HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4925, 5 January 1877, Page 2

HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL.

■■/•,, o ♦ The first meeting of the Hutt County Council was held at the Court House at noon yesterday. There were present Messrs. Chew,. Dick, Lancaster, Mason, Monaghan, Morgan, Smith, Speedy, and Taylor. Mr. Mason was . voted to the chair. CHAIRMAN OF COUNCIL. On the motion of Councillor Taylor,. seconded by Councillor Smith, it was carried, that Mr. Thomas Mason be the Chairman of the Hutt County Council.

■ BRINGING THE ACT INTO FORCE. The Chairman read the clauses of the 4.ct providing for the course to be adopted in relation to bringing the Act into force within the county, drawing especial attention to clause 13.

Councillor Taylor gave notice that he should at the next meeting move that the whole of the Act should be brought into force.

Councillor Morgan considered such aresolution quiteunnecessary, because the Act was in reality adopted by the Council, failing the passing of a resolution expressly rejecting it. Councillor Chew said he was of the same opinion. The Act already was in force if the Council did not meddle by passing a resolution on the subject. _ Councillor Taylor contended that the Act did not come into force until the expiry of three months; and he had given notice of the motion, not b3cause he had any doubts as to the advisableness of bringing the Act into force, but for the purpose of having the whole matter discussed, as there might be differences of opinion upon the subject, and to give time for Councillors to study the Act, as evidently its provisions were not yet fully understood. The Chairman quite concurred in the desirableness of doing as little as possible until more information could be obtained. For instance, it was very necessary to know the amount of funds the county would have a.t its disposal. A great deal depended upon that. The rate would have to be struck on the 15th inst., and the amount of that would ailord some guide as to the revenue. He suggested : that there should be a special meeting for the consideration of this particular question in reference to the adoption of the Act. Councillor Monaghan considered it unnecessary. The Act was very clear and distinct. Whatever they might do, it would be open to any one for three months to move that the Act should not be brought into operation. The Act was in force now.

The Chairman said, as he read the law, unless a resolution were pas"sed at a special meeting, the Act could not be brought into force until the expiry of three months hence. Councillor Taylor then withdrew his notice of motion, and moved, —That a special meeting of the Council shall be held on Tuesday, 16th inst., at noon, at the Mechanics' Institute, Lower Hutt, to consider whether the whole of ths Counties Act, 1876, jhall be brought into force. Councillor Smith seconded. A long discussion ensued, but eventually the motion was agreed to. PLACE OP MEETING. Councillor Monaghan moved that a committee consisting of Messrs. Chew, Lancaster, Smith, Taylor, and the mover be appointed to make enquiries as to the posibility of getting a place of meeting in Wellington. Report to be brought up at the next m'eeting of the Council. Councillor Lancaster seconded.-—Agreed to. OFFICE OP CLERK. Councillor Monaghan then moved that advertisements be inserted in the Wellington papers, calling for applications from persons willing to undertake the duties of clerk ip the Council. The post would be an important one, and it would be necessary to get a 'well qualified person, therefore the Board could not bestir itself too soon. Councillor Taylor considered such a motion premature. Until they knew whether the Act would be brought into operation in its entirety, they would not be able to give information as to the nature of the duties of the clerk. The Chairman added that until they knew the course to be adopted in respect to the Act they could npt tell what qualifications they should require in a clerk; nor could they determine the salary to be given. Councillor Smith moved that the Chairman be instructed to employ a clerk for a month. It was useless to call for applications for the permanent appointment, but the Chairman could not be expected to do the work in the meantime. Councillor Taylor seconded.

Councillor Lancaster considered the appointment unnecessary, as there would be nothing to do till after the 16th, and Councillor Monaghan pressed his point that applications for the permanent office should be invited. The vote was taken on Councillor Smith's motion, 4 voting for it and 4 against. The Chairman gave his casting vote for the motion, as he said he could not fairly be called upon to come early on the morning of meetings to prepare the room, to copy documents, and so forth. The resolution was therefore carried. CHOICE OP A BANK. Councillor Lancaster moved that the Bank of New Zealand be appointed bankers to the county. Councillor Monaghan seconded. Councillor Taylor moved as an amendment that the Union Bank be selected. He pointed out that the Wellington Districts Highway Board had done its business with the Union Bank, and had always found it fair and reasonable, and itaid he thought the county should take up with it.

