COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2517, 30 January 1877, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

The County Council met at 10 a.m., to-day. There were present —Crs Brodie (Chairman), Thorburn, Mitchell, Spencer, Coutts, Bagnall; Mr E. W. Hollis, County Clerk. Mr Aitken, the surevyor, was also in attendance..';.

.'' ■' ' "■•: ' MINUTES. "' "■ ■' '"" '' The minutes of the previous meeting , having been read were confirmed. .; . ■■ "'"■ . ' ■'■ ; LETTEBS. '-'•' ' ':■ ■■■ \ ■' The letters read at the last meeting' were again read over, also the answers to them, and sundry letters sent and answers received since last meeting. '-■•■■"■ ■- :'' ''■ '"■■ ■ ; SAFE.'--'- ■' ■'■ • ■■ : ■■•'■■ The offer of a safe for the custody of documents, books, etc., by Mr ¥. A. Pulleine, was allowed to stand over.

BTE-LAWS EEGULATING SLAUGHTERHOUSES, ETC. In the absence of Mr Thorp, the Chairman read the alterations made in the bye-laws regulating pounds, slaughterhouses, etc. After some discussion the matter was deferred till the, special meeting to be held this afternoon. COUNCIL OFFICES.

Cr Bagnall read the report of the Committee appointed to obtain information in the matter of offices. It stated that 12 offers of offices for the Council had been received in various parts of Grahamstown and Shortland, and all those considered suitable had been inspected.. The committee had waited on Capt. Fraser, E.M., with a view to ascertaining what probability there was of obtaining officesjn Government [Buildings, Queen.street,and he had stated that they were all required by the officers of the Government, and no portion could be available for permanent offices of the Council. The committee recommended that the old Bank of New South Wales be the offices of the Coun-

cil, as they considered it the most suitable, provided satisfactory arrangements cculd be come to with the owner, Mr Thompson.

The report of the County Surveyor on the matter was also read, and it recommended Mr Thompson's building.

Cr Mitchell commenting on the report said that although he would support the offices recommended in the report being the offices of the Council, yet he must say that he considered the buildings they were now in were their property, as they had belonged to the Provincial Government and not to the General Government. The freehold had been bought with their money, and the cost of the building had been especially voted for the purpose. It was scandalous that a man who swallowed up more than all their officers put together should be allowed to put them to inconvenience because he did not like the smell of the County Council. There were whole suites of rooms unoccupied, and had been for months, and it was a scandalous misappropriation o? public money and property. If they did not look out they might find, that the devil they had got was worse than the one they had got rid of.*. ■■• ■ . :■- ■ ■.•-■:■ :

Crßagnall differed from Cr Mitchell when he said that the buildings belonged to them. They belonged to the General Government, as it had taken over all the assets and liabilities of the Provincial Government.

After some further discussion it was moved by Cr Bagnall and seconded by Cr Spencer that the report be adopted, and the recommendation therein be carried out.

The Chairman read a schedule of the furniture required for the Council offices. Cr Mitchell moved that the Committee be instructed to purchasethe safe and furniture, and be authorised to expend £15 in the necessary alterations to the Council offices. The motion being seconded by Cr Thorburn was carried. PUMPING ASSOCIATION.

Cr Bagnall read the report of the Committee appointed to conclude arrangements With the PumpiDg Association. It stated that the negociations were progressing, but that the arrangements were not yet concluded.

The report was" adopted.. after some discussion. '■'.'. . FINANCE COMMITTEE. Cr Bagnall read the " Interim Eeport No lof Finance Committee." It stated that the sum of £19 19s had'been paid, and that £5 had , been placed at the disposal of the Treasurer for petty cash disbursements: It recommended the pay-' ment of salaries to the Ist. prox. This was also adopted. FLYING SURVEY. The Chairman read the following report.:—- ---" Thames, 27th January, 1877.! "Be Track and Bridges—Grahams town

port.:—-

; toTapu. "Gentlemen,—'l have the honor to report that in company with the County Chairman I, on the 26th inst., examined the pack track and bridges between Grahamstown and Tapu. " Considering the nature of the country over which the track passes, it iis upon the whole not in bad condition, but as no work has been done on it for some time a small expenditure is now necessary to clear away slips, re-make small portions that have been carried away, and improve approaches to creek crossings. " Two laborers employed a month on the track would very much improve it.

"The foot bridge at Puru and the bridge across the Tapu^ Creek near the beach are in good condition. . , ■.. " The bridge across the Waiomo Creek requires repair at an expense of about 'five pounds (£5).. . ; : " A foot bridge across the Tapu Greek between the township and Buckland's mill is in very bad condition. This bridge is on the track up the creek, and is the only means of communication between the principal mines and the township in time of flood. A small expenditure might make the present bridge serviceable for a few months longer; :A new foot bridge would cost about twenty* five pounds (£25).—1 have, &c*, :

; "Alexander Aitken, ■ .". County Surveyor.; "The' Chairmen and Members, ■;

of the Thames County Council.''

■■■ Cr Thorburn remarked that the report was very modest. The bridge* at Tapu was really very dangerous. He moved that the works recommended in the report be carried out to the extent of £50.; Cr Mitchell seconded the motion. Carried.

Cr Spencer moved that the County Surveyor be instructed to survey and report thereon on the road up the Kauaeranga Valley from the town to Hihi. Carried.

■ .-.,,__.,;/ APPLICATION.. ,',::;;..•;/;- ;: . Cr Mitchell moved that the Chairman be instructed to write to the Colonial Secretary applying for £4COO with which to carry on the business of the County. After considerable discussion Cr Thorburn seconded the motion, which was carried. ■.■.■-'/ ' .: .. ;-- ': ' ' '.:■'•■

Cr, Mitchell also moved that; the Valuer lay before ; the Council at the next ordinary meeting, a trial estimate of the rates of the county; / After Cr Coutts had seconded the motion, it was carried.

NOTICE OF MOTION. "Cr Mitchell gave notice of two motions, which he would move at the next meeting of the Council. . / STANDING OBDEE3. Cr Mitchell read a list of Standing Orders, after which the Council adjourned till three o'clock, after the special meeting. '