WAITAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 24 November 1880, Page 2

WAITAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The statutory annual meeting of the Comity Council for the election of a Chairman was held to-day, when there were present—Mr. D. Sutherland (Chairman), the Hon. R. Campl ell, Messrs. Duncan, Johnston, W. Sutherland, Falconer, and Murcott.

The Qlerk read the clauses of the Act fixing the meeting. The Chairman said : As you are aware, we have met to elect a Chairman for the ensuing year, but before leaving the chair it is my duty to give a resume of our receipts and expenditure for the past year. At the annual meeting last November the credit balance of the County account was L 5142 Is 2d. The reoeipts during the year—that is up to present date —is L 14,744 Us Id, mado up from

£14,744 11 1 This is within a few shillings of being double that of the previous 3'ear. The only item calling for special remark is the land revenue account, this County having received as itg sharp of the surplus land reivenue of Gtago the sum of L 7289 7s 2d, and also L 2450 12s lOd from the division of LIOO,OOO balance of surplus land fund of Canterbury. These two items are exceptional, and will not occur again. This leaves the ordinary revenue from laud at L 959 9s 2d, and Councillors are aware that during the last session of Parliament the 20 per cent. |rom lancl revenue payable to the pounties was cancelled by an amendment on the Financial Arrangements Act, 187(5, dating from Ist August last. When we consider that the total received under this head since the county system was initiated is L 32,224 12s 2d and which has nearly all been distributed pro rata on the rateftb.le value of the several will be absolutely necessary fop the Council to look well afier the remaining balanoe in hand. The subsidy of pound for pound on rates collected is also a thing of the past. This was a certain revenue of from L4OOO to LSOOO per annum according to the rates struck and sums collgoted by tha different Road Boards in the County, For the current financial year there is due by the Government 7s 6d in the £, which will bring us in about L 1450. The expenditure during the year has been L 9442 18s 6d, as against L 18.924 13s last year.

The Council have taken over during the year as county works the beach road from Oamaru to Kakanui harbor, a road near Maheno, and. the roads leading to Whitstone and Elclerslie railway stations. The length of road now under the control of the Council ig claae on 250 miles, and the amount .spent ;on these roads in surface labor alone for .the. past year is L 2033 19s 3d. The balances to debit and credit of the several ridings are : . .

These sums are independent of the L6OOO at fixed deposit, and which will not mature before the end of March next. L 505 13s is due for contracts in progress, so that taking our credit balance at November. 1879, as L 5142 Is 2d, our receipts L 14,744 lis Id, and the expenditure L 9442 18s 6d, leaves a balance in our favor of L 10,443 13s 9d at present time. No rate was struck last year, and the County has only collected from the ratepayers during the four years of its existence the sum of L3IOS 19s 9d—a very small sum when we consider that the annual value of the County is close on L 200,000. Owing to the exceptionally fine'season and the constant supervision of our officers the roads in the County during the year have been in very good order. No damage of any consequence by floods took place. ' I have now most heartily to thank every member of the Council for their hearty co-operation, and for the good feeling that has existed between us in the Council ; and I have to thank all. the officers for their ready assistauce and their attention at all times to their duties. Mr. Duncan said that before the election of Chairman was proceeded with lie desired to mention that, in view of the loss of the laud revenue, subsidies, &c., he intended giving notice to move at next meeting that a reduction be made in the salaries. He mentioned this in order that there might be no misunderstanding in future. He had great pleasure in proposing that Mr. Duncan Sutherland be re-elected Chairman.

