INANGAHUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1527, 27 March 1885, Page 2

INANGAHUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Council was held at the Chamber*, Smith street, on Wednesday last, at 2 p.m. Pn-Sfnt — Messrs Bronnan (ohair), Menteath, Irving, M'Ginley, Williams and Craig. The minutes of the previous ordinary meeting, as also minutes of Ex-

ecative meeting, were read and confir- .i Wed. --rrr Correspondence Outward. To J. G. Heslop, Rate Collector, (23 Jan. ) notifying his appointment to the various offices held by him, to the 23rd Jany,, 18«6, at a salary of £160 per year. CoRKESPONDrNCB INWARDS. From the Public Works Department stating that plans and specifications for the Matakitaki bridge were piepared, and that tenders would be called immediately for the erection of th« game. From the Survey Department, Wellington, stating that the Minister of Lauds had decided not to proceed with the construction of the Cannibal Gorge track, as the whole of the country to be opened up by that work would be absorbed by the Syndicate undertaking the construction of the E-tst and West Coast railway. From Mr Harley, Nelson, stating that, in answer to a Nelson deputation, the Minister of Mines had promised to grant £300 for the construction of a road to open up the Owen reefs, and requesting the Inangaluia County Council to apply at euce to the Government for thr money. "Company, askMJ^tTiat the. dray road up Murray Creek Should be placed in proper repair, being now unsafe for traffic. The Chairman explained that the application referred to that portion of the road' along the Company's coil tramway, and said it was never intended that the Council should main am that portion, as it was only used by the Company ; the Company gave up their tramway in consideration of the road being made, and there the respou sibility of the Council ended. Mr Craig nnderstood that the road belonged to the Company. Mr Williams thought the Company had done very well to get the road made by the Council. Mr Irving did not understand that the Council were to be charged with the maintenance of the road. It was finally decided on the motion of Mr Williams, seconded by Mr M'Ginley that the application be uot entertained. From Mr W. Hindmarsh, manager of the Globe Company, stating that the public had for years been using the company's race bank as a track te Rainy Creek, Bitch traffic materially increasing the cost of maintaining the race, and intimating that traffic would be stopped along the race after the 81st March unless, the extra cost of maintenance (£2B) were paid by the Council The Chairman said it was under stood when the Council erected the suspension bridge near the Globe works that the public should have the right of traffic along the race. Mr Irving pointed out that the bridge was not erected for "the. benefit of the Globe Company. The company agreed however to construct a track from their works to the bridge if the Council would do the rest The Chairman understood that the company conceded the right of traffic along the race. Mr Irving said tlie application of the company was in writing and would show that such was not the case. In reply to a question the Engineer said the public had had the full use of the race for a length of time. Mr Irving said it was the only track .to Rainy Creek and therefore must have been user! expensively by people travelling to and fro. - Mr Williams thought the company had done pretty wel), they had got the bridge,- which was a- great convenience to them. , ■•• , ■ ■ Mr Irving .said such. was not the case, as nearly all th« company's hands reached the mine from the Oriental side. It was eventually: resolved on the motion of Mr Craig seconded by Mr Williams that half the sum applied for be granted to the Globe Company in consideration of their keeping the race open for traffic until the road and bridge now under construction w«re completed. From Michael M'Mahon applying for permission to work road reserve on south side of Inangahna river, and undertaking to restore same. — Granted. From Mr W. G. Coiling*, legal managerof the Insflewood Extended Co, asking the Council to deviate a portion of the Murray Creek road, in order to give the Company room to erect winding plant — granted. From Dr Whitton applying for the removal of stump* ana formation of the footpath in Ranftatreet, near his residence. ' Owing to 4l»e. presence of Slumps and, holes on. the roadside there was great danger to, strangers in reaching his reaMonc'e' after 4%rk. Appli-cant-had filleted atempTri tlie vicinity, aod.this onjjy lessened hut did not re move the danger - ; . "", The Engineer was instructed to ex-' famine and? report upon .the improve* ~ments needed. The lum of £10 was voted on the recommendation of Dr Whitten to a patient desirous of leaving the dis-. trict. From Mr Connolly re hfs application, for compensation for use oi track up the reservoir hill, and stating that the track had now been surveyed by Mr Mentgomerie and the land along the line reserved for public traffic. In reply to the Chairman the Engineer said he understood Mr Connolly had practically abandoned the track, not having used it for a length of time, nor registered it. The Chairman understood tho track had been abandoned, but there it was. It must have cost a good deal to construct, and wan possi ly of seme benefit to (he public. Mr Meuteath inquired whether the

