COUNTY COUNCIL

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 529, 5 June 1880, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL

The monthly meeting of this Council was held on Wednesday, at Carlyle. Pre-sent—-Messrs Dale (in the chair), Brewer, Hunter, Gane, Horner, Milne, Winks, and Partridge. ■ WAVERLEV AND WAITOTARA ROAD. Mr J. Cheync applied to correct a mistake in the amount of his contract, It being recorded as £0 9s per chain, instead of the correct sum, £5 9s 6d. —Tin's was granted, SLAUGHTER LICENSE, Mr William Colson applied for permission to have his slaughter license transferred from premises used during previous partnership to new premises erected on one of Mr W. Gower’s sections. Councillor Gane moved, Councillor Horner seconded, and it was agreed to grant the transfer to new premises. HOSPITAL REPORT. The medical officer reported that the following are indoor patients at the Hospital : —H. Bailey, phthisis pnlmonalis ; W. Wright, gastric fever ; W. Brown, ulcer of leg ; ; F. Marsh, gastralgia ; H. Barstow, wound of leg ; F. Arding, fracture of forearm. All are progressing favorably, except Bailey, This patient, since the cold weather set in, has been getting worse daily, and I think cannot last long. WORKS RETORT. The foreman of works reported for las* month as follows : In consequence of the inclement weather this last month the works on Manawhapou Hill have been retarded, ami several of the gravelling contracts suspended. Contracts Nos. 23, 57, 58, and CO arc completed. I have, as instructed, taken the levels'of Bed-ford-stitet, with a view of carrying the street drainage lower down the hill, a plan and estimate of which will be laid before you. Regarding Waitotara road crossing, to which I alluded in ray last report, I left it untouched until last week expecting that the Highway Board for the district would take measures to remedy the evil, when, finding the dangerous hole still existing, I gave instructions to have it filled in. The funds allotted to the Mountain road being exhausted, I have dischgrgcd all hands on that road.

HKDI'ORD STREET WATER-HOLE. Cr Horner moved “That the Chairman be empowered to confer with the Carlyle Town Board re storm water in Bedfordstreet.” He said it was desirable to remove this nuisance, and it could be best done in conjunction with the Town Board, if they would co-operate. Cr Milne seconded.

Cr Ganc said : The Council has nothing to do with the water. If we once commence interfering to take the water on to the next level, we shall hot : know Avhere our responsibilities will end. We are legally advised that the Council is not responsible.

Cr Brewer: If the Town Board will concur to carry the water on after wo drain that hollow, wo should be doing a good thing for the town. Several Councillors remarked that if the Town Board would co-operate in that way, the Council should cut a way for removing the stagnant water, anil there should be a definite arrangement between the two bodies.

The Chairman : I will take care that, in any arrangement ; this Council may authorise mo to make with the Town Board, it shall be in block and white. Cr Gane : What power have wc to compel the Town Board to carry out their part of the work, even if they promise to do so ?

The Chairman : I take it that as a public body the}' will carry out any engagement they make. Cr Gane : It should be clearly understood that the Council will be committed to nothing by this resolution unless the Town Board agree in black and white to do their share of the work. The Chairman : Certainly. The motion was then agreed to. WAVERLEY ROAD. Cr Milne proposed, “ That plans and specifications to remote water off the main road opposite the Church at Waverley be prepared for next meeting.” He said this was an increasing nuisance, and a small pipe would suffice. Cr Horner seconded the motion, and it was agreed to. TENDERS. The following tenders were received for the erection of a chimney for the Hospital : —J. (Smith, £2B 10s ; Mace and Bassett, for lower chimney, £2B 10s ; for upper and lower storey, £3O. The tender of J. Smith was accepted. SURFACE-MEN AND “ DICTATION.” Cr Brewer moved—“ That the foreman be requested to employ an extra surfaceman between Patca and Waitotara.” He thought that the Council could not trust to its Engineer, as he appeared to. know all about their financial position, and appeared rather inclined to dictate to the Council. They had £3OO in hand some time ago, but according to his showing the Council had not enough funds to keep the surface-men employed. Cr Winks said he would oppose the employment of extra labour, but would be willing to shift one of the surface-men employed in the upper part of the County. Cr Hunter did not think the Engineer desired to dictate to the Council. The Chairman remarked that he had cautioned the Engineer on the necessity of keeping down the Council’s expenditure. It was decided to shift one of the surface-men to the locality named by MiBrewer.

