SOUTHLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Southland Times, Issue 3393, 6 May 1879, Page 2

SOUTHLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

Ah ordinary meeting of the County Council was held yesterday. Present— Messrs Shanks (chairman), Smith, Baldey, Thomson, Kinross, and Cowan.

. The minutes -of last meeting having been o-ead by the:; GhUirmaH, -Mr-Baldey bbjept'^d to what had? been done in the directibh-of increasing the r clerk's salary. He was not present at the, time, and the proceeding had b&jri g'ohe-T?ihto; ih^a'!private-fehd-irr%ut& way.;' ;'* PxX-X'A XX ; Axx-XAXI. 'i:A : P.iUXf! .;7X..

Mr Kinross concurred with Mr Baldey, and thought the matter should be brought up before a full Councill.

Mr Cowan was Tof 7 the, same, opinion. He opposed a proposal fpr'jiiicrenie'to the clerk's salary, and it should only be dealt with before a full Council.

Excepting ., the above, increase, the . consideration of .which .was 7 relegated ' to next meeting, the 'minutes i werecohfirmed.

The correspondence received and despatched since last meeting was then read. Mr. Kinross, read tiie following, .notice of motioh'!^-"Tnat iri'the opinion of We ' Council the policy of exempting improvements from taxation, which "is embodied in the Lahd Tax Act^ is sound in principle,, and is calculated ' to promote the development of pur resources ; it therefore requests the Government to endeavor "to have the same pplicy,. of exemption made applicable to ■rating by County Goimci/s and^oad The chairman is requested tp forward a copy of the resolution to the "Premier, Sir George Grey." — The mption was discussed and dealt with at a gnbsequeftt stags- i ; .-■■ - ; ■< It was agreed that the application of Mr Jack for permission .to erect a. tramway ; be acceded to, subject to' the' approval' of the engineer from time to time.

A motion ma£le by Mr Cowan, and seconded by Mr Kinross* 7 was adopted^ 'Thafc"th6 hyelawas passed by the Council on 28th March last, amending clause Sf or. the regulation and management of abattoirs and slaughterhouses,.be now confirmed, .and that the.came shall come into operation on 19th May, 1879."

A letter from the County Solicitor was read to the effect that it was r the duty of their Clerk to furnish 'to' registration 1 officers lists of ratepayers to be taken from the rolls. This should be done annually, by 31st March, and must be done according.to the Act. . r , r;

■' In answer to Mr Kinross, the Chairman stated that the request: to be furnished with such lists had been complied with. On the motion of Mr Cowan, seconded by Mr Baldey;. ther Chairman was ; instriicted to take joint action with other counties interested in making application to Government for the distribution of the surplus land revenue, jbpmputediati i i£sojoooii UK ■ ":•' .A; 70< X\.

The following? r^poft.of/.the Floods Committee was read : — " They recommend that the Government grant of .£IOOO be appropriated as follows: Wallacetown Riding, £250 ;1 1 Winton ;; Riding; x £250 ; Waikaia Riding, £250 ; and Gore Riding. £250."

The report . was . adopted ; and on the motion of Mr Cowan, seconded by Mr Kinross, the Chairm^p r^vas >%iithori§e.d to sign the agreement re grant of £1000 for flood damage, on behalf. of. the County of Southland.

<Mr Thomson,; mpyeji,*?Mr:i Smith< sife'cprided, and it was carried; A. Tfet the works contained in the contracts Nos. 187 and 188 be postponed till next spring."

