WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

West Coast Times, Issue 10531, 15 July 1897, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Wednesuay July 14th. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. Present — Councillors Cumming (chair), Byrne, Baucke, Dungan and Northcroft. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman, Councillors M'Whirter and Donovan here took their seats. The outward correspondence was approved. INWABD COKRESPONDENCE. From Treasury, forwarding sundry remittances. — Received. * ' , From Mines Department, offering subsidy of £16 for prospecting near the Cascade river. — Received. — The Chairman said this was equal to 10s a week. — Mr M'Whirter said the letter should be sent to the men to show the liberality of the Government. — The Chairman said the men would take it as a slight to send such a letter to them. They would be about 80 miles from stores and supplies. The place was full of minerals, there was nickel, asbestos, gold and other minerals. He was surprised the Mines Department should have sent such a letter. — Mr Cumming moved that a copy of the letter be forwarded to M'Moran and Party ; that Mr Adair be i asked as to the applicants ; and that the j Mines Department be again written to , and be informed as to the nature of the locality and its prospects.— Seconded by i the Chairman. — Mr Baucke proceeded to speak and used expressions with reference to the Chairman which raised a call of order. — Mr Baucke was asked to withdraw the words complained of and refused to do so. — The Chairman then retired from his seat and Mr M'Whirter was voted to the chair.-The aetintj-Chair-man asked Mr Baucke to withdraw the words and as he again refused was fined £5 in accordance with Clause 47 of the Council's standing orders. — The motion having been called, Mr Byrne [moved an amendment that the first portion of the resolution be struck out, the motion then being that Government be again communicated with. — Seconded by Mr Donovan. — Mr Baucke said there was no prospect of the Government giving more ; probably the district would raise another 10s. and make it a pound a week. — Mr Northcroft supported the motion, — The amendment was carried on division. From Public Works Department stating that the letter in reference to ParingaBlne River Road had been referred to the Lands Department, which now had charge of roads.— Received. From Landsl Department, acknowledging receipt of the Council's letter ap- , plying for the expenditure of £100 on the Mount Hercules-Lake Waihapo road and stating the matter would have the consideration of the Minister. — Received. From Chief Surveyor, offering plaus and specifications for Doaghboy road at a fee of £20.— Received.— Mr Northcroffc moved that the offer be declined. He understood the settlers were desirous of having a track instead of a road. Besides, he did not think a Government Department should charge for pIaDS and specifications to a local body. — Secouded by Mr Cumming pro forma. — Mr Baucke would sooner see the Lands Department undertake the work. — The Chairman said he understood Mr Bell was already doing this work under instructions from the County Chairman. Mr Byrne moved an amendment that consideration be deferred till the evening. — Seconded by Mr Baucke. —Mr Donovan supported the motion. The amendment was negatived on division. Ayes — Byrne, Baucke and Dungan ; Noes — Cumming, Donovan, Northcroft, and M'Whirter (Chairman). The motion was carried on a similar division. From Audit Inspector as follows :— On auditing the County accounts for che half year ewfod, Ifeli 31$ najjt, \ fiud.

that great irregularity is creeping into the system of paying monies to people residing at a distance, several vouchers being signed by persons not authorised to ; do so by order. This laxity is principally evident by the person who distributes for , the Rimu Miners Association, by the per- ; son who distributes for the Kanieri dis- , trict and the person who does the same for Okarito district. Vouchers not in , order for Rimu district, 7; vouchers not ■ in order for Kanieri district, 5; vouchers not in order for Okarito district, 20. One • or two in Mr Baucke's district were in the same state but they had already been put right. In the case of one of the Okarito ( vouchers for amounts due to J. Snow, T. Benford or Bamford, andT. Clunethe signatures are all in one handwriting. , I should be glad if the Council would , see the necessity of devising some means to ensure these vouchers Deing returned , in better time and order and thus avoid needless trouble and delay in the audit of your accounts. Received — Mr Northcroft moved that the matter be referred to the Finance Committee to report. — Seconded by Mr Cumming.—Mr Dungan said there were difficulties in the way without the appointment of a permanent officer. Councillors had a lot of trouble running jabout getting signatures. — Mr Donovan explained that some receipted vouchers sent up by him had not the orders for receipt owing to an inadvertence. — Mr Byrne would sooner see a special Committee appointed ; the Finance Committee had not time.