COUNTY COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 606, 11 April 1878, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the Waitaki County Council was held this morning at the County Council Chambers, for the purpose of considering the bye-laws for the management of slaughter-houses as revised by the Committee appointed for the purpose. There were present—Messrs. T). Sutherland (in the chair), Mureott, Craig, Johnston, and W. Sutherland. After the bye-laws had been read through, and one or two slight alterations had been made, they were were passed, on the motion of Mr. Mureott, seconded by Mr. Craig, and 100 copies were ordered to be printed. 3, MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Council was afterwards held, when there were present—r Messrs. "D. Sutherland (in the chair), Craicr. Mureott, Thomson, Johnston, and W. Sutherland. Mr. Barron, Inspector of Roads, was also present. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence read and approved. HOSTTTALS, ETC. A lengthy letter Tras read from the Hon. Mr. Ballance with regard to the manage-? ment of hospitals arjd charitable institutions, pointing out that it was absolutely necessary to place them on a more satisfactory footing. A proposal had been made to the municipalities in the larger towns to take over the management of hospitals, &c, the Government to subsidise to the extent of LI for every LI of paid-up subscriptions, and the Government intend to offer similar terms to County Councils if they will undertake to manage hospitals, etc., in the country districts. One question would have to be adjusted between the County and Borough Councils—that of their respective shares of the cost of managing hospitals in boroughs. The writer suggested that this might probably be adjusted by a charge being made by the Corporations upon the Counties of a pro rata sum per head for country patients and paupers. If this matter could be managed a more equitable system of contribution would be established than the present one of deductions from the subsidies payable tp each local body.

the forrailway proposed Shag Point Coal Company, i their pit with the main line, anil " enclosing other documents in accordance with the provisions of the District Railways r Act, 1877. The writers also stated that the cost oj the railway and its equipment would c be L 9,500; and that as the railway is to be constructed for the purpose of conveying coal from the Company's mine to the northern line of railway, no goods other than those belonging to the company arc intended to be carried along it. The Clerk was instructed to reply that no objections would be made to the construe- ■ tion of the railway. COMPENSATION Mr. John Newlands wrote, stating that ] the amount of compensation he would require for the road deviation through his pro- , perty in Maheno township was LISO. Another letter was read from the same gentleman, intimating that ho would require '< LSO compensation for land required for the Maheno Eailway-station to the I'unchbowl Creek. In reference to the first matter, it was dc- ] cided to offer Mr. Newlands LSO for the land required, and that, failing his agreeing to I the offer, the land to bo taken in aeeordaneifij with the provisions of the Public WorkS The consideration of the second v. as or-1 de r ed to lie over. I DEPUTATIONS. I A deputation, consisting of Messrs, Brom-1 ley, Morton, and Newlands, waited upon the I Council with the view of presenting a pcti- I tion signed by 43 ratepayers in the Chelsea Sub-division of the Otcpopo riding endorsing the action of the Council in proclaiming the road from Maheno to Kakanui Harbor South, and deciding that the road should bo formed. Mr. Bromley said that the opposition of the Otepopo lload Board, in protesting against the Council taking the road over, was tlie result of personal feeling, owing to the direction in which the road went. Very little had been expended by the Hoard on the road during tlie past eight years ; in fact the road was almost in its natural state, except at the two ends. After explaining several matters, the deputation thauked'tho Council for its courtesy in listening to their romarks, and then withdrew, A deputation from the Otepopo lload Board, consisting of Messrs. Falconer and Henderson, then waited upon the Council with reference to the same subject. Mr. Falconer briefly stated the reasons which actuated the Board in protesting against the County Connoil taking over the road. They thought that the taking over of the road would necessitate the imposition of an additional rate. It was looked upon as a preliminary step to doing away witli the lload Board. This was greatly against the wishes of tlie ratepayers, who desired to retain the lload Board. He beliovcd that it. had been stated to the Council that the Board had not done anything to the road. This was not true, as a very large amount—he believed fully as much as it was entitled to—had been expended upon it. At present a large amount was being expended upon the road, and he supposed that if the County Council was determined to maintain the road as a county road, it would be willing to refund the amount which the Board had expended upon the road. Mr. Henderson presented a petition signed by 45 members of the Otepopo lload Histi'ict, expressing the opinion that the Council had acted arbitrarily in insisting upon taking over the road in opposition to the expressed wish of the Otepopo Road Board. The Chairman said he thought the Otepopo : Boad Board had based its opposition upon a mistaken premise. The Council had no intention of robbing the Board of any of its funds or imposing any additional taxation upon tlie ratepayers. The Council had a large balance to the credit of the Otepopo ; district, and it merely wished to assist the Board in the maintenance of the roads. Mr. Henderson said that if the Council wished to expend its money it might do so ; upon the main district road from Maheno to ■ Otepopo, which was one of the most disgraceful in the country, being full of man traps. After some further discussion, the Chair- : man intimated that the Council would consider the matter during the day, ami forward a reply. Tlie deputation then thanked the Council, and withdrew. subsidy. i The Secretary to the Treasury forwarded the sum of Ll7(>o Is 2d,being the balance of the subsidy for the year ending .'(Oth June. The voucher showed that L4S4 0s lid had been deducted as the County's contribution towards the maintenance of hospitals and charitable institutions. The Clerk stated that deductions in aid of these institutions had been made to tlie i extent of L 927 ISs Kid dining tho year. MATXTKN'ANI'K Oh- IMIAM. Mr. W. B. Cairns wrote offering to con- : tinuo tho maintenance of the road from the \ junction of the Ferry lload to Munro's Hotel ; mi the same terms as last year. It was do- ' cided to leave the matter in the hands of tho ' Inspector. ' [Loft sitting,]