MEETING OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1080, 28 April 1882, Page 2

MEETING OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

♦ The usual monthly meeting of the County Council was held on Wednesday evening last, when there were present— Messre Brennan (chairman), Byrne, Witf liams, Ribet, Irving, and Craig. The minutes of the last meetings were read and confirmed. The outward cop ,respondence was also read and approved of; correspondence. From Adams and Kingdom, in refer" ence to the valuation of Mr Kerr'i property, and asking that it should be re' considered. The Chairman pointed oui that as* Mr Kerr had not appealed, foi which he •had''- every opportunity, th« Council could do nothing with the letter, especially as the valuation had been reduced by £100. From Patrick M -"Govern, asking thai . the Council would grant him funds tc proceed to the Hot Springs. He was an . invalid and destitute, and had been in the hospital here for several months. It was . resolved on the motion of Mr Williams, •seconded by Mr Craig, that the sum oi * £20 be voted to the applicant. L From Alex. Peters of Maori Gully, ■ complaining that a road made by thfi . Council interfered with his water rights, * and requesting the Council to make a road i lower down. The Engineer was cmi powered to deal, with the matter. From John White of the Hope June* [ tion, objecting to the valuation of hil 1 property. The appUcation could not b< 1 entertained. * «*> I -■■$■■$> f~TToia' 'the "COHiMteiflffuar-^^ * Lands, in reply to a, teleg&dt Horn ojf thi 1 Chairman objecting to an agricultural ' lease applied for at Boatman's being 1 granted. The telegram stated that tinobjection should be forwarded to head* quarters. An objection was sent in by Mr Rooh< ; ford to the valuation on his property at Fern Flat. This was dealt with as the other objections. From Sergeant Neville, the officer in ' charge of the police in Reefton, pointing out the necessity there was for enforcing the provisions of the Dangerous Goods Act in Reefton as a provision against fire, in connection with the storage of kerosene. The Ohairman said that Sergeant Neville could deal with the matter himself withi out the interference of the Council, under the same Act. The clerk was instructed to write Sergeant Neville to that effect. Another letter was received from Sergeant Neville, respecting the drain at the back of the Police Camp. The clerk was requested to inform Sergeant Neville that the matter will be shortiy attended to. Mr Ryan complained of a hole in the road near the Junction, in which a horse of his had been injured, and the writer stated that he would hold the Council responsible for the damage. From the statement of the Engineer, it appeared that the hole in question was caused by the late floods, and the Council were in no way responsible for any injury sustained by the animal. The clerk was instructed to write to Mr Ryan to the same effect. Robert Lees applied for compensation through damage sustained by him through the imperfect state of the suspension bridge at Crushington ir. January last. After some discussion, it was resolved that the sum of £10 be paid as compensation in full. From the Under-Secretary of Mines, enquiring relative to the Diamond Drill. The required information had been forwarded. From Wm. Hodgkinson, complaining of the roads in the neighborhood of Doctor's Creek. The Engineer stated that steps to remedy the complaint would shortly be taken. From the Lankey Creek Gold Mining Company, through Mr Hindmarsh, asking the Council to make a road about a quarter of a mile in length, in order to allow them to put machinery on their ground. The Chairman was requested to write to Mr Hindmarsh, asking him to furnish further particulars as to the road required, with an estimate of its probable cost. From Mr Weston, M.H.R., relative to the Inangahua exhibits, and acknowledging their receipt in Christchurch; received. From John Harris, referring to the condition of the Upper Murray Creek track, and complaining that no money had been spent in its maintenance, though

the track was dangerous ana aimoai. impassable. This occasioned some discussion. A resolution by the Chairman was carried, to the effect that the Engineer be authorised to make such repairs to the track between Cement Town and the I North Star chum as will allow packhoraes to travel it. It was also agreed on the motion of Mr Craig, that the Engineer be empowered to make the necessary ropaire to the road between Black's Point and Cement Town. From Mi; W. C. Mirfin, relative to a culvert carried away and another undermined. Referred to the Engineer with power to act AID TO THE EXHIBITION COMMITHK. A letter was read from the secretary of the Exhibition Committee, asking for funds to assist the movement, and also the co-operation of the Council Mr Williams asked if it was not advertised that the Council would forward all exhibits free of charge. The Chairman said that such was the case. Mr Williams wondered that these gentlemen did not then exert themselves. The Chairman said that the advertisement had been inserted in the Herald to the effect that the Council would forward all exhibits, and see them safety returned. Mr Byrne remarked that no sum was stated, it was necessary to know what amount was required. . The Chairman thought that voting a [ sum of money would be absurd. The Council had Already notified that they would forward all exhibitst ,Mr v Williams pointed out that the Council had already obtained quartz _ specimens from' all tiie principal mines, i coal, and other things. They were getting samples of marble and timber, and ' it #b*uld be useless for both the Councd and committee to get them. If the Committee would send their exhibits to the Council, the latter would say ' what should be sent and what not. That would be all right. He did not see that the Council should pay for two lots. • The Chairman said that it would not be 1 rigl^tto appropriate money for the pur- ' pose asked, as t^e Council had already stated its willingness to send all exhibits away. ' Mr Byrne suggested that, if exhibits 1 were sent through the Council, that body 1 should pay the cost of procuring them, 1 provided they had not already got similar • specimens. He, however, would not allow parties outside the Council to send at their expense. Mr Williame said persons had already i been appointed by the Council to get the very things that the Committee proposed [ to obtain, and he did not see that the . Council would be justified in voting a sum of money to another body. Mr Craig thought that perhaps the Comi mittee intended to go on a more elaborate , scale to bring out their resources, thongh Jbe -|id not know "what they intended i< " v TSlr 'Bjnart thqujfe 'if /ihe Council pud [ the expenfldfipirt it- sh&ld have tiie honor . of Bending the articles. The Committee 5 was not the public, it was oomposed of af ew people only. .The Council had done its best, but if any article had not been sent let.it be forwarded to tiie Council who ' vpuld pay its expense. He did not understand voting money to other parties. Mr Williams moved that the Chairman writb 'to the Secretary of the Exhibition 1 Committee and say that the Council would > forward any exhibits of a kind not already • sent, the Council to choose what to send. 1 The Chairman repeated that the Council would not object to send and pay the cost of anything calculated to benefit the 1 district and show its resources. When the Council invited the public f o supply exhibits there was no response. If they granted any money they would be stultifying themselves, and virtually admitting their incapacity by allowing others to come in and do the work they had undertaken. They would thus clearly acknowledge their own incompetency. He admitted that the district could not be too well advertised, and they* should send all possible to Christchurch, but the Committee had no right to interfere, it was for the Council to initiate anything that was done. It was true that persons outside •were as good judges as those in the Council, but when the Council had invited the public to send in exhibits, it would be unbecoming^ on their part to accept the position the Committee were seeking to put them in. TitSber and marble were already being got by the Council, and it would be folly to send duplicates, whilst specimens of quartz, antimony, coal, bricks and other things, had already been forwarded. There were many things, however, that the Council had not sent would be gladly accepted. Eventually it was resolved that the Chairman should write to the Secretary of the Exhibition Committee declining to make any advance, but Baying that any exhibits sent to the Council would be forwarded, and that the cost of procuring samples of anything that the Council had not sent would be paid.