INANGAHUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 4 June 1880, Page 2

INANGAHUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

# — — The regular monthly meeting of the Conncil was beld in the Chambers, SmithsStreet. on Wednesday evening last. Present t Tbe Chairman (Mr Brennat)). and Messrs Williams, Gallagher, Byrne, M'Gaffin, and Davies. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. COEBE9PONDENCE. Prom Mr Wylde, Kumara. asking for 26s costs awarded to him by the Resident Magistrate. Granted. From J. Sperrey, Property Tax Com' missioner, asking for certain information re bounty boundaries, Furnished. From Mr E. Beeves, M.H.8., stating that Marnia track mopey would be remitted, as also £500 on account of Msitakitaki road. From B. Oxley and J. Stevenson, calling attention to the dangerous state of the bridge near the Westland Battery, Murray Creek. From the Collector of Customs, Nelson re gold duty. From A. Greenfield, re register of leases for Council. From G. Moonlight, flampden, asking Council to recommend a free license for the ferry there, From Messrs Gilohrist and Gannon, intimating their intention of erecting an accomtno('ation*>bouse at Maruia near the Cannibal Gorge, and to keep a ferry on the riyer there, and asking for wire rope and use of ferry reserve, From Secretary of the Hospital, enclosing statement of relief afforded to destitute persons in the Hospital, and asking for a refund of the amount. From Mr O'Rourke, re public works in H»ropden Riding. Frnm B. de SToansr, enclosing account for £3 for work performer! in clearing water eonrses in Fpper Broarlway, Frnm Swrvtarv to tb^ Trea*urv, inM'« matin!? that £3500 had been remitted to Council »0 oredit of Mnruia track. From W. Beard, Blnckwater, asking the Council to connect the proposed Big Hirer track with track from Blackwater. and stating that the oonntry through which the extension would pass was nU'iferous. From Secretary to the Reeffou Athen* seam, asking the Council to grant a further subsidy of £35, with permission to the committee to charge the public for attending the Beading Boom. Mr Davtas supported the application. The Athenwam was resorted to generally by the inhabitants, and there was no rean son why the ratepayers should not sup* port it. The Chairman pointed out that the Council was debarred from supporting the Atbeiisoum, except upon the condition that the. Beading Boom was opened free to the publie. Mr Byrne would support tfie application if the stipulation was continued as to the room being kept oppn free. Mr Davies moved, Mr Byrne second*"*, and it was carried, that the «um of £85 be granted upon the condition that tbe room be opeped free.

From residents of Rauft-street, praying for the formation of seven chains of that thoroughfare. Mr Byrn© had been pointed out the street, and it certainly ought to be formed, as nearly all the firewood for the town was drawn down that street and in winter time it would be quite im passable, Mr Williams opposed the work. Reefton was too well laid off already. Men in the gullies were compelled to carry their tucker on their back, and there was no reason why people in town should not do the same. The Chairman said he had inspected the street, and be conld quite endorse the prayer of the petition. The occupants street bad no access from the Bullpr Sdndoo^heir back premises. He concurred that iftbeyjjpent money in the town to the exclusion^oi-Jthe goldfields, the town would eventually" -eojlapse, and he hoped, therefore, that it would not be regarded as a precedent. Mr Gallagher deprecated tinkering with the work. They should either make a pood road or none at all, Mr M'Gaffin said be was aware that the bulk of the firewood used In town came down that street, and for this rea* son be wou'd support the work, bot he should like to see the expenditure limited. Moved by Mr Byrne, seconded hy Mr M'Gsffin. and carried, that tender* be colled for constructing dray road in Ranft-street, to close within one week from date. From several miners at Newton Flat. Upper Buller. objecting to the gran tine of two agricultural teases applied for bet w pen Hunter's and the LyeH, for the rpason that the ground was auriferous. From Mrs Lowe, asking for a renewal of charitable aid to ber. She was 78 years of age. and destitute. J he Chairman said that Mrs Lowe bad j for some time been paid 10i per week, but it bad been withdrawn. The Cliairman and Mr MGdffin were appointed a committee to deal with the matter. From George Joice, statins his ?n*en» «ion to construct a road to his coa! nvnp from Bridge^strert, and asking fhe Council to construct eight ohaiug cf road to join the work, which would enable him to reduce coal 5s per ton. Mr Gallagher would oppose the appli* cation. It was an attempt to get a road made at the public expense for private use, and he would certainly oppose all such applications. Mr Da vies thought it the belter plan to refer the application to the Engineer to report. That would not compromise the Council in any way. Mr Williams would oppose the applis cation, and would oppose sny further money being expended in the town. Mr Byrne thought it was unfair to view the application as Mr Gallagher had done. If coal could be reduced 5s per ton, it was a public matter. Resolved on the motion of Mr Davies, that the matter be referred to the Ens ginper. From George Wise, calling attention to the dangerous condition of the bridge over Larry's Creek at the township. The Engineer said the bridge was in a very bad state. Moved by Mr Gallagher, seconded by Mr M'Gaffit, and carried, that the Engineer take the earliest steps to pat the bridge over larry's at Colin ton in repair. — Carried. From Doig Brothers, Blackwafer, stating that the bridges constructed by ' George Bannan up the Blackwater were of general publio utility, and had they not been erected they (Doig Brothers) wrnld have applied to the Council for the construction of a track to their place. From Byrne and Eyley, asking the Council to relieve them from their maintenance contract, on the BuHer road. Re the application of Gilchrist and Gannon for ferry rieht and free license at Maruia. Mr Williams thought the applicants should be encouraged, in order to facilitate traffic tbrongh that mute, Mr Davies moved that the Chairman communicate with the Waste Lands Bnard requesting that body not to grant any agricultural or other leases at the Maruia until survey of necessary ferrv and other reserves.— -Carried. Re the letter of James Beard, and the Big Hirer and Blnckwater tracks. Mr Byrne warmly supported the application. There was no doubt of the r ilue of the country alluded to by Mr Beard, and it was a first duty of Ihe Counoil to open up such districts. .He suggested that the Engineer sbou'd employ men to blase the line pending the visit of the Engineer to the locality. Mr M'Gaffin concurred with the foregoing remarks. There was no eon* realing the fact that "Ueefton was now depending to a great extent upon the alluvial resources of the distriot, and it was the imperative duty of the Council to strain every nerve to open up inch country. Mr Davies was of opinion that they could not deal with the letter until the Big River track was actually decided on. Mr M'Gaffin said rhat Mr Davieo was under a misapprehension. The Council had already deciJed upon the Big Eiver track. It was Bgreed that that work would open up a large extent ot auri'erous country The Engineer said that to his own

