BULLER COUNTY COUNCIL.

Westport Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 3275, 2 December 1884, Page 2

BULLER COUNTY COUNCIL.

[For report of Thursday's business see fourth page.'] Friday, Nov. 28. The "Committee of the Whole" reported to the Council upon " reports and payme :ts" and their report was adopted, j as under : —That Crs Colvin, Organ and ' the Chairman deal with the contract of O'Brien and party, Denniston track, subject to concurrence of Government.— That Chairman, Crs Organ, Colvin, and Haselden be appointed to enquire into the sanitary condition of Denniston and to bring up as full and comprehensive report as possible, providing for the improvement of that township, with power to correspond with the Colonial Secretary for the purpose of carrying out the object in view and determining the best means of doing so.—That the Chairman be requested to obtain a further report regarding the advisability of repairing the Karamea Wharf having regard to the changes now taking place in the Karamea river.— That the Chairman be authorised to instruct the Overseer as soon as funds are available to have the bridges at Mokihinui repaired.—That the Commissioner of Crown Lands be communicated with re the survey of township at Denniston ; and that proper townships be laid off at coal mining centres throughout the County.— That the County Chairman be requested to interview the Government re Buller road in order that a settlement may be arrived and funds obtained to carry out the recommendations of the Overseer, [which involved the expenditure of £2500 in improving the road, and maintenance]. —That surface men be taken oil'the Mokihinui road as soon as repairs are completed.—That Mr Nolan receive £7 in full payment of unauthorised work done by him on the Mokihinui road.—That the Clerk be instructed to write to the Commissioner of Crown Lands re the fence at Mr Heimessy's, Fairdown.—That Mr McGill's claim for work at Denniston be held over for further enquiry.—That the Chairman, Crs Haselden, Organ, and McPadden, be a Committee to confer with the Borough Council to obtain sufficient accommodation for the Offices of the Council with power to enquire into the matter, and to enquire where suitable premises are to be obtained, and to select and endeavor to obtain a site for County buildings on one of the Government reserves.—That funds be supplied to the Rate Collector in order that proceedings may be taken against all defaulters.— That Mr McNabb's report, re passing of Karamea roads be referred back for further information [as it was not clear whether a road upon which there are slips had been passed].—The Committee reviewed the accounts passed by the late Council, and after discussion, particular!}' upon the accounts of Crs. for expenses, eventually all the accounts passed by the late Council were referred to the proper officers for certificate before payment. —Other accounts were either passed, held over, or referred to the Overseer.— That the letter of P. McEnroe, re loss of horse, be held over for consideration.— That relief be continued to :—Mrs Flynn, 10s per week ; T. Castles, 10s ; W. Mullins, 10s ; J. Hussey, 10s ; J. Jamicson, 10s ; H. Lavery, 30s ; J. Jones, 20s ; S. Landy, 10s. Tiiat relief be discontinued to the following, pending enquiries :—P. Johnson, Hardy, Mrs Cook, and H. Ewing. At 3 p.m. the Council again went into Committee to consider the proposal of Cr Organ re road fron Waimangaroa to the beach, but after short consideration the whole subject was postponed. The Council then adjourned to allow the Chairman and Clerk to prepare a Financial Statement and other business. Saturday, Nov. 20. The Council assembled at 10 a.m., when the Chairman announced that the preparation of business was not completed, and he asked for a short adjournment.— Members differed in respect to the time of adjournment, and the Council eventually broke up in confusion, the Chairman stating that he would resume the chair at 11 a.m. Upon the Council resuming, the Chairman brought up his Statement of County affairs, which showed :—Estimated revenue for the year 1885, £8741 ; estimated expenditure, £8727 6s sd. Supplementary and contingent schedule estimate Revenue, £3132 ; expenditure, works throughout the County, £3132. Cr Organ moved, and Cr O'Sullivan seconded, "That thereportbe considered"— Cr Munro acknowledged the indebtedness of the Council to the Chairman for the preparation of the estimate, but entirely objected to the Chairman usurping the the functions of members in bringing up a schedule of works. He moved .adjournment till 2 p.m. to allow members to consider the report.—Adjournment carried after another ebullition. Council resumed at 2 p.m. Cr Fennell moved as an amendment to Cr Organ's proposal : —" That the report be received and adopted." He did this to stop the useless discussion.—Cr Haselden argued that the adoption of the report did not bind the Council in any way to accept the proposed work.—Cr Organ objected to the appropriation, as it was unfair : proposals should come from the members, and this was merely handing over all power to the Chairman. He strongly objected to certain works proposed.—Cr Munro spoke at length against the Council in this manner relegating their privileges and duties to the Chairman alone. He went on to criticise the minutes to idlow certain members time to cooL" This was carried, and the meeting

