WAIKATO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 714, 13 January 1877, Page 2

WAIKATO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The .first meeting of the County Counoil of Waikato was held, panuant to publio notification, m the Court Hsuse Cambridge, oh Tuesday last, the 9 h inst. Present : Councillors Claude, Whyte, Kirk wood, Chirk, Cnmmine, and Gull. On the motion of Oouncillo • Gall, Council or Kirkwood took the chair. Tho Cuairman having rend the notice, calling the meeting, said the first business whioh demanded their attention was the eleotion of Chairman of Oou noil, he then read clauses 55, 56, and 57 whioh relate to this matter. Councillor Oiark proposed Councillor, Claude, ami m doing so said that besides being an able man and one fully compet- , ent to fill the position, he had time to de- j vote himself to the interests of the county. They wanted gentlemen of independent meuns to fill these offices, for he considered that when the position ceased to be thought one |of honour, they would have arrived at a very bad state. He need not inform them tbat Councillor Claude was a gentleman whose position enabled hiru to Beck it for the honour alone. Councillor Gall had great pleasure m seconding tbe motion. The Chairman put it to the Council and Councillor Claude was declared unanimously elected. Councillor Kirkwood h^re vacated the chair m favour of the newly elected chairman,, who thanked the 'Council for the honor done him and for the wuy m which his proposer had spoken of him, he would do hia best to work for the good of the County. Th rf y were all ar the present time to a great extent ignorant of their duties, bathe trusted they would all pull together, and by and bye ' thry would know more. Tbe first and most important m.tter to be brought on for discussion was whether the whole of the Act should be brought into force or not. Councillor Kirkwood wished for enlightenment as to whether the Road districts would fall into the County or not m the event of their adopting the whole Act? The Chairman thought not. They would not be m.ddleJ with m any way except by Clause 3V. Road -districts can remain as they are. Councillor Kirkwood said they were allowed some time to decide this matter. i The Ch drman — YVs, three months. Councillor R irk wood said if this was the case it would be advisable to let the subject stand over for a time, more especially as it was the intentioir of some Councillors to endeavour I o /bring about an alteration iv the boundaries oi the County, he would make a mo ion to this effect. Councillor Clark seconded. He thought as they had three months to decide m there could be no harm done at any rate by postponing the matter for a while. Councillor Gumming conld not see that the biiuging of the whole Act into force would m any way iuterfere with the proposed alteration of boundaries. Councillor Kirkwood said he wished for time, as it was his intention, as well as Councillor Clark's to consult tbe ratepayers on the question, but seeing that the Act did not interfere with the road districts, he had no particular objection to bring the whole of it m forca. Councillor Whyte wished to know if there was any other business calling for their immediate attention, and which should be considered before the month was out. The "Chairman did not know how far they could go, unless thoy brought the Ace into force. Councillor Gall drew the attention of the Council to the very bad sate of th. budges, on the South Koad near Rangariri. Something should be done at once. Councillor Kirkwood thought this was a very nice project to look forward to Councillor Clark said this matter could / be dealt with at a spejial meeting, for which clause 79 provided. The Chairman said until they acoepted or rej .cted the , Act, m they could do nothi. g- : x '"•■)' x : i Councillor Kirk wood,; Wit i the consent of his seconder, wichdre.w his ino'ion, aud substituted the following, *• That the whole Act be brought iaforoe." Councillor Cumming seconded the motion. He said that with regard to the bridges at llangiriri, there was a large quantity of timber lying at Waikato lie ids, the property of the Government, and' if they did not put up tbe bridges, they would, no doubt, materially assist tbe Council m doing so. The Chairman put the resolution to the meeting, when it was carried unanimously. The Chairman said the next business was to appoint a clerk. He would read clause 99, which provided for the election of officers. Perhaps it would be advisable to elect a treasurer at the same time, or combine the two m one person. Councillor Whyte sai I it would be well first to fix the plaoe