THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

West Coast Times, Issue 1662, 27 January 1871, Page 2

THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thursday, January 26.

The Council met at half-past seven. All the members were piesent. The minutes of the previous meeting were read aud confirmed.

PETITIONS.

Mr Guinness presented a petition from William and Samuel William', of Greymouth, praying for an investigation into the circumstances under which the petitioners had suffered loss in the compulsory removal of a dam.

The Chairman suggested that as the petition was very lengthy, it should be received and laid on the table without reading. Mr Robinson pointed out that the content" of the petition might be of a nature which would debar its reception. Mr Barff believed that a duplicate of the petition had been presented to the previous Council, and a Select Committee had inquired into the circumstances referred to, and brought up a report on the subject. He could not at the moment call to mind the nature of that report, but if the petition was laid on the table he would by the next meeting of the Council ascertain what had been done.

The petition was received and laid on the table.

The Chairman present- d a petition from the Little Paddock signed by \V. M'Lean, Hon. Sec. of the Kanieri Mining Committee, stating that the mining tegulations agreed to at the Mining Conference had boen submitted to the late Chairman, and. ho Jjftd prnjnjsof} to have fhfm nu} in,

force; and praying that the Council would ascertain whether those regulations had been gazetted, and if they had not been that they should be laid on the table for the inspection of the Council ; and, if approved, that they should be legalised. The petition was read aud received. PRINTING CONTRACT. The Chairman asked leave to move, without notice, that the Council should resolve itself into committee, to consider the tenders sent i'< for printing.

Mr Bonar suggested that the tenders should be allowed to lie on the table for the information of the Council before the dealing with them. The Chairman said tha' tho contract would cease in a faw day, and it was necessary to enter u»t'» :i new one without delay. Mr. Button con-idered that it would bo preferable to have a day's delay, The motion for leive to move the Council into Committe was withdrawn.

MODE OF COLLICTING TOM.S.

On the motion of Mie Chairman the Council resolved itself into Committee to consider tho mode of collecting the tolls ou the various roads in the County.

On the motion of Mr Button, it was resolved that the Kawhaka toll should be continued as hitherto.

Mr Robinson moved, and Mr Guinness seconded — " That the gates on the Arahura road be removed, and one gate be placed at the Three-mile.'*

Iftr Bonar moved, and MY Button 1 seconded, as an amendment — " l'hat the gate on the Arahura roaJ, situate at the town boundarj', be abolished." The amendment was carried on the vioces.

The schedule of tolls ou the Arahura road were considered.

The first item : For all drays and vehiclesdrawn by one horsels6d was passed. The second item: For each additional horse, 6d — was also passed. The third item : For all buggies, cabs, traps, &c, used for pleasu;e, drawn by one horse — was struck out. . The fourth item: For each additional horse, 6d — was struck out. The fifth item: Waggons or coaches with four wheels, drawn by two horses, 2s 6d— was altered to 2s. The sixth item : For each additional horse, 6d — was passed. The seventh item: Each horse ridden, Is — was passed. The eighth item: Each horse carrying pack, 4d — was passed. The ninth item : Cattle and asses, per head (driven on road or beach), 6d — was passed, the words in parenthesis being struck out. The tenth item : Sheep, pigs, or goats, per head (driven on road or beach), Id, was passed, the words in parenthesis being struck out. The following exemptions were passed : Carts carrying manure ; contractors repairing roads; vehicles au-1 hor.scs carrying goods to and from the Tramway Station at Arahura ; cattle passed through toll gate to sale yard and disposed of to be driven north. It was resolved that the tolls should be only chargeable one way, each day. It was resolved that all cattle passed through the toll-gate going south, driven along tbe beach, should pay half toll. Progress was reported, and ou the motion of Mr Robinson, the schedule of tolls was recommitted with the view of altering the first item. Mr Robinson moved, and Mr Guinness seconded — " That the tolls chargeable en drays and vehicles drawn by one horse be one shilling. The motion was negatived on the voices. Progress was reported, and the schedule of tolls, as recommended, was adopted. On the motion of »he Chairman, tho Council resolved itself into committee to consider the mode of collecting the tolls on the Greenstone road. It was resolved that the toll at the Three-mile be continued as hitherto. It was resolved that tenders be called for leasing the toll at Goldsborough ; the present lessee who pays £12 per mo..th not realising the amount of rent. It was resolved that the toll at Chesterfield be continued as hitherto, the gate being necessary as a check, and the cost being only 15s per week, which was nearly balanced by the receipts. Progress was reported, and the Council resumed. "LAND TBVNSrER ACT, 1870."

On the motion of the Chairman, the Council resolved itself into Committee to consider the proposition of the Registrar General as to Westland being constituted into a registration district under the " The Land Transfer Act, 1870." The Chairman stated that he had that day received an answer from Mr Moorhouse to the questions put. The answer having been read, Mr Reid moved—" That a select committee, consisting of Messrs Guinness, Button, Baiff, aiid the mover, be appointed to inquire into tho matter, and to report to the Council on Wednesday." Mr Barff seconded the motion, and suggested that a short telegram should be sent to Mr Moorhouse, informing him that the matter was under consideration. The motion passed without dissent. Progress was reported with leave to sit again.

ADJOURNMENT.

On the motion of Mr Button, tbe Council adjourned until the following (this) day, at two o'clock.