pipes and. other apparatus coald-h*** J taen got to the reservoir without using < the track pr constructing another. The Engineer said that the rewr- ' voir conld not have been reached ] otherwise except by making another track. In reply to Mr Irving the Engineer laid it would have cost the Council £40 to makf a road to the reservoir. The Chairman said there was very little doubt Mr Connelly had practi cally abandoned the road. There was also the fact, however, that it had been of considerable service iv the construction of the water works, and possibly of some convenience to miners at Deep Creek. It was for the Council to say whether these consideration entitled Mr Connolly to some small compensation. In answer to a question the Chairman said them was a resolution in the minute book ef the Council to the effect that no compensation be paid to any person in respect of roads, tracks or bridges constructed without the express sanction and approval of the Council. Air Irving thought that as the portion of the track leading to the reservoir was used by the Council, and would be of service in the future, some amatr eoTfi^e^sa^tlwr^mTgTi^iSily be granted. j Mr Williams saw one thing— that there was a quod many of these applications for compensation rolling in. Mr Menteith pointed out that the track in question having been surveyed and declared a reserve, any right which Mr Connolly may have had in it was now merged in the public. He was not disposed, however, to oppose sny action which the Council might feel inclined to take in the matter, as he could not but admit that the circumstances in the case were excep- | tional. The Council had gone to a large expense for water works, the cost of construction of which might have been very considerably increased but for the existence of the track in question. j After some' further discussion it was j moved by Mr Irving seconded by Mr I Williams and carried that a snm of £25 l>e paid Mr Connolly in respect of the track. From the residents of Antonio's, petition, asking for the widening of an > existing horse track se as allow of the passage of vehicles. There were fourteen children of school age living ■ in the locality and the distance to the Little Grey Scheol was so great that they could not walk there. The parents had agreed to club together and provide a spiiug cart to carry the children to and fro, provided the Council widened the track. In reply to the Chairman the Engineer said it would cost £700 to j make anything of a road. The dis tauce was about three miles. The Chairman said the request was beyond tire power of the Council. Eventually it was decided on the motion of Mr Williams that the Engi- | neer report apon the probable cost of i the work. I The correspondence as read was re- . ceived. Engineer's Report. I The Engineer reported tuit the con-' i tract for the construction of the road from Crushington to Rainy Creek had beeu let to D. L. Cochraue for £298 10s. Mr Menteath said there was «n* matter arising out of the proceedings of the previous meeting of the Council which the Engineer had omitted to mention. The Engineer was instructed at the last meeting to inspect and report opon the application of. ochraue and Sons for a sum of money for the < rection of ahi idge over the Inangahna at heir saw mill. He would like to know what had been done in the matter. The Engineer was called in, and stated that he had inspected the bridge in question the result of which was unfavorable to the application, bnt that at Mr Coehrane's request he had postponed reporting upon the matter until the next meeting of the Council. Mr M'Ginley referred to the ferry protection granted t* C. MinHermau. He said some time ago th« Council J gave Minder man protection for the ferry reserve, but since then it had been reported that the Waste Lands Board thought the protection should not be granted in view of the land being possibly required in connection with the East and West Ceast and Nelson railway syndicate. The Chairman said the protection had been granted to Mr M inderman by the Council and he would make enquiries on the subject from the County Solicitor and have the application set right. / Mr Menteath said he had one or two . resolutions to move, bat before submitting . hem he shonld like to ask .the. Chairnjan whether it was requisite . that he ' sfionld give notice of .motion.; He . understood that there was a minute to the effect that notice of motion should l»e given in all cases, but that . rule did not seem to have >>een adhered to, and he would therefore like to know what course it was intended to follow. The Chairman said snoh a minute as that referred to had been primed, but in erder to facilitate business it was not always adhered to. The practice followed was that unless a resolution was of a special character, such as should be dealt with by the whole Council, it conld be dealt with at once. If, however, the motion were of special importance it wan only right that notice ef motion should be given so that every member of the Council should have an opportunity of being present and discussing it. Mr Menteath said he would proceed to move fchejresolntions, and it would be, for the Chairman then to say

