COUNTY COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 5388, 7 January 1886, Page 4

COUNTY COUNCIL.

7"; .The Council met again yesterday (Wednesday; morning at ten o'clock in Qpmmittee of Finance, during which a number of accounts were examined, At two p.m. the Council resumed. Present — Crs Warren (chairman), Clifford, Ryall, Parfitt, GuinneßS, M'Kechnie. A quantity of outward correspondence wss read, including letters from the Chairman of the Local Board of Health in relation to the unsanitary state of the State schools at Brunnerton ; also a number of letters from the Clerk in relation to the resolutions come to at last meeting ; also, a number of letters to the Colonial Secretary's Office on various matters.

Amongst the inward correspondence were letters on the following matters :— From the Paymaster-General's Office in relation to county revenue from Crown lands and other sources. All these lettera were received.

■ Letters from the Mines Department stating that the first four miles of Irishman's track and other work had been approved of, and might be proceeded with.

Letter from the Colonial Secretary's Office, stating that inquiries would be made in order to see whether the Scab Act can be relaxed in regard to sheep imported to the district for the purposes of slaughter ; and also stating that the provisions of the Scab Act. were being rigorously carried out in other parts of the colony. Letter from the Mines Department in relation to the collection of gold-mining revenue. — The Chairman moved that Government be informed that the Council does not intend to accept the delegated powers re the collection of revenue under the Local Powers and Finances Act. — Cr Clifford proposed as an amendment that the consideration be referred to a committee of the Council to bring up a report at the present sitting. — Carried. A circular letter was read from the Hon. J. Ballance in relation to the conserving and fostering of forests under the Forests Act, and delegating the powers under the Act to the Chairman of the Council. The Secretary was instructed to inform Mr Ballance that the Chairman was willing to accept the delegated pnwers. Letter from E. T. "Robinson, secretary to the Education Commissioners, staling that the State schools at Brunnerton would receive immediate attention in regard to their sanitary condition. Letters from Gerhard Mueller in relation to the tracings of roads and railway reserves in the Grey district. Letter received. The Engineer stated that on consulting Mr Martin, as recommended by Mr Mueller, he was informed by that gentlemen that the county had no centrol over any part of a reserve but the metalled surface. — Cr Guinness stated that was all nonsense. He therefore moved that the Chairman write to the Minister of Public Works asking him to dedicate to the Council one chain of road and railway reserve on the Westport Company's lease.— Carried.

Letter from the Hon. J. M. Larnach stating that Government was committed to Battolo's road, and could not deviate from that without consulting the person interested. At the request of Cr Guinness the correspondence on the \natter was produced and referred to. This showed that the Government had, at the request of Mr Guinness, sanctioned the diversion asked for, provided the County Council agreed to the diversion . Cr Guinness then moved that the Minister be informed that the road known as Battolo's is already provided for in the appropriation of £1400 voted for the road Teremakau to Grey Valley. Therefore there is no necessity for the Council to provide one-third of the money. The Council therefore declines to do so ; and, further, acting upon the Minister's letter of Oct. 23, the Council have let a contract for the survey of the prospecting track, Limestone to Maori Creek. The surveys and plans are nearly completed. Also, that they haye let a coutract for the construction of a bridge on the track, and plans will be forwarded to the Department in a few days. The CounciT-therefore trusts that the Minister will approve of the work and carry out his fqrmer promise to divert the money. Mr Battolo will be perfectly satisfied by the expenditure of the LI4OO. Motion carried. — Cr Guinness also said he would send a telegram to the Minister of Mines on his own account.

Letter from Maurice Riordan, Cobden, complaining that his sections of land were flooded during rain owing to the blocking of a box drain put in by the Council, and offering to defray one-third of the cost if Council would agree to put the drain in order. — Referred to the Road Overseer.

Letter from John Byrne, Paroa, complaining of injury done to his property (the Tramway Hotel) through the tramway bridge acting as a dam and sending the water down on his property. — Referred to the Road Overseer to report.

Letter from Thomas Kelly complaining that a closed culvert near No Town was throwing the overflow of water into his backyard.— Referred to the Road Overseer.

Letter from the inhabitants of Dobson Town furnishing names of proposed trustees for the recreation reserve, and asking to be instructed how to act.— Cr Guinness said th^re was some misapprehension about this reserve, as it was intended for the inhabitants of Wallsend and Tavlorville, as well as for those of Dobson Town. He would therefore move that the member for the riding be requested t" hold meetings at Taylorville and at, Wallsend, with the view of nominating three, representatives from each of these places in addition to those already nominated to act as trustees of the recreation reserve under the Domains Act. — Cr M'Kechnie. seconded. — Carried.

