COUNTY COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 853, 9 January 1879, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

The regular monthly meeting of thia body was held thia morning at the County Council Chambers. The following members were present :—Messrs. W. Murcott (in the chair), W. Sutherland, Todd, Falconer, Duncan, Johnston, and Thomson. Mr. Olliver (Engineer) was in attendance.

The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, the outward correspondence was approved, and the following letters were read : From the Secretaries of the Awamoko, Duntroon, Otepopo, and Maheno Library Committees, asking for cheques of L2O, the amount voted by the Council at their last meeting for library purposes. From Mr. Vincent Pyke, Chairman of the Vincent County Council, asking for information as to the salaries and allowances paid by the Waitaki County Council to the officers in their employ, and the rates paid to day laborers. The Secretary read his reply conveying information, which was confirmed by the Council. From the' same, requesting the Council to remit the sum of LI, as their share in the expense connected with the printing of the report of the County Conference held in Dunedin in 1577. This request was ordered to be complied with at once.

From the Clerk of the Waiareka Road. Board, requesting, on the part of the. Board, that written authority be given to Mr. Dunn, Ranger, to impound all cattle straying on the public roads within that riding, for the purpose of increasing the powor of the Ranger in the discharge of his duty. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Todd, that the Council give authority to all the Rangers which the County subsidised for this purpose. From Mr. J. C. Gavin, Secretary of the Treasury, Wellington, enclosing an abstract showing the basis of the distribution of the sum of L575G 8s lid, less, L 1757 15s 3d recovered from the several Counties in Otago in connection with the claim of the School Commissioners of the Education District of Otago. It was resolved that the Clerk acknowledge the same.

From Mr. J. L. "Wilson, secretary of the committee appointed by the united County Councils and Road Boards for the purpose of obtaining payment of the portion of the Canterbury land fund due to them, but which was withheld by the Colonial Government, and informing the Council that then.- work has been brought to a conclusion, and that a compromisehas been effected, by which the Government has agreed to pay the sum of L 155,000 out of the L 225,000 claimed. Out of this amount, L55,Q00 has beenalready paid, and the balance is to be remitted in the course of a few days. Also reijuesing that the Council would cooperate in the payment of the expense* connected with its recovery. It was resolved that the Council pay their proportion of the expenses as requested, as resolved on at a former meeting. From Mr. Borton, asking that the roadline from Awamoko. to Maerewhenua, which passed through a portion of his property, may be formed. It was resolved that the Engineer report at the next meeting ; also that Mr. Johnston and the Engineer wait on Mr. Boa-ton to see if an immediate arrangement can be arrived at re the carrying out of the work. From Mr. J. Barron, Inspector of Roads, furnishing monthly report. The report was received.

From Ban- and Oliver, Engineers to the Council, reporting that Mr. Wm, Doag had refused the contractor, Mr. Wallace, access to the gravel-pits, unless he paid the royalty of LlO, on contracts 51, 55, and 50. The contractor on his own account had arranged with Mr, Wilson for gravel to complete contracts 55 and 56, which they had deemed advisable to sanction. This report was approved.

From Norman Lane, Oamaru ; James Gibson, Papakaio ; W. Russell, Waiareka; T. H. Watkins, Hampden ; W. Turnbull, Otepopo ; Eddington, Bust, and Co., Oamaru ; and H. T. Murcott, Hampden, applying for renewals of slaughtering licenses. It was resolved that the licenses be granted. It was resolved on the motion of Mr. Todd that tenders be called for gravelling at Ngapara, tenders to be sent in by next meeting. The Clerk was instructed to write to the Hon. Minister of Public Works and the Commissioner of Railways, calling their attention to the fact that although the road and approaches had been made to the Whitstone station, nothing had been done towards its erection. Mr. Falconer tabled a motion for the next meeting, that the Council assist the Otepopo Road Board to make certain roads.

Mr. Todd thought that Mr. Falconer should furnish the- Council with plans and specifications to enable them to determine the nature of the works.

Jackson and Nicholson's contract for works on the Kartigi beach road was accepted for Ll5B 12s.

It was resolved that the next monthly meeting be held on the second Monday of February, when the election of members for the Kakanui and Oamaru Harbor Board takes place.

Accounts to the amount of L 1727 5s Dd were passed for payment.