THAMES COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2544, 2 March 1877, Page 2

THAMES COUNTY COUNCIL.

YESTERDAY.

After Cr .Mitchell's motion had fallen through— . * "

Cr Bagnall then moved the following resolution; —"That the FinanceCpmtuittee ascertain and report upon the extent and annual value of native lands within the County not rateable under the provisions of the Rating .Act, with a view of obtaining from Parliament a grant equal to the amount of rates and subsidies which would be obtainable were such lands rateable, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Sir Geo. Grey and W. Howe, Esq." Cr Mitchell did not think that the carrying of the motion or sending a copy of it to the members would be of the slightest use. They might,as well go and ask for £100,000 at once.

The Chairman supported Cr Bagnall in his motion. .; 1.- : The motion was then put and carried. WASTE LANDS. Cr Mitchell moved that application be made to the Waste Lands Board for a reserve of lands for the purposes set forth in the Chairman's report, viz., schools, cemeteries, &c. Cr Coutts seconded the .motion, which was carried; ';

COAL DEPOSITS. Cr Mitchell moved that a sum of £25 be set aside for testing the value of coal deposits within, the district, such testing to take place under the supervision of the surveyor. He thought that with very little expense a considerable quantity of brown coal of New Zealand could be acquired. He had" himself had the coal and burnt it. .

The Chairman thought it better to leave the matter *to a comimitteej-and suggested tlie names of Crs Spencer, Thorburn and Coutts. Cr Mitchell agreed to the alteration, the name of the mover being also added, . Cr Bagnall did nut see any advantage in the money being spent as proposed. He thought that when the £25 was spent they would be no better off than at present, as it was well known that there were large seams of coal in the district.

Cr Spencer suggested the matter being postponed. The brown coal was greatly inferior to the Bay of Islands coal, and to be at all serviceable it must be found in rery large quantities and easily got at. ■After some further discussion Cr Spencer seconded Cr Mitchell'i motion, which was carried.

; r LANDS FOR THE TEOVLEii ; The Chairman thought that if the Council laid before the Government the fact that many people were leaving this district on account of not having .land to settle on it would be productive of good in getting the lands open. j ■. ..;>... Cr Mitchell commented on theinjustice of the Government in not opening up | lands for the colonists themselves, when they paid passages and gave large blocks of good land to such people as the KatiKati settlers. He said the. Waste Lands Board was composed of the greatest land jobbers'in the country, and some of them had even obtained land in the debateablo King's Country. He then moved—" That in the opinion of this Council the waste lands of the district now in the hands of the Government by purchase from the Natives, namely, Hikutaia, Wangamata, Ohinemuri, Te Aroha, and the lands of the Thames Goldfield, should be placed in the hands of the^Waste Lands Board for throwing open for selection." He said it was in their province to take notice, of this matter. lit was not fair that those i people that came into the country 1 should get the pick, of the lands in * the country, because.they; had influence. i They should not go to the Waste Lands Board but to the Government. They had no right to go to the.^^aste Lands Board for things that did "not belong to - them. If they applied to the Waste Lands Board they would be told that they knew nothing of them.' The present state of affairs was scandalous. They were eating Canterbury, Taranaki and Melbourne produce, while they were surrounded by plenty of good agricultural land.

The Chairman thought they should apply to the Waste Lands "Board first. They did not want to clash with the Government, and he could say that they had nothing to do with it, but the Waste Lands Board.

Cr Bagnall moved as an amendment— "That the Chairman be authorised to communicate.with the Auckland Waste Lands Board with a view of ascertaining if there are any, and what extent of, lands, and their control within the County, aud which can be set apart for selection by the residents of this district; and to_.represent the importance of affording opportunities for settlement of the lands in thi3 County believed "to be the property of the Government and »ow -lying Waste." He said he thought the Board would gire anything -emanating from them the greatest consideration. Cr Thorburn said he had no faith in the Waste Lands Board. He knew several of the members, and knew it was no use applying to them. Cr Bagnall said that it was out of their duty to run down the Board until they had reason to do so. They had not tried yet to get what they wanted. Cr Spencer seconded Cr Bagnall's amendment.

Cr Thorp seconded Cr Mitchell's motion.

Cr Mitchell said that if he had it not clearly "in his mind that they would be answered that.the Board had no land, ht would agree to the amendment. He was certain they had none* If "was folly for them to ask for the lands; :jHe had'no belief in their administration of the Board. Hadn't they found that Buckland, Moon, and Firth himself had acquired large estates, while they could not get any land. He did not mind about offending the Government. He wanted fair administration for these lands. He would press the motion as it stood. ■

The motion was then put to the meeting, 4 voted for it and 3 against it. The motion was therefore declared carried. TAXING VEHICLES.

The Chairman said that the next' business was toll bars. Toll bara were impracticable, and the question was would the/ make carts and vehicles pay licenses. Cr Bagnall suggested that, the matter stand over sine die, in order that a report might be drawn up on, the matter. . PAEROA iKD PUKE ROAD. Cr Thorp read his motion re the temporary repair of the road between Paeroa and Puke, He moved that £100 be voted for that purpose. .- " The Chairman suggested that! the Snri veyor be instructed to report upon it. Cr Thorp said he: had asked the Surveyor what would be the cost, and he had advised him to apply for £100. Tho Government road was very bad. and the present road used was through- pfitt^r property, and could be: shut up at my time. . " :. ,-

Cr Mitchell supported the-motion. ' Cr Thorp said that he was well aware that there many works to be done, but he pressed the motion because the work could not be done in winter time;' ' -S Several Councillors spoke on the necessity of the road, x but someappearedto' think that £40 would be enough. After, some discussion Cr Mitchell seconded the motion. . - Cr Thorp then amended the resolution to £50, and the motion was carried.

HIKpTAIA .AND TJJ PtfKE BOAD.

Cr Thorp moved that a sum of money be voted for the construction of a road between Hikutaia and Te Puke. After some discussion the motion was withdrawn on the'understanding that the work would be done with some money already voted. a Vote of thanks. Cr Mitchell moved that a vote of thanks be accorded to the Chairman for the excellent report he had prepared, and also to the Surveyor for the diligence he had shown. Cr Bagnall had much pleasure in seconding the motion. Several Councillors spoke in eulogistic terms of the report, and after the Chairman had acknowledged the compliment, tho motion was carried."

WORKS COMMITTEE. Cr Mitchell then • moredr-" That a progress, vote of £175 be allowed for works to be undertaken on the Hikutaia Hill, for removing obstructions on the goldfield* roads, the Waiotahi and Kauwaeranga, for cutting sidings* at Onetai and from the Hikutaia Hill to the Komata; that th Chairman and Cr. Bagnall be appointed a Works Committee, and that: the whol« work be carried out under the supervision of the County Surveyor." , : ■: The motion was seconded by Cr. Thorburn and.carried.

NOTICES OP MOTION. . Cr Thorburn gave notice that at the next meeting' of the Council he would move— -" That the Surveyor report oh tho road up the Tararu Creek used by footpassengers, and that a sum of money be voted for its repair." Cr Bagnall gave^nolice that at the next meeting he would more—" That a committee be appointed to consider and report upon such amendments (as may be thought desirable in the Counties Act and other Acts connected therewith."

ADJOUBKMEKT. ' It was then resolved that the Council adjourn till Wednesday, the 14th in»t.