of meeting, so that they could get a local man. The Chairman said tbat, a. this would have to be decided on anyhow, they might as well do it at once. Councillor G«ll proposed that the place of meeting be Hamilton East. Councillor Kirkwood said that under the cTCumstauces, seeing how badly the district of Cambridge was represented, he would second tbe proposition. The motion was carried. Tbe Chairman said that now they could proceed to tha election of a clerk. It woulJ be advisable to have the two offices j m one, Cle k and Treasurer. Couucillor Clark asked if there was anything about security men ioned m the Aot. It would be well, also, to ask for testimonials, because they wanted a man thoroughly acquainted with the duties. After some lurther discussion as to the b?st metho I of appointing a clerk, and the hours during whioh the Council Offices would have to be open, it was agreed to advertise for applications for the office, leaving the matter of salary for future consi leration, Applications io be scut m to tbe Chairman before the next meeting. The Chairman read a letter from Mr Gelling, offering to undertake tbe duties of Clerk for £30 per annum, if the Aot was not aceepte I iv its entinty, or £125 per annum if the whole Aot was brought m to force. Councillor Kirkwood said they could take no notioe of this now. Mr Gelling could apply at the nert meeting. The Chairman said it would be weU to fix the date of the next meeting at once, and they could, as it would be a special meeting, settle the dates of the ordinary meetings then. Councillor Kirkwood would like the nest meeting to be as soon as possible If it would suit Councillors, he would propose tbat it be held on Wednesday the 17th inst., at the Publio Hall, Hamilton East, at 2 p tn. The motion haviug been seconded by Councillor Cumming, it was oarried. Councillor Cumming moved — "That, applioation be made to the Governmeut for one of the Immigrant Cottages. They were of no further use now, and the Council might as well have one of them as anyone else. Councillor Kirkwood seconded; He would like to see the applioation for the timber embodiod m it. Tbe motion having been altered to m. elude this, it was agreed to. The Chairman Baid that aa the valuation returned would have to be sout m

before the 3 1st inst, they would necessarily have to appoint a valuator for the outlying districts at once. There i. no Hi jhway Distric. at Rangariri, and it would take some time to value it\ Some discussion ensued ; a Councillor pointed out the desirability of getting soma one well acquainted with the district, as thore wero BU.h a lar re number ofab^nt^es. Ultimately the matter v.as left io the bands of (he Chairman who was to communicate wi b I-lessrs X H ll, Edgcombe, Filzpatrick, and Gelling, and ' make the best tor ios he coul 1. The Oounoil then proceeded to appoint B nkers. On the motion of Councillors Kirkwood, seconded by Councillor Gal, the Bank of New Zetland, Hamilton Branch, was appointed the Bank fo- the Council ; and Councillors Cumming and Whyte were appointed to sign the cheques wilh tha Treasurer mac -ordauce with clause 105. Councillor Kirkwood said he hoped that at the next meeting tbe alteration of the boundaries would be considered. He looked upon the present: arrangemant as a most iniquitous one, and f died to see by what means it had been brought abjut. Councillor Clark sad tbe mvtter rested entirely with the ratepayers, they could by petition to the Govern r alter the formation of "the counties. The Council had no power to interfere m the mitter. After some discussion- it wa* decided that the Council had no power to do anything iv the matter. Councillor Gall said he would like to know before the Oounoil separated what was to be done with the Rangiriri bridges. They were fast breaking down. The Chairann said the timber would be applied for. Councillor Whyte hoped it was not the m ten ion of the Government to lay the burden of keeping the great south road m repair on their shoulders. The Chairman said it would be better perhaps to do nothing on this road, because if they did do so, it would be tantamount to acknowledging that they took it over. It did not, strictly speaking belong to them, it was the ouilet for threi other counties besides Waikato. Couiu-illor Whyte would like to see a motion made to the effect that the Government take over this road. Councillor Clark moved "tint the Chairman and Councillors Whyte, and Cumming be a committee to petition the Government to take over the main road f.em Waugannrina creek to Ngarua* wahia." Councillor Kirkwood seconded the mo* tion which was carried . This was all the business.