COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3568, 3 June 1880, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

We conclude our report of the proceedings at the County Council meeting yes* terday:— hikutaia. . Mr John Elliott wrote asking that a road be laid off from main road towards Kelly's and Binney's, the said road to go through writer's property.—Referred to Engineer to report. A CLAIM. The proprietors of the Joker claim wrote enclosing an account for £4 2s 6d for broken metal used on the Una road.— Referred to Board of Works to report. ME ALLEY. Mr Alley wrote with regard to the 40 chains of fencing through his property. He trusted the Council would settle the matter. — Eeferred to Committee on special roads. COLLECTOB. The collector, Mr J. Smith, wrote offering his services in the collection of rates next year. Cr Greenville moved that Mr Smith's offer be accepted. He paid a high tribute to Mr Smith's energy and efficiency. Cr Bagnall seconded the motion, and endorsed the remarks of the last speaker. The Chairman said more rates had been got in than ever before. The motion was then put and carried. BRIDGE AT HIKUTAIA. Mr E. Kelly, of Hikutaia, wrote asking the Council to supply the timber for a small bridge on the road leading to his property. —It was resolved to grant the request. LAND ON DEFEBBED PAYMENT. A letter was read from the Commissioner of Crown Lands acknowledging the Council's letter re Mr Crispe's application. # Cr Thorburn said he had been requested by Mr Crispe to thank the Chairman for his exertions in getting the land opened up. He might say it was good land for grazing purposes. The Chairman acknowledged the thanks and said that Mr MeKerrow had given great assistance in this matter. APPLICATION' FOE WORK. A number of Ohinemuri natives petitioned the Council for employment on the County works in that Biding.—-It was decided to forward the letter to the Native Minister with a strong recommendation that " these loyal natives be em* ployed." WAIOTAHI CBEEK. A party of miners—Meek and party— wrote asking the Council to continue the Waiotahi road up the right hand side of the creek, to enable them to get quartz to the mill. —Referrred to the Board of Works. APPLICATION FOE TBAMWAY. Mr J. Mollhaney, manager of the Victoria mine, wrote asking permission to construct a tramway over .the Waiotahi road.—Granted. ALBUBNIA BATTEBY. ia/ A letter was read from Mr Garland, manager of the Alburnia Company, asking the Council to reconsider their decision, not to pay the cost of laying the water jon to the Alburnia battery.—lt was decided to inform the writers that the Council could not alter their previous decision. BEANCH BOAD. Mr Goldsworthy and others, proprietors of a claim at Waiotahi creek, asked the Council to construct a branch road connecting their mine with the Waiotahi road. It was decided to instruct the Engineer to proceed with the work. CBMETEBY MATTEBB. T.wo letters were received from the Secretary to the Cc me trey Committee re cemetery management. One of these gave a list of the debts of the Committee amounting in all to £139 4s lid: Cr Greenville asked if the Cemetery Committee had any assets. The Chairman: Yes; They have two paddocks. Cr Greenville said if the paddocks belonged to the Committee they should be realised; if to the Borough let them pay the debts. As long as he was a member of the; Council he would object to the Council paying the debts of the Committee. He might say that the Borough Council placed the paddocks on their balance-sheet as an asset. Cr Carpenter moved that the Council pay half the present liabilities of the Committee. Cr Thorburn said that, at the meeting of the Councils re the cemetery, it was clearly explained though the paddocks were nominally put down as an asset they could not be mortgaged or used for any purpose but those of the cemetery. He deprecated the local bodies squabbling over such a paltry sum. Cr Bagnall said that Cr Thorburn was slightly wrong in his statement of what took place at the meeting. He thought the Borough Council should enter into an agreement showing forth the terms under which the paddocks were held before the Council paid their share of the debt. The Chairman said if the Borough Council wished to deal fairly with this

endowment it could easily be managed Let them agree to the appointment of a local body and pass a short bill through the House conferring on the said body the management. Cr Greenville reiterated his previous statement, and said he would object to one shilling being paid on this account. The question had been burked by the Borough in every possible way. Cr Porter facetiously referred to the mismanagement of the cemetery matters, and said if he was buried up there with the present state of the roads his ghost would be a terror to some of them. Or Greenville moved as an amendment that the Council pay no money" on this account till the. Borough transfers the paddocks to the cemetery committee. This failed to find a seconder. The Chairman said he quite agreed with Cr Greenville's view of this matter. The resolution was carried. TE PAPA CHTLLY. Cr Greenville presented a petition from several miners asking that certain repairs be made on the Te Papa Gully road. This matter was dealt with in the Engineer's report. BEPOBTS. The usual monthly reports were received. pattsbson's codjtbact. Cr Greenville moved that the Board of Works be requested to reconsider their decision regarding the retention of the per centage and deposit money of Patterson and party's contracts for making the water*race tunnel. '* Cr Bagnall seconded. Carried. EEPOBT BE THE WATEB BACE. The interim report re the water-race was presented. It stated that enquiries had been made but nothing would be done till the Committee had measured the water. The report was adopted. , AMALGAMATION OF LOCAL BODIES. Cr Porter then moved his notice of motion regarding the amalgamation of local bodies. He referred to the probability of the subsidies being stopped, and said many ratepayers were of opinion that the goldfields should be under one management, and the out-districts left to govern themselves. The district he represented would in his opinion be better managed by a Highway Board. Cr Carpenter seconded though he thought little good would come of it. He believed in a division of labor. The Chairman said if the Borough was governed by a town board they would be better off financially, as they would receive a double subsidy. . Cr Bagnall would oppose the motion as he believed no practical good would result. Cr Thorburn referred to the desire on the part of Tararu residents to join the County in - consequence of the neglected state of the Tararu road. The resolution was put and lost. THANKS TO MB WHITAKIB. Cr Carpenter moved that the thanks of this Council be accorded to the Hon. F. Whitaker for his action in settling the vexed question of the Water Supply, and for the care and attention he has paid to the wants of the district. Cr Porter seconded. Carried. THE PUMPING QTJBSHON. Cr Porter moved that the opinion of the Council's solicitor be obtained on the legality of the Council paying £40 for pumping carried on outside the County boundaries. This was carried. ' CHAIBMAN'S BALABT. ■ The Chairman having vacated the Chair which was taken by Cr Bagnall, Cr Thorbnrn moved the rescinding of the resolution reducing the Chairman's, salary to £200 per annum. Cr Greenville seconded. ° Cr Carpenter moved as an amendment that farther discussion of the matter be adjourned till next meeting. Cr Porter said that though he would vote for the motion he thought that it would ba well to postpone it. * Cr Thorburn agreed to the postponement.

The Council then adjourned.