PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 111, 7 May 1881, Page 3

PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wednesday, 4th May.

Present — Councillor Dale (chairman), Bridge, Hunter, Gane, Milne, and Homer.

CORRESPONDENCE.

From G. S. Cooper, Under- Secretary, stating that rather than see the hospital closed, the Government would find funds until the Hous- met.

From the Wanganui County Council, offering to sell their weighbridge for £70.

THE MOKOIA RESERVE.

The committee appoiuted to inquire into the condition of the Mokoia rr serve reported that if grass seed had been sown by the lessees, it must have been killed by the crops. The fences had, apparently, not been trimmed for two or three years. Messrs. Hearn and Kennedy, the late lessees, wrote as follows: — "In reply to your letter re Mokoia reserve, we are willing to trim the fenceß to the satisfaction of any person you may appoint, within three weeks from date. As regards the grass, we consider that we have complied with the conditions of lease. We put in one bushel and a half of good Canterbury seed, and do not consider we should be asked to do anything more in that matter."

Councillor Homer proposed, and Councillor Bridge seconded — " That the Chairman be reqnested to confer with Messrs. Hearn and Kennedy, proposing to submit the matter of the Mokoia reserve to arbi-

. j ''V i k; i p-icy."

I'fj i ti — oi ' f i !•■. c' v _j '-vi hi p-ity." I ' iinn^Plov Oai c pirpr..->od, auu Councillor Hunter seconded — " That in the event of the Mokoia reserve question being decided l-y arbitration. I\lr. \V. Wallace be asked to act on behalf of the Council." — Carried. HOSPITAL CHARGES. The Chaiiman wrote to the "Wanganui and Taranaki hospitals, inquiring whether it was customary for hospital surgeons to charge patients a fee in excess of the ordinary fees paid to the hospital authorities for medical attendance and maintenance. The inquiries were made by the chah'man, in consequence of complaints having been made to him by some of the patients, who stated that Dr. Keating had. informed them that the extra charge was a usuil one. — Dr. O'Carroll, surgeon to the Taranaki hospital, replied that it was neither customary nor legal to make such charges. No reply was received from the Wanganui hospital. WAIMATE PLAINS VALUATION. Councillor Bridge proposed; and Councillor Hunter seconded — " That the valuation list for the Waimate district be returned to Mr. Bate, with a letter directing him to furnish a list, in accordance with the Eating Act, 1876."— Carried.

Councillor Bridge proposed, and Councillor Hunter seconded — " That Councillors Gane, Winks, Milne, Hunter, and Partridge be a commtttee to examine the valuation list for the Waimate district, and report at the next meeting of the Council; three to form a quorum." — Carried. 43

ROAD BOARD ELECTIONS.

It was resolved that the elections for the Hawera Road District should take place on the 4th June, at the Hawera Schoolhouse; for Ngaire Road Board District, on the 4th June, at the Ngaire Railway Station ; for the Patea West Road Board District, on the 9th June, at the Town Hall, Kakaramea ; for the Patea East Road Board District, on the 4th June, at the "Whenuakura Schoolhouse.

THE DOG TAX.

Councillor Bridge proposed, and Councillor Gane seconded — "That a refund of 4s. be made out of the proceeds of the dog tax to every owner of sheep or cattle dogs registered before Ist July, and 2s. on those registered after the 4th Jnty, according to the following scale : — The occupier of 500 acros of land, and not less tban 40 acres, for one clop of sncli kind ; and for one dog of such kind for every 500 acres, or part of 500 acres, occupied in excess of the 500 acres." — Lost. ~ WAIMATE PLAINS ROAD BOARD. W

Councillor Gane proposed, and Councillor Hunter seconded — " That the petition of the "Waimate settlers, re road board, as presented by Councillor Gane at the last meeting of the County Council, be complied with at once ; and that Messrs. A. Sutherland, D. "Wilkie, G. Inkster, G. Glenu, W. S. Young, J. Crawford, and J. C. Yorke be appointed commissioners; and Messrs. Ramie and McGuire auditors."

The motion was declared carried on the voices, whereupon Councillor Gene called for a division, with the following result: — Ayes : Councillors Bridge, Hunter, and Gane. Noes : The Chairman, Councillors Homer aud Milne.

The Chairman gave his casting vote in favor of the noes, and the motion was declared lost.

COUNTY COUNCIL CONFERENCE.

Several suggestions and amendments to resolutions passed at conference held in 1878, were adopted, with the view to being submitted at the proposed couference of County Councils, to be held in June.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT,

Mr. A. Milne, Chairman of the Eangitikei County Council, scut the following circular: — "On April 4, 1881, the Rangitikei County Council and the Eangitikei Highway Board met as one body to discuss various questions in connection with local government. The members of the Council and the Ilighway Board are strongly of opinion that the existing coudition of affairs in connection with local bodies is exceedingly unsatisfactory, and that the various locaj^ bodies throughout the colony should make a combined effor.t to obtain reform. At the joint meeting on the 4th instant, the annexed resolutions were adopted, and it was resolved that copies of them should be sent to the various local bodies throughout the colony :—: —

" (1) That in the opinion of this ioint committee the machinery provided, by the Legislature to take the place of the abolished provincial system of government is utterly inadequate to carry out the functions of a good local government, rendering it absolutely necessary that a better system be provided ; and this joint committee pledges itselt to use all constitutional means of inducing the Government to bring down a Bill in the forthcoming session of Parliament dealing fully with the matter, and with that object invites the cooperation of all the local bodie3 in the colony.

" (2) That in the opinion of the combined meeting of the committees appointed from the Rangitikei Connty Council and the Raugitikei Highway Board, the Government should use every endeavor to reduce taxation, and instead of subsidising and endowing local bodies, such local bodies may thus be enabled to tax themselves for their local requirements, which it is quite impossible for thorn to do under the present burden of taxation.

" (3) That in the opinion of this joint committee the existing constitution of the waste lands hoards should be amended so as to provide for the presence of an elective element at such boards.

" (4) That in order to relieve the more settled districts from the pressure upon their rates in opening up new country, the Government, in selling any new block of Crown land, should either make main roads through districts before sale of laud to the public, or make provision out of the purchase-money to make roads in the district from whence the money was obtained.

" (5) That in the opinion of this joint committee valuations for all purposes of taxation should he made at the same time, and by the same officer or officers, aud at longer intervals than prescrihed by the Rating Act, 1876. " (6) That the resolutions passed at this meeting be circulated throughout the colony, and that a copy of same be forwarded to the Premier."

ACCOUNTS.

Accounts, amounting to £132 Bs. 7d., were passed for payment.