— Mr Baucke said it was time a change was made. He explained the vouchers relating to himself . One councillor prepared voucher, certified to it, and signed for it. — Mr M'Whirter deprecated the references made by the last speaker. So far as he could see Mr Baucke's vouchers also wanted looking into.— Motion carried. From W. Adair, Haast, reporting on the Paringa-Mahitahi road. — Received. From same, reporting on balance of flood damage vote expended. — Received. From same, reporting as to complaints between Power Bros, and W. Burmeister, re Arawata ferry. — Received, copies to be sent to the parties. From same, reporting on application for an increase of subsidy to the Arawata ferry. — Received, referred to the Finance Committee to report. From W. M. Bell, reporting on Hungerford's and Loop-line bridges.—Received. It was stated the Chairman had communicated with the Government on the subject. Resolved that bis action be approved. From J.B.Lewis, solicitor, writing on behalf of G. Claypole, Kanieri Forks, demanding that free access to roadway be restored and threatening law proceedings. — Received.— the solicitor's opinion be obtained. From James King, secretary Acclima- i tiaation Society, asking for a donation for " 'a-fejjichery. — Received. From- James Gale, Arahura, explaining why the One Mile road was in a bad condition, — Received, referred to the Chairman. From G.G.Harcourt, Humphreys, with reference to planking for bridge connection.—Received, referred to the Chairman. [ ivom T. Condon, Gillespies, complaining of Mahitahi-Paringa road. — Received. From J. E. Ryan, Gillespies, complain- , ing of Cooks River Flat road. — Received. > From G. Chambers, Liverpool Bills, , asking for repairs to track. — Received. , From Power Bros, Paringa, asking for , particulars as to rates, also asking for , credit for road work done. — Received, re- , ferred to the County Clerk. From H. Diedrichs, Kokatahi, asking [ for small track on south side of river. — . Received, referred to the Chairman to . act. From J. Peake, Secretary, Queen' s . Celebration Committee, stating there was . a deficiency and asking for additional , grant. — Received, Mr Peakejto be inform- [ ed the Council's funds will not permit of , further grant. t From F. Nelson, Foxs', asking for perL mission to deviate a track. — Received, , granted on the usual conditions. t From T. V. Byrne, on behalf of Stafford and Buttola and Stafford and Byrne, asking for permission to mine a quartz ; reef under road at Taipo. — Received, . granted subject to the Chairman's approval. From M. E. Mycrof t, Rimu, asking for . permission to lay a tramway. -^-Received granted under the usual conditions. From Receivers of Gold Revenue, re- . porting receipts — Okarito, £58 9s; Kumj ara, £16. — Received. , (The Chairman here took his seat.) REPORTS. From Finance Committee as follows : (1) Your Committee have the honor | to report that the accounts presented for L the month of June, 1897, have been carefully examined, aud beg to recommend that the amount as approved, £576 12b i 4d, be passed for payment. Included in , this total is the sum of £92 15s lid ' chargeable against Government grants, 1 thus leaviug the Council's liability for • the month at £383 16s sd, which is somei what high for a month's transactions, but . which is mainly accounted for by the present bad state of the roads and tracks through the recent stress of weather. (2) Two accounts, M. Donovan, Receiver of Gold Revenue, Okarito, £5, and Reid & Coy., Ltd., advertising etc., £3 Bs, are referred to the Council to deal with. (3) Your Committee beg to recommend that in future, separate accounts be rendered in respect of expenditure of votes of the Council, as • distinct from works .'iuthorised by the Chairman or members, and unauthorised works. Such an arrangement would facilitate the work of the Committee. — The report was considered clause by clause. In clause 2 Constable Donovan's amount was voted but with the understanding that he be informed the present must be the final payment. Reid&Co's, Ltd, account was referred to the solicitor for opinion and if legal to be paid. Clause 3 was carried. All the clauses evoked considerable discussion. The report was then, adopted,

' : . County Chairman's Report. The County Chairman's report was read as follows :—: — Gentlemen, — I have the honor to report that in the interval since last monthly meeting, I have attended to the several matters ref erred to me. With reference to the Taipo track temporary repairs have been effected, and further expenditure in conjunction with the Government subsidy will be made immediately. The present track can, however, never be made suitable for the requirements of the locality, should the district be developed, as it is hoped it will be, by the present mining operations. From enquiries made, I understand a good serviceable track would be practicable over the Taipo range at a cost of upwards of £500. This route could subsequently be utilised for dray-traffic, if the necessity arose, a recommendation which the present track