ORDINARY MEETING. (Continued)

West Coast Times, Volume 01, Issue 14179, 1 August 1907, Page 4

ORDINARY MEETING. (Continued)

From J Donovan and others, applying

lor £8, half eoit of catting oat the Oktrito harbour. Received and resolved to grant a Bam of £5 for the work. From J Donovan and others, applying for a farther extension of the street kerbing at Oka' itn, Received. On the motion of Crs Fergnwon and Michel, it wii resolved that the sum, of. £10 be granted for the extension of ke.rb.iog. Or M'Gaigan disaented from tie resola* %«00. From J Bitohie, applying for an outU)} drain at Jacob's river, cost abbUt £15. Received and resolved that a repot b be obtained from the Roadman, Fr.>m Harbourmaster, Okarito, pointing oat repairs necassary to wharf.— Received, and re?olv«d that a report on the eubj-ot be obtained.' From Oolleotor of Customs at Greymoulb, giving gold export from West* ltnd fur June quarter, 11730z 14dwt 6gr?,' value £4,7B3.— Received, From A R Alien, Donnelly's Greek, applying for slaughterhouse license,— Received, and application recommended. From J W ThonopcoD, Okarito, remittiog fee? :— Wharfage, £4 la 6d , £1 depasturing licensee— Reoeived, From Receiver Gold Revenue, Stafford, notifying £57 13s 2d, goldfields' revenue, outstanding for Jane quarter. —Received; From Roadman Flynn and, Roadman Thornier, forwarding monthly reports. •—Received. From Roadman McOormaok,* report* Ing dfttriou road repairs.— Received. From Roadman iSlcQuiikin, reporting Lake Kanieri read in bad order owing to heavy oarting. — Received, From Roadman Millner, advising the Construction of road to Died rich* flax mill be postponed for the present , forwarding specifications for timber supply. —Received. Front Roadman Mebarry, reporting road works, reoommenJiog drainage work at Waitaba, estimaticg co->t of turn-out required by T Ferguson at £18 ; stating Oaltiury track rep H weru being done by A. Graham. — 11 oeivod. With referenoe to a tura-out at Mr F Ferguson's, on the motion of Crs Michel and Fergusoo, it was resolved that * sum of £6 be voted for the work. It was farther resolved that a saot of £10 be granted for drainage works at Wai' taha Settlement. From Roadman Nohn, pointing oat the urgenoy of the Maori bridge, and tendering bis resignation as roadman of the far south district. —Received. The resignation oC Roadman Nolan was aoceptdd. Or Ferguson again moved tb* appointment of Mr Dale to fill the vacauoy. Or MoGuigtn seeondad the motion. The mover and seconder and other members spoke highly of Mr Dale's qualifications and his appointment was oonflrmed, From L ICoLaohtan, asking that the Government's attention ahonld be drawn to the great loss to the Rimu dfetriot canned by want of water, and opposing the lifting of the reservation of 100 aorta there.— Received, and no action taken. From Superintendent of Electric Lines, stating that instructions had been given to carry out the work of the erection of the telephone to Dry Creek. — Reosived. From Roadman Milner, reporting on the aatisf actory completion of the road to the Education Rtserva at Soiterangi. —Received. From Engineer, Tuapeka County Oonntil, asking to be Bapplied witb plans for suspension bridges suitable for rough traffic—Received, aud resolved that rcqaeat be oomplied with, BBFORI9. VINA.NCIG COHMITTBB's REPORT. 1. Your Committee have ti'te honaur to report that the account* presented foi the month of June and Ja'j, 1907, have been carefully examined, -a«.d b«g to reoommeod that tb« aaount a- approved, totalling £1056 0s 9d, be parted for paymat. 2. Tour Oemmittee beg to recommend that in order to meet the early'paymem of th# above aoooants, arran: oments be made with the (Jouooii's bank for an additional overdraft of £500 for a term of three months. 3. Yoar Committee beg t> drawaU tent ion to ib« oo*( to the Council of tne Wataroa Ferry, aod beg to recommend thai applications beiotite4 lor the poa^.

tion Pgnin, with a guarantee of twelve month* engagement, the applicants to .»tab'> Eubeidy n quired. — Rec<iv~d and adopted. County Council's Conference, the ohaibman 8 report. I have the honour >o report that in aecordaiic ■ with the resolution of the Couno.l, 1 dul.v pno eded to WV'lin-ton <■> at'e 1 <f >hd''.uf"renceot >hf Nhw Zeal-md Conntits' Association. In comoatty wit!) tbe Chairman and Clerk nfrh«Gie* CulltiCy, I h»d an t-njovablf tr»p overland to Chri«tchurcb, and thence by boat to Wellington, arriving there on tbe 7th in«t. Thp Conference started at 10 a.m 'on Tuesday the 9th inst, and concluded at 5 p m on the following Friday.

