COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1114, 4 August 1882, Page 2

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting was held last evening. Present: J. W. Johnson, Esq., (Chairman), Crs. Clarke, Chambers, Ferris, Weston, Gannon, and Westrup. The minutes having been read and confirmed the inward and outward correspondence was read by the Clerk to the Council. Mr Morris made a complaint as to the manner in which Boland’s contract was being carried out, and as it was considered the charge affected the County Engineer in some measure it was decided to endeavour to get Mr J. O. Barnard to report upon the work.

A letter was read from Mr B. McLindon asking that any money coming to Mr J. Allen should be impounded until certain claims for wages had been satisfied. Mr McLindon, who was present, explained that for the men and the ration account there was about £76 due. He said he had no desire to go to law, having previously gained experience by paying for it. He thought it was only fair and just that the Council should stop the money in order that the workmen should be paid. The Chairman said there could be no doubt the case was a hard one, but he failed to see how the Council could interfere. Mr Warren the clerk said that under the the Contractors Debt Act, 1867, the Council could stop money duo to workmen.

The Chairman said that there could bo no doubt the money was due, bnt he thought that Mr Allen’s consent to any stoppage of payment would have to be obtained.

Cr. Weston said ho could only stylo Mr Allen a “ non-effioient." He thought it hard that unfortunate men without means, and who obtained employment, should iw in the present instance be compelled to get into debt and trade on the confidence of others.

Cr. Westrup could not see that the Council were in anyway liable, and thought the better course would be to discover if Allen could not pay from moneys outside of those likely to be paid to him from the Council. Cr. Gannon moved “ That no moneys be paid to Mr Allen on this contract until the claims of the employees are settled. This was seconded by Cr. Chambers aud carried. Various other matters were discussed even to an application requesting the Council to purchase u directory. Cr, Weston suggested that “it be laid on the table.” Whether it was the directory or the application of the energetic agent, we are Unable to say. A letter ifhieh bad been received, but, during Mr Warren’s absence through illness, had been mislaid, was next discussed.

Cr. Gannon mentioned that he had seep Mr Featon in reference to the letter which was sent in by the Library Committee. It had reference to the voting of a sum towards building on the Library R-esjrve, where Mr W. K. McLean’s office now stands. He was of opinion that it would bo wise to vote u sum,

as the building would, in addition to the requirements of the Library, supply a Council Room.

Eventually it was decided that Crs. Gannon and Ferris should meet the Library Committee, and report at the next meeting.

Cr. Chambers called attention to Mr McDevitt’s case of damages arising from the engine. A case of aMr Burrows came under his notice where a load of gravel had been shot under his horses nose, causing him £2 damages which he now claimed from the Council. This case was only a prelude to many, and some steps should be taken to ensure the Council. Cr. Gannon thought this all arose from the Councils illegal act in building a tramway without a special Act. It had been laid before the Hon. Mr Rolleston, and there was only one way out of the difficulty, to bring in a Bill to legalise the construction of railways. There exists no power to run tramways under present circumstances. Cr. Chambers proposed, and Cr. Clarke seconded, that a Committee composed of Crs. Johnson, Ferris, Gannon, and Chambers, be formed, to enquire into the matter and report to the Council at the next meeting. Cr. Chambers called attention to the state of the road to Repongarere. It was the Councils duty to attend to this immediately, it would not be a large cost. The Engineer was instructed to attend to the matter.

Cr. Chambers called attention to Cr. Tucker’s motion re Mr Bryce’s Land Bill, it afforded matter for discussion. It should be at the option of Grantees instead of option of of the Court as to tenure on which lands should be held or original grants cancelled. He would not allow the Court to make or remove limitation except at the consent of owners. A special Court should adjudicate on questions of land tenure. There are questions of law of Native lands, et simple, involved, and the adjudicators should be well versed in law. He would embody clause 7of Mr McDonald’s Bill in the Government Bill, viz.—“ That after the word the Court, the words ‘on the application of any owner or owners’ shall be added. And at the end of the last line the words ‘as regards the interests of such applicant or applicants only.’ (2). That clause 7 of Mr McDonald’s Native Lands Court Act 1880 Amendment be included in Mr Bryce’s Bill,”

Cr, Gannon thought that such powers should not rest with the Court. He thought Mr Bryoe’s Bill, as a whole, a good one, although perhaps Alterable in minor parts to advantage. Cr, Ferris called attention to CapL Tucker’s motion re Grantees, in the Borough Council on Tuesday night. He knew of certain parties who had feathered their nosts pretty well, and would prove obstructionists to the progress of the District. He thought Mr Bryce’s Bill met the object. Referring to mortgages the matter was open to serious question, The Natives might be influenced by others, thus opening the road to fraud. The mortgagees should have some control over the mortgagor. The Council should take notice of this matter.

Cr. Gannon said this matter was fairly met by Mr Bryce’s Bill, The adjudicators likely to handle these matters were sensible men and not likely to do injustice. In sub-section 7 laid the whole solution of the matter. Mr Bryce in his Bill would almost seem to have anticipated Cr. Tucker’s objection. The whole thing resolved itself into the power of the Court, The Bill is simple, clear, and intelligible, How far the Council’s opinion might weigh he could not say, but he thought Cr. Chambers' motion deserved support. No mortgages had arisen since 1878. Or. Westrupp proposed, and Or. Weston seconded, “ That a Committee be formed, consisting of Crs. Chambers, Gannon, Ferris, to consider the dropped Bills, and the Bating Bill, and forward their reports,” Tenders.—-Clearing Taruheru River, McLeod and Hubble, (accepted) £44. Maungatu Road Repairs.—Jas. Boland, (accepted), £39 10s • M. Boland, £4B I W, M. Brunt and Co., £63,

Waxnvi Flat Repairs.-—McLeod and Hubble, (accepted) £G 10s I J. Mcßride and J. Totwell, £l6. Waipaoa Bridge.—McLeod and Hubble, £2B j D. A. MoLeod and M. J. McLeod, £2B ; E. A. Cohen, £39 15s. The two lowest tenderers’ names were placed in a hat and a slip having on it the names of Messrs. McLeod and Hubble was drawn, those gentlemen therefore were the successful tenderers. Pipiwhakao Bush Road. D. A. and M. J. McLeod (accepted), £57 ; W. H. Stevenson, £6O ; M. Boland, £66. In reply to enquiries made the Engineer stated that the work would be more effectually done if commenced at once and professionally gave his reasons. Cr. Clarke moved that tenders be called for the collection of tolls on the Te Arai bridge, and this was seconded by Cr Ferris. Cr. Gannon held it unfair to bring the question on the Conucil unprepared. The toll-gate question had been adjourned until the Government proposals had been discussed. This had not been done and he strongly opposed the motion and would warn the Conncil against it. Cr. Ferris supported the motion in the interests of ratepayers, as collecting temporary tolls over the Arai bridge had nothing to do with tolls on main roads.

The Chairman ruled the motion in order, Cr. Gannon would point out that the Council were not acting in accordance with printed rules. The Chairman ruled Cr. Gannon out of order. Cr. Westrup endorsed Cr. Ferris’s motion. On a previous oocowion the matter was rejected for superior monetary reasons. He repudiated the idea of taking the Council by surprise, Expensive reasons rendered it incumbent on the Council to renair the Aral bridge and recoup themselves by toll measures. The Chairman read the minutes of 15th June, and 22nd June, and thought it best to leave the question open, in order that the best mode of defraying expense might be arrived at, No harm could accrue by calling for tenders. It was resolved that tenders bo called for, for tolls on Aral bridge.