COUNTY COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 274, 9 March 1877, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

The following is a brief resume of the finish of the meeting of the cil yesterday : It was resolved to pay the expenses cit the Licensing Court at Hampden. A letter from the Under-Secretary, enclosing a copy of the verdict, and rider attached, passed at the inquest held on the body of John Fox, who was drowned in a blind creek on the road from Incholme to Maheno, was referred to the local Road Boards. Mr. Sumpter, on behalf of Mr. Christian Hille, applied for an extension of the lease, for ten years, of twenty acres of lar?d, now held by him at Kourow Ferry. —lt was decided that the letter should be referred to Mr. Hille, with a request that he will inform the Council on what terms and conditions he at present holds the Ferry Reserve of twenty acres ; the present scale of fees charged by him; and what he is prepared to offer. Messrs. Shrimski and Moss wrote, stating that the}' were building new offices in Thames-street, with strong-rooms attached, which they would be prepared to let, when completed, if the Council desired a suite of offices. —Consideration deferred. Mr. Duncan, according to notice given at last meeting, moved, " That the question of opening a road through the Papakaia preemptive be considered." —As an amendment, Mr. D. Sutherland moved, "That the purchase of a road-line through the Papakaia prc-jmptive be left to tlio Waitaki Road Board to complete."—Mr. Duncan's motion, on being put, was lost by five votes to two ; and the amendment was carried. It was resolved, "That applications be invited by advertisement from persons willing to collect the Dog Tax from Ist April, 1877, to 31st March, 1878; and that the percentage be five per cent, up to L4OO ; ten per cent, on the next L2OO ; and twenty per cent, for all moneys over L6OO. Mr. D. A. Douglas was appointed Inspector of Roads ; and Mr. James Martin, Clerk, Collector, and Treasurer ; the Inspector to find security to the amount of LSOO, and the Treasurer, &c., LIOOO. The valuation lists for the outlying districts were handed in, and amounted to L 41,500, this, with the Road Board Districts " valuation (L 112,000), making a total rateable value for the County of L 153,500. After considering t'ie report of Mr. Barron as to works required on roads and bridges, the estimate set down by the Council as the expenditure for the year (April 1, 1877, to March 31, 1579) was L7OOO. It was determined to write to the Minister for Public Works, requesting that all tools, metal, and timber within the County, the property of the late Provincial Government, be handed over to the County Council. A resolution was passed to the effect that a general rate of 6d. in the £ is considered necessary to meet the required expenditure. It was resolved to call for tenders for surface work on the Moeraki Road, An annual stipend of £l5O was voted to the Chairman. After considerable discussion, it determined to keep a separate account of the expenditure in each riding. It was resolved, " That the office hours of the Clerk be from nine a. m. to 4 p. m. ; on Saturdays, nine a.m. to two p.m. ; and that the same be advertised in accordance with the Act.'" .A seal was chosen, and an order sent to Fergusson and Mitchell to prepare it at once. Messrs. Craig and Wheatley, in conjunction with the Treasurer, were authorised to countersign cheques. It was resolved to retain Mr.- Barron's services until Mr. Douglas could assume his duties as Road Inspector. Two notices of motion were given ; one was in reference to County Pounds, and the other that £SO should be set apart fqr the introduction of salmon into the varit ous rivers in the County. Accounts, amounting to £lB 10s. 9d., were passed for payment, and After the passing of a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting adjourned until the second Thursday in April.