Ou the first day a committee was set up to consider the u'nanc : al and other new clauses of the proposed Local Government Bill, and ur;f< a r purl: liiernon ior the Conference. I bad tbe honour of being included in the committee of seven which was thus neb up, and for tbe four aiitmg roy Dine was fully occupied. The Couferenctt *at c'aWy from 10 a m to 5 p m, Hnd *h- r.\ v mac.-c met each evening fnim 7 t> 11 o'clock.

About 90 d'<ie»- 1. s n nil attended tbe Coaie<fmi , a>>a mtny U verse views Were naturally < xpr^sed, & large proportion of tbe deiegite* were representatives wit*! vested in: e-epts in land, who stock rog khtr and fought very jealously for thi-jr fwn interests, and had but little sympafc' y for the action proposed as a means to develop ct»er resources of the colony. I did my best to support the proposals gener&'ly from the West Coa^c Ooubcil, and the following remitß from the Westland County wete approved by the Conference: — Local Government Bill, clause 25, a deposit of £5 for each candidate nomina* ted for an election is unnecessary. Oianoe 65. Payment of members for Committee meetings was approved. Clause 93. Chairman to have power when Council not sitting, to make temporary appointments. Subsidy on r*tts to be retained, and to be payable on a sliding scale in propoition to the amount per pound levied. The Conference entered a strong protest against the charge of 10 per cent for tne collection of timber and flax royalties, the ded action being illegal, Thirty days before an election, supplementary electoral roll to olose. With regard to voting at local elections, Mr Martin (The Association's Solicitor) gave it as his opiniou tbat no name can appear on the roll more than onoe, and that a person oannot vote on his own, and in one or moro representative capacities also, therefore tbe Council's suggested amendment to the present law was deemed •nnecessaiy. The aybtem of placing a cross against the name of a candidate voted for was deleted at the Council's motion, and the old system of striking out a name or names of candidates whs aiopted. It was al^o agreed that it should be compulsory to post tbe result of the Voting outside a polling booth, as soon as the result was ascertained. On the Council's motion, also, it was agreed to urge tbe Government to adopt some system whereby tbe charge made for the use of railway bridges for road traffic purposes, be baaed in relation to the actual /oiuiue of traffic and the ooßt of upkeep. The Conference likewise adopted the Council's motion whereby one-half of the fees derived from auctioneers' lioenses of firms carrying on basineas in county dietrietß, be payable to tbe local bodies of suob district?.