whether or-not they were of a special character. The first motion was, "That it he an instruction to the County Engineer that a list of amounts paid for day labour from the last meeting of the Council previous, >>c laid upon the table at each monthly meriting. Such list to show the names of all men employed by the Council or any of the officers of the Council ou daily or weekly wages, or on any terms other than couttaut, the work upon which they have been employed, and the amounts paid, or for which the. Council'is HaUe te each man, so far as such latter liability is known to the County Engineer." This was seconded by Mr Irving, and not being regarded as of a special character was pui to tue meeting auu carried. Mr Menteath said the other resolution was as follows :— " That it be an instruction to the Clerk and other officers enip'oyed by the Council, (othn- than officers who are at the same time members of the Council). — That any interference with Elections, either for the Local Body, or General Assembly, ou the part of such Clerk or oiher officer, beyond the discharge of the statutory duties assigned to such officers, or tije^ exergisg pi the^f ran _ "ciiiJse7"by?goor : 9ing 'his or tlw-'ir vote or votes, shall, on proof to the Ootui M. be a ground for immediate dismissal from the employments of the Coiim.il, suIJKCt always to the terms of any existing contract with such officers. And that this condition be annexed to all future contracts for hire entered into l>y the Council." The motiou was seconded by Mr Irving. Mr Williams wished to know whether it was ill tended to prevent the Council servants from voting at all. Mr Menteatn said the resolutions expressed themselves very clearly. It was not in tended to prevent the Council servants from exercising their votes, but merely to prevent them from dabhling in elections. They had their proper duties to perform, aud for which they were paid by the public, and it was an unseemly thing for them to mix themselves up in elections. The Chairman said he thought it would he as well to give notice of mo- | tiou of the resolution so that each mein< | her of the Council might have timely no< ice. The motion was a subject of fair discussion aud he had no objection to it. Mr Menteath then gave notice ci motion in the usual form.. A discussion then ensued upon soon accounts which at the last meeting were referred to the Comity Solicitor for opinion. The Chairman reported that Mr Lynch was of opinion that the accounts could not be. legally paid bj the Council, but as a matter of fact similar accounts had been passed bjf every oth«r local body on the West Coast and he saw no reason why exception should be taken to a similar course here. After some further discussion it was carried on the motion of Mr Craig that the acuouuts be paid. Tenders. The following tenders were then opened for wideuing the Saddle road. Widbkxko Guy Road.

accepted. Accounts amounting to £667, in eluding, oue from the proprietor of th* Inangahna R*ruld for £9 15s 6d, were then passed for payment, and the Council arljonraed.

£ «. d. M.»lIoy&Co., 369 0 0 J. Quiglej 390 0 0 P. Byrne 394 10 0 J. M Quillan 450 0 0 T. Uvery 468 10 0 G. Black 490 7 6 W. Duffy & Co., 496 10 0 J. Pollock 499 0 0 D. L. Cuchrane 683 17 0 T. Prendergast 627 10 0 N. Barry & 0«. t 633 13 4 F. L. Smith 640 0 0 U. Callaghan ACo ... 547 0 0 J. Roxbnrwugh 650 0 0 H. Diiggan 690 0 0 Yoaug A Grieve ... 697 12 0 S. Garvvn 659 6 0 The tendrr of Molloy aud Co. Wat