SELWYN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6962, 28 November 1900, Page 3

SELWYN COUNTY COUNCIL.

A meeting of the Selwyn County Council was held this, morning ; present — Messrs R. 1 Westenra (chairman), J. Wolfe, J. Dunlop, > G. jrHaffie, J. Rennie, J. Murray, J. > Gough, Witty and Rutlierford. A deputation from the Canterbury Women's Institute waited on the Council and requested the members to support the candidature of Mrs Black for a seat on the ■■ Charitable Aid. Board. Mrs Wells represented that Mrs Black had; been connected with the Children's Aid Society and various charitable works. She had attended the majority of the meetings, and had done her best for tie Council. ' The Chairman replied that when the time 1 came the Council would consider the 1 application. The Secretary of the Westland County Council forwarded a circular setting forth the advantages of more expeditious communication with' Canterbury. It was decided to write to the Westland County Council „ asking what steps it was prepared to take in the matter. The tender of Messrs Triggs and Denton for dog-collars, was accepted. A telegram was (read from the Minister of Lands, informing the Council that a vote had been granted for work at Lake EUesmere. It was decided that the chairman should write to the Ministeii land ascertain what amount was granted for the Council to deal with. A letter was read from the Samaritan • Home Trustees, informing the Council that it had one vote in the election, of the Samaritan Home Trustees. The letter was received. A deputation, consisting of Sir John; Hall and Mr W. F. M. Buckley, waited on the i Council and drew attention to the state of the Hororata bridge in the Coleridge and : Rakaia districts. Sir John Hall stated that • the bridge over the Selwyn and tihe other '. over the Horora/ta had both been erected by thie Council, The Hororata bridge was unsafe, and it had to stand traffio from botih , Rakaia and' Coleridge districts. The superstructure was quite unsafe, and though tihe j two ends might te utilised! in a new bridge, the middle required to be entirely new. \ He thought that under tihe Act of last session the Council lhad ifche power to build a. new bridge. The Chairman pointed out that the Council, if it first erected tOie •bridge, would then be in an awkward posi- ] tion if the Coleridge Road Board: refused to ' pay a share. Sir John Hall asked if the Council could no* pay a share. ' The Chairman repliedi thalt tflie bridge had ' been erected fey the Counoil, but the cost was divided between the districts. The i Council had found the money, but had i charged it to the districts interested. It 1 would be a matter for the Coleridge and i Rakada Road Boards .to repoyfc on the necessity for a bridge, and then the Council would (have to bfc in a position to present tike accounts to the Road' Boards, and if those accounts were not paid to take pro- '. ceedings. He would suggest to the depu- \ ta#on that the Rakaia Road Board should write to the Council on the matter and then the Council would have something on record which they could discuss. All available information would then be gathered, and the Oounoil could go definitely inlto tfhe tedThe ordinary meeting was then closed, and a special meeting opened. Mr Dunlop proposed itfhat Mr Westenra i be re-elected chairman, and spoke eulogisti- 1 cally of Mr Westenra's services as their chairman in the past. , Mr Rennie seconded the- motion, and 1 seve. i ral members ireferred to Mr Westenra's ser- ' vices. • | Mr Westenra said he had held tihe chaii for two years, and would- rather retire if any ; other member would like to occupy the ] position. , All the members expressing the wish that i ■Mr Westenra. should continue in office, the < motion was .put and carried unanimously. > The question of the election of repre- ■ sentation on, the Charitable Aid Board was I Uhen brought up. ] Sir Gough' proposed> tsiat Mr Westenra I should again represent the Council, as it i was the widh of all the members. I • Mr Westenra said lie would 1 rather decline 'ti a seat om -tihe Board! for this year. ' I Mr Dunlop supported the candidature of Mrs Black, stating that she !had been a very \ capable and energetic representative. Mr 'Rutlherfordi, on being proposed, retired ( in favour of Mrs Black. Mr M'iHafne said that foe had occupied ! the position that "had been filled by Mrs Black, and she had! been, as good a representa- i tive las couldl be desired. ' < The following were Ifchera elected': — Mrs « Black, Messrs R. Westenra, J. Wolfe and « J. Witty. • The election of representatives on tno j Hospital Boardl resulted in. Messrs Dunlop, : M'Haffle, Murray and ßenn'ie 'being returned. Mr TVFHaffie was appointed a trustee of 1 ;the Samaritan Home. j The special meeting wtas then closed, and ' tihe ordinarjn business resumed. " The usual reports and correspondence on ! ■ water-r»qes andl ■planrbaifcions were dealt with, am 9 the Works, Finance, Plantation and 1 Water-race Committees elected. ' i Accounts laimouniting to £1218 17s 3d were passed for payment. J It^was decided to invite applications for i , the position of a telerpihone caretaker at ■