INANGAHUA COUNTY COUNCIL

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 23 July 1880, Page 2

INANGAHUA COUNTY COUNCIL

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Council* was held on Wednesday last, and there were present the Chairman, and Messrs Williams, M'Gaffin, Byrne, and Davies. The minutes of the previous meeting of the Council were read and confirmed. The correspondence despatched since the last meeting was read. CoBBBSPONDENCE KEOEIVED. From the Chairman of the Waimea County inviting tbe co-operation ■'. of the Council in a movement throughout the Colony to vest the control and managemenl of waste 1 feuds iv County Councils.

From the Commissioner of Waste Lands, Nelson, staling that a large reserve at Mavuia was leased to Walker Bos., and that the application of Gil* christ and Gmnon for a ferry reserve at Maruia could not be granted until the boundaries of Walters' leasehold had been defined. In reply to a' question the Engineer stated that Walker Bros, paid £30 per year for the use o( the Maruia reserve. Resolved on the motion of Mr Byrne, seconded by Mr Davies, that Gilchrist and G«n non be a9l.ed to furnish a sketch plan of the land required by them. \ From — Ribbelt. Hamnderi, stating th tt the Licensing Bench had charged him £10. for bis hotel license, and unless the Council refunded the money he would discontinue the ferry. From— Gibbs, Hampden, toa similar purport. Mr Williams explained that the chair across the river at Kibbelts coujd not be dispensed with ; but that at Gibbs' might. From Masters and Reeves stating that Government had consented to refund half the amount disbursed by the Council in charitable aid. From Reuben Waile re his botel !i« cense. From the manager of the Bank of New Zealand, stating that the overdraft of the Councii would henceforth have to be kept within £600. Resolved on the*motion of Mr Davies seoonded by Mi* Williams tbat Ribbelt be informed that the Council would deal at an early date with the whole question of ferries, andjt hat his claim would re ceive fair consideration. Mr Davies moved that the Hampden Overseer be written to instructing him to employ no more labor unless with the authority of the Council. The motion was seconded by Mr M' Gaffin and carried. From the Hampden Overseer reporting that the Margies road was in very bnd order, and certain repairs had been .ffected. Fron the sarni re Moonlight's com plaint about tenders. Mr Williams thought the explanation quite satisfactory. From J. F. Johnston, Littlt* Grey, cai ling attention to the manner in which thr road is being constructed at Otulutu, Bnd stating that he would hold the Council responsible for any damage done to his lnnd by floods. The Engineer explained that the com* plaint was quite unfounded, os the work would be beneficial rather than otherwise to Johnston. From Secretary of Treasury, 6tating that County revenue for the month was in course of payment, £420. From Stewart and Co., complaining of slate of Devil's Creok. .From Reeves and Masters, stating thnt £1500 was a* nilable for the Matiri Road, and recommending to accept tenders for the ex*ra £ICO. From Mr Masters, Mating that he had fully explrsinel to 'lie Government the exceptional position of the 'Cour-ty, lu f subsidy would certainly be withdrawn as the Colony was unable to pay them. Government was quite alive to our position, hut powerless to render assistance. No subsidy would be raid to the Council upon the rates for 1879«80. From •— Muntz, complaining of the state of tracks in the upper portion of Hampden Riding. From Kelly': and others, calling attention to advisability of erecting a wirerope over the Buller at the Eight-Mil*. Mr Williams explained that the EiphtMile was on the boundary of tbis and the Buller County. Th Engineer thought the work more properly devolved upon the Bnller County. It would cost £25. Mr M'Gaffin would aeeept the suggestion of the Engineer, nnd a.;ree to contribute half the cost of the work. He thought the Council should afford every assistance to gold miners. Resolved that the petitioners be informed that owing to the present financial position of the Council, it eonld not at present authorise the expenditure. From O. Wakefield, re subsidy upon £640 tO be expended upon prospecting track to Big River, and slating that the matter wai now uuder the consideration of the Government. From Colonial Secretary, asking for a return of the amount expended by the Council upon indoor and outdoor charitable relief. From Secretary of Public Works, stating that hs was not able to place to the credit of the G-nncil the unexpended balance of the Maruia track vote. Froni Mr Reeves, expressing opinion that a deputation from the Council to. the Government might result in some good. From Hans Jacobsen, asking for a reduction of rates upon shop in Broadway, on the ground that at tbe time the rate was struck the place was let for 203 per week, and having been empty for sometime were now let for 10s per weeks. Resolved that the Council accept the ' amount offered in settlement of the olaim. From F. Courtney, calling attention to the narrowness ot the tiers used by wag£on*-rs on tbe Buller road, and offer*. ing to erect a toll-gate, to enforce the use of wider tiers, for two and a ba-f, per cent upon the tolls collected. Mr M'Gaflin trusted tfie Council would find a way ot'eiiforcii I.^1 .^ the use of wider

