to bring the matter forward in that Council, because, those who, happened to be in a minority on. that question represented the majority, in populatipn. in , progress, and \a wealth— . and, might he hot £_Uo add, in intelligence. He thought some of his friends on the opposite side were; wrong in stating, that the line via Fitzherbert was .22; miles longer than it, would be if. carried the Other way. He had gone into' the most careful calculations with a gentleman who held opposite views, to himself on the que_tiph, and they found that it would be only 12 j miles longer than the line via Greatford. He could bring forward; most conclusive arguirients why the railway should be constructed in the manner he advocated, but he thought it would be only beatirig the air to bring them forward, because every member had formed his own conclusions before he entered that room. He would like to see the question settled by an entirely independent tribunal, and. if the gsntlemen holding opposite/ opinions to those he held believed all-they pretended, he was of opinion they ought to , ask the Government to exainirie all' the natural bearings of the question, and to decide upon whatever route they thought best' for the country as a whole. ' He would be quite content to abide by the decision of the Government. But at the same time he would always urge his opinions whenever he had an opportunity of doing so, and he expected that those holding opposite views would .do i the same. At all events, they might depend that they had brie friend who wbuld spare no efforts to get the line constructed in the way they desired— the Hon. Mr. Campbell. It was through the action of that gentleman that the word , " Foxton " was instructed in the schedule, because it was well known that it was riot in the title Of the Bill originally. No doubt, Mr. Knorpp had advised the Government that the line could be made shorter ; but there were other considerations besides that of distance— such as the opening; up of the country, and the most remunerative way to make it pay. He thought it yvas hardly fair of the mover not to state' his reasons for asking them to adopt his -notion, because it deprived' hitri, and those who thought with him, of an opportunity of answering the arguments which they expected to have heardthateYjening^^ .// ,7 .7.7. Councillor Goweb said the amendment placed him in a rather difficult position, because he entirely agreed With the: views embodied in it. If the pedple of Feilding and Palmerston had not taken such an active part in the matter, arid, had the Chairman refused to go on the deputation, he should never have brought theVmitter forward in that Council. He was for fair, and impartial justice to all but the amendment moved by Ckjuncillpr Ljnton was . an attempt to take the wmd'out-dftheirV sails, and he would, therefore, stickhy his motion. . He thought it was high time* the^phrases "block rote" arid " chque'' we*9^ rooted out, and he defied the Northsra members to 'prove that they had ever/combined:to deprive them of their just right?, Councillor Rockstbow said that Eftd it not been for the action of the Chairman and Councillor Halcombe, lie woulcl hav§ been much pleased to let the matter rest with the Government.. Conncillor Hak-otube had been for days ahd weeks, and even mouths perhaps, '\ wire-pulling and buttori-holirig Ministers and members of Parliaments— -_■• Councillor Halcombe rppe tp a point of order: It was not fair for one mt in her to accuse another of wire-pulling and Jettonholing. But he did riot attempt to deny that he. had used, .and would contin^'er to u^ wbatevwjnflueri^ the ■liue ;;«jns^tobt*d.F Jh/.\t_»/mpliie!p^hfl thpughkmo'st^e^^ ; :7Cp«m._iUor/'_^^^ 'Ipr^impy^ combe iremiirid-d/him ; who; -aidj" " Be all'godd- h6jsi r do as jptell yea,? y&ifc for -"the. action- 6f Councillor Halcdmbe and the northern iriemhsfi, he would hare' refrained from vdtin/g pT} the question, 'no ' matter what, his/ bpris, tituemts might think. This was a/queitidn of the whole people from tfew Plymouth to Otaki versus those of Palirierstpn, Feildi^gj and Fit-herbert, and he had but little doiibt Q$ the result. He did not- believe the di|ferr erica was only 12i miles, -for thi-popof $#> County showed it to.be 22, and he did not thu>k the Go.vernment would be mad enough to carry the line 22 mUcs when /they pould luive it Constructed in- seveh-'br^eighiti * ■' V / : ' Councillor Sanson, said thatysl}. far aj he Was. cdhcerned, he did not think' ho wou^ be |doing his. duty if he did oot Use his utmost endeavors in getting the line Ijrougbi toFottdh; He did not think it nattered much to; . either -Palmerston' or 'gilding which wly the line w,as constructed; j. ]>ut it was a question of the most vital ilnportance tb Sandon arid Carnarvon toThave . easy com mu nication with the i port of ':Foxton for the shipment of-, their produce, ariji therefore, the people in those districts'shoijild sptfsrmo efforts to bring the line to' Foxton. £ A? ; great deal had been said about opening 'up and developing the. country ; but the line which he advocated would open up a much larger tract of country than if eon-, structed * through Fitzherbert. Besides, Fitzherbert < had' already i- received a' larg e share of the. public expenditure, > Jpt of that country was swampy in winter tupe, and was cf no use except for gra_'ng purposes, and a great portion totally up(^t for settlement. He did not think it wjould ever be opened up, imles-i.a|edmpany got 'it at the rate of 20s. an acife/ and undertook 4o drain it. They did sot Ask the Government to make the. UrieV_WinCa,raarvon:to Greatford, but it might be.to theadvaritage of the Government to buy' the. line up, be- ; cause the District Railway would open up a large t-a t- of productive country. It was »aid; the timber in the Fitzherbert, country ; was valuable, but it-was not to be. compared with the timber land which, the. other linewopld* open, up. jß|e wa* much taken up with the remark of- Councillor. Halcombe that the fou* northern members>represeated ! the majority of wealth and pqpiibtKn ;. hut jthey were ha, that position, bjca^se o&tbe [large, public expenditure- v^iph/j[hey hjid^

