AMURI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7158, 20 September 1888, Page 6

AMURI COUNTY COUNCIL.

A special ordinary meeting of the Amuri County Council 'was held at the office of the Council, Waiau, on Saturday, September loth, 1838. Present—Messrs .7; Macfarlane (Chairman), Win. Thomson, Thomas Chapman, D. D. Macfarlane, and H. Wharton. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows:—From Messrs Rutherford Bros., asking the Council to repair the Glynn Wye road, and guaranteeing part of the cost thereof. Resolved, on the motion of Mr Thomson, seconded by Mr D. D. Macfarlane—" That the Council perform the work and pay —30 towards it." The Overseer was then instructed to do the work with the unemployed gang who are now repairing the Waiau-——ikoura road, provided the Resident Engineer sanctions the removal of the men. From Mr Low, notifying that the cutting between *the upper ferry bridge over the Waiau river and the crossing of the Hanmer stream ls in a dangerous state. There are a number of large stones which ought to be detached and brought down to prevent the possibility of them falling, and perhaps killing some passer-by or injuring horses or vehicles. Received. From the same, stating that he understands that the solicitor to the Council has advised that the Council is now, and has for some time past, been illegally constituted, and as the fact of a Councillor continuing to act after becoming aware of such illegality may involve personal liability in the event of any claim for damages thereafter arising, and resigning his position as member of the Amuri County Council, to which he believes that he, in common with the other members, was wrongly elected. Received. Telegram from Mr G. 'S. I Coper, under secretary, stating that the Act of last session provides that before next triennial election the Governor shall divide the county into ridings, the existing Council being validated meanwhile. Resolved—"That the contents of the telegram be forwarded to Mr Joynt, and Inform him that the Council met and passed accounts, and ask what steps should be taken to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr Low." From Mr Wither, Assistant-Engineer, stating that he had received an authority for £100 to be expended in repairing that portion of the Waiau Kaikoura road in the Amuri County by the Christchurch unemployed. Received. From the North Canterbury Hospital Board, requesting payment of contribution for Hospital purposes for the year 1887-88, amounting to £112 17s. Ordered to be paid. From the same, forwarding copy of resolution carried at a special meeting of the Board on 27th April last, notifying that the sum of £137 ls 6d was allocated to the Amuri County for tbe maintenance of Hospitals under tbe Board's control for the year ending 31st March, 1889. From Mr W. Thomson, asking to have his name placed on the rate-roll for Sec. 52 and part of Sees. 53 and 56 (500 acres), as he is renting them from Mr F. Dalgetty. The clerk was instructed to make the alterations as requested. From the Secretary to the Treasury, requesting that the sum (of £58 14s Sd be paid into the public account at the Bank of New Zealand, Christchurch, being interest. for half year on £2349 6s Id, the amount of the debt of this Council inscribed at the Treasury under The Government Loans to Public Bodies Act, 1886. Ordered to be paid. From Mr Wm. J. Reeve, tendering his resignation as Registrar of Dogs for the County. Resolved that Police Constable James Johnston be appointed Registrar of Dogs for the County, and that ne be allowed ten per cent, for doing so, and half fines, the appointment to be subject to the approval of the Inspector of Police. From Mr W. J. Mo—tt, complaining of the bad state of the Hawkswood road through Mount Parnassus Estate. No action. From Mr P. Honeybone, stating that there was a mistake about that portion of the water-race from Culverden boundary through the Achray Estate, and asking for an additional payment of 5.d on 485 chains. Ordered to be paid. From Mr T. M. Marr, asking for a refund of os on the registration of his dog, on the following grounds:—That his dog was born on New Year's Day, therefore on the Ist July it was only six months old, aud asking that it be registered tor half fee. The Clerk stated that the dog was registered on the 30th July, and In accordance with section nine of the Dogs Registration Act, 1880, any person registering dogs before tne Ist of August should pay full fee. Application declined. From Mr Acton Adams, asking for a refund of his rates for keeping the Acheron road in repair for twelve months. Ordered to be paid. From Mr W. O. Rutherford, granting the Council permission to make a new cutting on his land along the terrace near Gabriel's Gully, on condition that if was necessary to shift his gate that the Council should do so at its own exgense. Received. From the Colonial ecretary, stating that inconvenience has been found to arise from the fact that in some instances special orders made bf County Councils merging road districts and town districts have not been published in the New Zealand Gazette, therefore asking that a sealed copy of all special orders merging road district or town districts which may have been passed since the Ist January, 1887, cr which may in future be passed by this Council, be forwarded to his office in order that they may be published in the New Zealand Gazette for general information. From the Property "Tax Commissioner, advising having sent on to the Treasury a voucher for the payment of £128 8s Yd, balance of subsidy due to the Council for 1887-8. From the Charitable Aid Office, Christchurch, notifying that the sum of £223 7s is required from this County for the distribution of charitable aid within the united district during the year ending 31st March, 1889. Alexander McDonald applied for a license to slaughter large and small cattle on sections 8 and 10, Waiau township. Granted. Richard Coleman's application for a slaughter house license was also granted. Some minor correspondence was dealt with in due course. The following telegram was handed to the Chairman at the meeting from Councillor Wm. Atkinson : —" Accept apology non-attendance. Congratulate your rapid advancement. Formerly took £20 to move county working staff. Wednesday's issue Times states Messrs A. and D. Rutherford have applied te our excellent Clerk to have necessary repairs done Upper Waiau Gorge road, which is reported to cost £8 to £10. I object further expenditure on that work. Jjyttelton Times, armed with River Avon well in hand, will fill up fissures, aud pcur down Amuri back.' Resolved, on the motion of Mr Morton, seconded by Mr D. D. Macfarlane—" That the Clerk, Mr John O'Mahey, be appointed ReturningOfficer for the county." Resolved—That a special meeting of the Council be held immediately after the ordinary meeting on Tuesday, 3rd October next, fcr the purpose of considering the annual balancesheet, and that the Clerk wire to the Colonial Secretary, and request him to extend the time to that date for considering the said balance-sheet. That the Overseer be instructed to employ a man to remove the landslips off the Waiau, Rotherham. Passed. Mr J. Macfarlane gave notice that he would move at the next ordinary meeting of the Council, to be held on Tuesday, 2nd October next—" That a general rate of threeeighths of a penny in the pound be made and levied upon all the rateable values of the rateable properties within the Amuri County for the period commencing on Ist day of June, 18S8, and ending on the loth day of June, 18S9, such rate to become due i and payable in one sum on the 16th Octo- • ber, 188—** Mr Thomson gave notice that |he would move at the next meeting of the ! Council, to be held on Tuesday, 2nd October—" That the road gang be done away with, and that the work be done by i contract.** Mr EL Wharton gave notice ! that he would move at the next meeting jof the Council—"That immediate effect Jbe given to the previous motion re rid- ! ings** The following accounts were then passed for payment: — County fund account, £701 lis lid; and Waiau Plains waterrace account, £165 4s lOd. The