WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

West Coast Times, Issue 2852, 24 May 1878, Page 2

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL.

ADJOURNED MEETING.

Thursday, May 23.

The Council met at 2.30 p.m. Present — Messrs Seddon (chair), King, Nielsen, Banks, Hirter, Dale, aad M'Whirter.

The Council went into committee to consider the adjourned question ot

"WATER EACES.

Mr Dale said that he would have somewhat reluctantly to oppose the motion. If there could be any light thrown on the matter he would reconsider it. He would like to see the Council unanimous on the matter.

Mr Seddon was somewhat of the same opinion as Mr Dale. He would, therefore, move the following amendment— " That this Council will, on application beiug made • from a company properly constituted, to buy in the Mikonui Water Race, with a capital of £40,000, give a guarantee of 1£ per cent, on that amount, providing the borough of Ross contributes the other If per cent. ; and the Government give a guarantee of 3 per cent. ; and the public subscribe £6000 in cash; but should the proposed company purchase the Totara Water Race Company's rights, this Council will not give the above guarantee on the amount paid for the purchase of same ; also, that the Council would further advise the Government— lst, To take due precaution that none of the £6000 voted should be appropriated in purchasing said rights.' 2nd, That on the completion of the works connected with •the Waimea Race, this Council will then be ~most happy to consider the taking over of giajme with any unexpended balances." If ""matters were half as good as represented there should be no difficulty in floating a company. Here there was a guarantee of six per cent., besides a bonus of £20,000 thrown in. No company could start under more auspicious circumstances. As the principal benefits from the proposed Mikonui Race would be derived in the borough of Ross, he thought \\ per cent, quite enough for the Council to guarantee. As the people of Ross had used their judgment in forming Boss into a borough, so the County Council, which had lost a large rateable area, should use their own judgment. The Yogel Government completed arrangements withßrogden and Sons to make this race some time ago, but the people of Rom then objected to it. That was because certain rights were very valuable at that time. Now that those rights were not so valuable the Council were asked to purchase them. He objected altogether to this. This scheme would benefit the race proprietors who would get rid of rights, aud palm them off on the Government when they were of no more value. The very companies that own the present race would use the water. It would take £20,000 to make the tunnel. With regard to the other races, the various officials saddled with them were tired of them. On the score of economy the Government wished the Council to take them over It would only take three months longer to complete the Waimea Water Race, when there would be about £5000 unexpended balance. He was pleased there was a profit being derived from this race, and it would be like throwing cold water on a drowned rat if the Council refused finally to take over this race. Taking his amendment as a whole, he thought it did not throw cold water on the scheme. He also thought that the proposed company could be easily raised. The Borough of Ross could have no objection to giving the guarantee.

Mr Nielsen seconded pro forma. The Government had never promised to give a guarantee of 3 per cent. The Jones's Creek Water liaco was a i a' liable interest. The takings last week were £40, and last year the race paid fifteen per cent net. The race must be bought because it would be available until the high race was made. Because the Waimea race bad proved a white elephant it was not to be concluded that the Mikonui would be the same. On the contrary it would be a payable concern. Mr Seddon, he thought, showed bad taste in referring to the constitution of Ross into a borough, as he was the originator of the Borough of Kumara.

Mr Seddon denied this, and stated that he objected to the formation of Kuraara into a borough. Mr Nielsen thought the Council could well give a guarantee of £2500 a-year, seeing that about £1600 of that would come from the receipts of the Waimea race. It was a very small sum to ask. The present race was a valuable property, and it would be made more valuable if the Mikonui race did not always loom in the distance. It was necessary to decide at once, otherwise the Government might withdraw their offer of £20,000. If the Council would look at the matter without prejudice, it would be seen that the scheme would be highly payable, and would revive the prosperity of the Coast. The hills around Ross and Jones's Flat would not be worked out in one hundred years.