Ai eh« Rt Hon tbe Premier announced the new Local (xorernment Bill is only to be circulated this session, bat there is a definite promise to pace tbe measure on the Statute Book next session. The Conference did good work in its general retision, and it ia hoped that the more important amendments suggested, particularly as affecting subsidies and other financial clausei will be embodied. lam rather hopeful that they will, and bope the best expectations in repard to the benefits of the proposed reform will be realised. If it should be impossible for me to return in time for the Council meeting. I trust no inconvenience will be felt, and that my colleagues will be good enough to excuse my unavoidable absence. — Received and adopted. REPORT KR COMPLAINTS AGAINST ROAD HAN R. THOMSON. The Special Committee set op t > inquire into the complaints re Roadmn ft Thompson, reported as follows :— 14 Gentlemen, — Your Committee have j tbe honour to report tbit they fa ] I an enquiry on the 29fch June at the Court Bouse, Goldsbovough : '* (1) In regard to the complaint? made by Mutttrs P Whelm and Wnj. Lenihan that Roadman Thompson had unfairly discharged them for their work on ' Duffer's Track,' after hearing tbe evidence of the witnesses on both sides, we are of opinion that taking a 1 the tacts into conaideaation, we find that the charges were not substantiated, "(2) We also, at the same time and phce, made a full enquiry into the complaint made by J Beban that Roadmau Thompson had unfniriv refund to give bim work on the Duffer 'a Track. After hearing the evidence we find that Mr Beban only arrived in the northern part of the district when tbe full complanent of men had been engaged. Under the circumstances we are of opinion that this charge was noc substantiated. ♦' (3) Tour Committee further de.«ire to report that some dissatisfaction appeals to .exist amongct the unemptoy> •< on p'lblio works (such •■ Duffer's Track) having to provide wheelbarrow* in addi ■ tion to their other tods. Your committtee are of opinion that it is unreasonable to expeot men who are employed on what may be teri»ed casual labour (9s per day) to do thi I*,1 *, and we would recommend that in the future, wheelbarows should be provide! for 'he workmen* Much of the friction and misunderstanding which arose in oonneo tion with tbe work on Duffei's Track o»n be traced to the fact that the men were discharged owing to their not h iv* ing wheelbarrows pr Tided. "(4) Tbe complaints which your Committee have enquired into teem to suggest that the Council should consider t he advisability of changing some of our roadmen from one distriot to another,, so m to remove any suspicion that trey vre influenced by their relations or friends in giving any undue preference in the employment of men in the different districts. " (5) A. copy of the evidenoe taken at <he enquiry is now attached to trn* report. •' We have the honour to be gent'emen, yours obediently, H L Michel, A OUFTOtI, J 3TAINEB." After a lensfcby discussion, Cr Miobt-1, with the consent of Messrs Clifton and Staioea agreed to substitute the wore) "complaint" in lieu of the word "suspicion " in the last Clause, The report was received and adopted WIDTH OF TYRES REPORT. Your Committee have the honour to report having met et Hokitika on tbe 23rd inst, when tbe following draFt bye-law wa< drawn up, tnd is now submitted for thu Council's consideration ;— 1. The width of tyreaon all drays, waggons or other vehicles without springs dtawn by not nvre than two horse', shall not be less than four inches, 2. Dtawn by three or four horses, •fell aofcto Wto tb»u fiw Mm

3. Drawn by five or six horse! 1 , shall not be leas bhau s x inches. 4. The width of tyres on all springs drays or similar vehicles with tpringp, used for the transport of freight, drawn by not more iban two horses, shall be not lesa than three inches. 5. Drawn by three horses, shall be four inches. 6. Drawn by more than three horses, shall bo fire inches. 7. The following vohicles to be exempt from the operation of the bje»law — Spring cait or other vehicle on springe, drawn by not mor« than one horse. All yebiclea on springs ÜBed exclasively for the conveyance of persons and their luggage, Any coach "or other vehicle upon springs, need under contract for the conveyance of mails. 8. That some restriction be placed generally on loading carried) and thai; width of tyres be fixed in proportion thereto for heavy loading. j 9. That "heavy traffic" be defined io accordance with tne Grey County byelaw, to mean ' 'the transportation of any vehicle, engine, or machine, which shall iCBelf, or together wilb any thing or things being transported thereon, weigh otore than one and a half cons avoirdapois to each piir of wheels." lOt That tbb lighting of vehicles, both public end priyite, be euforced between one half hour after sunssb and one hoar before sunrise, 11. That no vehicle be taken over any bridge cr culverc at a pace fatter than three miles an hour. 12. That-, it shall be lawful for any person acting under the authority of the Council to ail times examine and measure the tyres of the wheels of any vehicle ? that the penalty for a breach of the byelaw be fixed at, a line not exceeding £5 for each offence, to be recovered under '•The Justices of the Peace Act." — Jieaolvcdto holdover coupideiatioa of this report till next meeting. NOTICES OF MOTION. The Chairman moved:— "That the accounts for the month of Juae, 1907, as revised and recomraeiidad for payment bj the Finance Committee, amounting to £1,056 0s 9d bo passed for payment." I — Carried. The Cl.uirrap.n moved : --'That in pursuance of the provisions of 'The R'tficg Act, 1904,' ai.d its amendment, The Gold Duty Abolition and Mining Properly Katmg Act, 189 J,' with its incorporations, and under and by virtue of section 148 or 'The Counties Act, 1886, and its amendments, a general rate of six farthings in the £ upon the rate* able value of the idtenblt) property of the County of Weailand, as appearing on the valuation rolls now in force, be now made; the said rate to be for the year commenced 00. the 31st day of April, 19C7, and terminating onbbe 3lst March, 1908, and to b a p^yabla in one instalment at the office of the Connty Council of Wsstland, Hokitika, on Thaisday, the 15tb day of August, 1907."— Seconded by Cr Ferguson* Ur Michel moved an amendment that the rate be five farthiDgß.— Buled out of order, as previous resolution required to be rescinded. Cr J. F. Byrne moved :— "That any and all resolutions bearing on the i ayment of members attending committee moetiug:*. be and hereby are recinded, and it be resolved tbat under the provisions of 'entiou 3 of 'The Publ'c Revenues Act, 1893,' all members attending committee met- tirgs duly authorised by the C<>uocil l« pud iv accordance with the sea c adopted for payment of members attending Council meetiogp,"— Cr Clifton sreopdfed. Cr Michel moved as an amend. neiiD that the Sol ci tor's opinion bu obtuititd *n f;e matter. Amendment curried on adivisiou ; Ayes — CrsStaines, Duff, M*Gu»g-4u and Michel ; Nots -Crs Ferguson, Utifton aud the Chairman. Cr Duff moved : — '"That the Council now consider the advisability of appointing a County Engineer, and resolve into Committee of* the Whole for the p lrpose of fixing salary and defining duties." — Held over till next meeting. Cr Duff moved -.—"That in tbe event of the foregoing motion being uegucmd, tbeCounclrow resolve to ap point an Inspecting Uvers^er at a salary of £225 per annum, including horse allowauce a>id travelling expenses, such overseer to be in charge of the district roadmen, and all County works, aud to report to the Council from month to month a* to the works rrquired outside of the labour prov ded by the roadmen, and to direct all works ia accordance with the rates of the Council, payment for all works, matsra* and supplies to be made only upou the certificate of the Inspect'rg Ovarseer; a< d that the Council do now fix *>uch othsr duties- a ( >d conditions of service as may be agreed to." — Held over till mxt meeting.