The Hon. R. Campbell seconded the motion, and said he could not support Mr. Duncan in his proposal to reduce the salaries. He did not think the amounts paid were too high. With reference to the Chairman, he said that they must admit he had performed his duties in a manner that must meet with their full approbation. The motion was then put and carried unanimously. The Chairman, in thanking the Council for having again elected him to preside over their deliberations, said that he agreed with Mr. Duncan's proposal for the reduction of the Chairman's salary, and he had intended himself bringing the question under the notice of the Council. He did not think it necessary to pay the Chairman so large a sum annually, and favored a reduction of the amount. There was no doubt that many calls were made upon the Chairman's purse, but many of these were simply consequent upon the payment of a salary, and if the Chairman did not receive a salary, the public would not have any grounds for making special calls upon his means. He did not think the Council should reduce the salaries of the permanent officers, who certainly did not receive more than their positions entitled them to expect.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Council was held immediately afterwards, when the members present at the annual meeting were again present, with Mr. Thomson. The Engineev and Inspector were in attendance. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence was read and approved. The Clerk read the balance-sheet for the half-year ending 30th September. This showed the total receipts to have been L 2238 2s 7d, the chief items being —Licenses, L 663 10s j land revenue, LI 139 7s Sd 5 dog tax, L2OO. With the balance of LJ3,024 8s 9d to the credit of the County at the end of the previous half year, there was a total available sum of L 15,262 lis 4d. The total expenditure for the half-year was L 3673 Ss fd, thus leaving a balance of L 11,589 Ss 9d at the end of the half-.year. Of the expenditure, L 2952 10s 4d was upon roads and bridges. The balance-sheet was adopted, . and ordered to be published,

Letters were read from the Treasury notifying the payment to the County's credis of the following amounts : Lincenses,Lß ; goldfields revenue, L 24 4s; gold duty, L 32 Is 4d.

Applications for slaughtering licenses were made by Mr. G. H. Cos (Teanoraki) and Messrs. Pryde and Ekldington. The required notice having been given, it was decided to issue the licenses when the legal conditions had been complied with. Mr. James Macalister, Invercargill East, wrote saying that he observed that the Council contemplated boring for coal at Hampden, and offering hia services. The writer stated that he had had a large amount oi experience in coal and iron mining. Mr. Murcott said that the writer was laboring under a misapprehension. Neither the Count}' Council nor the Borough Council of Hampden had decided to make borings. A meeting of private citizens had been held at Hampden, and a Committer appointed to make a search for coal. Ic was quite possible that borings would shortly be made, and he suggested that the letter should be referred to the Chairman of the Committee. It was decided to adopt Mr. Mnrcott's suggestion.

A letter was read from Mr. Thomas M'Whirter, drawing attention to the dangerous state of certain parts of the bridle track between Livingstone and the Maerevvhenua Saddle.—The Inspector was instructed to report upon the matter. The Surveyor-General wrote atafing that the Chief Surveyor of Otago had K-en directed to have the main Wairaki road laid off two chains wide, and to instruct the District Surveyor to communicate with the Council as to the position and area of the camping ground.—With reference to this matter, the District Surveyor wrote asking if .ho Council desired to have the camping ground adjoining the township of Ivurow, shortly to be surveyed, or in another position.

The Chairavm mentioned that he had reDlied to the letter.

Mr. Murcott said that he thought it wag desirable that the attention of the Government should be drawn to the necessity, when laying off roadlines. to make proper shingle reserves. They had seen the great inconvenience and loss through this course not having previously been adopted in the fact that contractors had been compelled to purchase shingle from private persons. It was pointed out that there was an abundance of shingle all along the road.

Mr. T. W. Lecocq wrote from Duntroon stating that the R. Campbell had presented the township with laud for the formation of a cemetery, and that a Committee had been appointed to raise funds for the purpose of fencing and laying out the grounds. The Committee asked if the Council would grant some assistance towards the object in view. The writer stated that subscriptions are being colleoted throughout the district. Mr. Donald Borrie, Chairman of the Papakaio Cemetery Trust, wrote asking the Council for a grant of money in aid of the funda of the trust, of a like nature to those voted to other cemeteries in the County. The Chairman pointed out that on the occasion of the Council previously voting money for cemeteries, the Auditor had pointed out that the Council had acted illegally and had refused to certify to the j payment,

It was decided to reply that the Council regretted that it could not comply with the request. The Clerk called the attention of the Council to the new Dog Registration Act, which comes into force on the Ist Januar}', 1881, and the necessity for obtaining a supply of collars.—lt was decided to call for tenders for a supply of collars. It ' being necessary under the Dog Registration Act to appoint officers in different parts of the "County, it was solved on the ipotjot} of Mr. Falconer, seconded by My, Mwcotfc, " That the

police stations be registration offices, and that police officers bo appointed collectors at a remuneration of 10 per cent."

