INANGAHUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 11 March 1881, Page 2

INANGAHUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The regular quarterly meeting of the County Council was held at the Council Chambers on Wednesday, 9th of March, at 3 p.m. Present : Mr Brennan (Chairman), and Messrs Williams, Davies, and Byrne. The minutes of the previous ordinary meetings, and of different interim meetings, were read and confirmed. Mr Caples at this stage took his seat. The Clerk then read copies of all outgoing correspondence. COBBESPONDENCE BECEIVED. From John Reid, re ferry at Lyell. From L. Larsen, asking for protection for seven years for ferry reserve to punt at the Junction, and enclosing rate of charges. From Grey mouth Collector of Cus« loms and others, re gold duty. From Inspector of Police, re appoint" ment of Inspector of Nuisances. From Waimea County Council, enclosing petition to House of I'epresenta- : tives for alteration of the Waste Land? Act, and asking for participation of powers by County Councils. Proposed by the Chairman, that the enclosed petition be signed by this Council, and forwarded to the represented tives of the district for presentation. Seconded by Mr Byrne, and carried. From the Chairman of the Grey

County Council, re the joint maintenance of the bridge at the Grey river at the boundary of the County. Moved by Mr Williams, seconded by Mr Byrne, and carried, that the Chair* main communicate with the Chairman of Grey County Council, informing him that this Council is prepared to sign an agreement for mutual guidance. From 3Tr E. Reeves, M.H.R., with reference to the allocation of the vole for the Nelson-Greymouth road. Mr Gallagher here took his seat. Proposed by Mr Davies, that the Chairman communicate with the members for the district, and the Minister of Public Works, urging the necessity of constructing a bridge over the Little Grey at Devery's terrace, and asking that a sum of money be placed on the estimates for that purpose. Seconded by Mr Byrne, and carried. From the Colonial Treasurer, re guarantee to the Bank of New Zealand. From A. B. Donald, requesting a lease of 100 acres of a reserve at the Buller river above the Lyell. lleferred to the Engineer to inspect and report. From A. Rowe, re ferry at Matakitika, and asking compensation at the rate of £1 per week. Resolved that the amount of £22 be paid Mr Rowe, From A. Cereseto, asking for a lease of a reserve near town. Application granted on the motion of Mr Byrne, seconded by Mr Williams, for 14 years, sut ject to a nominal rent. From the manager of the Ke.ep»iU Dark Company, complaining of traffic along the Company's race, which has been rendered injurious to, the company in consequence of river encroachment. [Referred to the Engineer to inspect and report to the Executive Commit* tee, and also as to the probable cost of a track. From A. Eater, with reference to a dangerous hole near his hotel. The matter referred to Engineer. From Gallagher Bros, complaining about the action of the past and present Engineer, in cutting away tho road near their property, whereby the course of the creek bad been diverted to the injury of their land. Consideration of the matter ordered to stand over till the Engineer's report be read. From Francis Rooney, re connection of the Buller road with Main-Street below the State School by a track about twelve chains. Proposed by Mr Davies, seconded by Mr Byrne, and carried, that the matter be referred to the Engineer to report to the Executive Committee. From G. Joice, requesting tho Council to repair the road leading past the Court House. Referred to Engineer. From John Bates, and other residents in lower Church street, asking fora road to be made to facilitate traffic in their neighbourhood. Resolved that the Engineer be instructed to report on the probable cost to the Executive Committee. Proposed by Mr Gallagher, seconded by Mr Davies, and carried, that the cor* respondence as read be received. > A petition was presented by Mr Davies from a number of residents within a certain area of the town, praying the Conn? cii to strike a separate rate of 3d in the £ for fire prevention purposes. On the motion of the Chairman, se» conded by Mr Williams, the petition was read and received. The report of the Engineer was read and received. Proposed by Mr Davies, that the offer of Messrs J. Lines and F. Courtney, to lease the gravel pits to the Council, as reported by the Engineer, be accepted, and that the necessary documents be drawn up for signature, Seconded by Mr Gallagher, and carried. Moved by Mr Williams, seoonded by Mr Byrne, and carried, that the Engineer be instructed to prepare specifications for construction of a road tower is Green and Gilmer's land at the Left* | hand Branch. The Council adjourned till 7 p.m. | The Council resumed sitting at 7 p.m. With reference to Christian Mindermann's application for protection and permission to keep a punt at the June tion, Mr Gallagher suggested that the Buller County Council should be invited to co-operate with this Council in pres paring and maintaining the approaches to the punt. He moved that the Ferries ; Committee be requested to communicate with the Buller County Council, request* ing that they pay one-half of the costs arising from establishing a punt at Christy's. Seconded by Mr Williams, and carried. Moved by Mr Caples, seconded by Mr Gallagher, and carried, that the Chairman of the Executive Committee make arrangements with Mr Mindermann to obtain the neceessary land from him for the purpose of making road and approaches to the punt, and that in the event of arrangements proving satisfactory, plans and specifications be prepared, and tenders called for performance of the work, provided the Buller County contribute towards the construction of the work. Moved by Mr Caples, that the Ferries Committee meet at an early date to consider the matter of ferries in the County. Seconded by Mr Byrne, aDd carried. Moved by Mr Caples, that tho Engi»

