WAITAKI COUNTRY COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 659, 13 June 1878, Page 2

WAITAKI COUNTRY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Council was held to-day at the County Chambers. The following members were present Messrs. Murcutt (in the chair), Duncan, Todd, Sutherland, Morton, Johnston, and Thomson. The minutes of the last meeting were read and coiilirmed, and the outward correspondence was read and approved. The Clerk reported the result of the election of a member of the Council for Utepopo Hiding, and Mr. Morton, the new member, took his se->.t. The Clerk of the Yvaimate County Council wrote, stating that nothing had been done by that body with reference to the Upper Waitaki Bridge beyond the appointment of Commissioners. The Engineers reported that the site chosen for the Upper Waitaki Bridge was the best that could be selected, seeing that the bridge was intended for both railway and dray purposes. Mr. \V. Sutherland, as one of the Bridge Commissioners, concurred in the statement made by the Engineers as to the site being the best. Some discussion took place upon the matter, during which several members expressed their dissatisfaction at being kept entirely in the dark as to what was being done with regard to the erection of the bridge. They did not even know whether or not tenders had been accepted. It was decided to telegraph to Mr. M'Gregor, inquiring if a tender had been accepted, and the amount of the contract.

A letter was read from Mr. G. S. Cooper, Under-Secretary, expressing doubt as to whether the Council had power to pass the seventh clause of their Slaughterhouse Bye-laws. It was decided to refer the letter and the bye-laws to the Council's solicitor for his opinion. The Clerk of the Wnia:arnpa East County Council wrote, forwarding the jollowing resolution passed by that Council, and asking that the matter might- receive the careful consideration of the Waitaki County Council : — '' That this Council is of opinion that the Government should be strongly urged during the next session to make provision for raising loans for County purposes by a Central Board of Works, with authority to distrioute such amounts among the Counties requiring loans on a definite basis, taking security on local rates, as such a body would undoubtedly lie able to raise loans on much more favorable terms than can be done by isolated local bodies,'" The Council declined to take any action in the matter. Mr. Horace Bastings, Chairman of the Tuapeka County Council, forwarded the following resolution passed by that body for the consideration of the Waitaki County Council :—" That, in the opinion of this Council, all res ! v -s within any County district should bo vested in the County Council, and, if necessary to legislate upon the matter, that the Government be requested to take action during the next session of Parliament, to enable them to give effect to the same.'"' Some little discussion took place upon the subject, the members generally expressing approval of the proposal. It was resolved, "That in the opinion of this Council all reserves in counties, except education reserves and all such reserves as are already vested in public bodies, should be vested in the County Councils, and that, if legislation is necessary upon the master, the Government be requested to take action during the next session of Parliament to enable them to give effect to the same," The Clerk of the Waitaki Road Board applying for payment of the sum of

L 270, one half of the cost of the road line through the Papakaio Pre-emptive. Messrs. Hislop and Creagh's letter to the Road Board was also read, stating that everything necessary had been done to constitute the road a County road. it was decided to pay the money if the ! approval of the Council's solicitor was ||)i&ined. v* A renewal was granted of Mr. James Gibson's slaughtering licenses at Papakaio; also, of Mr. Moody's license at the meat preserving works, Kakanui. Sub-Inspector Smith wrote stating that the police had registered 291 dogs in the County, and that the fees, amounting to L 145 10s. had been paid into the Colonial Bank to the credit of the County. It having been mentioned that the police would not collect the tax after the 30th instant, it was decided to apply to the Government for an extension of the time, until the Council is enabled by legislation to make its own arrangements, the Council having at present no legal power of taking action in regard to the collection of the tax. Mr. J. Newlanda wrote saying that he would in no way depart from the offer he had already made to the Council with regard to the land required from him for a road deviation to tiie Maheno railway station. Some discussion took place upon the matter. Mr. Todd proposed that the land should be taken under the clauses of the Compulsory Land Taking Act. This was not seconded. Mr. W. Sutherland proposed that the present road should be formed and metalled, and that no further action should be taken with regard to Mr. JNewland's laud.

This was seconded by Mr. Thomson, and carried. The Clerk of the Otepopo Road Ijoard wrote, applying for payment of £lO, half of the. ranger's salary for the past halfyear, and asking if the Council would contribute half the ranger's salary during the next half-year. It was decided to pay the amount asked for, but no action was taken with regard to the future maintenance of the ranger. Messrs. G. Cook aud Son, solicitors to Messrs. Allan Brothers, wrote a couple of long letters, asking the Council to reconsider its decision with reference to the granting of ils approval of the construction of the Shag Point Railway.—Consideration of the matter was j | .Loft silting, j