THE HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4954, 7 February 1877, Page 3

THE HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Hutt Council was held in the Provincial Hall yesterday afternoon at one o'clock. There were present—Mr. Mason (chairman), and Councillors Monaghan, Dick, Speedy, Smith, Lancaster, Taylor, Morgan, and Chew. The minutes of last meeting were duly read and confirmed. ARISING OUT OP MINUTES. The Chairman informed the meeting as to what had taken place in respect of several resolutions appearing on the minutes of last meeting. With regard to the financial arrangements, proceeds of tolls, &c, he stated that he had had no opportunity so far to see the Government on the matter. He further stated that copies of the different Acts of last session had been received. EEPORT OF OFFICERS COMMITTEE. The following report of the committee to consider what officers were necessary for the administration of the affairs of the County Council was read : " Wellington, January 31, 1877. "Your committee report that they have carefully considered the question as to what officers are required for the Hutt County Council, and have unanimously decided that one is required, who shall act as clerk and treasurer, with a salary of £225 a year; " And another, who will be required to act as engineer and inspector of roads (who may also be required to act as paymaster in case the roads shall be repaired, or works done by daily labor), with a salary of £3OO a year, and an allowance of £SO a year for forage ; and that they have authorised the insertion of advertisements to that effect." It was resolved to defer till a later period the consideration of applications received. REPORTS FROM LOCAL BOARDS. The following communications from Local Boards, as to rates received, were read:— " Johnsonville Local Board, " Johnsonville, January 29, 1877. "Sir, —I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of letter of the 26th inst., and to inform you that the rate ending 31st March, 1876, amounts to the sum of £44 16s. 3d. We have at present received ss. in the £ as subsidy for that amount; but since that return was made we have received £3 15s. 4Jd. for outstanding rate 1875, and £4 3s. 4d. for 1876, making a total of £52 14s. ll£d. The above is a correct statement.—l have, &c, " G. Gilbert, Secretary, "For W. H. Saunders, Chairman. " To the Chairman of the " Hutt County Council." " The Hutt, February 2, 1877. " SlB, —-I have the honor to forward for your information the various sums received by the Lower Hutt Local Board on account of general rates : £ s. d. Kates received up to March, 1875... 76 8 9 „ „ „ March, 1876... 123 1 3 „ „ „ to date ... 225 8 3 " The above are the sums as they were cellected, but the actual rates are £199 10s. per annum.—l have, &c, "W. A. FITZHERBERT, "Chairman, H.L.B. " T. Mason, Esq., " Chairman Hutt County Council." "Kaiwaria, January 27, 1877. "Sir, —I have the honor to forward a return of all moneys received on a account of general rates for the year ending 31st March, 1876 : "General rates... ... £55 4 7 " C. Thompson, jun., " Secretary Kaiwarra Local Board. "T. Mason, Esq., " Chairman Hutt County Council." The total amount of rates collected, as shown by the above letters, in addition to £l4Ol 9s. 3d. in the Wellington District, amounted to £1632 10s. THE COUNCIL'S BANK. The following letter from the Colonial Secretary's Office was read : " Colonial Secretary's Office, "Wellington, Jan. 24, 1877._ " Sib, —I am directed by the Colonial Secretary to draw your attention to section 104 of the Counties Act, 1876, which directs that all moneys of the body corporate amounting to ten pounds (£10) and upwards shall, within ten days after they shall have come to the- bands of the proper officer of the Council, be paid into such bank as the Council shall from time to time have appointed for that purpose, to an account to be called the County Council Fund Account. "With a view to ensure that moneys so payable are paid as required by law, I am to request that notice may be given to the Treasury Department at Wellington of the name of such bank as the county appoints, and also of any change in such appointment.