COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2506, 17 January 1877, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

The adjourned meeting of the Thames County Council was held to-day in the Warden's Court. There were presenters Brodie (chairman), Spencer (acting secretary), Mitchell, Thorburn, Coutts, Thorp. • MINUTES. The minutes of the last meeting were read over and confirmed.

( FEBBY. A letter was read from Mr 1 A. Porter,' asking that immediate steps be taken to provide a fresh rope for the ferry between Mackaytown and Karaugahake. The letter was ordered \to be received, and its consideration adjourned until next meeting. PUMPING ASSOCIATION. Cr Mitchell read a letter covering a report of the interview With Mr Whitaker regarding the Pumping Association, and also the following Memos. ' from Mr Whitaker. (The report has been published in substance) :~ Government Buildings, 15 January, 1877. Dqar Sir, —I enclose three memoranda of the arrangements made to-day, please get them looked over by all parties, Mr Weston included, and let me know if they fairly set out the arrangement come to.— Yours truly. Feed. Whitakeb. Alexander Brodie, Esq. (No. 1-) Memo, of arrangements in reference to drainage by the Pumping Association. * ■

The Government will hand over to the Thames County— 1. The securities for £50,1 J now held by the Government over the Pumping Association's property. 2. The Thames Water Race, and to the Borough of the Tha~mes the gold duty receivable in respect of gold raised within the limits of the Borough, on condition that the County and Borough undertake to maintain in good order the works of the Pumping Association, and to continue to drain the country unwatered by their works to the present depth of the main shaft for two (2) years from the time when the expenditure of the County and Borough commence.

(No. 2.). Memo, of arrangement between Thames Borough and Thames County Council. ■ The Thames County Council and the Thames Borough Counci 1. having arranged

with the Government to supply the money necessary to maintain the works of the Pumping Association in good order aud to keep the pumps at work for two (2) years, so as to drain the country to the depth of the present main shaft, about 650 feet, agree that the necessary funds shall be supplied from the following sources in the order stated :— 1. The Goldficlds Eevenue, including the Gold Duty arising within the Borough, to be primarily liable. If that be insufficient,

2. The revenue, after deducting expenses, arising from the Thames Water .Race. If those sources be insufficient, 3. The Goldflelds Eevenue including the Gold Duty arising within the County. (No. 3.) ■ x . Memo, of arrangement between the Thames Borough and County Councils and the Pumping Association.

The Thames Borough and the Thames County Councils having undertaken to supply the requisite funds for keeping the Pumping Association's works in order arid draining the main, shaft'to the depth of 650 feet, or thereabouts, for two (2) years, it is agreed as follows :— 1. That the works shall be carried oi as efficiently and economically as possible. 2. That one pers®n on behalf of the County, and one on behalf of the Borough, shall have access at all times to the works and accounts. .3. That the Pumping Association shall use their best efforts to obtaining contributions from surrounding mines for drainage under "The Gold Mining Districts Act, 1873." 4. That any sums required beyond such contributions shall be supplied as arranged between the Borough and the County.

5. That the money supplied shall be paid monthly, so as to ireet the monthly expenditure. Cr Bagnall subsequently entered the room. The report was received and adopted." APPLICATIONS. The Chairman said that one application had arrived too late. It was stated that it was only a quarter of an hour too late, •and it was on the motion of Cr Mitchell ordered to be considered with the others.. The applications of .those not endorsed were then opened. ■

CLERK AND TREASURER,

Applications were received from the following gentlemen for these offices :— Messrs James Skeen, H. E. Campbell, J. McLaren, F. F. Day, E. Honiss, E. M. Mitchell, E. W. Hollis, E. H. Power. It was proposed by Cr Mitchell that the other applications be proceeded with —agreed to. STTRVEYOB. Applications for this office were read from Messrs J. Walker, C.E., and A. Aitken. / valuer. Tenders for the office were received from Messrs Lessong, £150; Craig, £290; H. T. Eowe, £310; F. A. Pulleine, £198; G. O'Halloran, £175; H. Vernon, £240; H. R. Jury, £225. Cr Mitchell then moved that the Council adjourn for the purpose, of considering the applications until 12 o'clock. The motion was seconded by Cr Spencer and carried.

Council adjourned. (The Council resumed proceedings at twelve o'clock.) The Chairman said the first business was to consider the question of

CLEEK AND TBEASUEEB.

Cr Mitchell proposed that MtE. W. Hollis be Glerk^and "Treasurer-to the Council. He said that the difficulty had been, not to find a good man, but out of so many good men to.select.the best. Or Spencer seconded the motion, which was carried, and Mr Hollis appointed at a salary of £200 a year. SUBVEYOE. • On the motion of Cr Bagnall, who said tha^ both applicants were able to discharge the duties, seconded by Or Coutts, Mr A. Aitken was elected surveyor, at a ,salary of £300 per annum. . '•■ VALUES. The Chairman said that the first business would be to fix .the salary of the valuer. He moved that it be 43240 a year. This was agreed to, and Mr Yernon appointed valuer on the motion of Or Thorp* seconded by Cr Thorburn.

BOADS. ' Cr Mitchell asked leave to amend the notice'of motion which he had given as follows :—" That the surveyor be authorised to expend the sum of £50 on the tracks between Ohmemuri, Paeroa, and Waitekauri." < ' / Cr,Bagnall thought they had no right to authorise any indefinite expenditure. He spoke in favor of having the surveyor's report before proceeding with the work, not that he wished to oppose the work, but that he would like to. see and know what had to be done. He did not wish to move an amendment, but would suggest to Cr Mitchell that the surveyor first send in an estimate of what was to be done, and the probable expense. The Chairman agreed with Cr Bagnall.

Cr Mitchell urged the necessity of immediately mending the road. Cr Coutts seconded the motion, which was carried. - * Cr Mitchell then moved that the surveyor be instructed to report-on the repairs necessary on the road between Shortland and Paeroa. Cr Thorburn seconded the motion, which was carried. • FINANCE COMMITTEE. ' Cr Mitchell moved that Crs Bagnall, Spencer, Thorburn and the mover be a finance committee. Cr Thorp seconded the motion. Carried.

SECUfctTY. Cr Mitchell moved that the securities to be given by the Clerk and Treasurer be two sureties ot £250 each, and himself in £500, or to give the security of the Guarantee Society.- % Cr Thorp seconded the motion. Carried. OFFICES. The Chairman having reported that the offices lately occupied by the Provincial Government would not be handed over to the County Council, it was proposed by Cr Mitchell and carried, that Crs Brodie, Spencer And Bac^nali be a sub-committee to obtain temporary offices for the use of the Council. SUJBVEY. It was moved by Cr Mitchell that the Chairman with the surveyor make a flying survey of the County to ascertain the works most urgently wanted, and report the same to the Council as soon as possible.

Cr. Spencer seconded the motion. Cr Bagnall thought there was no need of the Chairman to accompany the surveyor. He thought the motion was unnecessary at that stage of the proceedings. He moved as an amendment that the word Chairman be left out. The amendment was not seconded, and the motion was then put and carried. The meeting was then adjourned until 4 o'clock.