WAITAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 756, 12 September 1878, Page 2

WAITAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of this Council was held to-day. Present: Hon. R. Campbell (chair), Duncan, Todd, Murcott, W. Sutherland, Johnston, Morton, and Thomson, and Oliver (Engineer). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence was read and approved.

The Chairman stated that he had brought under the notice of the Municipal Conference the matter of the drainage of the County, and the Conference had agreed with his views, and the recommendations would of course be forwarded to the Government. He also referred to his action re the Charitable Institutions Aid Bill. With regard to the matter of the

surplus land fund, the matter was that day being brought before the Supreme Court at Christchurch, and it had been suggested to him that as this county would be a gainer, it ought to contribute something towards the cost of the action, which he did not think would amount to much.

Mr Duncan moved, and Mr Thomson, seconded, " That the Council contribute towards the cost of the action in proportion to the amount received."—Carried.

Letters were read from the Secretary to the Treasury advising that certain sums had to be forwarded to the credit of the County. An application for a slaughtering license for W. Sutherland, jun., at Duntroon, and one for Mr. James M'Auly, of Awamoko, were granted.

Mr. J. P. Maitland wrote asking if the Council had any objection, on public grounds, to the acquisition of a piece of land, 40 acres in extent, at Wharekura, by Mr. W. B. Cairns.

On the motion of Mr. Thomson the Clerk was instructed to inform Mr. Maitland that the Council had no objection to the proposal. Mr. Conyers wrote stating that the request of the Council re the proposed siding at Whitstone should receive careful and prompt consideration. A letter from the Under-Secretary was read asking for certain returns, which the Clerk stated had been supplied. A slaughtering license was granted to Messrs. Eddington, Bust, and Co.

The Clerk to the Otepopo Road Board wrote stating that the Board would willingly take over the bridge at Allday Creek. With reference to the closing of the old road at [sland Stream the Board intimated that while they as a body would not object to carry out the wishes of the Council, they did not think the settlers would agree to the proposal, and therefore they could not take any action in the matter.

Tenders wero opened and accepted as follows :—Contract 46. Gravelling road to Awamoko Junction. Shine and Sullivan, L 34 13s. Contract 47. Forming and gravelling road to Uxbridge Railway Station. H. Wallace, L 93 14s. A letter was read from Mr. O'Meagher with reference to the Papakaio pre-emptive road, and it was ordered that the purchase money be paid.

Mr Garrow wrote on behalf of the Road Boards Conference, stating that in their opinion the Boards could spend the rates collected in their several districts more economically than the Council, and therefore begged that the Council would advantage of seotion 89 of the Cojmiae% Act to that end.

Mr. Duncan could not see how the Boards could expend the money more economically than the Council, and thought that the accounts of the latter would bear favorable comparison with those of the former. He would move that the Conference be referred to a minute of the Council refusing to pay over money not subject to its own supervision.

Mr Todd said the working expenses of the Kakanui Harbor Board amounted to 21 per cent, of the total amount collected, while the Council's expenses amounted to 19 per cent. ; therefore the Board were evidently laboring under a delusion. He would second the motion.

Mr Thomson said the answer might be framed so as to read a little more courteously than the motion of Mr. Duncan. Mr. Murcott opposed granting any money to the Boards. He looked upon the application as an election ruse, some of the most prominent members of the Conference had declared their intention to come forward as candidates for the Council. Some further discussion ensued, after which the motion of Mr Duncan was put and carried. [Left sitting.]