COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2499, 9 January 1877, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

FIRST MEETING.

The first meeting of the recently elected County Council was held to-day in the Warden's Court. There were present the following councillors :—-Waiotahi Hiding, Messrs Brodie and Coutts; Ohinemuri Riding, Messrs Mitchell and •Thorp; Kauaeranga. Riding, Mr Bagnail ; Parawai Riding, Mr Spencer; Hastings Riding, Mr Thorburn. There, was considerable interest evinced in the proceedings as was apparent from the muster of many well-known faces in the Court. The Councillors took their seats at twelve o'clock, and then—

Mr Spencer rose and proposed Mr Brodie as Chairman of the County Council. He said they had known Mr Brodie for many years, and always found him trustworthy. Mr Thorburn seconded the proposal. Mr C. F. Mitchell thought that the appointment of a chairman was premature. He did not wish to oppose Mr Brodie as chairman, but thought that they had other duties, such, as fixing salary, &c, to perform first. He would move as an amendment that Mr Spencer take the chair for this meeting only. He quoted clause's of the Ac/, notably the 68th section, to show that the appointment of a permanent chairman before other matters"were decided would be detrimental to the interests of the Council. He said that they were driven into their present position by a side wind j or a fluke. • He then read clause 71, relative to the powers of voting, and then proposed his amendment. Mf Thorp seconded the amendment.

Mr Spencer did not consider that he had power to act as temporary chairman, as he thought they ought to appoint a permanent chairman. Mr C. F. Mitchell said his proposition would simply delay the appointment of Mr Brodie, if such appointment <was made by the Council.

Mr Bagnall thought they had the power to elect a temporary chairman. There was no such' thing as a permanent chairman, as if elected, and if it was decided that the whole of the Act should not come into force, the Chairman would only hold his office until March. He thought it would be much better to elect a chairman first and then decide the question of salary afterwards. Mr Bagnalt then quoted clause 73 to show that the Chairman would not have a vote on the question of what was to be the amount of his salary. As he thought that was the sole reason for M&Mitchell opposing the motion, he must say it was a very bad one.

Mr Mitchell thought they could elect a Chairman pro. tern. Mr Bagnall thought there was nothing in the Act about a Chairman being elected pro. tern. He criticised Mr Mitchell's interpretation of the word "permanent," Mr Mitchell argued that he was right in what he said, that a Chairman elected to remain in office until ne^kt March was a permanent Chairman, v Mr Mitchell then put his amendment, and it was defeated by a majority of five to two. ■•:;'.■■■'. ( ; Mr Spencer then put his motion, which was carried, and Mr Brodie took the ?chair.\ • Mr Brodie thanked the meeting for the honor they had done him in electing him. '■■■' ;

At this juncture Captain Fraser stepped forward and handed the following memorandum from Mr Whitaker for the Councillors to consider:—

"Memorandum for the Thames County Council:—Mr Whitaker requests the attention of the Thames County Council to the 10th section of 'The Immigration and Public Works Appropriation Act, ■1876,' by.- which the Governor* on behalf of her Majesty the Queen, is authorised to transfer to the Thames County the mortgage of £50,000 held by the Crown over the Pumping Association works. In agreeing in the first instance, to advance this sum the object sought to be obtained was to enable the Thames' mines to be tested in depth, an undertaking the local companies (after an expenditure of £60,000) were unable to accomplish without assistance. Much already has been done for this object, but the balance which still remains unexpended of the £50,000 jagreed; to be advanced will not be sufficient to complete the work. During the last session of the General Assembly an application wiis made for further assistance, but as the work was one of a local character, and especially as the gold duty is now made County revenue, it was decided to hand over the securities to the Thames County on the condition of their undertaking the completion of the work so far advanced, viz., the testing the depth of the value of the Thames goldfield. As it is of importance to get the matter disposed, of without _ delay Mr Whitaker will be glad to be informed at the early convenience of the Council whether they are prepared to accept the security referred to in the 19th section of the Act on the' .condition named.—Feed. Whitakeb."

Mr Bagnall was requested to act as secretary pro. tern., but declined, and Mr Spencer was appointed. He read the letter, and—

Mr Mitchell then said that as the matter was one of very great importance, as it was a question of whether they should spend their money in sinking for gold for private companies, or in the formation of roads he would move that the matter be adjourned until the next ordinary meeting. Mr Thorp seconded the motion. Some further sparring in words occurred on this subject. Mr Bagnali thought they ought to get further information.

Mr Mitchell said that his own experience was that people did not give away anything worth having. ,The motion was then put and carried unanimously.

A letter was read by the, chairman applying for a license for a slaughter house for Mr J. Banks, of Parawai. The letter was from Messrs Macdonald and Miller.

The consideration of the letter was adjourned on the motion of Mr Mitchell.

A letter was also read on behalf of Mr Dalziel requesting a license for a slaughterhouse. This letter was also ordered to stand over.

Mr Mitchell asked leave to move the following motion:—" That it is desirable that the whole Counties Act come into operation at once." He said nothing was to* be gained by availing themselves of the permissive clauses of the Act. 'J hose who approved of these permissive clauses had omitted to read with the Counties

Act, the Rating Act, and various other Acts which he enumerated, all of which were part and parcel of the Act. He asked leave to bring forward his motion without notice. The Chairman was glad that the ques- . tion had been raised. • . Mr Bagnall thought that the motion did ' not meet the case. He quoted various sections of the Act, arguing that the Act was now in actual force, and that if they wished to use the permissive clauses they would have to move this as a special resolution. He then proposed as an amendment that it is not desirable under section eleven to limit the operation of the Act. Mr Mitchell consented to the amendment as being part of his resolution, and it was put and carried. The question of the appointment of officers and their salaries was adjourned until the next meeting. • — • Messrs Brodie, Bagnall, Spencer and Mitchell were, on the motion of MrMitchell, under clauses 176 and 183 appointed a Committee to draw up a code of bye-laws. - Mr Bagnall proposed that application be made to the Government for the late Provincial Offices, to be the offices-.of the County Council. ' Mr Thorp seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Mitchell moved that at. the next meeting of the Council they appoint a bank, saying the reason was th»t they might get a bank confiding enough to give an overdraft, and that was the only way. he saw of getting money to go on -with. The roads at Ohinemuri were very bad indeed, and demanded immediate attention. The motion was put and carried. Mr Baguall moved that application be made to the Government for all maps, plans, specifications, instruments, &c, which may be of service to the County. Mr Coutts seconded the motion, which was carried. The meeting then adjourned until 10 a.m., to-morrow.