BAY OF ISLANDS COUNTY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9075, 8 June 1888, Page 3

BAY OF ISLANDS COUNTY COUNCIL.

» A special meeting was held in the Public Library, Kawakawa, on May 25, previous to the monthly meeting, for the purpose of considering the annual accounts and balancesheet, as returned from the Audit Department, and the correspondence relative to the < alteration in the procedure of audit, with directions for the guidance of the Council, which were read by the chairman, and entered on the minutes as approved of by the Council. The following members of Council were present: The Hon. Henry Williams (chairman), Messrs. McAlister, Dickeaon, Fraser, L. Williams, Ward and J. L. Hall. The business of the monthly meeting was then proceeded with. Correspondence.—Letter from Colonial Secretary requesting that the original copy of the by-laws be forwardedtto his office; also that the by-laws were approved of by His Excellency the Governor, and notified in the Gazette accordingly. Letter from the Commissioner of the property tax relative to rates due on native lands. Letter from the Paymaster-General remitting £145, balance due on subsidy. Letter from Russell notifying a case of scarletina, and the precautions taken to isolate the locality, according to the order of the Council. Letter from the Whangarei County Council forwarding copy of a petition to the House of Assembly, praying that the expenses and delays m issuing Crown grants for alterations, deviations, and private grants for roads be simplified, and made legal by Act for the County Council to issue title for the same. The Council approved of the same, and agreed to cooperate with the Whangarei Council, adding their assent by fixing the seal of the Council accordingly. Several letters were received and read relative to the breach of the bylaw in not obtaining licenses by pedlars and hawkers, calling the attention of the Council to the matter. It was resolved, That Police-Inspector McGovern be informed that the Council have appointed Constables McGlip and Hughes, according to the Police Act, to enforce the by-laws, and to prosecute the offenders in the R.M. Court." It was suggested by the chairman that a legal opinion should be obtained from their solicitor (Mr. Reed) as to the powers and legal position of the Council as to the standing orders, by-laws, &c. It was moved by Mr. McAlister, and seconded by Mr. Lacy Williams, " That the standing orders relative to the by-laws be submitted to the Council's solicitor by the clerk to the Council, to go through the whole matter together, and report legally thereon; also, that notice be published for the full enforcing of the penalties for any breach of the by-laws." A letter was received from Mr. T. P. Moody, J.P., calling the attention of the Council to the dangerous state of an open well within the township boundary, and which he had previously drawn attention to without avail, and the owner of the property had also instructed the police constable in respect to it. A letter was read from a Mr. Brown advising the Council to authorise that all dogs found without collars be destroyed. Referred to the police. Letter from Mr. Blundell relative to repairs to road, and it was proposed by Mr. McAlister, and seconded by Mr. Fraser, " That in reference to the engineer's suggestion the contractor be authorised to close the part of the road to the Waitangi Falls under repair, on condition that he allows a side track for temporary use until the formation is complete and ready for the general traffic." Carried. It was also moved by the same councillors, " That the contractor be permitted ana directed to lay an IS-inch pipe in place of wall and culvert on the outlet near the i unction of the road with the Pakaraka road." Carried. It was moved by Mr. Dickeson, seconded by Mr. McAlister, " That the wire rope previously approved of ovei the Punakitere River be not put up, but a small trestle bridge be erected at a cost not to exceed £15, tenders to be called for the same according to Mr. Blundell's plans and specifications before the Council." Carried. Letter from Mr. Triphook, county engineer, relative to temporary repairs to bridge at bottom of Turn-table Hill. His action was approved, and the tender of J. Reed for £12 10a and £19 7s for the two bridges was accepted. It was moved by Mr. Ward, and seconded by Mr. Hale, " That the request of Mr. Dawson to make a bridle track to his land from the main road be allowed, on condition that it does not interfere with the waterway outlet from the bridge adjoining the proposed track." Carried. Tenders.—Tenders for the issue of dog collars and collecting the dog tax were opened. The tender of John Spratt, for the Pakaraka riding, at Is 2d each, was accented, on condition that he includes the ridings of Waimate and Okaihau at the same rate. The tender ot G. Brewer, at Is each, for Kawakawa, was also accepted. It was moved and carried, "That legal opinion be taken as to the destruction of dogs found at large without collars." Main Road. —The offer of Mr. J. Black, of Towai Bridge, to give £10 towards the repair of the main road from the Towai Bridge (Whangarei Road) to Kawakawa, that was postponed from last meeting, was brought up for discusssion, and ultimately the proposition of Mr. Hale, seconded by Mr. Ward, was approved of, " That repairs on the Whangarei Road, according to the engineer's report, and at the request of Mr. Black be undertaken, cost not to exceed £32, provided that Mr. Black contributes at once £10 to the Council treasurer, tenders for the work to be called for without delay." Accounts.The sum of £505 19s was passed for paymeut, which concluded the business of the meeting.[Own Correspondent.]