received. " v He thought it ungenerous of them to want a second line construjted, «r!iilst otuer.' portions were entirely deprived of Railway communication. Ho did not think that an v more disinterested persons could be sent by the (3 ivern.uenttiiuii those who had already rep>rtel; but had the Government *ent twe engineers from the other end ->f the eartii, and had they reported again_t Palmerst-m, he did not think the people of tnat place would Imve been satisfied. He would support the motion. The Chaibman stated that he had been sererely criticised because he had allowed his name to be included in the deputation. But if there was one matter on which hecorisidercd himself free to act more than another, that was the railway question, because when he was elected he; distinctly stated that although he would do nothing to the injury of Foxton, yet on the question of railway communication he would act up to his own opinions. He considered that so lorig as he did not use his official position for the advancement of his own opinions, he was at perfect liberty to do as he though? best, and to act for the greatest good of the greatest number. The right he claimed for himself he was quite willing to concede to every other member of the Council. If he was debarred from using his own private opinions because of the position which he held as Chairman of the County, he wDuld not continue long in that position. With regard to the question before them, he said that the name of the line originally was not "The Wellington and Foxton Line," brit "The Wellington -and West Coast Line." The word "Foxton" had been juggled in, no one knew house. AU the people of Feilding and Palmerston asked was that the Government would give the matter due consideration, and not arrive at any hasty conclusion. Mr. Knorpp had only paid a flying visit ; but no man, no matter who he might be; was competent to give a conclusive opinion from a cursory visit, and he spoke with a considerable 1 knowledge and experience of bush courtesy. He criticised Mr. Knorpp's figures, which we-e the only data they had to go on, «nd he thought a simple sum of subtraction would conclusively prove the whole matter as to which line should be constructed. He would vote for the amendment. The Chaibman then put the amendment, which was lost by a majority of one. For the amendment — The Chairman, Councillors Carr, Halcombe, and Linton. Against — Councillors Gower, Kebbell, Loudon, Rockstrow, and Sanson. Councillor' Kebbell said he wished to Nove as a further amendment—" Tha?, in the opinion °of this Council, it is 'desirable that to end the dispute as to the terminus of the West Coast Railway, and to open up the most country for settlement, the Government should be asked to construct two lines from the point of junction at Piaka — one line to Palmerston, and one line to Foxton." He said he believed- that would meet the views of all sides. Councillor Linton seconded the amendment, which was carried on the voices. Before putting Councillor Kebbell' amendment as a substantive motion, Conncillor Rockstrow moved two amendments — one after the other — but the Chairman said he could not accept them, as they were tantamount to the original motion, which had been just negatived by the adoption of Councillor Kebbell' s secoud amendment. Councillor Loudon said that although the line advocated by the northern members would open up a large tract of country, still he did not think that the settlett who had borne the heat and burden of the day should be entirely shut out from railway communication. The Government would never consent to construct two parallel lines, arid arid he believed they would have in view the greatest gpod to the greatest number. That could only be done by making the line advocated by the Foxton people. He trusted ' thaj Couecillor Kebbell' s amendment would lst be allowed to pass. - 7 Several other Councillors spoke, during which Councillor Gower accused the Manawatu Times of heaping columns of matter, oduched in the strongest, cparsest and most abusive terms, at all who dared to oppose Palmerston in the matter. Eventually Councillor Kebbell' s amendment was put and carried as a substantive motion. Councillor Goweb then moved that the Chairman forward the resolution just passed to the Hon. the Minister for Pudlic Works. Councillor Linton seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. POXTON LOCAL IIOABD VALUATION. It was decided to. leave the matter of looking after the valuation lists in the hands of Councillors Rockstrow and Loudon. AOBOUNTS PASSED. ''Accounts 'amounting to £1363 135., were passed for paassed for payment. The Council adjourned at 11 p.m. till Wednesday, 12th March.