WALLACE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Western Star, Issue 283, 8 February 1879, Page 6

WALLACE COUNTY COUNCIL.

A meeting was held on Monday at the Council Chambers, Riverton. There were present — Messrs Hirst, (Chairman) Cuthbertson, M'Tntyre, Johnstone, (Aparima) Johnston, (Wairio) Basstian, and Haukinson. The minutes of ordinary and special meetings, were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr D. Ferguson, Otautau applied for a slaughtering license.—Granted, Letter from the Under-Secretary for Goldfields, stating that “the Governor has been pleassd to delegate to you as Chairman of the County Council of Wallace the powers vested in him by section 51 of ‘The Mines 1877,’ of making, altering, amending, and revoking rules and regulations.”—Received. From the Under-Secretary for Public Works, ; n reply to letter from the Chairman in reference to the inadvisablity of shifting site of railway station at Otautau. The letter stated that “ tke Hon. the Minister for Public Works directs me to state that he will personally enquire into the matter while in the South j after which you will be further informed.’’—Received

From the Secretary of the Bluff Harbor Board, notifying that the Wallace County Council had the power to elect one member of the Bluff Harbor Board to serve for two years, and that the election must take place on the second Monday in the month of February.—lt was unanimously resolved to elect Mr J. R. Cuthbertson as representative. From the Under Secretary, General Crown Lands Office, stating that the “ Government have decided to allow the Wallace County Council the sum of £440 out of the £lo,ooj voted by the Legislature last session on account of roads in. deferred payment blocks disposed of prior to the Ist January, 1878. The expenditure will be left entirely with the County officers, the only condition being that the Land Board approves the line of roads upon which it is proposed to expend the money, so as to be beneficial to the deferred payment selections. It is desirable that tho work may be immediately put in hand, so as to take advantage of tho favourable season of the year for roa.4 making.”—Received. From W. W. Dartnall, Resident Engineer, acknowledging receipt “ of your letter of 23rd inst., re overflow of Jacob’s River at the double cabbage tree; and in answer thereto I beg to inform you that I will take an early opportunity of visiting tho locality for the purpose of seeing the danger threatened and cost of protective works.”

Mr Cuthbertson said it was entirely owing to the overflow of Jacob’s River that the Otautau was flooded. He enquired if no reply had been received in answer to the request of the Council for a sum of £IOOO to repair damage done by floods. The Chairman paid a reply had been received, asking for particulars. He bad given instructions to the Engineer to make a report on the matter. He believed, however, that the sum voted by Parliament had been all expended. Seeing the Council had ultimately to pay back the money,

the wisdom of accepting it on such terms might j be open to doubt. , i Mr MTntyre Said the roads at Collie’s Ford and Upper Ford had been greatly damaged by the flood. He thought they should hare some attention in any grant made by Government for the repair of damages. The Chairman said the vote only applied to roads under the control of the County. The Engineer, however, could mention in his report the roads referred to by Mr MTntyre. MABAEOA EOADS, In reply to Capt. Hankinson, the Chairman said contracts bad been let for repair of road at Hamilton Burn near junction of cross roads. THE HAND FUND. The Chairman slated that he had received notification that the sum of £7OOO had been placed to the credit of the Council, being 20 per cent, of the amount accruing from land sold in the county during last quarter. That sum, with the present credit at bank, would cover all the con- [ tracts the Council had in hand. Mr Cuthbertson pointed out that the revenue from the land fund was lisely to be small for some time. He therefore cautioned the Council against unnecessary expenditure on the strength of the receipts from that source keeping up to any great extent. Money was very scarce at present, and while that was the rase the land sales would ba very small. It was within his own knowledge that financial houses drawing their capital from England had refused to do business, and only recently be knew a person who wished to purchase a property to the extent of £20,000, and who wanted an advance of only £6OOO, being refused on the ground that the security was not considered good enough. He mentioned those facts to show that the funds of the Council were not hkelj to be increased from the land fund for some considerable time. •

SLAUGHTERHOUSEIN3PECTOE3. Constable Henderson was appointed Inspector of Slaughter-houses for Riverton district, and Constable Carmody for Orepuki district. [The Council then adjourned for lunch. Business was resumed at 2 p.m,] LAPSED MOTION. The motion standing in Mr Mackintosh’s name that £983 be spent on road on Oreti Hundred lapsed owing to absence of mover, APARIMA BRIDGES. Mr Johnston (Aparima) moved—That the sum of £3500 be voted or a sum sufficient to erect two bridges on the Aparima river at the Upper Ford and Collies Ford; Aparima Riding to pay two thirds and Otautau riding one-third amount of interest. The interest in such proportions to be deducted.from the revenue of each riding. In speaking to the motion, the mover said he did not think there was anyone who did not ad-, mit the necessity of these bridges. The fords used to bo tolerably good, but owing to having been greatly damaged by recent floods, they were highly dangerous, and settlers had to be under au obligation to their neighbors to pass through their paddocks. He thought that his proposal that Otautau riding should pay one-third amount interest was a fair one. The proposed bridge at Collie’s Ford although in Aparima Riding,.was very close to the boundary of the two ridings, and he was ef opinion that that bridge would be far more extensively used by settlers in Otautau Riding than Aparima. The railway station near Collie’s Ford would be of great benefit to settlers at Limestone Plains, Oreti Hundred, &e., while the bridge there would be a benefit to orly a few settlers in Aparima riding. When the question of these bridges was last brought before the Council, members cd-idered it was a matter with which other ridings had nothing to do. He did not think the Council was in a position to undertake the work without borrowing , and he would oppose a special rate for the purpose, as he considered the settlers were already heavily enough taxed.

