MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 46, 4 June 1879, Page 2

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

I^QIfEIAT, JVNB 2ND, 1679. Tham,pjVkhly> roasting °% the Manawatu County Oounc'flL, w^s held in^he. Council Chambers, Eloxton, on the above dftfce. Presanfc— Cpuncilloiß Macarfchur (chairman) , Halcoinha, I^bell,. Linton, Sanson, Carr, Go war, and- Bpekstrow. The minutes of the pn&vious meeting were read/and confirmed. CQLIiBCTIHG QF BATES. The following tenders fo» the collection of? rate 3 were .opened and discussed: — J. J. Enox, at 10 per cent, ox* collection. ; Robert Mackia, at 5 per. cent, on do. ; T. S. Walton, 3^ per. cemt. ; R. GK Knight, 5 percent.; F. Mowlam," B£ pc» cent. • H. Burrell, 10 per cent. • H. 4. 7 per cent.; S. H. Quinn,^ per, cent. ' Councillor .Gqwbb thoughfe that they were not bound to accept any of the tenders. He understood it was only to sea whether it was best to appoint a collector or keep to. the old system. Councillor liINTon was under the impression that they Had decided to apppinfc a collector. • The Chairman having read the specifications, • . Councillor Gowbb . said he thought that, m, other bodies,.; ih e'riile was not to allow any per centage until they been due a cer■taiici tim,e. ; ' Councillop Lisbon put Councillor dower Wght on this point, by informing hita that, si^ah was not the case. ■;• The C^Aimi'pi observed that if a collex'^pr. were .employed, the rates would be got m much sooner, and thus either interest ■ would b<s sftVied, ; or. >hey would have the use of th% money, ao that the benefit accruing would outweigh the expense of. collection, aqct woisld. i^ .the end prove tr»e economy, -A. lavge amount of arrears would also ha collacte^, wl^ich, under the. old sys-. tern, would beorre.vooab,ly lost. : Co\inoillor. Sansojsf objected ta such an appointment. Ha. cqiisiderad that a rate put on to pay a cqlletetor. wou.lcl be objected i bo byibe ratepayers. The rates would be paid ajfc' onca;if. pjfcpiw notipea were issued. Se believed that the hulk of thfei' rates would b.pl paid at. oncfe, and those not.. paid ■m.ighfc he sued for m due course. If-addi-tional ciewcal assistance were, required; ' it would be cheapen to employ such than to give a commission to a ctillector specially appointed. jSa conceived that the »ate--payers would very much; if the; shilling '■'.," inai.e veere, spent m .i^ultiplyin'g 1 offices instead of being axpended in.niaking roads, as they expected? \ . - ■'; ?'Ooiinciilor Linton was BaTprißed;4t the; Jaction taken by Counmllor Sansbn/ ;r He nntler«topfl .''■.that the; mntter had beenvfullydiacuss^dj and that it had .been agreed, that: a collector should'. bci appointed. He considere.ft that instead^ of taxing tlie poopl&by appointing a coilector, such a course was for the benefit of'Jihe. ratepayers, by pm-: Tiding revenue;, moye^— -That

