WAIRARAPA WEST COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 210, 12 July 1879, Page 2

WAIRARAPA WEST COUNCIL.

[Continued,] On the retirement of the deputation, the deputation the Clerk laid before the meeting the Treasurer's accounts relating to minor bodies in the County. From this it appeared that the amounts receivable by the Local Boards from the Councii, and paid by. the latter on account of the former bodies with the ultimate balances were as fellows : Featherston Highway Board—Amount receivable from Council £1073 2s Id; amount paid by Council. £lOls 4s Id; balance due to Board, £57185. Taratahi-Carterton Highway Board.— Amount receivable from Council £212105. amount paid by Council £l7l Is 7d ; due to board L4O 17s od. , Masterton Highway Board.—Amount receivable from Council, £962 8s 7d; ,n mount paid by Council, £846 3s; due to Board £ll6 5s 7d. ■ Featherston Local Board. —Amount receivable from Council £309 13s 3d; paid-nil • due to Board, £30913s 3d. On the motion of Councillor Donald seconded by Councillor Bennett it was resolved—"That the amount of the balances as shown above be paid to the various Board's, and a copy of the Treasurer's statement sent to them lespectively." Several Committee reports were then read and confirmed. The Engineer's report was then read, and the Engineer being present furnished information on various points referred to him by Councillors. It was resolved that it should be left to the Engineer to take over the Makakihi Bridge contract on behalf of the Council, or allow the contractor to proceed with it, as might be deemed most expedient and beneficial in the interests of the County. Cr Moore drew attention to contract No 2, under the Rangitumau vote, taken by Mr M'Kenzie, in which an error had been made in the tender in not computing the cost of erecting a bridge; he thought that as the contractor had completed his work to the satisfaction of the engineer, instead of forfeiting his deposit, which was only L 9, some consideration should be shown him.

The Engineer reported thatMrM'Kenae's tender had been far below the others.

Ultimately it was resolved that the sum of £ls bo voted to Mr McKenzie as a bomis on account of the satisfactory manner in which he has carried out his contract on the Te Ore Ore to Uppe' l Taueni road. The Engineer being in attendance re the Mivnawatn Ferry, it was resolved that if on enquiry it was found that the expense the County had been put to, or any part thereof, had arisen from the neglect of the natives in charge, the same should be deducted from any moneys payable to to them.

The authorisation of the expenditure of moneys under special votes was adjourned to next meeting, the Engineer being instructed to proceed with all such preliminary details as would enable works to be proceeded with as soon as the winter was over. The following notice of motion given by the Chairman was then brought before the Council : ''That His Excellency the Governor be respectfully requested by this Council to exercise the power conferred upon him by clause!2 of the "Rabbit Nuisance Act Amendment Act,- 1877," and proclaim each Riding of this County a Rabbit District," The Chairman in speaking to the motion, pointed out that the Council held a higher position than that of a Road Board as their functions extended beyond the mere distribution of certain sums of money, and that it was their imperative duty to carefully consider .'and advocate every point that in any way effected the interests of the County, He had made notes on the rabbit question after a careful consideration of the Acts dealing with it, that would be laid before the Government and on which he believed action would be taken. He believed the difficulty of repressing the nuisance had been exaggerated. Now was a good time to take action, as a head poll of half-penny was being paid. It was almost impossible to deal with the matter by petitions trom settlers, and the Council should act herefore for the whole district.

Or Moore, in seconding the motion, expressed an opinion that any measure taken by the Government would be of little avail unless supported by private individuals.'. It had been stated that native and Government lands were exempted from the provisions of the Act, but ho could find nothing to support this view, and he believed any Trustees appointed could enter either one land or the other, and that at any rate, so far at respected native land passed through the Native Land Court, any rate levied might be collected in respect thereof. •: He thought one argument in favor of the motion was that as the Act was, he believed, unworkable as at present in force, the Council, by adopting it, might show to the Government the urgent necessity of amendments being made. Or Boys, in moving the following amendment, " That this Council do not request His Excellency the Governor to proclaim eacli Riding of the County a Rabbit District without the consent of the ratepayers being first obtained, the Rabbit Nuisance Act being a permissive one," stated that so far as he was concerned personally, he should like to see the Act brought into operation. The evil was rapidly extending from a mere local question into a colonial one, After referring to the late meeting convened in Masterton on the subject, Or Boys stated he did not think it was the intention of the Legislature that such a body as this Council should apply directly to the Governor without consulting the ratepayers. Cr Bennett seconded the amendment. The Chairman stated that it was not absolutely necessry to. levy a tax if the

Act were brought into, it would enable the County to compel those who were now negligent to clear their land of tho pest. / Or Donald suggested the bonus receivable .might be applied in clearing Maori land. !

Or Jackson-supported the amendment, He did not believe in • paying a tax to attain an end which he was able to secure himself. ,) Or Murray supported the amendment. . Cr Moore pointed ous that the levying of a tax was optional. /In a matter of this kind it was no good to trnst to mere voluntary, individual efforts.

The Chairman in reply, said he had brought the matter before the Council in order to obtain an expression of its feeling on thequestiou, and lie regretted the view taken by the Council had been adverse to his motion. The Act, he believed, was as bad as it could be, but he had found in his own land that it provided the only means of eradicating an evil which might otherwise have ruined him. His property was of considerable acreage, and lie would not have submitted to tlie burden of the tax if lie had not seen the immense benefit to be derived from its operation, He thought that the time would come when the district would regret that the Council had not taken action in the matter, and he should then feel that he, at any rate had done his duty.

_ On division the amendment was carried—Councillors Jackson, Murray ,soys, and Bennett voting for, and Councillors Pharazyn, Donald and Moore against, The Council then adjourned.