items in the schedule of works, stating it was a deception and a fraud.—Chairman held that if the report was adopted he would simply consider it adoption of the report and did not bind the Council to any of the works mentioned.—At this stage the most serious disagreement of the sittings occurred between the Chairman and Cr Munro, on one of the interminable "points of order." The wordy warfare was at its height when Cr Haselden moved, and Cr Colvin seconded, " That the Council adjourn for ten broke up amidst general evidences of irritated feeling. When the Council resumed, the Chairman and Cr Munro had yet another "spar"—the former holding that the latter had delayed business, and should be dealt with by the Council for disorderly conduct ; while Cr Munro argued that he was simply standing up for the individual rights of members, and that he was continually treated in an offensive manner by the chair.—Debate on the schedule of proposed works was then conitnued, and it was eventually adopted, all voting for it except Crs Organ and Munro.—The Chairman declined to allow any Councillor who had spoken to move any further amendment, and Cr Munro declared this to be " the cloture with a vengeance." Accounts were next brought up and dealt with, and amongst these was one from late Cr Stitt, £1 Is, for visiting Waimangaroa on County business.—The general question of payment of members' expenses was discussed.—The Chairman moved aud Cr Munro seconded, that legal opinion be taken on the question.—Cr Haselden quoted the opinion of Mr Reid, Attorney-General, obtained at the instance of Mr C. G. Andrews, County Treasurer, during the first year of the County system, deciding that such payments could not be made. He moved an amendment, which Cr Cooper seconded, not to recognise the claim.—The original motion was carried.

Relief to the extent of 10s per week was granted to Daniel Moloney, Orawaiti. Resolved, on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Or M'Padden—That the Chairman and Cr Haselden be appointed to sign cheques. Resolved, on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Cr Fennell —That the members resident near Westport, Crs Organ, M'Padden, Haselden, Colvin, Munro, and the Chairman, with any other members who may happen to be present, be a Works and Tenders Committee. Proposed by Cr Organ, and seconded by Cr Munro t —That the previous resolution of the Council for construction of track at Campkin's lease be carried out, and also that the bridge at Campkin's Creek be continued as authorised.— Amendment by the Chairman, seconded by Cr O'Sullivan—That no new work be undertaken without special authority of the Council.—Amendment carried. [At this stage there was a perfect babel of disorder, Cr Munro claiming the right to speak, in defiance of the Chairman's ruling. Sergeant Barrett appeared on the scene, in response to the Chairman's summons, and the Council was adjourned for ten minutes.] Resolved, on the proposition of the Chairman, seconded by Cr O'Sullivan — That the works brought down by the Chairman on the supplementary and contingent estimates be authorised if funds will admit of their construction, and that it be an instruction to the Works and Tenders Committee to proceed with the same pro rata in each Riding, according to the monies received. [More disorder. The above motion was put and carried while Cr Munro was on his feet claiming the right to speak.] Council then adjourned, and resumed at 7 p.m., when the hall was crowded by the public. Resolved, on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Cr O'Sullivan—That the Chairman be authorised to proceed io Wellington on behalf of the County and to arrange various unsettled matters with Government, and also to take over and construct any works for which Government will provide funds. Resolved, on the motion of Chairman, seconded by Cr O'Sullivan—That the Chairman and Cr Haselden be empowered to make arrangement in regard to the banking account to secure the accommodation required. Resolved—That the next meeting be held on the 3rd Wednesday in February.— Cr Munro moved as an amendment, which lapsed, that the Council adjourn until its next annual sitting, as its functions had been handed over to the Chairman. Cr Munro gave notice of the following motions for the next meeting : That the practice hitherto followed of accepting orders from contractors to the County for payment on their account to third parties, be discontinued. That the appointment of a special committee to deal with the application of P. O'Brien, to receive balance of his contract contrary to the certificate of the County Overseer, be not considered a precedent to this Council. That in the opinion of this Council steps should be taken to obtain portion of the vote "Subsidies to Goldfields," in order to construct a prospecting track from Lyell-Buller road to Manuka Flat. That it be an instruction to the County Clerk to place upon the table of the Council at the beginning of each sitting, a statement of accounts showing in detail the liabilities up to date, and an estimate of revenue available. That the resolutions passed at the sitting of this Council held on the 28th November, granting the sum of £IOO, in commiseration, to William Hanna, be rescinded. The proceedings of these memorable sittings then concluded.