WAITAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2687, 27 January 1881, Page 2

WAITAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The regular monthly meeting of the Waitaki County Council was held yesterday afternoon, there bemsi present Mr D. Sutherland (chairman), Mesars Murcott, W. Sutherland, Thomson, Buucan," Falconer, and Johnston, The outward correspondence since last meeting was read and approved of. It was intimated that the committee had accepted the tender of Mr S. Rusbatch for supplying 370 cubic yards of gravel at Whiistone, The pried was L 22 7» Id. A. communication from the Treasury was read, announcing that the following sums had been paid to the credit of the Council in the Colonial Bank : Fees, fines, Sec, L 5 ; gold fields revenue and gold dv y, L 24 143 51; on account of land disposed of by deferred paunem at | Kurow, L2ll 16a lOd ; total, La4l lls 3d. I Renewals uf slaughtering licenses were granted to the following persons — Mr <j. Hilel, Kurow ; Mr James Breen, N^apura; Mr H. Morruon, Herbert j Mr W4li»m. j

Rusaell, Waiareka ; and Mr J. Myers, Oamaru. A similar license was granted to Mr Alexander Murdoch, Maerewhenu*. The application of Mr J. T. Botting, Livingstone, was held over until he had conformed with the requirement! of the Act, which directs that advertiied notice shall be given of all such application! being sent in. . A letter was received from the Acting Municipal Engineer, asking leave to line about 15 feet of drain at the town boun- \ dary with stone pitchers, to enable the ! water pipes to be flushed. — The Council consented to the work being done, subject to its being carried out to the approval of Us engineer. 1 Mr E, R. Ussher, District Engineer, Dunedin, wrute granting the Council permission to use part of the formation of the Windsor section of the OamaruLivin<r«rone railway, from the ten mile to 1L 70 chains, for road pnrposes, subject to any damage done to the lino bein ( made good by the Council. A letter was read from the clerk to the Waimate County Council enclosing a resolution as follows : " That this Council request the Waitaki County Council to take steps towards giving outlet to the residents in the Upper WaiUki District by fixing a scale of rates for boating goods, and advertising for applications for conducting the service, the subsiiy to be L 35 per annum from each county." The clerk (Yfr- Martin) informed the Council that L 35 a year subsidy had been offered to Messrs Hille and Cain, but as yet no reply thereto had been received. The Chairman said the removal of the punt up the river would not take place until the bridge was completed, and he suggested that the matter should be deferred until this had been done. The Council deferred consideration accordingly. In reply to a communication from the Council the Clerk to the Geraldme County Council, wrote that it considered a footbndf/e across the Ohau River would be of no use to residents m the district. The Chairman said he was in a position to know that the inhabitants were very anxious to have the bfidge erected, and he had been spoken to by many of them who , expressed such a desire. A bridge which would cost about LBOOO was being put across the adjoining stream, either by the Geraldme County Council or the Mount Cook Road Board. His opinion was that the Geraldine Council were anxious to direct the traffic from Oamaru, as the bridge would open up communication to this and the Vincent County. It was very much required, and only a few aays ago a narrow escape from a fatal accident occurred near to the scene of the late accident. Ho thought the best plan to adopt would be to lay the correspondence before the Government, and ask them to construct the bridge or give the Waitaki County authority to do so, with leave to recover half the coat from the Geraldine County. It was resolved to lay the matter before the Government, and ask that the bridge might be erected under clause 85 of the Public Works Ac*. A valuation for the outlying districts made by Mr Martin was laid on the table and adopted. Mr William Gardiner wrote accepting the conditions contained in the report of the Council's Committee in regard to road-linos through Mr Mann's and his own property. Mr Andiew Morrison, of Kurow, informed the Council by letter that he was about to jfence his seotion, which would enclose a portion of the present track. Instructions were given the Engineer to prepare plans and specifications for newroads in the district. Tne Council proceeded to consider resolutions received from the Wairoa County Council, which had been adjourned at the last meeting. They were as follows : That in the opinion of this Council the existing constitution of the Waste Land! Boards should be amended so at to provide for an elective element being represented thereon as well as a nominated oue, »nd that the Grovernmenc be requested to make provision m future Lauls Acts th*fc f>r oach county composed in a land district the Council of such county may elect one representative on the Board of such land dujfcnefc. And that e»ch County Council be communi. cated with asking their co-operation and assistance in the matter— (l) By urging the same on the notice of the Government ; (2) by petitioning Parliament early next session to give effect to the above ; (3) by obtaining the support of members of the House of ftepresentatives. Th*t in the opinion of this Council it ii <3e3ir*ble that counties should be placed oa the same footing »s municipalities atregardi lajde.l enlowmeits; aul that with the view of obta-nmg thin before all the Crown lmds -<f ihe colony are alienated, the various County Councils be communicated with asking them -(1) To request the Government to favorably consider the matter and introduce a Bill to meet zhe case; (2) to petition Parliament eaily next session to gr»nt*>iich lanldil ea lowmeafcs as may bo thought suitable ; (3) to request the members representing the electoral districts in which the counties are comprised to support such a measure. Mr Duncan said that the system of electing Waste Lmds Boards, as proposed, would be attended with difficulties, as the distance to Dunedin from where membbrs resided was bo great, and if they had to go there every week too muoh of their time would betaken up in travelling. The Qounty Councils should be enabled to discharge the functions of the Waste Lands Boards, as they would be best able to understand what land was best suited for settlement and what was not. The second resolution met with his concurrence, aa he thought they should receive endowmenta the same as municipalities. He therefore moved—" That the Council decline to lake any action with reference to the constitution of Waste Lands Boards, but expresses its willingness to co-operate with the Wairoa Council in attempting to secure landed endowments for County Councils, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Wairoa Council," Mr W. Su herland seconded the resolution, which was pm and carried. The Wallace County Council forwarded the following resolutions: "That this Council protests in the most emphatic manner against any Government system of local finance, which involves the generalisation of the 20 per cent, of land fund hitherto granted to Counties, and that a+. copy of this resolution be forwarded to theX Colonial Treasurer," " That a copy of the foregoing resolution regarding the restoration of the 20 per cent, of land fund to the Counties be forwarded to the various Counties in Otago and Canterbury, which have hitherto benefited thereby, and their co-operation invited m menaorahsing the Government on the subject." Mr Murcott considered this one of the most important matters with regard to waste lands that had ever come before the Council, and he urged that they should lose no time in endeavoring to secure their share of the land fund, which was necessary to maintain tneir existence. He mov«d — " That this Council is of opinion that the land fund should be localised rather than generalised ; that a copy of this resolution be Forwarded to the Wallace County Council ; md that this Council highly approve of -he action taken by them in the matter. Mr Duucau in seconding the motion dated that seeing the work the counties