Mr Hirter could not see what the amendment had to do with the question before the committee. If they could not raise £20,000 with the district of Totara how could they expect to raise £40,000 ? There was no hope of doing so, and the amendment was calculated to cause the Governme?} «™ hdraw their offer of £20,000 Mr M'Whirter would opposed the resolution, and perhaps the amendment also. If the Council adopted the amendment there was never such a company floated in the bouthern Hemisphere: A stranger coming into the Chamber would say the Koss members could have no faith in the scheme, otherwise they would support the amendment. He would be clad to see such a chance in his district. The amendment was lost "on the voices Mr Nielsen then moved the following amendment :-" That this Council will, in conjunction with the Borough of Ross, give the required guarantee to complete the Mikonui race with asking further

assistance from Government when a company has completed the race to Cedar Creek." After a long discussion, the debate was adjourned until seven p.m. Progress was reported, and the Council resumed. PARINGA AND HA AST TBACK, Mr King moved, •• That Mr Campbell be authorised to go south, r« Paringa and Haast track, immediately." The Council could draw part of the money at any time from the Government. Mr Banks seconded. Mr Seddon moved an amendment to the effect, " that as soon as the work now in hand by the County Engineer was finished, he be requested to go south to lay out the work." He objected to getting outside assistance, and to employ officers over whom the Council had no control. This was not the proper time of year to send Mr Campbell, or any engineer, down south. The Vincent County Council repudiated the idea of making the Haast track. Was there anything to urge on this work? Why was it so urgent ? Mr King: Because the grant will be withdrawn. Mr Seddon aaid the General Government could not, and would not withdraw the money. Surely Mr King must be ingMr King protested against, and objected to such remarks. Mr Seddon was there as Mayor of Kumara. (Laughter.) He would like tbe report of the County Engineer on the subject read. Mr M 1 Wbirter seconded the amendment, Mr Banks : " Ob, of course," Mr M'Whirter said that Mr Seddon and himself were accused of objecting to all works down south. Mr King : " So you do " Mr M'Whirter said the time of year was inappropriate. The Vincent County objected to give any assistance to the Haast Passs track, yet this Council was led to believe that communication was going to be opened up between Otago and Westland. The survey would cost £800, so that the Council would be uawise to do this work at once. Until they got a reply from the Vincent Council, the motion could not be carried into effect. Why should they throw away £800 whfen they had an engineer of their own . The Council would deserve to be very harshly criticised if they went to this extra expenditure Mr Banks said nearly twelve months ago, tenders were called for clearing this track, before Mr Clarke was appointed engineer. Some month i ago, Mr Clarke was going down with Mr Campbell, but the Council objected to it. The survey would cost the same amount or very nearly, whether Mr Clarke went down, or was left behind. He objected to delaying the matter any longer. Mr Macandrew thought that the £3000 was being expended. The Paringa and Haast track had nothing to do with the track to Otago. Mr Dale said Mr Campb 11 would charge at least £2 2a a day. This was too expen- . sive. He suggested that the County Engineer should be asked to go down at once. They should not throw money away. Mr Hirter said a resolution was passed a month or two ago that the engineer should go down south. _ There was no great hurry in making this track till spring time. It would be a waste of money to do the work in the winter time. Road making in winter time was absurd. There could not b» so great a hurry, and the engineer could find time to go down himself. If they employed Mr Campbell, it would be an extra expenditure. Mr King, in reply, said he pushed on bis motion on account of the report of the County Engineer, who said he could not go down south for a long time to come. If the engineer promised to go down "in a month, he would withdraw his motion. The amendment was carried on the voices, and consequently became the motion. Mr Banks moved a further amendment, " That in the event of the County Engineer not having finished his work by the Ist July next, Mr Campbell, or other qualified engineer, be authorised to go down south to lay out the track." The Chairman said the amendment was out of order. It was a direct negative to his motion. He ruled to that effect. Mr Banks protested against this ruling, and moved the adjournment of the Council till seven p.m. Mr King seconded. The Chairman did not put this, when Messrs Banks, Nielsen, and King rose from there Feats, and there being no quorum the meeting lapsed.