tiers, wuhout resetting to anything so 01-jeetioi-aUe as a toll gate. No doubt the waggoners would all adopt the wide tiers upon being publicly noiified to that effect. From John Williams, claiming com* pensation for land tqken for public road, iit Fern Flat. It transpired thafc the land was taken by Mr Woolley, on behalf of the Provincial Government, aud it was therefore decided to refer the matter to the Waste Lands Board. From H. G. Hankin, objecting to the granting of land applied for by Walker Bros., at BuH'9 Flat, Maruia, on the ground that the application took in the only available camping place for stock. The Chairman agreed that if the objection were well founded, it would be unwise to permit the land to be alienated. Mr Williams supported the objection, and moved that the Chairman communicate with the Waste Lands Board, opposing the application. The motion was seconded by Mr Byrne, and carried. From James Lynch, claiming £351 6, compensation for injuries done to his lan_l, by the construction of a road through the property. Matter referred to Public Works Com* mittee. The Chairman laid on the table a return showing that £'115 10* had been received ns the receipts for publicans' licenses. From J. Osborn, contractor, Grey road, stating that he could not get the Council bill discounted, and asking that he receive half cash. Matter referred to the Finance Commiltee. From the secretary of the Eeefton H< .pi'.al, renewing bis application for money expended by th.-* Committee on chari'able cases, sent to the institution by the Council. Mr Davies thought it was pretty well understood at the last meeting that though the Council refused to re ._> ,ni>e the demand as a debt due, was willing to pay it as a gra'uily. Mr Byrne certainly did not understand anything of the kind. The Hos| ital Committee was m as eood a position as the Council, and should go to work eneijetically. Mr Williams said that while he did not deny the obligation of everyone to assist to keep up the Hospital, he objected to the manner in which the institu'ion is being cirried on. It was far too expensive, Mr M'Gaffin denied that the Hosp'tal was extravagantly managed. They could not do wifh less servants than were era* ployed at present. Contrasted with other West Coast Hospitals it was meanly sup--1 orted, and cheaply managed. It was eventually agreed that the mat* ter should stand over till next meeting. From B. M'Mahon, asking for £6 compensation, for washing away of a bridge at Boatman's creek. — Matter referred to Engineer to report. The Council resumed at 9 p.m., wben ihere were present-. the Chairman (Mr l\ Brennan), aßjd Messrs Caples, M'Gaffin, i'rennery, Davies, Byrne, and Williams. Tbe Engineer read his report, which was received. Re Byrne and Ryley 's contract, the Chairman, on behalf of the Public Works Committee, reported that they found the first section of the Buller road in fair order, but that the road over Fern Fiat was in very bad order, the maintenance contractors having refused to take it over. That tbe gravel pit reserve near Braz l's, when required, be taken over under the provisions of the Public Works Act. Byrne and Ryley had done nothing towards the maintenance of the Fern Flac road, they having res fused to lake it over. Mr Trennery said he understood that upon the completion of certain repairs authorised by the Council the road was from that date in the charge of the maintenance contractorsThe Engineer said he had not served Byrne and Ryley with a notice infotmine them that the road was in their charge. ITe hid repeatedly complained to them 'hat they were not maintaining it. They, however, thorouehly understood that tbe road was in their charee. He had scores and scores of conservations with the con* iractors, and tl.py had never until within the last, few days expressed any in'ention of not proceeding with the maintenance. The report of the committee was read and adopted. The Chairman read another report upou the footbridges at Boatman's. Archer's bridge was in good repair, and worth £30. It was in good order, and of great convenience. Roger's bridge was not in as good condition, but required but nn expenditure of £12 to make it so. They estimated the value of that bridge at £45, but Mr Trennery, as one of the committee, had not signed the report, as he estimated the value of Roger's bridge at £37 s*. Messrs M'Gaffin's, Caples'. and bis (the Chairman's), separate estis mates gave a mean estimate of £45. The report, after discussion, was received. The Cbairman read a petition from certain residents of Boatmau's asking for £13 for a further biidge there. Resolved tbat the report upon the Boatman's bridges be referred to the next meeting of the Council, Resolved tbat the further consideration of the committee's report upon Byrne

