INTERPROVINCIAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 195, 14 August 1878, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

["press agency.l Wellington, Tuesday night. At the County Conference to-day, the question of the maintenance of hospitals by the Counties with a Government subsidy of pound for pound was fully discussed, and only negatived on a division by the casting vote of the Chairman, although his other vote was with the Ayes. It was resolved that auctioneers and other license fees should belong to the County in which they are collected, but if a license is usedin more than one County or Borough, the license fees shall be divided amongst such bodies; That when a Road Board shall fail to elect Trustees and a governing body, then such Road District shall merge into the County; That whenever an owner of land cannot be found, all rates overdue shall be charged, against the land. A Committee was appointed to draw up the final report. Wednesday. The County Conference to day concluded its business. It was unanimously resolved: — That the Counties Act be amended so as to give the right to Counties to levy a | County rate over outlying destricts; — That I a written acceptance of nomination by a candidate for election, if properly attested, shall be sufficient; — That the present system of survey of roads though crown lands is unsatisfactory, and the Conference suggests that before a sectional survey is undertaken an engineer be appointed to lay off and grade the road line : — That thanks be tendered to the Government for the use of the room, and for free printing; also a vote of thanks to the Chairman, especially for his casting vote re the maintenance of hospitals. The report of the proceeding will be printed. The total cost of the Conference will be £1 per county. Greymouth, Tuesday night. A crowded meeting was held at the Public Hall last evening for the purpose of urging upon the Government the necessity of connecting by railway the East and West Coasts of this island. His Worship the Mayor was in the chair. The following resolutions were carried enthusiastically:— "That the meeting urge upon the Government the necessity of constructing without delay a line of railway to connect the East and West Coasts of this island by the shortest and best route, and which will most promote the development of the resources of the country." — "That in the opinion of this meeting the Southern route by the Haast Pass proposed by the Hokitika Kailway Committee would, not meet any ot the conditions above mentioned, it being of enormous length, and traversing a line of country which would necessitate a cost quite beyond the means of the colony at the present time, and would be utterly useless to this portion of the colony."—" That all the evidence goes to prove that the best and most profitable line would be by one or the other of the routes by way of the Grey Valley to connect with the North Canterbury lines." — "This meeting will cordially cooperate with any Committees formed in the Canterbury and Amuri districts, or any other Committee appointed for the promotion of the aforesaid objects." — *' That a Committee be appointed to prepare a petition to Parliament, and to obtain all possible statistical information in support of the petition, and generally to give effect to the previous resolutions."