WAIKATO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 996, 9 November 1878, Page 5 (Supplement)

WAIKATO COUNTY COUNCIL.

An extra, and final meeting of the Members of the above Council, was held on Friday last, to settle accounts previous to retiring on 13th insfc. Present : Crs. F. R. Claude (chairnan), Camming, Clark, Kirkwood, and Whyte. The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, the correspondence was read, and an account for legal advice obtained from January, 1877, to date, amounting to <£38 18s 2d, was passed and ordered to be paid. A letter wa« read from Mr T. G. Sandes, pointing oat the necessity of tightening up the screw-bolts m the bridge over the Walks to river, at Cambridge ; and Crs. Clark and Kirkwood were authorised to have it done at once. The latter gentleman called attention to the faot, that the western side of the river was not m any county, and although the bridge above referred to, after spanning no-man's land, or water, found a resting place m the County of Waipa, there might possibly arise some question as to the liability for the cost of maintenance. INSPECTOR OF SHBEP. In reply to Cr. Clark, the Chairman stated that no answer had been receivds from the Government to the representation made relative to the immediate necessity of increasing the salary of the Waikato Inspector of JSheep. FINANCE. The Treasurer laid upon the table the Ceunty accounts for the half-year ended 30th September. They had been duly audited and fomod correct. The general account shewed a balance credit cash m Bank of £2298 Bs, and the separate account a balance credit of £87 13s 2d. An account m detail of the receipts and nxpenditure for each riding was also tabled, and Cr. Whyte drew attention to the neoessity of supplementing the amount standing to the credit of Eangiriri, viz. £151 2s Id. He reminded Councillors that when t c appropriation of £700 was mnde to Rangiriri for the construction of the Whangamarino bridge and other works, iv was clearly understood that oat of the £700, about £300 would be available to renew the bridge at Rangiriri, and fcr road work urgently required. Upon a reference to the riding account he found that by general and other charges, the expected balance had been reduced by bnlf. He therefore moved that a further sum of «fclso be voted to the Rangiriri riding for works urgently required. Cr. Cumming seconded the motion. Cr. Olark opposed, he said even deducting the cost of the Whangamnrino bridge, a very large amount had been spent m Rangiriii and a comparatively small sum received. For a period of ten years the\ hajl not contributed a single shilling towards the improvement of their district, and they could scarcely expect loads aud bridges made m every direction at the expense of their neighbours, who all along had taxed themselves to obtain the advantages which they had possessed. He considered the Council had dealt with Rangiviri m a generous and liberal manner, and m jus'ice to his constituents he must oppose the motion. Cr. iCirkwood agreed with Cr. Clark. He belie Ted that the intentions of the Council had been fully carried out. .After mature consid: ratiou a sure of £700 had been voted, and the debits against that sum were such us might be expected. He certainly never understood that Kangitrii'i was to have a clear £300 after paying for the bridgo at Whangamtirino. He moved os an Hiuciidineut to Cr. Whyle's motion, that a further sum of £50 he gran ted to L'angiriri. Cr. Clark seconded. The Chairman explained his riews of thn case at some length, which coincided with Cr. White's, and put the amendment to the vote, which was negatived. For, Crs. Clark, and Kirkwood ; against, Crs. Whyte, Claude, and Camming. Ike original motion was then put and carried. For, Crs. Whyte, Cumming and Claude, against, Crs. Kirkwood and Clark. The remaining credit balance available was then divided among the ridings pro rata upon the basis previously agreed upon. KETIREMENf OF CR. CLAUDE. The business of the meeting having been concluded, Cr Claude stated that, as it was not his intention to seek re-election, he would take the opportunity of saying good-bye. He alluded to the report of a speech made by Cr. Kirkwood at a public meeting m Cambridge, whereby he understood that gentleman to aceu.se his fellow Councillors of unfair treatment. He had hoped to see the report contradicted, bat, as it had not been, he thought it right to refer to it. There had doubtless been differences of opinion, which was to be expected, but he felt confident there was not a single act m which he, or his fellow-Councillors had taken part m which could be characterised as unfair. They had differed with the Councillors for Cambridge t» to the propriety of retaining Tamahere as a riding, bnt they had done -so conscientiously, believing their action to be for the benefit of the County as a whole. Allusion had been made to an alleged balance of power. He, (the Chairman) failed to see where it existed — Cambridge had three members, Kirikiriroa had &«*/ And ?fea£irirj one member'

It so happened that he, a Kirikiriroa member was Chairman ; possessing a casting vole, but he did not at that moment remember ever having been called upon to exercise it. The member for Rangariri might as readily vote with Cambridge .as with Kirikiriroa, althoughhedidnotdo so on theTamahere question, and m next Council it might be possible that a Cambridge Councillor would occupy tho chair, m short, the representation of ridings, he, Mv Claude, held to be placed ,on as fair a footing as possibly could fee made ; for his own part, and on behalf of Councillors acting with him on the occasion referred to, he could confidently assert that they had been aotuated by a spirit of conciliation and justice, and whatever might be the reasons which moved the Cambridge people to petition for the formation of a new county he could positively say that the treatment of their representatives m the Waikato County Council formed no part of the grounds for such action. Mr Claude continued to say, that the duties of his office had been rendered easy by the punctual attendance, aud courteous bearing— oT Councillors. Although, during their cruise of nearly two years m the local Government boat, they kad a breeze now and again, they had landed the vessel m a cleanly and healthy condition. He concluded by thanking the Councillors, and expressing regret that he could not find it con. venient to join them m the new Council. Cr. Kirkwood, m reply to tLe remarks of the Chairman, stated, that although the report referred to was, perhaps, literally correct, it carried an impression which he did not intend it to convey. He did not ►meau to say that he or his fellow Councillors had been unfairly treated, but that tho balance of power was against Cambridge, and that it was impossible to carry any rupasure which Kirikiriroa chose to oppose. Cr. Clark moved a hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman, which was seconded hy Cr. Whyte ; aud bo terminated m an agreeable and satisfaciory matter, the proceedings of the first County Council for Waikato. De mortuis nil nisi bonum.