and Ryley'-. contract be postpon.'d till th next meeting, Mr Caples moved that tiie Engineer employ a man to keep the Boatman's road from Capleston psst the Just-in-Time battery in rerair until nest meet* ing of the Council, Mr Byrne seoonded the motion. In reply to Mr Davies, the Engineer reported that the maintenance contractor on the Boatman's road was doing fair work. Mr Capes moved, that the Engu-eer be empowered to employ labor to repair ihe suspension bridge over the Inaugns boa on the short track to Boatman's. The Engineer reported that the cost of the work would be about £12. The motion was seconded by Mr Byrne, and carried. « Mr M*Giiffi,i moved, and Mr Caples seconded, that the Engineer's recommendation in reference to the approaches to the churches, be carfied out at a cost not to exceed £5. The Chairman suggested that nnless the work was absolutely required it should not be pressed tn the present financial condition of the Couucil. Tbe resolution was, after some discus sion, witbdr.wn. The Chairman reported that the Tender Committee had opened tenders for the Colinton bridgp, t ut seeing that the lowest was £57 10s., they did not feel themselves justifi d in accepting it. Mr Davies said that seeing that there was a track open between Boatman's and Larry's, he did not tbink tbe bridge was required. Mr Caples siid that as the bridge at ! present stood it was dangerous to life, and either ouifht to be repaired or pulled down He admitted that the tenders were high. '1 h'-'re certainly was a foottrack between Boatmen's -and Larry's. Mr Byrne said that as a rule all travellers between the two places geneia'y went via Boatman's whether the bridge was up or not. R> solved ou the motion of Mr Da7ies, seconded by Mr Caples, that neither of the tenders rece : vcd be accepted, but that the present bridge bo pulled down and a ciair erected. The Ch lirman said that two tenders had been received for reducing the grade oi the Black's Point road, viz . Molloy, £24; 0 Hanlon, £67 ; but deeming that the works w:_s not indispensable, tbe committee were of opiuion that the expenditure could be dispensed with. Mr M'Gaffin pointed out that the work was very much rrquir. d. l uit if the Council was nofc able to do it, there was an end of the matter. The Chairman admitted that the work was required, but it must been seen that the Council was really not in a position to undertake nny new works, except of the most urgent character. Mr Davies agreed, and thought there was to course but to abandoned the work, and he moyed accordingly — carried. Re tender for gravelling Lankey Creek roa< J — Mr Davies said lie would not forcf the work, but he could say that the work would either have to be done by the Council or by the people themselves. The only tender in was thafc of A. Breen for £17. Th Engineer said the road was in very bad order. Mr Caples said he had been over the road, and it was the worst piece in tbe County. Mr Davies, to test the feeling of the i Council, moved that the matter be re- , ferred to the Engineer with power to act. Mr M'Gaffin seconded the resolution, wbicb was put and carried. Mr Davies moved that the County solicitor's opinion be taken as to the liability of the General Government to the County for subsidies provided under the Financial Arrangements Act. He did this merely to ascertain from a legal stand point the exact position ot the County. The motion was seconded by tbe Chairman, and carried. Mr Caples withdrew his notice of motion, re the construe! ion of dray road round from Capleston to the Just«in»Time machine. The accounts were tben presented and passed, and the Council adjourned until to-morrow evening fer the purpose o' meeting in committee to consider ways and means.