COUNTY COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 326, 10 May 1877, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the Waitaki County Council was held at II o'clock this morning, in the temporary offices. Tyne-street. There were present: —The Hon. R. Campbell (chairman), Messrs. Murcott, Wheatley, D. Sutherland, Wm. Sutherland, Craig, Johnston, and Duncan. PCS POSE OF MEETING. The Chaip'MA'n said that the meeting had been 'called under clause 134 of the Counties Act, for the purpose of considering the balance-sheet.

The Clerk having read the clause tinder which the meeting was held, read the balance-sheet, which has already been published. After a few questions had been answered satisfactorily, the balance - sheet was j adopted, and the Chairman authorised to j sign it and forward it to the General Government. MONTHLY MEETING. The regular monthly meeting of the Council was held at 12 o'clock, when there were present the whole.of the memi bers who attended the special meeting. MINUTES. The minutes of the last monthly meeting were read and confirmed. OUTWARD CORRESPONDENCE. The outward correspondence was read and approved. ACCLIMATISATION. A letter was read from Mr. G. S. Coi.per, in reply to one from the County Clerk, asking that the Waitaki County Council might be permitted to issue licenses for fishing, shooting, and coursing, and devote the money to 'he purposes of acclimatisation. Mr. Cooper stated, that the fees derivable from the issue of fishing, shooting, and coursing licens.s, were collected by the Customs department, and devoted to the payment of the salaries of Rangers, and that any balance was paid to the Treasurer of the nearest Acclimatisation Society. FREE PASSES. A letter was read from Mr. John Lawson, enclosing free passes on the railways for members. RESIGNATION. A letter from Mr. William Young was read, tendering his resignation as a member of Council for the Waiareka Riding. APPOINTM3NT OF RETURNING OFFICER. On the motion of Mr. Craig, seconded by Mr. Murcott, Mr. Martin was appointed Returning Oflicer for the County, and was instructed to take stej s for the purpose of having the vacancy caused by Mr. Young's resignation filled. A PROTEST. Messrs. M'Phailand Jamieson, of Birchwood Station, wrote requesting that their names should not appear as ratepayers in the riding of Oiirm, as they had already received notice from the Mount Cook Road Board that they had been included in that rate roll. It was resolved that Messrs. M'Phail and Jamieson should appeal in the usual way. A MODEST R.EQUEST. Tiic Clerk of the Waiareka Road Board wrote, asking whether it was the intention of the County Council to expend tin rates raised within t ie riding upon roads within its boundaries, and pointing out the advisability of the expenditure beine made upon roads that may be indicated by ! the Board. On the motion of Mr. Craig, seconded by Mr. Muecott, it was decided to keep "the expending of the County's money iu the hands of the Council. counties act. The following letters in reference to amendments to be made in the Counties Act were read : Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 2oth April, 1877. Sip,—As it may be necessary in the forthcoming Session of the treneral Assembly to effect some amendments in the Counties Act, 1576, I should feal much obliged if you would favour me with such suggestions as your experience of the working of the Act may enable you to offer as to amendments that may appear to you to be desirable in the details of the measure.—l have, &c , Daniel Pollen. The Chairman of the Waitaki County Council, Oamaru. Clyde, Vincent County. May oth, 1877. Sir, —As the working of the Counties Act, and the several Acts incorporated therewith, has practically demonstrated sundry defects in those measures, it has been suggested that a Conference of the Chairman of Counties included within the Provincial I'istrict of Otago and Southland might advantageously be convened. ]n"ior to the assembling of Parliament, with a view to the amendmeut of existing legislation. - I, therefore, do myself the honour to ask whether you are willing to attend such Conference, which, it is proposed, should be held in Duuedin, at an early date, to be fixed when replies to this circular have been received. The favour of au early answer is invited. —I have, &c, Yincext Pyke, Chairman of Vincent County. To the Chairman of Waitaki County. The consideration of the letters were ordered to stand over until the next meeting. INFORMATION' WANTED. j. A letter from the Government was read, asking for information as to whether any of the Road Districts of the County of Waitaki extended into the provincial districts of Otago and Canterbury ; and, if so, what were the amounts collected during the year ending March, 1876, on the Boards in respect .thereto. It was decided to leave the matter to the Chairman and Clerk to answer. ROAD THROUGH THE PAPAKAIO PREESrriVJE RIGHT. A letter from the Clerk of the Waitaki Road Board was read, laying before the Council the nature of the negotiations which had taken place between the Board and the proprietors of the Papakaip pre- j emptive right, and asking if the Council j would take over that pordon of the road, and pay the cost of the land, and the amount of compensation. . Mr. Duncan moved, and Mr. Ceaio i seconded, that the Council should take j'

I over the road and all liabilities in connecI tion therewith. Mr. Murcott moved, and Mr. Wheat- ' ley seconded, as an amendment, " That the Council should take no action in the matter. Mr.. Johnston moved, as a farther amendment, and Mr. W. Sutherland seconded, that half of the expanse of making the road should be paid by the County Council. After some discussion, the whole of the motions were all negatived, and the Chairman directed merely to acknowledge receipt of the letter. |We are compelled to hold over the remainder of our report of the meeting until to-morrow. 1