does not possess. In the event of the district being developed it would be well to have this alternative route in mind. During the month I visited the northern portion of the County, and went over Dillmans and district in company with Mr Dungan, who has made an excellent arrangement and done good work in connection with the vote passed at last meeting to assist in the construction of a tramway, which becomes a public highway in consideration of the amount voted by the Council towards the cost. The Chairman of the Public Works Committee, Mr M'Whirter, visited the Kokatahi road immediately after the last meeting and conferred with me with reference to the encroachment of the Kanieri river, ahove the bridge. Steps weie immediately taken to break the current of the river at the point endangered, and to protect the bank. Some large trees were felled and thrown down stream so as to cause the scouring of the north bank or spit which was the cause of the river encroachment. This had the desired effect, and the bank is now cutting away, thus relieving the pressure of the stream at the threatened spot. The south bank at the road, on examination of the workmen, proved to be undercut by the action of the river, necessitating a greater cost for repairs than was at first anticipated. The total expenditure was upwards of £17, for which very good value has been given. A further outlay of £12 to £15 is, however, required to make the bank thoroughly secure from future inroads of the stream. During the month Mr M'Whirter and I dealt with the tenders received for the Lamplough f track repairs. Five tenders were received, namely : — John Joyle £95 15 0 H. L. Thomas ... £138 5 0 Bramhall & Sullivan .. £136 0 0 Boyle and Griffin ... £116 10 0 M. Morris £187 5 0 The tender of Mr Coyle, being the lowest, was accepted. The Waitaha wire bridge has been repaired at a cost of £8 16s, which is very considerably below the price named .when tenders were recently invited. The work was inspected by a Government officer who reports to me that the bridges is now right for a number of years. A very considerable outlay is necessary on the Back Creek road to put it in passable order, and in view of the importance of the mining in the locality requires urgent attention. Mr Bell, who was appointed as engineer for the northern and central groups in connection with the expenditure of Government grants used considerable expedition in Who, preparation of the plans, with the result that the Council will be able to-day to deal with tenders for three important works. With regard to the Kapitea and Hungerf ord's bridges repairs Mr Bell has rerommended that the work be done by day labor, it being found very difficult to embrace that would be required within the terms of a set specification. A copy of the letter has been forwarded to the Department. Two sets of r J specifications prepared by Mr Nightingale - for work in the southern riding have been sent forward for approval, as Lave also , the specifications for the Waitangi Bluff ' track, prepared by Mr Gerke. Tenders for these works, with others prepared for 3 by Mr Bell, will be called for at next meeting. It will thus be seen that all exB pedition is being used in the matter of 3 putting the works in hand j — Received. The Chairman explained with reference f to the Doughboy road it was proposed Mr Bell should be engaged preparing . plans in accordance with the request of the settlers. He moved that the Chief Surveyor's offer of plans and specifica- . tions for £20 be declined and Mr Bell , prepai-e plans and specifications as proz posed — Seconded by Mr Northcroft. At 6.5 p.m. the Council adjourned to 7. EVENING SITTING. The Council resumed at 7 30. The standing orders were supended to permit of the Chairman moving the resolution disposed of by the adjournment of the Council. — Seconded tyy Mr Cumming. — Mr Baucke'moved an amendmen t that the Mines Department be asked to hand the vote to the Lands Department. — Lapsed for want of a seconder. — Mr . Donovan supported the resolution. — Mr \ Byrne opposed. — The motion was carried . Mr Byrne dissenting. Mr Baucke raised a question of privilege. A vote of the Council of £15 ; for the Back Creek track entrusted to the Chairman had not been carried out. — The Chairman explained he had visited ■ the locality with the Chief Surveyor who had a vote for expenditure there and he had been waiting to see what the Lands Department would do. As considerable time had elapsed he had given instructions to have repairs effected wh'-re urgently required. TENDERS. . The Council went into Committee to open tenders and on resuming approved of resolutions, passed in Committee, accepting the following tendeiv, :— Bu loners Creek bridge, J. M'Gregor, £129 17s 6rl ; Kanieri Lake bridge, M'Fadyen & Co, £94 ss ; wire bridge, J. Reynolds, £118. At 8 p.m. the Council adjourned to 10.30. the following day.

The words " Lincoln and Midland Oouuties DrugCompauy, Lincoln, England," are engraved on the Government stamp, anc 3 " CLARKE'S WORLD FAMED BLOOD MIXrURE" blown on the Bottle without which none, ar genuiae.