AI.KING FOR. SUBSIDIES. Cr Horner moved having seen, with much concern, the intention of the Government to withdraw the guhsidiea hitherto granted- to the Counties and Road Boards, desires the Government to carefully reconsider the matter, as it appears evident that the roads cannot be maintained unless the subsidies are continued—-at least until the traffic is transferred to the railway.” He'said the withdrawal of the subsidies-was a. subject which had given him deep concern, and he had no doubt the Council would think twice on the matter before striking a rate, if the subsidy was to be withdrawn. The roads were now certainly in a much better condition than when the Council entered upon their care; the roads .would soon fall intb a ruinous state again. No matter whether the roads would have to be maintained out of the rates or not, we poor fellows would have to pay:for:them out of our breeches pockets. , If the _ railway were made through the district, it would have the effect of considerably lightening the traffic on the roads. The Board Boards, he said, are about to take action in the same direction.'- _ Cr, Milne seconded the motion. He feared the subsidies were gone, but was of

opinion that the land revenue desirable within certain districts should bo handed over to the local bodies for the purpose o( constructing roads through such land, to encourage settlement. It would be impossible for the Council to maintain the roads if the subsidies were withdrawn. Cr Hunter said it was contemplated by the Government to make provision in favour of districts possessing Crown and Nativoland, consequently the Patea County would participate in such provision. Cr Ganc remarked that this Council could not too strongly urge the matter upon the Government. The native duhculty had very seriously thrown the district back, and now that-the scttlcishad been inflicted with the property tax, he feared that they would be ill-disposed to pay a County rate as well as a Hoad Board rate. . , Cr Partridge bad little faith in the resolution, as lie feared the Government were determined not to yield. The motion, on being put, was carried without dissent.

COUNTY COUNCILS AS WASTE LANDS BOARDS. Cr Milne moved “ That in the opinion of this Council, it is desirable that County Councils should be constituted Land Boards; that they, being elective bodies, are moie likely to push on the sale and occupation of the waste lands of the colony than the Lands Boards as at present constituted ; and that the Chairman communicate with the other County XJpuncils, asking their co-operation in this “.. ter.” His reason for moving in the matter was in consequence of the district being peculiarly situated, at the fag-ond of two provincial districts. The New Plymouth Harbor Board were receiving 25 per cent, of our land revenue, the members of which Board comprised gentlemen who have interests entirely centred in New Plymouth, If County Councils were constituted Waste Lands Boards,Jic felt confident they would do their best in pushing on settlement.. It the unsold lands were settled upon, they would bo cotitiibnting revenue in the shape of taxes towards the maintenance of roads. Cr Brewer seconded the motion. Cr Gane was of opinion that the motion was a little premature. The machinery of the present Council was altogether too expensive for the work it had to perforin. He would oppose the undertaking of fresh responsibilities. He certainly was in favor of elective bodies. The motion was carried. STRIKING A RATU, The question of striking a rate was postponed for one month, to ttic Council an opportunity of ascertaining what course the Government intended taking in the matter of subsidies. AUDIT. Cr Milne asked if the accounts had been duly audited. The Chairmnn said they had been, and would be published as soon the Auditor’s report was received. clerk’s salary. Cr Partridge asked if the Chairman had ascertained the amount of salary paid to the clerk in the different counties.

