COUNTY CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5424, 15 August 1878, Page 2

COUNTY CONFERENCE.

Tuesday, August 14. The Conference met at ten o’clock ; Mr. Bastings in the chair. The report of the Committee on Loans was considered and adopted. The committee did not recommend any changes of great importance. Mr. McMinn moved, and Captain Moiuus seconded, —That no local body shall have power to levy a rate for the year succeeding their term of office. This resolution was lost. Mr. Fulton moved, —That the Counties Act, and other Acts incorporated therewith, should be amended in such a way that the county council may be able to levy a rate on outlying districts without imposing a general rate rate on districts within road boards. The resolution was seconded by "Mr. McOardell and carried. Me. Beetham moved the following amendment to the Local Elections Act, clause 2, — That the written acceptance of a nomination by a candidate for election, if properly attested, shall be sufficient for the purposes of this Act. This resolution was carried. Mr. Beethan moved, —That the attention of the Government should be drawn to the present unsatisfactory state of the engineering survey conducted by the Survey Department, under which roads are laid off without reference being made to the natural features of the country ; and that this Conference suggests that before the sectional survey is undertaken for the future the necessary roads should be graded and located, the present system entailing an enormously increased expenditure on the local organisation.* This resolution was seconded by Mr. Bbodie and carried.

Mr. Beetham explained that he had no intention of throwing any blame upon the surveyors, who he considered were compelled to carry out a vicious system of survey. Mr. Brodie moved a very cordial vote of thanks to the chairman, saying that he had upon several occasions been obliged to take up the position of a stumbling-block in the way of the progress of tho business of the Conference, but that he had done so only in the interests of those whom he represented. He was happy now in being able to thank the chairman very heartily for the able and impartial manner in which he had conducted the Conference. Mr, Cadman seconded the motion, and said ho desired especially to thank the chairman for the casting vote he had given on the division on the question of the maintenance of hospitals. Mr. Beetham put the motion, which was carried unanimously. Tho Chairman, in reply, thanked the members of the Conference for their support throughout the deliberations,' and promised that he would exert his influence in every possible direction, as a member of the House of Representatives, to urge the carrying out of the recommendations made. He informed the Conference that he proposed that each county should contribute one pound towards covering the expenses of the Conference. This was agreed to. Mr. Bastings informed the members that the official report of the proceedings of the Conference, when drawn up, would be printed, and a copy sent to each county council. Mr Bastings moved a'vote of thanks to the Government for the assistance they had rendered the Conference by granting a room for their meetings, and by executing the printing free of charge. The Conference then dissolved.