Or Duff moved :— " That applica-

seer, in accordance with the terms agreed upon by tbe C>nnci', be invited from tbe pr> sent district roadmen, and be dealt with at next meeting, all canvassing for support to be a di^qual.ficatiou." — Held over till next meeting.

Cr Duff moved :— •• That the following a counts be now voted to the Literary Institutes within tbe Count}-. — Rimu £7. Stafford £7, Okuru, £5."— Seconded by Cr Clifton and carried.

Cr Bruce moved — " That the ferries at Cook's and Karangaura nvers on the beach route be retained as formerly tbe firiies in question being as much required now as ever tbey were, abd iba. a specidl granb of £80 be applied for from the Government, for the purpose of es'ablisLiog fe:rie» on the rivers iv question on tbe inland route," — Held over till next meeting.

Cr Ferguson moved :— •" Thac the Couucil authorise the expenditure of J£ for £ up to £10, to Messrs Gibb Bros, for cutting a bcrse tracks bout 50 chains in length from tbe main South read down the soi-th side of Dohe«ty Creok." — Seconded by Cr Duff and carried.

Cr Staines moved :— " That the culvert ou tbe KoitatdDgi read reported ailunsafe, be put in order, cost about £10." — Seconueci by Or MGuigan and carried.

Or M'Guigau mov^d — "That iv accordance with the recommendation con tamed in tbe Public Work 3 Committee't* report at laafc meeting, tenders be invited for tbe supply of timber in the Kaaieri riding fcr twelve months iD terms of the specifications prepired bj Bcadmao Milluer."— Seconded by Cr Clifton pro forma* The motion was lost.

Cr M'Guigan moved —"That the Council co-ope j ate in the action taken in argirjg (he Government to throw open^ for mining purposes, the one hundred acrfs held in resenafciou at Seddon's Terrace." — Seconded by Cr Michel and carried.

Cr M'Guigai moved — 'Tha*; the Coulcil ascetbuin t K e !e:m' on which a deep livel boring punt may be hired from the Mines Department Cor testing the known auriferous ground in the vicinity of Kanieri and other localities, and also wl^a*. subsidy could be obtained for prospecting tbe deep levels." — Seconded by Cr Michel and carried.

Cr M'Guigan maved — "That a vote of £19 be authorised for the purchase of broken metal for Lake Kanieri roa^."— Seconded by Cr Staiues and carried.

Cr M'Gnigan moved — "That reports ba obtained on the cost of repairing and opening (1) By road off Cicpp's road to Cameiback ; (2) Boundary road from Kanieri road at Hokitika town belt to river road." — Seconded by Cr Michel and carried. Cr Clifton moved and Cr Michel seconded that a vote of £100 be applied for from the Government for the work. — Carried.

Or DufE maved :— * l That the Roadman be instructed to have side drain at Stafford cleaned out ; cost about £3." —Seconded by Cr M'Guigan and carried, subject to the approval uf the members for the Biding and tbe Chairman. Tue Couucil then adjourned.

k