CONFERENCE OF WESTLAND COUNIY COUNCILS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 1480, 19 June 1879, Page 2

CONFERENCE OF WESTLAND COUNIY COUNCILS.

(By Telegbaph.) Gbeyjiouth, June 18. The Conference of delegates from the Counties of Grey, Hukitika, and Inangahua concluded its sitting! to-day, when itß deliberations resulted m the following recommendations : — " That no new County be formed within the boundaries of existing Counties without the consent of the original County ; that no Borough be formed without the consent of the Council and a petition signed by a majority of the inhabitants of the whole County ; that the word ' aliens' be struck out of the Munioipnl Corporations Act, and that 'all personß not being Chinese be allowed to vote' be inserted m lieu thereof; that County Chairmen bo elected by the people, instead of by the Councillors ; that the various Counties m tho colony be classified ; that subsidies be paid to the Goldfields Counties based on the goldfields revenue, and the rateable property m the County, and if this is not agreed to, the Government to maintain main roads or subsidise the Counties for their maintenance ; all gold duly and goldfields revenue to be County Council revenue ; all buyers of gold to be licensed, and to inquire where the gold is raised, and to make a sworn declaration of the amount purchased by them, and m which County it was raised ; that the d:-g tax be a uniform one of 10s per annum ; that the rate collector ba allowed to distrain for rales owing on lands or tenements, the owners of which ars absent, after giving a month's notice ; that the administration of Waßte Lands Board cumulative voting be con£rmed ; that the renls and royalties irom coat mines be county revonue ; that power be given to County Councils to license carriages and vehicles ; that 20 per cent of the land revenue be colonialised, and divided equally throughout the colony; that all money voted by Parliament for public works be expended by Counoils ; that the Governmeut give County Councils powers to levy a capitation tax, not exceeding ss, on all males over 21, for the support of hospitals and charitable institutions ; that (he Chinese ure an undesirable class of colonists, and that means be adopted to suppreßS their immigration ; that n. recennaieanoe Burvey be made of the country between the Teremakau and Hokilika, for the purpose of diverting the proposed Hokitika and Greymouth railway through the populated centres of Kumara, Waimea, and Stafford ; that the upßet price of land be reduced, for the purpose of settlement ; that free grants of land of 100 acres be allowed to Bottlers on the West Coaßt; that £5000 be placed on the Estimates for the purpose of assisting small parties of miners m constructing water races, the subsidy to each party not to exceed £500."