knowledge Beard had been working in the district for many years, and his opinion as to its probable payableness was very reliable. Mr Byrne contended that even if the B.g Kiver track was never constructed, the track referred to by Beard would be of great serv.ee it, opening up the country from the Bla<-k WBter side. He sue* sested that Beard should be authorised to explore and blaze a line. Mr Davies thought it better to write to Beard, and ask him to furnish estima'e of the cost at which he would do the work, Besolved on motion of Mr Byrne, seconded by Mr M'Gaffin, that the Engineer send two men to lay off the best track to connect the two points, and that the Engineer then proceed to the spot, and prepare plans and specifications for tbe construction of the track. Mr Williams moved that the wire rope asked for by Gilchrist and Gannon, be granted—Carried. Mr William* reiterated his complaint that the £3500 which bad been expended on the Maruia route had been robbed from the vote for Matakitaki road. He had since the last meeting taken the trouble to obtain information on the subject, and he felt confident in what he said. The Chairman said he would concede this much, that as tbe vote originally s'ood it was intended to expend £2000 on tbe Maruia road, and £2000 on the Matakitaki road. But be (tbe Chairman) had asked Mr G. Walker whether it would be possit le to carry on the Cannibal Gorga road during the winter, and his answer was in the negative. Mr Davips wished to know whether it was Mr Walker's interest to have the Gorge road opened. The Chairman said he was unable to furnish the information. Mr Williams ssid that it was the peo* pie of the Matakitaki who had induced the Government to pat tbe vote on tbe estimates* and directly the money was got it wbs plundered to another work. . Tbe Chairman said there could !>e no dispute as to tbe truth of Mr Williams" contention, but at the same time there could be no two opinions as to the super, ior claim of tbe Maruia route. Tbe correspondence as read was res eeived. Mr Davies presented a petition from the inhabitants of Crushing'on, praying for the construction of a track from Deadman's Ford to ll'Connoehie's farm. He pointed out the necessity for the workt and urged it upon the notice of the Council. The petition having been received, Mr Davies moved that the Engineer prepare plans and specifications for the construction of pack track 6 feet wide, to. he (aid off so as to be available at a future time for Maruia road. Seconded by Mr M'Gaffin, and ear* riedt Mr Davies moved, Mr M'Gafiin se« conded, and it was carried, that tenders be called for the execution of all work considered necessary by the Engineer in the Murray Creek district. — Carried. Mr M'Gaffin referred to tbe condition of Church and Walshostreets at the junction in front of the churches. He said public life was actually endangered, and he would, therefore, move that the Engineer report upon the matter to the first meeting of tbe Council.— Carried. Mr Williams moved, Mr Byrne seconded, and it was carried, that the balance of £500 remaining on Maruia vote be expended on, the Matakitak track. Mr Gallagher moved, and Mr Williams seconded, that in accordance with the re* commendation of tbe Engineer, the pros gress payment of P. O'Regan be paid, and that be be granted one month's exa tension of time., Mr Davies moved as an amendment that the Engineer's recommendation be carried out, so far as concern Began's contract. Seconded by Mr Byrne. After a deai of di«enssion, more or less relevant, the amendment wa9 withdrawn^ nnd the orig'nal resolution was csrried. On the motion of Mr Davies, seconded hy Mr M'Gaffin, it was resolved t'i»t the Black's Point track be widened for about a chain in length at the entrance to the river, and that the Muff on this side of the cliff be cut down, so as to facilitate traffic, also Miat the road at tli<> points named be graded to the requirement of the Engineer, and that tenders he railed for the worfr. The Chairman pointed oat the importance of not proposing any work of a ensllv nature. The onus of providing b ith the Bank for the payment of work*, undertaken bevond the present resources of t'»e Council, dey* lived upon the Trea* surer, and it was by no means a pleasant one. Ho did not wish to shut out any really necessary work, but thought it t>ut ri ht to admonish members again f running in'o extremes. The motion was then put »nd r»f>»ed. Mr Gallagher moved, Mr M'Gaffin se* conded, end earned, that the Engineer's recommendation be carried out in regard to the Gorge track at Boatman's. The Council adjourned.