HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 55, 8 March 1881, Page 3

HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Hntt County Council was held this morning. PresentCouncillors Lancaster (chairman), Chew, Taylor, Mason, Morgan, Speedy, Monaghan, and Dick. A circular was read from the Wairoa County Council, forwarding copies of two petitions for presentation to the House of Representatives. The first petition runs thus — " That in the opinion of this Council, the existing constitution of the Waste Lands Board should be amended so as to provide for an elective element being represented thereon as well as a nominated one, and that provision be made by your honorable House in future Land Acts that for each county comprised in a land district the Council of snob county may elect one representative on the ' Board of such land district.*' The second petition was— "That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable that counties should be placed on the same footing as municipalities as regards landed endowments, and your honorable Hou -e is requested to favorably consider the matter, and pass a bill to meet the case." The circular stated that resolutions to this effect had been affirmed by the majority of the County Councils throughout the colony, and the Hutt County Council were asked to consider the petitions in question, and if they thought desirable, to pass them under the seal of the Board and forward them for presentation to Parliament next session. The Chairman said if these suggestions were adopted, it would be for the benefit of the County. Councillor Taylor said there was a difference of opinion as to whether counties Bhould have landed endowments or subsidies. He was not yet quite prepared to give an opinion on the subject. He was almost prepared to do without either endowments or subsidies. Councillor Smith did not see any necessity for discussing the question. He moved that the recommendations be adopted. Councillor Mason objected to the motion without notice. Councillor Smith then gave notice of motion for next meeting. Mr. Hendrey and Mr. Compton waited on the Board, as a deputation from the Kilbirnie Highway District, complaining that the district had not received its fair share of money during the last three years. The Chairman said the Council had never recognised the principle of voting any money to particular localities. Money had been voted to the Karori-Makara Highway Board to expend on the various parts of the district, and if the Kilbirnie people had not received their share, the Karori-Makara Board and not the Counc*' was to blame. Mr. Hendrey said it wa3 t_a Council's place to see that the money was properly expended. The Chairman said the deputation had no right to come to the Council and bring up the quarrel between the Karori and Kilbirnie Boards. A long and desultory discussion ensued, and the deputation withdrew. A letter from Mr. Simeon, claiming compensation on behalf of the natives for certain lands taken for the Ohiro Road, was referred to the Government. A petition was received from the residents of Kaiwarra and others using the bridge there, showing that the bridge was unsafe for traffic, being rotten and decayed in the under-structure and supports, and generally very much out of repair. Po put new planking on the top of bhe old timber would, the petition alleged, render the bridge still more unsafe, and it nras impolitic to do so when a new atruoture was required. The petitioners prayed therePore that a new bridge should be erected for the safety of the public. A petition from bhe settlers at Porirua for a new bridge iras also received, and it was resolved that the Engineer should prepare plans and specifications for the Porirua and Kaiwarra Bridges, and that the Kaiwarra Local Board be asked to contribute to the expense of making the Kaiwarra Bridge. Some other business of a routine character having been disposed of, the Council adjourned.