The Chairman said the clerk at Now Plymouth received £2OO per year, and the clerk at Wanganui was paid £80_; but no rates were collected by the clerk in either place. Cr Hunter moved “ That three months notice be given to the present clerk, and that tenders bo invited from gentlemen willing to conduct the duties, returnable on the 4th July.” He said the funds of the Council had suffered a considerable reduction, and it was unreasonable to pay suclx a large salary. _ , Or Gane, in seconding the motion, desired to endorse the remarks made by the mover. It would be well for the Council to cut its garment according to its cloth. The Council could invite applications, and if the present clerk were anything near the mark, the Council would no doubt be glad to appoint him. The office need be open only two or three days a week. A salary of £250 per year was quite out of the Council’s power to pay. Cr Winks would support the resolution, for he believed the Council’s present expenditure was out of all reason. The receipts from rates was only £1,700, and it took something like £BOO to spend the rates. The Hawera Road Board expended close on £1,500 in one year, and their expenses did not exceed £2OO. He contended that the ratepayers interests were not sufficiently considered in the way the present expenditure was allowed to go on. Cr Milne quite agreed with the previous speakers as to the necessity fora reduction in the clerk’s salary, but he would much prefer the Council to reduce it to ; an amount they considered fair, and allow the present clerk the opportunity of accepting or declining it. The-Council could not possibly get a better clerk, as he was well up to the business, had a thorough knowledge of all the Acts, and had faithfully served the Council. The Chairman opposed the tender system, as it would encourage candidates for the office to tender at a much lower figure than they could fairly do the work for, and after discovering the real amount of work, the Council would be asked for an increase, which would bo almost certainly granted. He quite agreed .that the present clerk should have the refusal. : Councillor Horner was in favor of;, reducing the. expenditure -all round. The Council, had a clerk in whom they had entire confidence, and he was sure that Mr Black had the interest of the Council entirely at heaxt. He admitted that there was a necessity for retrenchment. Councillor Brewer concurred with the remarks made by the Chairman. If there was a necessity to reduce the clerk’s salary, let the "Council offer him an which he would be-prepared to accept. It was rather hard that the moment things should slaken the Council should discharge its best officer. There was a great deal more to do for a clerk in this county than in that of Wanganui. The Chairman said the Clerk’s hours were not confined from 10 to 4, but he had frequently to return to tho office night after night. Ho held that there was no comparison between the work.required to he performed by the respective'clcrks' engaged by the Wanganui and the Patea County Councils. Councillor Gane could not agree amth the last remark made byt the Chairman, and he was sorry to have to state that many persons had complained to him that Mr Black was frequently absent from his office. He had called eight different times to pay his tax, but the clerk was ° l The, Chairman said ho was prepared to substantiate; bis statement that the; clerk was always in his office at the piopei hours. • , , On a division being’, taken, _ the votes were as follow ;—For tho motion Councillors; Hunter, Gane, Partridge, ; and ‘ Winks. Against —Councillors Brewer, , Milne, Horner, and the Chairman, who gave Ids’casting vote against -the motion, yyhich was declared lost. Councillor Milne moved, “ That Mr Black receive notice that his salary be re- ■ duced to £l5O three months from, date, and that he be in attendance during office hpurs three days in each week.

Councillor Partridge seconded the motion. The Chairman moved, as an amendment, “That a committee, consisting of ( niinoillors Horner, Hunter, and the mover, be appointed to consider the clerk’s salary, to report at next meeting. The amendment was seconded by Councillor Brewer. Councillor Gane would like to see the whole Council a committee, as ho would like to have the satisfaction of investigating the actual work which the clerk had to do. Councillor Brewer said he would not like to sec Councillor Ganc on this committee, as lie was known to be very harsh, and always took a onesided view of a question. Cr Ganc—That is decidedly personal, and I must ask the Cliaitman to call you to order. Cr Brewer, in explanation, said what he meant was that when Cr Gane formed an opinion he took a one sided view of it. The amendment for the appointment of a committee was carried, REDUCTION OF MEMBER’S ALLOWANCE. Cr Milne moved—That the sum hitherto allowed to members for travelling expenses bo reduced to 10s. He said that amount would cover bis actual expenses, and, as far as he was concerned bo would like to sec the allowance done away with altogether. The motion was carried.

THE CHAIRMAN’S SALARY. Cr Winks moved—“ That the salary .of the Chairman be reduced to .£lO per annum.” Cr Gane seconded the motion. The Chairman thought the notice was out of : order. The salary was voted for one year ; consequently the Council could not now reduce it. The reduction ,if made, would not affect him personally, as he had promised to divide the salary equally between the Count} 7 Hospital and the Patea Library. The motion was withdrawn, and the Council adjounred.