neer draw plans and specifications for footbridge at Boatman's Cre%k, and for protective works. Seconded by Mr Gallagher, and carried. Mr Pa-ies moved, Mr Caples ie- ; eooded, and it was carried, that the Engincer.bc instructed to attend to the] rosd near the Hospital \ Moved by Mr Davies, seconded by Mr Williams, and carried, that a special meeting of Council for 19th instant b# called to deal with the matter of separate rate for fire brieade. j Moved by Mr Daviesi, that the Go- ] verntnent be asked for an advance of £1000 for the purpose of purchasing ft Diamond Drill apparatus for the County. The resolution was seconded by Mr 1 Byrne, and carried. Moved by Mr Byrne, seconded by Mr Davies, and carried, that the Chairman communicate wilh the Minister of Mines requesting the Government to con* struct a snrvey line cleared for 12 feet^ between the Lyell and Rainy Creek, to facilitate prospecting. K Proposed by the Chairman, seconded 'y Mr Byrne, and carried, that the Engineer be instructed to prepare plant and specifications, for the purpose of securing the ground in Broadway near the site of the late fire, and making it safe for traffic. Proposed by Mr Caples, seconded by Mr Gallagher, and carried, that the Chairman be requested to commnnicate with the Government with a view to obtain a refund of the money paid to the Counties' Auditor by the Council. Mr Gallagher moved, that this Uoun« cil take immediate steps to come io ». settlement with Mr Hugh Duggan, whose oontract for maintenance of Boat* man's road, was cancelled by the previous Engineer. The mover animadverted in strong tenns upon the mode in which this eontractor had been treated, and said tb£) no just cause bad existed for the # oellation. ■■« The Chairman explained that the County Solicitor's opinion on the question bad been asked but not yet received. Mr Caples held that under any eircomstanoes, the Engineer had no right to cancel any contract— hit remedy should have been to put on men to work, and instanced cases which bad been brought before Courts of law, where that prinoU pie was upheld. Mr Williams commented upon the vagueness of the specifications in this instance, and favoured a settlement of the matter on a fair basis. Mr Bfrne coincided. Mr Wiilams moved as an amendment, that the amount of two quarterly pro* gress payments be offered, together with the percentages retained, to Mr H. Dugsan, in fall satisfaction of his claim, and that the offer be made without prrjudice. Seconded by Mr Byrne, and carried. Moved by Mr Caples, seconded by Mr Williams and carried, that the Engineer be ins ructed to prepare estimates for extending the protective works five op six chains further down. Proposed by Mr Davies, seconded by Mr Capie?, and carried, that the Engineer be instructed to cause the repair of tlie footpath m the vicinity of Dawson's. Hotel. Proposed by Mr Byrne, seconded by Mr William?, and carried, that the En« gineer be instructed to cause the horse track from Merrijig to the Big River to he repaired. The cost not to exceed £10. Proposed by Mr Gallagher, that the Engineer be instructed to take the necessary steps to have the crossing at the Left-hand Branch cleared and repaired* Seconded by the Chairman, and carried.The question cf the quarterly subscription to the Hospital was brought before tre Council by the Chairman, who rend the clauses in the Act regular ting Hospital maintenance and sub* pilies to s*rae, and pointed out that in the event of the Government taking over the payments to the Hospital, the amounts so paid would be withheld from the County subsidies. Mored by Mr Da vies, seconded by the Chniromn, and cirried, that the matter of Hospital subscription be left to the Executive Committee. Moved by Mr Davies, seconded by Mr Gallagher, and carried, that the. Engineer inspect the roure, and report upon the probable cost- of a horse track from the bridge on the short track to Boatman's to Capleston. Prowosed by Mr Caples. seconded W Mr Gallagher, and carried, that Ilia Engineer prepare plans and snecifica-i tions for the maintenance of the road from Mindermann's to the Bailer boundarv, and also to thp Dee-hill. Mored by Mr Paries, seconded by Mr Gallagher, and carried, that the necessary sfpps be taken to -compel tho owner of the firewood in Shiel««treet, near Mr M'Guigan's premises, to remove the same. The accounts were then submitted, | and passed for payment, and the Couq*. ci! adjourned.