—l have, &c, "G. S. Cooper. " The Chairman of the County Council of Hutt, Wellington." It was resolved to give the necessary notice, and the Colonial Bank was chosen as the bank in which moneys of the Council shall be lodged. karori works. , In regard to the above, the following letter was received from Mr. Graham, Chairman of the Karori-Makara Highway. Board : " Karori-Makara Highway Board, " Wellington, January 23, 1877. : " Sir, —I have the honor to'acknowledge receipt of yours of 18th inst., calling my attention to clause 12 of the Rating Act, 1876. I beg to assure you that this clause has not been overlooked by me, and that the various requirements of the clause are being complied with. " As tenders for the various works within the road district are now being advertised for, I am not yet in a position to give you an estimate of the probable expenditure within the district, but shall have much pleasure in giv : ing the County Council all the information in my power so soon as I am in a position to do so. . . . . " I regret that the Board is not in a position to supply the County Council with a copy of the valuation list of our highway district; but I shall be happy to instruct the clerk of the Board to have a copy made out at the expense of the Council if the Council desire it.—l have, &c, " Charles C. Graham, Chairman. " Mr. Henry ABhton, " Clerk of the Hutt County Council." notices of motion. Councillor Monaghan gave notices of motion as follow:—That such part of the Counties Act, 1876, as is mentioned in the third schedule shall not come into force in the county.—That the Karori-Makara Highway Board be empowered, under clause 203 of the Counties Act, 1876, to establish and maintain a public pound. Councillor Taylor gave notice that at next meeting he would move, —That the Chairman iask the Colonial Secretary if the Government will grant the Hutt County Council a portion of the proceeds of the sale of Crown lands, to assist in keeping in repair that portion of the two main roads that-pass through the county, known as the Great North Eastern and the Great North Western Roads. Councillor Morgan gave notice of motion, — That in the" opinion of this Council.it is desirable that the Chairman apply to Mr. Bunny for all the bridge plans, road sections, and survey plans within the Hutt County. track from blaoky's to wainui. The following motion, proposed by Councillor Smith and seconded by Councillor Taylor, was carried,—That Councillors Taylor, Chew, and the mover do form a committee to wait on Henry Bunny, Esq., to ask that the sum of £2OO, which was placed on the Provincial Government estimates to expend on a bridle track from Blacky's to Wainui, be handed over to this Council, to be expended on this particular work. APPOINTMENT OP OFFICERS. The Council then went into committee to consider applications received for the offices of clerk and. 'engineer. For the former office there were thirty applications, and for the latter nineteen. As each application was accompanied by testimonials, some of them

being very long, the Council took a considerble time in coming to a conclusion. The doors were closed during the time occupied in this matter. Mr. William Jones was elected to the office of clerk. Mr. W. Fitzherbert was elected to the office of engineer. CHAIRMAN'S SALARY. Councillor Morgan, who had introduced the above subject at the previous meeting held at the Hutt, remarked that the duties which the Chairman would have to perform must necessarily require a good deal of attention, and would occupy a large portion of his time, in addition to which a considerable amount of responsibility would be thrown on his shoulders. He should therefore propose that the Chairman be voted an annual allowance of £l5O, to commence from the date of his appointment. Councillor Speedy seconded the motion. CouncillorTAYLOß, while acknowledging that their Chairman would hare a very great deal of work to do in connection with his office, at the same time was of opinion that the Council could not at present afford to pay £l5O, the sum proposed. He spoke in flattering terms of Mr. Mason's ability, saying that he considered they could not possibly have a better Chairman than he was were they to Bearch the province of Wellington from end to end. Ho would suggest, however, that as they were just starting life as it were, the allowance proposed should be reduced to £IOO. Councillor Smith considered thai the difference was hardly worth consideration. Councillor Mason himself suggested that £IOO per annum would be quite sufficient Councillor Morgan, in consideration of what had fallen from the Chairman on the subject, consented to amend his proposal by making the allowance £IOO, instead of that originally suggested. The motion was then put to the meeting and unanimously agreed to. members' travelling expenses. Councillor Smith moved, without notice, and it was carried, —That in the opinion of this meeting some travelling expenses should be allowed to members of the Council ; and that Councillors Speedy, Chew, Dick, Monaghan, and the mover be a committee to consider what amount would be necessary. This concluded the business, and the meeting adjourned at half-past 4 o'clock.