had to do, and considering the short time they had been in existence it was neces Bjiry they should retain all the land revenue. The motion was carried. A memorandum was received from the Secretary to the Treasury stating that the sum of L 473 19a 8d was due to the County m the third of the sum obtained for deferred payment land in the Kurovr district. The Council elected Mr Duncan to represent it on the Oamaru Harbor Board, and Mr Thomson to represent it on the Kakanui Harbor Bo»rd. In response to a request from deferred payment holders in biock 10, Maerewhenua, the Engineer was directed to prepare plans and specifications for the formation of a road up the river bank. It was resolved to call for competitive designs for offices, not to exceed in cost Ll5OO, a bonus of L2O to be paid for the best design. The Chairman and Mr Murcotfc were appointed to wait upon the local architects and explain the requirements of the Council. The Inspector reported on the contracts in progress, and instructions were given to the Engineer for the formation of new roadi. JVii Duncan moved — "That the salaries of officers be reduced as follows : Chairman's ;honorarium and membra' travelling expenses, 50 per cent.; clerk and inspector's salaries, 10 per cent." He urged that it was necessary for them to curtail expenses, as the revenue of the Council had decreased, and as they had reduced the day laborers they should extend the retrenchment to themselves. Mr Johnston seconded the motion. The Chairman deemed the amount paid for the office he held was more than necessary ; and it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Falconer, that it be reduced from Ll5O to 1 50. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Murcott seconded by Mr Thomson, that travelling expenses to member* be reduced by 10 per cent. The sum of LlO was voted as a subsidy to each of the public libraries, and accounts to the amount of L 775 4s 6d having been passed for payment, the Council rose.

Ashby Rothwell Blandell Sodby Hughes Rowe Ashby Balls M.lns. Runs. Wkts. ... 180 13 69 4 [ ... 136 10 56 2 ... 69 6 33 2 ... 48 7 13 1 ... 44 3 24 0 ... 12 0 4 0 bowled 3 wides and Blundell 2.