The County Engineer w*as called in to the Council^ ;and gave explanations;;^^ #0 tth'e works in .progress ior aiding, of the Oreti Bridge, the -extent and nature bf the works necessary for this purpose, and the probable total cost. From, this it appeared that the money coming: £ rom:-. >. Government r^:£6ooo) would 'be quite^ :inMequate r Vand an official communication' from ."Wellington was read regarding it, iutimatingthat beyoiid the £6000 already voted by Parliament, -nothing further could possibly be given. „.. Mr 7Co wan moved, "Mr Baldey seconded, arid it was unahirnously agreed to, "That the Gbyernriient be informed that works have been let, re Oreti Bridge at; Elbow, which absorb the whole amount voted for the purpose; by Parliament^ .and that any works in addition riiust be provided for otherwise than but of County funds." A letter was read from the Solicitor regarding the traffic? on the Mataura Bridge, which ?is; in a very bad state, and; ad visirig-that? a penalty might-be enforced foi* anything, like furious driviug thereon. 7; rfiPp-A X-' f y.Xp-XA7AA ■ P' : . 'pA-.p.x

Mr Baldey suggested that a notice to the public should be posted up the bridge prohibiting passage ovfer Another than at a walking pace. :'V , -"' w . .A, .letter J_;oiig_ the; "Chicf L Surveyor,. . Mr Spenie; was 'iesj^^rp the .closing' ot" e'ertain roads, and suggesting th^t,the road on blocks 5 and 6, Invercargill ' Hundred, marked as dof ted tracks on, the map, migb£ be closed. This, it was resolved, should be done. A letter from the„T)taria Road Board was read, stating -that tae 'amount agreed to be given by the.Cpuncil, iv the formation of a road ih that district' was insufficient, and that could, ( thcy increase; itf' to 0 £500,r a . like sum would be provided by the Board. The membet'fot the Tiding not bcing'-present, it was agreed to hold lhe matter over' till text toeeSm S- . „ • r , *»•.*> : A s q.'applic'ation''fi , qm Mr William Bussell _tatmg'thaV'in'the making 'up of J the valuation rfijls fdr Wiij^o'ir arid '^wariia, ' he had been 'put id a great deal of extra troab'fe'and labor, owing f to the numerous mistakes s and omissions ih'-the previous ¥olls, and requesting additional pay in consequence, was favorably considered by the jCouncil. , Mr Cowan considered that it would be better toehold! it-' j over 'in ihe- 1 as if the 'request were^granted a 'number of others might follow 1 suit. This suggestion as to delay was] agreedt'to. * l Mr Smith read a petition from ratepayers in Awarua Riding, relative to an alteration in boundaries. 7> v ! i \j i"s s 'A r f> gyp _ Mr Kinross spoke in support of the petition; but being a part only of .the important subject of alterations -being ' made in the bouudariea of ridings ".generally* and -time being'Tcquired foifdt^bpfasideration/it was resolved that tf special meeting should be

called for its discussion, and the 16th of June w.'.s fixed for the purpose. T-;^^ .4», The Finance Committes's^ep'orfc-Was rea^B recommending that the accoun^be'p^sed for? payment to the amount of £i831.:s The report was adopted. * -r 7^ : g-V"7v : : ; A short discussion took place pn?;Mr _Cihr ross' notice of motion, inserted 7'abbVe, aS??to-, the extension of the principfe^p^«emgti^ii . fj-ozn t^^:, applicable to impro^eEaeats; themembei'S spoke in support of it, considcf'Si ing that the. change would be a most advisv&uefol&oaQjpiMl ihe. .malum... was,7 adopted". ' """■-. 7" Nf jßaldey, seconded by-MrJ_?inroiss, moved tha^ |he v ';S^ndmg Or|evs|b;e Isu'spended, whicfr"b'eing?dorie'', it was fesolVed that ten..dera be invited for . the„supply„of .. stationery. -fo^^tbe -Southland 7: Uduffty months. ,' .-azXa pxy ■ . x. .Mi\^^ Baldey,^^ seconded by Mr Kinross, moved that; the office hours of the County? Clerk should inf uture be from half pAst^9 a:iiu to half pssfc 4-, p.m. PpApP^iTpAPy :Aji, amendment impyed by .Mr -Smith! seconded byßlr; Thpiiispn, stating at from iO to 1 and from ried ; on {the vote of the Chairman.'* '""-- The Council then adjourned to a day to be hamedby the Chairman??? •' •"..;' r