Mr Basstian would hare pref«rred that separate votes were taken for the works. As the motion stood, he did not know whether he would support it; whereas if the votes were separated he would be able to take the position he wished in the matter, and treat each on its merits.

Mr MTntyro seconded the motion. He was willing to saddle the two ridings with the interest of the money, but lie considered the principle wrong, and cases would probably in future arise when the application of such a principle would be a hardship. However, the necessity of the bridges was so urgent that he would waive any objection he had on that account. If the Connell djd not erect the bridges, it would give colour to the truth of Dr Hodgkinson’s remark that the County was not capable of carrying out its proper functions. It was the duty of the local body to carry out this work, and if they failed to do so they would only he driving the administration of their affairs out of their own hands. The voice might be silent then, but he warned them that the time would come when it would make itself heard.

[The Chairman here reminded the Council that Ministers had appointed the hour of 2.30 p.rn, to receive them as a deputation, and as that hour had now arrived the Council adjourned and interviewed Ministers on several subjects, reports of which, will be found in another column.] Upon resuming a deputation was introduced by Mr MTntyre, consisting of Messrs M. Instone, Hopcroft, F. Sutton, Hamilton, and Collie. Mr Hamilton said at a meeting of Aparima Bridges Committee, held that day, the deputation which had just been introduced were appointed at a public meeting of settlers held at the Thombury Junction Hotel recently. Everyone knew the necessity of the bridges last year, and the meeting was unanimous on the subject. He considered it was the duty of the County as a whole to ereot these bridges. If Aparima riding alone took the matter up, it would be so deep in debt that it would he unable to undertake any other work. He hoped the Council would view it in that light. Mr Instone said a suggestion had been made to plank the railway bridge as a means of getting over the difficulty; but he pointed out that when the river was up people would not he able to get to the bridge, as the road was under water. For the last seven or eight months no one could have gene to the river with a certainty of being able to cross.

Mr Hopcroft said it was a great drawback not being able to get across the river. While other districts were going ahead, this district was falling hack for want of a bridge. If the Council could not see their way to do the whole of the work, he hoped they would assist. Mr Johnston (Wairio) asked if the bridges were required then, or when the railway was finished.

Mr Collie said they had been urgently wanted' for many years. The late Mr Cumming, the member for the district in the Provincial, Counci , got a sum placed on the estimates for the purpose, but owing to his death the vote lapsed. Independent of the railway the bridges were very much required. Mr Hamilton said the bridges would be more than ever required when the railway was finished. The Government had promised Dr Hodgkinson to plank the railway bridge, wbieh was estimated to cost £BOO or £IOOO. . . , The deputation, after thanking the Council, withdrew. Mr Cuthbertson said he felt strongly the necessity of the bridges, but as a matter of prudence they should consider,the question of ways and means. He regretted to say that in the present financial state of the colony it was impossible to get money. The Council was limited in the amount of interest it could give, and he did not think it likely they could obtain a loan at seven per cent at the present time, and the ordinary revenue of the Council was unable to bear the strain of such an undertaking. It was not likely that they would again get £7OOO for land revenue for some time, and even although they did it would not be just to expend £3500 in one riding. He believed the Collie’s Ford more necessary than the Upper Fordone. He considered the question had not been properly brought before the Council as they had no definite data as to A motion should first have been made for the Couneil to get an estimate of the bridges. Mr Johnston (Wairio) said the places named in the motion were not the only points where Jacob’s River required to be bridged. A bridge at Wrey’s Bush was very much needed. Two men hod been swept off their horses and drowned in trying to cross the river at this place. The Couneil was not in a position to construct bridges at every point on the river. There was a great demand for roads in his district. He would agree to the erection of a bridge at Collie’s Ford, but be would not sanction the one at Upper Ford. Mr Johnston (Aparima) in reply said he was sorry to bear the opionion expressed that the Council hud not the funds. He did not think the drawbacks so great as represented. He did not think the money market so dull as represented ; at anyrate it would not continue so. Settlers would not be able to avail themselves of the' advantages of the railway unless the bridges were built. He had spent most of a day looking fora ford. The Council would not bo performing its proper' functions if it did not construct these works. The member for the district had told him that there was no chance of getting any assistance from Government for the works. One bridge was as much required as the other, and he objected to split his motion. If he could' not get the two, he would do without either. He understood an estimate had already.been made as to the cost of the bridges—Upper Ford to cost £2OOO, and Collie’s Ford £IOOO. He bad no desire to rob other ridings ; he wanted the Council to borrow. He hoped the Council would soon be given extended borrowing powers. Dr Hodgkins»n ha i , been laughed at and jeered at for bis remark with regard to’County Councils, but it appeared to him (Mr Johnston) that they were quite true. There was not a man who did nob agree that the bridges were required ; then lie asked why did they not go on with them. It was no use for him to say any more, as he could not alter the opinion of any one present if he did. The Council divided on the motion, with the following result -Ayes : Messrs Johnston (Aparima),'and MTntyre. Hoes; Messrs Hirst, Cuthbertson, Johnston (Wairio), Basstian, and Capt. Hankinson. The motion was therefore declared lost. , HAEBOUB BOABD. The Chairman and Mr Mackintosh were appointed the Council’s representatives on the Riverton Harbqur Board, The Council then adjourned till 4th March.