WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 534, 24 July 1869, Page 2

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Westland County Council was formally opened on Wednesday last. Messrs Clarke, Harrison, and Barff were absent. The Chairman's address congratulated the Council on the realisation of the hope expressed at last session, as to the satisfactory working of the Constitution, and the prosperous state of the County. The reveuue had realised his anticipations with the exception of the sale of waste lands, which was due to the unsatisfactory state of the land laws. This was now remedied, as the General Assembly had applied the sth section of the Gold Fields Act, allowing agricultural leases, to Westland. He referred to the Canterbury arbitration, and proposed charging Maoris for surveys. The Colonial Government

was indebted to Westland for th© construction of the telegraph lines LISOO or L2OOO, and he was astonished this should have escaped the notice of his predecessors. He had endeavoured to carry out the public works directed by the Council. In his opinion the natives ought to contribute towards roads, wharves, or the benefiting of their properties. The cost of maintaining the overland road had been less than previously. He intended to ask for the erection of toll-bars on the Go'dsborough and Greenstone roads. The Council's guarantee had instigated extensive undertakings, and he congratulated the Council on the prosperous state of the County.