COUNTY COUNCILS

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 5009, 9 March 1877, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCILS

ASHLEY. This Council held a meeting at tho Boad Board Office, Bangiora, yesterday; present— Messrs H. F. Lanoo (Chairman), B. L. Higgins, H. Blackett, J. M'Farlane, M. Dixon, W. 0. Feudal!, J. Pearson, J. A. Cunningham, and Isaac Wilton. The Chairman reported that the Bead Board returns required by tho Act had boon obtained from the various Boad Boards and forwarded to the Government. With regard to tho vote for tbe Waimakariri bridge, Mr Carruthers had approved of the plant, and the Government bad decided upon calling for tenders for the work. The Chairman of tho Solwyn County Council—Mr Bolleston—and himself had agreed to draw a cheque upon the amount voted for the bridge so soon as the contract was completed. The bridge was to replace tho one on tbe north road now known as White’s bridge. He said he should like to know whether the Council at its present meeting would decide upon the principle on which the money should bo distributed to the different Boad Boards. He was of opinion that it would be well to only apportion the funds derivable from tho residue of land fund in new works. Old works, snch as repairs to roads and bridges, could bo done by tho Boad Boards out of ordinary revenue. In order to ehow the area and population of each Boad District, he had prepared the following return, which might be found useful for the information of the members : —Ashley—Area, 159,784 acres ; population, 623. Oast—Area, 20,000 acres ; population, 620. Eyreton—Area, 46.000 acres ; population, 1250. West Eyreton —Area, 62,089 acres ; population, 490. Mandeville and Bangiora—Area, 36,454 acres ; population, 2888. Oxford—Area, 14,440 acres i population, 1359. Kowei—Area, 100.000 acres; population, 1761. Waipara —Area, 491,529 acres; population, 272. He admitted that the question presented a good deal of difficulty, and he should like to bear tbe opinion of tbe Oonnoil upon it. The intention when the price of tbe land was fixed, was tbat tho money derivable from it should be spent in opening up the country. A long and rather irregular discussion took place on the question, after which it was resolved on the motion of Mr Cunningham, seconded by Mr J. M'Farlane—“ That this meeting at its rising adjourn till 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 27, and in tho meantime each member ascertain tbe requirements of the Boad Boards in bis Biding, and bring forword a report.” A discussion took place regarding the appointment of a Clerk, but most of the members stated that no provision was made in tbe Act for payment of such an officer, unless the third schedule was brought into operation. It was decided, on the snggestion of Mr Higgins, that tbe Chairman write to the Government, asking whether they would authorise the payment of a clerk’s salary, provided tbe Council appointed one. The Chairman said there was not much work to do at present, and he was quite willing to carry on without a clerk, unless the whole of the Act was brought into operation. Ho would, however, write to the Government as desired by the Council. Mr Dixon said he wished to draw tbe attention of tho Council to the disastrous effects of the works now being carried oat by the South Waimakariri Board of Conservators. It was a question which affected the County, and some limit should be made to their action in throwing the whole of the water on to the north side of the river.

The Chairman said the subject referred to by Mr Dixon could not now be discussed by the Council.

The meeting then adjourned. A special meeting or tho Oonnoil was hold at 3 pm. to discuss a motion given notice of by Mr Blackett, to the effect that the whole ot the Counties Act be brought into operation ; all the members wore present. The business was opened by Mr Blackett stating that he would prefer the motion to lapse unless tho member* had altered their opinions upon the desirability of going to work and carrying out tho whole of tho machinery provided by tho Aot. Mr Wilson moved —" That tho meeting adjourn.” The motion was not seconded. Mr M'Farlane moved— 1 ' That tho whom of tho Act be adopted, and tried on its merits. ’ Mr Blackett seconded the motion. Mr Higgins made a long speech m opposition, and repeated in substance the objections ho made at the first meeting of the Oonnoil. The motion was put and negatived, only tho mover and seconder voting for it. . Mr Higgins moved-''That this Council is of opinion that the scheme of local government which has boen substituted in room of the late Provincial Government is m the highest degree unsatisfactory. ... Mr Dixon seconded the motion, which was carried. . The meeting then adjourned. WAIMATE. (By Tblkoeath, prom our own OorrbbL . PONDENT.] The County Council met yesterday; pro* sent-Messrs Manchester, Loudon, Miller, Moody, Doig, M’Gregor, and Bruce (ChairIt? was resolved, on tho motion J®' M'Qregor, seconded by Mr Moody—the Judge of the Assessment Court of the County be asked to confirm the appointment of valuators, and to fix April 16 a. the date for the valuation to be returned. . .. In reply to a letter from the Waitaki County Council re subsidising a ferry across tbe Waitaki, it was resolved, on^ bo “?‘_ of Mr Manchester, seconded by Mr Miher "That tho Council cannot commit itself to a y »t pra.ont, brt «U *.« th. matter looked into as soon aS f it has an engineer to report on tho scheme. ho the motion ot Mr Moody, seconded by Mr Manchester, it was resofred— That the Eoad Board be requested to pay the Council the money received from the government for b °L ’ii wMlwd'to advertise tor application. of MOr«o, j OI I hi Mr Doie—'' That the Governor b Wv°e U d n °on tho motion of MrM'Oregor, Rcso.vea, ou m . n „ rpu Qt application ,c o on.l»d i? Mr L th. &unlj'. S U» O-l-taW >“■* “‘rulooted in the tioD 0 f Mr Manchester, Resolved, on tb ? . ° „ Ths t Government bo seconded byMrD a monthly requested to e a {q oounty ” return of all land s°ltt thtt| , t tho next Mr Moody B*™ ' * «_«Tbatin the event meeting, he ™ ul , d . into the Oonnoil, of the Road Bank. a. to ° p