Mr. O'Meagher, the County Solicitor wrote stating the opinion that the County alone was responsible for the maintenance repairs,. &c., of tho Kakanui having the power to recover from the districts on either side tho cost of constructing and maintaining the bridge. He coul c j see nothing in the Act that confericd on the Road Boards any power to intorfore with the bridge.

The Chairman remarked that tho question remained as before, viz., the Road Boards were not willing to look after tii c bridge, and the Council kept it in repair having power to obtain contributions, towards expenditure from adjoining Road Boards. It would be as well to give instructions to their Engineer to see tliafc for the future the bridge was kept in repair.

Mr. Thomson moved, and Mr. Todd seconded, "That the Council take over the bridge as a county work." The Chairman explained that if they took it over, they could not demand aid from adjoining Road Boards. It was not a bridge from which they got any benefit as the benefit was almost confined to Kakanui and Otepopo. If they merely left it in repair, they would be in this position, that in case of its being necessary to rebuild, they could call upon Kakanui and Otepopo to contribute something. Mr. Duncan moved as an amendment that the bridge remain as it is, under the supervision of the County Engineer. The amendment was carried.

Mi-. Cain, keeper of the punt at ilieUpper Waitaki crossing, appeared Ucft>v o the Board to ask for an increase of subsidy, the amount at present granted to. him being insufficient. Ho stated that the traffic was very small at this point and asked for an additional subsidy for seven years of L7O per annum, L 35 from the Waitaki Council, and L 35 from tho Waimate Council. It was resolved to grant him the subsidy asked for a term of three years, provided the Waimate Council granted a similar sum.

The Clerk to the Geraldine County Council wrote forwarding the following; resolution : —" That in answer to. tho. letter of the Waitaki County Council dated 14th September last, referring to bridging the Ohau River, they bo informed that the Council have obtained estimates of same, which show a muelii greater cost than reported by their Engineer, and regret that at present the Council is not in a position to undertako the expenditure of half cost of same."

A number of tenders were opened, and the following accepted :—Contract No. 33, formation of road at Todd's corner, L 33 12s 6d, M'Clay ; contract No. 11, at Livingstone, John M'Combe, L 278 (Is;, contract No. 113, supply of 1200 cubicfeet of road metal between Waiareka, roail and Totara, Hugh Wallace, L2GS; contract 115, formation of a road in section 7, block 2, Maerewhenua, M'Loan, L 43; 2d ; contract No. 110, gravelliug between* Bobbin Creek and the Tables, Thomasi Flaherty, L 173 10s ; formation of roadl from Teaneralci to Waiareka Church, LSS 9s, S. Rusbatch. Accounts to the amount of L 742 Ite lid were passed for "payment. [Left Sitting.]

Licenses ,,, ... £724 0 0 Gold revenue 161 13 6 Dog tax 252 10 0 Subsidy ... 2,5S5 13 8 Interest ,,, 311 4 S Land revenuo ... 10,699 9 2

Bqaclq and bridges havg atjsgrlijed... ... Salaries ... ..'. £?919 11 1037 io 1 0 Members' travelling exsenses " Mt 144 18 6 Libraries, charities, pent, &Q, 340 18 11

Ohau, in credit £359 7 7 . Otekaike; in credit ... 2040 IS 1 . Awamokp, in credit... 544 '5 a : Papakaio, in credit ... 530 Q 4 Waiareba, in credit... 1097 0 11 Kakanui, ir| credit 416 8 0 Otepopo, in debit ... 453 14 n Otematakau, in debit 167 0 l