WAITAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 399, 9 August 1877, Page 2

WAITAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of this Council was held this morning at 11 o'clock, when there were present—Messrs. D. Sutherland (in the chair), Murcott, Wheatley, Craig, Duncan, and W. Sutherland. The meeting was held for the purpose of considering a proposal to close a certain road in the Otepopo district. On the motion of Mr. Craig, seconded by Mr. W. Sutherland, the resolution of the Otepopo Road Board, in favor of the closing of the road, was confirmed. This was the whole of the special meeting ORNDINARY MONTHLY MEETING. The regular monthly meeting of the Council was then held, the whole of the members mentioned above, together with Mr. C. Todd, being present. Mr. O'Meagher (Solicitor to the Council) and Mr. Barron (Inspector of Works) were also in attendance. MINUTES. The minutes of the special meeting and the last monthly meeting were read and confirmed, a motion by Mr. Wheatley, lo strike out the resolution passed at the last monthly meeting, in favour of taking over No. i Main Road, Waiareka, as a County road, lapsing. Mr. Wheatley then gave notice that he would move at the next meeting that the resolution in question be rescinded. OUTWARD CORRESPONDENCE. The outward correspondence was read and approved. AN APOLOGY. The following letter was read and considered satisfactory : New Zealand Railways, Mauager's Office, Christchurch, _ August 2nd, IS~7. The Chairman, Waitaki County Council, Oa naru.

Sir,—l must apologise to the Council for allowing your letter of the 14th ultimo, to remain unanswered. I have now to inform you th t the matter of demanding fr.mi Mr. Sutherland his railway fare on the sth ultimo has been submitted for consideration, and it has been decided to refund the amount paid by that gentleman. I may add too, that I have issued instructions to guards and others, which, I trust, will prevent any altercation by them in the discharge of their duties for the future, and that where irregularities occur and the person* concerned are known, it will be sufficient for them to report the matter. —I am, etc.,

J. Lawson, General Manager. ROAD FROM WAIAREKA TO MAEREWHENUA,

A letter was read from Mr. James R. Elder expressing his desire to meet the Council in a liberal spirit in the matter of the above road, although the road now proposed would put him to considerable additional expense. A letter was also read from Mr. W. Gardiner on the same subject.

WASTE LANDS. The following letter was read : Cook County Council. To the Chairman of the Waitaki County Council—

Sir, —I am directed by my Council to request your co-operatiou in securing the passing of a Bill this session with the object of so amending the Waste Lands Act that the waste lands of the Crown may be vested in the Councils of the Counties respectively in which such lands are situated.

You are requested to introduce the fore going to the early consideration of your Council, and to favour me with your suggestions and views, so that our action may be combined and expeditious.—l have, etc. James Woodbine Johnson, Chairman. It was decided to acknowledge receipt of the letter. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence wai granted to the Hon. R. Campbell, Chairman of the Council, during the sitting of Parliament. ACCLIMATISATION. The following letter was read : Treasury, Wellington, July 14, 1877. The Hon. Robert Campbell, M.L.C., Chairman Waitaki County Council, Oamaru —

Sir, —The Collector of Customs at Oamaru has reported that certain license fees collected under "The Protection of Animals Act, 1873," and amounting to L 34 K's., have been paid by him in error to credit of the County Fund at the Colonial Bank of New Zealand Oamaru. As the mon-ys in question are payable, under Secton 32 of the Act cited, to t'e Otago Acclimatisation Society, I have the honour, by direction of the Honouiable the Colonial Treasurer, to r. quest you will he good enough to refund the amount to credit of the Public Account at the Bank of New Zealand, Oamaru, in order that it may be disposed of as by law directed.— l have, etc. C. J. Batkot, Secretary to the Treasury.

It wa# resolved to apply to the Government for permission to pay the money in question to the Waitaki County Acclimatisation Society. KOAD WANTED. The follow letter was read, and the Inspector of Works was instructed to report upon the proposed road and its probable cost. Maerewhenu, August 6, 1877. To the Chairman, Waitaki County Council— Sin, —We enclose you a list of the names of farmers in this district, with the acreage and probable quantities of grain they will have next season, all of which will have to go to Ngapara railway station. r l he road from Ngapara is already formed as far as the Awamokn to the boundary of Section 7, Blnek VII., Miierewhenua district, about a mile above what is known as " Pryde's (iully." We are of opinion that about Ll5O to L2OO would make a good road, cornmencing from the end of the present load, and going up Pryde's Gully through Sections 7 and 15, Block Y r ll . Maercwhenua, joining the ro;ul leading to Duntroon. We beg respectfuby to request that you will instruct your Kngineer to examine and report upon the proposed road-line.—We are, etc, Bon ton & M'Master, Pro William (Jahdineb. Probable quantity of grain to go to Ngapara this season : Bushels.

The above is all wheat, and is a correct estimate at from 30 and 40 bushels per aero. COUNTY CONFERENCE. A letter was read from Mr. Vincent Pyke, forwarding the resolutions passed by the County Conference, and inviting the Waitaki Council to express its opinion thereon. On the first resolution, with reference to the reduction of the number of counties and their extension, being read, it was resolved that it was unnecessary to alter the boundaries of the counties. The third resolution was as follows : "That, so far as practicable, the boundaries of electoral, licensing, road, and Resident Magistrate's districts should be made co-terminous with the boundaries of Counties, and that the County Electoral Rolls should be also the Electoral Rolls for the House of Representatives." The Council approved of the first portion of the resolution, but dissented from the latter part. A number of proposed amendments in the Counties Act and other Acts affecting the Counties were then considered, and the opinions of the Council with reference to them recorded. [Left sitting.)

Prycle 600 acres . .. 24.000 Hutchison . . 300 fp .. 12,000 Don ... . 400 ,, . .. 16,000 Lewis . 2o0 fr . .. 10,000 Gurd . 250 ,, . .. 10,000 Jolmston . 600 ,, . .. 18,000 Bell . 1000 „ .. 40,000 Craig . 600 ,, .. 18,000 Dewar . 300 „ .. 12,000 160,000