tyie gander of Mr. F. Mowlem, at 3fc per cent., be accepted. The Chairman would remind Councillor Sanson that, by appointing a collector, they, would be benefiting the ratepayers by reducing thje interest-ibn the pverdraft, He was* averse to T muitiplyin'g; fiffiie>i ibut it j should be borne m mind that the' duties of the clerk had increased very materially of late, so that itfriwas -impossible > fd» ; that, officer to collect the rates efficiently, ■ Councillor Hai,co#bb~ seconded the motion. Councillor G-ovyER. was not quite so sure that the matter had been, so fully discussed as represented by Councillor Lin ton-. He was under the impression that it was only a tentat iye. motion that, had :been passed, to take effect only m case of satisfactory tenders being received. He had hoped that it would haye been tendered for at 2| per cent. ; but, however,- 3£,' per cent was not very wide of his mark, and he should not oppose the motion. „ V Councillor Sansqn felt indignant at the resolution. He was against multiplying offices. He was not averse to an increase of salary to the clerk, if requisite, but he opposed the expenditure of such a sum as £140. Councillor Rockstrow ;Of o, no ! Postage and travelling expenses would have to. come out; of the $140. , Councillor Halcombe said that he gave his vote for the motion, thinking that it would be far. fehe benefit of .Jihe ratepayers to have thp.jtate's. collected.a s speedily as possible. The officers of clerk and collector were incompatible. He was not aware that be had m former times opposed any needful expenditure. Everything calculated to promote the efficient wox*kingof th County Act had had liis cordial suppo^ Thp Chaibman supported the motion as a matter of economy. The percentage system had worked well m the Manchester Highway Board, where they had only about £20 uncollected out of £1100-of rates. Councillor Rookstbow bore testimony to the amount of work none by the clerk even after office hours, and justified Ms support of the motion for an increase of the clerk's salary. *> The motion was then put an carried. CORRESPONDENCE. The following correspondence was read : — THE BALANCE SHEET. Circular from the Treasury, requesting that the balance sheet, required by Section 135 of the Counties' Act, 1875, might be forwarded m triplicate prior to the 30th June.— The "clerk was instructed to forward balance sheet m triplicate, as requested. AUDIT. Letter from the Provincial District Auditor, accompanying balance sheets for the half-year an 4 yeiiir respectively ending 3 lsq ■ Maroh, 1879, wherein the -iuditor states that the accounts show an (improvement on former years. POXTON FOOTPATHS 4»I) lOOATi BO ABB. Letter from the clerk of the Foxton Local Board, stating that, owing to an error of the County Engineer m laying pufrth'e main street m Foxton, by not laying off sufficient space for footpaths, .an extra, expenditure of £10 would be required, and applying for a refuud for that amount. A subsequent letter stated that the clerk; was m error m stating that sufficient space had not been allowod for the footpaths \. it was two feet more than required. The Engineer stated th.at ; the Local Board had agreed tp mak.e the path twelve feet instead of ten" feet. .-,.., Ordered to stand pver till-next meeting^ ■> PLAN OP WEST COAST. ' Memo, from Mr, T, H. Trowsor, forwarding tracing of Mr. Climie's topographical plan of West Coast, cost of which to be £5. INSPECTION, OP VALUATION LIST./Letter from Deputy Commissioner of Land Tax, advising despatch of valuation lfst for the No. 4 division of County Manawatu, for inspection, $rom 28th May to 12th. June. ./" - THE POXTON POUND. . '\..Y • Letter from John Hillary, applying to, be released from the duty of poundk>ep,er J ,and asking for amount of his aeconnt. The matter was referred to the members for the Awahoußiding-to ; deal with. THE OHAU PUNT. : ' ; . Telegram from Mr. J. T. Stewart, stating that the pbnt at the Ohau will be ready for use on Wednesday, and? asking if 1 Council had appointed anyone to* take charge, of same. ■ •: " ■ . .■■■•.'. ■.:■ '. ■ v ' - : .-■■ The Chairman read a letter, sent to the Government, protesting agaihs.t^the Q-oyern-tnent saddling the Council with the working of the punt, and explained not h.a|fin|| protested at the time,, they were bound to take over the punt, but they were not bound to work it. which would cost £iOO a year. Councillor Sanson-: -Land, ifc at high water. '■,-■■ ■■ - ' The matter was referred to the Engineer. • ; . ; bye-jaws, r / .;r\Uu Circular from" the Colonial &sere.sa^j f 8 Office, re bye-laws, f \^u '*£ BOAD THROUGH SEVBOTY-MIIiB BUSH. j Letter from the Chairman of the Wairarapa West County Council re maintenance of road through the seventy-mile bush,; inti* | mating that that council had no funds to meet the cost: of s ame.-=j-Referred to the | Chairman to be dealt with. . THE WAIKANAE P.UNT. Latten f rom-the Chairman' of the Hutt ! County Council, intimating that the Council ! having been inyested with the management of the Waikanae Ferry,, had appointed a ferryman at a salary of *£52a year, and re.. questing a cheque for £13, being one half of cost of maintenance for s ste h.a\f-.year ending 28/bh April last.— Agreed to. \ ' THE OHAU PTOT. Letter from the Public Works Office, 8 tat ing that the punt for the Ohau was ready to be handed over, and requesting the Council' to signify, their w-illingness to receive delivery of the same. The Engineer was instructed to receive the punt. OTAKI IitOENSIWa QOUBT. j Letter from the Resident Magistrates' Co.ur£, Foxton, intimating that the next annual licensing meeting for: the district' of Otaki would be held. on. Tuesda^y, ; 3rd June, and asking suggestions froiii the Council. Counciflor Kebbell moved;;— " That, 0i tha ppinion of this Couaoi\, a licensed. House, on theisouth bank df'th^O^a^i RiveT -is' not required, now that the Ferry service is re?. moved, and that this resolution be forwarded to the Ohahsoian of the Licensing Bench of Qtaki.^Cairied. ;j • '' ' ' • IiGAVB OE AB3BNOE. Letter from- Counpillor London, asking Council -to excuse his absents-. — Leave of absence granted, on the motion, of Council. 1q» Bockstrow., EXTENSION 01 Tliyt, . . - Letter f r6ixs Thomas Bradley", Contractor for graveiling, asking for aq exten,sioq dff time. — Request refused. TENDEB9- * Tha following teaders ionroa.d liha m the Taonui Raiding were opened>and described. Line. A.— A. Jfansen,^stumping and clear* ing, 19s. '6d. ppr 1 cha'iri; accepted 5" foiling arid olearing, : 295, do', do:, aoeeptSS; •* A. SchLvizer— felling and clearing, 405., declined. J. Flotcher, 29s. >jt declined. ' Line B.— J. Fletoher^felling and olearing, 21s. 6d. per chain j'accepled j stumping arid clearing, 18s. 3d.; do. do., accepted. •I). Matchell— where felled,. lßs. per chain., declined; do. standings 2jß3.,^ declined.. > CouncJllpr Q-OWER inquired whether the money wiis to come but of the amount de- s

had had i>7so given to it, but he hud been .checked m its': expenditure because the ■riding was m debt, and he should like to, stop the vote for the Taonui' BJdiog, which was also m debt, .. . The Ca^ißSfAK replied^thgt (he money was part of the subsidy given by the Government for roads to deferred payment lands. Those roads had been' approved by the Government, and the njoney oould hot be ■deyotedffrfliH thot ; purpose; ' '' |> ' ■ Metalling Bangitikei ,Line.-r- J. G, 'Nathan, 3s, 6d. per cubic yard, declined ; pollins and Parker, 3s. 10d., declined ; W. KelJop, .35,, accepted; J.PowejPi, 4s. 9d., declined; Erosenthal and Charles, 3s. 4d., declined. ; • . ■ . - . .CounpillotGdWKß movfld-^l That, m the present state of funds, no tenders for any work be accepted, and that this continue to be the case untill the riding have the needful funds at its command," . ; Councillor Eockst^qw seconded the motion. The CHAi^MAif stated that the present portion of the T^onui Riding was that it was about £560 overdrawn. Councillor SAifsoJT advocated the greatest care m curtailing expenditure so as to keep, it within the revenue. (To be Continued).