Letter from Thomas Tonkies accepting the LBB 12s awarded him by the Council for fencing and land. Letter from H. Holling and H. Isaacson complaining that the track Red Jacks to Nelson Creek was interfei ing with their water race. — Referred to the Road Overseer.

Letter from Michael M'Donnell requesting the Council to keep open the old thoroughfare now being closed.— Cr Guinness propesed that a committee of three 'members of the Council visit the ground, and ascertain whether it was the wish of the inhabitants that the track referred to should be kept open or closed. The committee/to consist of the Chairman, Cr Clifford, and the mover.— Carried. Letter from Jas. Scarlett,. Wallsend, complaining of atagaant water, Letter

received, and committee instructed to report. Letter from F. Brohan notifying that he had purchased Mr Noonan's interest in the Teremakau ferry, and requesting the Council to accept him in Mr Noonan's place. — Agreed to, provided Mr Noonan certified to the transfer of the interest.

Cr Taylor here took his seat. Letter from Wm. Claughesy, Nelson Creek, in regard to a long standing claim of his against the Council in connection with a contract for widening the Grey Valley road ; in default of the Council acceding to his request, threatening legal proceedings. — The Chairman said that this question had been settled already. It had been before the Council several times, and he held that it would be inadvisable to reopen the matter again. He moved that no action be taken in the matter — Cr Parfitt seconded. — Carried.

Letter from Messrs Jones and Menteath claiming £200 on behalf of Mr Kennard, Taylorville, for certain land alleged to have been taken from him. — Crs Taylor and Guinness said that the Council, in making this nnd, actually conferred a benefit on Mr Kennard rather than an injury. — Cr Guinness siid that if they were to be treated in that way they would have to apply for the land under the Public Works Act, and get the land valued. The Chairman said that the owners, after having full notice, allowed the Council to make the road, and then they same in with their claims. — Cr Ryall pointed out that the road had been made eight years, and yet this was the first they heard of any claim. — Cr Taylor moved that the claimant be informed that the Council is prepared to submit the matter to arbitration in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Act ; and that Mr Kennard be asked if he will agree to that.— The Chairman seconded. — Carried.

A similar claim (L 244 10s) was received from Geo. M'Millan, Razorback, Barrytown - Brighton road. —Cr Guinness doubted whether the Council could be made liable in this case, as the Government took the land and handed it over to the County Council. — The Chairman moved that the point be referred to the County Solicitor for his opinion. — Seconded by Cr M'Kechnie and carried. — Cr Ryall said there was no doubt that the road largely increased the value of M'Millan's land. He moved as an amendment that this claim be dealt with the aame as Kennard's. Not seconded.

Letter from James Sinnot and party of six applying for assistance to properly open up their claim ; also, stating that they had obtained good prospects and caused a rush to the adjoining ground. — Letter received.

Letter from J. W. Jones, Ahaura, on behalf of a party of Chinaman for leave to put in a box drain. — The Chairman moved that the application be granted on applicants depositing L 5. — Seconded by Cr Guinness. — Carried.

Application from a party of Chinamen at Dunganville for leave to continue a race. — Cr M'Kechnie said it would not interfere with the road, although it might have to cross it near the end of the race. — Granted, applicants to deposit L 5. Application from the Nelson Creek Licensing Committee to make a refund to John Galway. — Received.

Application from John M'lntee for a reward for discovering payable ground which caused a rush at which 40 men are working. — Cr Guinness moved that Mr M'lntee be informed that the Council are willing to hear him personally as to his claim for the reward. — Cr Parfitt seconded. — Carried.

Considerable discussion took place over an application by Coleman Hynes under the new prospecting regulations. Cr Guinness, in order to test the matter, moved that as the Paroa Committee did not nominate a prospecting party, the application of Hynes, Rose and others be approved, provided they comply with the regulations, and that the subsidy will only be paid under those regulations and upon the Road Overseer certifying as to the distance from old workings and the amount of work done. — Cr McKechnie seconded. — Carried.

The Chairman then mo^ed that the foregoing resolution be made to apply to all other prospecting parties. — Not seconded.

The Chairman read a number of applications from proposed prospecting parties at Marsden. Maori Creek, Barrytown, (two parties), Red Jacks. The latter application he had not accepted because he was not aware that the party had been appointed by a public meeting. There were no applications from Nelson Creek district.

Voluminous correspondence from the Borough Council in relation to Cobden bridge was read. [The discussions on this subject in the Borough Council have already been published.] Or Marshall here took his seat. The letters and telegrams relating to Cobden bridge were ordered tobe received.

An application was received from Johp Scott and two otheis for leave to deviate portion of a track in the Maori Creek district.^ — Leave granted, subject to the work being done to the satisfaction of the Ro«d Overseer.

(To be continued.)