WAITAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, 12 June 1879, Page 2

WAITAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the County I Council was held to-day, when there were i present—Messrs. Duncan (in the chair), ! D. Sutherland. Johnston, Murcott, Todd, Falconer. Mr. Oliver (Engineer) was in attendance. Mr. Jas. M'Quade, hon. Secretary to the Livingstone Cemeteiy Trust, wrote asking the Council to lace the sum of L2O previously taf i lie Trust

to ita credit in the National Bank. It was decided to comply -with the request. A letter from Mr. Loring. district station-master, was read, stating, in reply to n, letter from the Council in reference to the deficient accommodation at Richmond's siding, that no means were available for expenditure on the work at present. The Resident Engineer had, however, placed a sum on his proposed estimates for 1879-80, for improving the approach road, which the writer believed formed the cause of complaint. Mr.' John M'Gregor wrote, stating that the Waimate County Council, had contributed L3OOO and the Waitaki County Council L 2500, on account of the Upper Waitaki Bridge. The Commissioner had again applied to the Government for its share, and hoped to get the money shortly. In the meantime the writer suggested that the Waitaki County Council should place another LSOO to the credit of the Commissioners, and make their contribution the same as that of the Waimate County Council. The same writer ; in a subsequent letter, also forwarded, copy of No. 4 certificate 011 account of the bridge and a copy of the bank-book. As the Commissioners had to make heavy payments, he would be glad if the Council would vote LIOOO, and the Waimate Council would be asked to contribute LSOO. This would make the contributions by both bodies L 3-500, He had seen the Hon. the Minister for Public Works on the subject of theLoOOO contribution to be paid by the Government, and that gentleman had promised that the money should be paid as soon as .'another appropriation Bill had been passed. Some discussion took place upon the matter, during which Mr. Murcott said that it had been distinctly understood that the three parties— Government and the County Councils of Waitaki and Wai-■ mate—should each contribute LSOOO towards the work. Ic^/ments. had been forthcoming from botri Councils, but the Government had not paid anything, and he did not think it right that the Councils should be called upon to find the money to carry on the work. Th§y were by this means compelled to lose the interest on their money. . Mr. Duncan would propose that LSOO should be passed, but no further money should be voted towards the cost until the Government paid its share. Mr. Murcott said, while he concurred in the suggestion of Mr. Sutherland, it would perhaps be a dangerous proceeding to refuse to vote money to enable the Commissioners to make payments which were due. He would move that the sum of LIOOO asked for should be passed, and that the Clerk should ask the Engineer to report as to the probable expense of the bridge. This proposal wns seconded lay Mr. Todd, and carried, Mr. Sutherland only dissenting. The following letter was read : General Crown Lands Office, Wellington, 30th May, 1879. Sir, —I have the honor, by direction of the Hon. the Minister of Lands, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th instant, applying for a portion of the General Government reserve north of the Gaol as a site for County offices, and in reply to inform you that the Government cannot agree to grant: the most .valuable land in the Borough of Oamaru to the County of Waitaki.—l have, etc., H. J. H. Eliott, •" ' Under Secretary. The Clerk Waitaki County Council, Oamaru. Some discussion took place upon the

matter, several members expressing the opinion that the letter was an insult to the Council. The remark that the land was too valuable to be given to the Council was only a subterfuge, for it was known that negotiations were going on with a view to "ettina; the whole block for the I town. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. D. Sutherland, seconded by Mr. Falconer, that the Clerk should apply for the piece of land between the Post Office and the creek. On the motion of Mr. Sutherland, seconded by Mr. Johnston, it was resolved that a general rate of 3d. in the £ should bo levied on all properties in the outlying districts in the County for the year March, 1880, payable oil the Ist July next. In reference to a letter from the Clerk to the Hampden Road Board, the Clerk was instructed to take the necessary steps to have the district road through section 43, block 1., declared closed, the Board having opened a new road. The following tenders were accepted:—■ Formation of road and erection of culverts through section 6, block .VII., Maerewhenua district, Mr. P. O'.ltourke, LiGG 18s 7d : erection of traffic bridge over Island Stream, in block VIII., Messrs Biggar and Robertson, LBl3 16s 6d. . . • Mr. P. OCPaHar fajjgy ; o take un his contract for gravelinig at the Otepopo railway station, his deposit was forfeited, and new tenders ordered to be called for.

The Chairman of the Maniototo County Council wrote, asking for certain information with reference to the management of pounds, and the Clerk was directed to supply the information. The' report of the inspector was read detailingthe stats of the various roads. With, reference to the recommendation contained in .the report that a portion of the road between Hillgrove and Trotter's Creek, it was decided' to call for tenders for the work.

The attention of. the .Inspector was 1 -drawn to. the piece* of road at Mrs. ! Daigleish's and Mr. Robert'Stewart'*., t The clerk was directed to write to Mrs. Dalgleish and Messrs. White and Stewart ! with reference to gum-trees overhanging the road. ; ; The Engineer was requested to report 1 as to the probable cost of reducing the ! " pinch " at Waikoura, Otekaike Riding. The Clerk was directed to write to Mr. 1 Pepper, asking what compensation ; he would require for land taken for road deviation at Maheno. Accounts to the amount of Llß9l 14s lid were passed for payrpent. . The Council declined to .acknowledge the claim of Mr. William Doigfor gravel, he having refused access -to contractors;, who had been forced to obtain gravel elsewhere. • • : Mr. Murcott having mentioned that l ; the Ojtepopo., Athenaeum Committee hadj in " anticipation of getting the whole of' the. vote for,libraries in tnat riding, ordered a large number of books, but had been disappointed through the Maheno library starting and laying claim to one half the money, and moved that an additional 3um of LlO should be contributed to the Otepopo library. This was seconded by Mr. Falconer, but an amendment, moved by Mr. Sutherland, that the Council should adhere to its forinoi' resolution on tile subject was carried. The Council then rose. : '