The amendment found no seconder. Councillor Smith then moved as an amendment that the Colonial Bank should be appointed. He urged in its favor that it was ayoung institution, purely colonial, and therefore deserving of support. The Bank of New Zealand was founded principally upon English capital, and the Union Bank wholly so. Councillor Dick seconded. Councillor Monaghan said if the Bank of New Zealand was founded on English capital the Colonial Bank was founded upon Victorian capital,. and there was not very much difference in the end. The Chairman thought any appointment rather premature, seeing they had no money to bank. The amendment was carried by 5 to 3. DAY OF MEETING. It was proposed to permanently fix the day of meeting on the second Wednesday in each month; but a reference to the Act showed it. was unnecessary to do so at the first meeting, and the question was left open. The Council then adjourned. (BY TELEGRAPH ) Marton, Thursday. The first meeting of the County Council, was held to-day. A. Milne was appointed chairman, and R. Harris secretary pra tern. Great dissatisfaction was expressed at the shortness of notice given. No business was done, and the Council adjourned for a week, for members to acquaint themselves with the Act. Palmerston North, Thursday. Thynne was appointed chairman of the Council, Foxton as the county town ; no secretary till the rate be struck. Next meeting of the Council is to be held on the 31st January. The chairman meantime to applyto Government for a return of roads, bridges, and other public works under the care of the road boards. A warm discussion occurred at the opening of the proceedings. SansoD and Gower announced their intention of working with the Foxton members, on account of the little sympathy they had met with fromPalmerston and Fielding in the matter of the Sandon and Carnarvon tramway. McDonald, of Otaki, has joined the same party, • thus giving it a majority. Halcombe was a eandit. date for the chairmanship, and expressed himself willing to do the duties for nothing. Thynne said he would expect a salary. Greytown, Thursday.

Tully, Barton, and Gilligan were proposed for the chairmanship of the County Council. The latter was elected chairman. The next meeting of the Council will be held on the sth at Mastertou. Applications for the office of clerk to be invited. The Council are to con-

si.ier hi. their next meeting whether the whole Act shall he brought into operation ; also, whether the two counties shall be continued. Nothing wiis done or said about the apportionment of representation. VV'ANOANOi, Thursday.

The first meati-g of the Comity U. uucil was held at noou to-day. All the members were present. Mr. i>a id Peach was elected chairman. It w.is decided to invito teuuers for a clerk and treasu; er No other.. bu.s>ues S of importance was transacted. Ihe Council meet anaiii on the 20th. Blenheim, Thursday.

The Marlborough County Council met ut noon. Mr.' Seymour was elected chairman, Mr. Millar Eyes clerk, and the Council then adjourned

i . Napier, Thursday. The TTajvke's Bay County Council met to«Hv Mi- Tiffin a 9 elected chairman. A committee was appoi ted on the motion ot Col Whitmore, to conaider the steps to be token to bring the Act into operat.on in itTe trioted form*. To report next Thursday. Gkkymocth, '1 hurray. _

The Grey County Council met at noon in the Court House. All the members were present except Mr. Foley, of Greenstone Guinne^a^dl&cG»lreWer;aom^^«cha«me n . Guinness got live votes, and McGuire thiee. fa WESTPORT, Thursday.

The first meeting of the County Council was held at noon. It was resolved to adopt the entire Act. Mr. George Falla was app.mted chairman

Hokitika, Thursday.

The Countv Council met at noon to-day. After some discussion, Mr. McWhirter was elected chairman,

Nelson, Thursday.

The Waimea County Couucil met, to-d y, and elected Barnicoat. late Speaker of the Provincial Council, chairman. The consideration o£ adopting the whole Act was deferred. The Council adjourned till the 23rd. Chkistchubch, Ihursday. The County Councils in the Canterbury district? lutt to-day. The business was of a purely formal character. Balcxhtha, Thursday.

The Clutha County Council met at uoon in the Court House, Balelutha, all the councillors being present. John McNeill was unanimously elected chairman, and Balelutha was fixed on as the county town and permanent. piace of meeting. It was agreed to adverti e for a clerk, and to request the Government to extend the time for preparing thf valuation roll, in terms of clause six of the Eating Act. A discussion took place on county matters in general, and the meeting adjourned to the 6th instant, so that councillors might have an opportunity of informing themselves as to the provisions of the Act,

Dosedin, Thursday.

The Otago County Councils met to-day. The following chairmen were appointed : Peninsula, Mr. John McLean; Taieri, Mr. James Sutton; Lawrence, Mr. Poynton ; Vincent, Mr. Pyke ; Waikouaiti, Mr. James Green; Naseby, Mr. A. Rolland; Queenstown, Mr. McAidle. The Waikouaiti Council resolved to bring the whole of the Act into force. Riverton, Thursday.

At a meeting of the Wallace County Council Henry Hirst wis elected chairman. The other business was purely formal. Oamabu, Thursday.

The County Council met to-day. There were seven members present and two absent. The Hon. Hubert Campbell was elected chairman. Merely form il business wa3 done. A temporary clerk was appointed for a month. A valuator was appointed to value the outlying districts by the 1 rith.