MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 86, 7 August 1878, Page 2

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL .

Friday, August 2, 1878. The ordinary meeting of the Manawatu County Council was held in-the-Council Chamber, Foxton, .on Friday, August 2nd. All the Councillors were present. . Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. PRECIS 01? LETTEBS. Letter from Mr Barton, requesting that the sum of £28 10s be paid to him for preparing plans, laying out, and supervising work on the Kimbolton. road. Letter from G-. Boyd, ferryman at the ; Gorge, asking for £10, as "corapenstitiori for recovering punt, which had broken adrift. Letter from Mr Beale, applying for a slaughter-house license. TENDEItS OPENED. The following tenders were opened i— Kirabolton Road and Manchester Block. — Harvey & McCatil: No. 1 (|ontrnct, £2 12s 6d per chain ; No. 2, £2 17s 6d (informal). Joliu Aitkin : No. 1, £2 15s 6d, declined ; No. 2, £3, accepted. John Guerrin : No. 1, £3 ss ; No. 2, £3 12s, both declined. Neilson & Gustavseo : No. 1, £2 133 6d, accepted. Cr. MACAnTHun proposed borrowing m order to push forward necessary works. Or. Goweb: And expend it all up there! ; ;• ■ Ce. MACAETHtrB : Your ißiding wants work done.*: ■■■•.'.■•-■... : ' Cr. Sanson Qonsidered that an overdraft was not borrowing. : Be Mr Barton's claim, Cr. Macarthue considered it excessive, and pointed out tlie work actually perfofiiied.* '-. ; After an explanation from the Chalrman, it. was proposed by iCi". MfCAEr THUByarid seconded by Cr. McNeit^-^ ' That Mr Barton's charge ia excessive foi\ laying off Kimbblton Road, Eiwitea Block ; and that 'this Council, though not recognising Mr Barton as having any claim.to payment other than the 5 per cent; for laying oft wad supervisiou agreed ou, is yet willing

to compensate him for expenses incurred m laying off the said work to the extent of £12. A deputation of settlers from Carnarvon presented a petition, praying that the 20 per cent, subsidy might be spent m the formation of a road from the "whale line" to the township at the post. Messrs McKenzie and Eockel, oh being introduced to the Council by Cr. Gower, shewed the advantages which would accrue , to Foxton and Sandon by the accomplishment of this wprk. : The' proposed road would act as a feeder to both towns, as at present people can neither get across to the township or the main rpad. . '. v . Cr. Haleombe presented a petition from settlers on the road between Palmerston and the Gorge, praying that tho road might be widened, and other neces--1 sary works performed. , . A letter from Mr Watson, Kimbblton I Road, pointing out that six or eight large trees were obstructing the road, was read. — Crs. Macarthur and Sanson did not think thai the County Council was responsible. lie letter from G. Boyd, several , councillors were of opinion that the punt had broken adrift through the neglect of the ferryman, and that Boyd himself should bear tho expense. • The Chaibman drew the attention of the Coancil to the action taken by Cr. Loudon at the last meeting of the Council m challenging the correct entry of tho minutes. After a long and somewhat angry dis-" cussion m which all the councillors took part, . . #. -, The Chaibman stated that if heSvas to continue chairman, the minutes must n t bc challenged. Gc, Loudon admitted his liability to make mistakos, but m this instance his veracity- was ; called m question^ (He then" called for the minute-book). After a' comparison had been made between the original manuscript and the' minute-book, It was moved by Cr. Sanson, and seconded by Cr. McNeil — That m the .opinion of this Council the Minutes of tho proceedings of the'nieeting held on the 31st May last have been correctly entered m the minute-book; Whereupon, Cr. Loudon, feeling himself aggrieved, on tho re-assembling of the Council at seven o'clock, resigned his seat. < A telegram s from the Engineer" was read by Cr. McNeil. It was resolved — That all works required to be executed for this County, with the exception of those far which tenders are called for to-day, be postponed until the arrival of the Engineer, and' that the Chairman instruct Mr Haynes, to prepare a reporfc,-and plans and specifications where necessary, and lay them before the next meeting of the Council. I Proposed by Cr. Macabthub, and I seconded by Cr. Sanson — , That m accordance with a resolution passed at la9t meeting, relative to the employ--1 ment .of a professional accountant, Mr James Bcattie, of Feikling, bo appointed to nd]ust the accounts between the variou ' Ridings on tho 'basis already, arranged betweon the Councillors, and to prepare a book for each Councillor, stowing the financial position of his Hiding. The following resolutions were then passed, to bo submitted to the Conference of County Council Chairmen for its consideration : — Proposed by Cr. Sanson, and seconded by Cr. Goweb — That a clause be inserted m " The Counties Act, 1876/' -enabling the County Councils to make bye-laws with regard to a system of drainage for the County of Manawatu. - - : - During the discussion which took place, Cr. Goweb remarked that no one could deal with such matters "as bye-1-iws so well as a County Council's Chairman. The County Council is answerable for the safety of all drains .m the County. Proposed by Cr. Macabthub, and seconded by Cr.' McDonald — That m the opinion of this Council, tha! part of the Publio Works Act referring to the r tating of land for public works by Road Boards or County Councils b^e" simplifiedi especially m those cases where no opposition is offered by the- owners. Proposed by Cr: Halcombe, and secondedby Cr: McNeil— That, as the fnnds at the disposal of the Counties and Road Boards are quite insufficient to supply'iiewly opened blocks of land for settlement with necessary roads, tho Government should be urged to devote a sum out of the land sales receipts, not less than 15s per acre, for the special purpose of forming and metalling roads within any blocks of land which may hei'eafter bo sold by the Government, such fund to be adxninistered by'fche Government, or v hy .the County Councils, or by the Road Board?, within which such blocks of Crown land may be situated, or m such proportions by the Government and local bodies as may be deemed expedient ; and that the Government be "pressed so to arrange the upset price of their land that a minimum of 15s per acre be available for the purposes above-' .mentioned. The following, resolution, repetition of Carnai'von settlers, was proposed by Cr. Gowee, and seconded by 'Cr. McNeil— That 10 per cent, of the 20 per cent, allowe d by Government on the land sales m (.he various Ridings be handed over to the County , Councils, ,and the balance be expended on the.roads immediately benefiting the land sold.' The Chairman considered that the request of" the Carnarvon settlers was, to a certain* extent, unreasonable ; that the whole County should be bencfitted by the money derived from land revenue; and that other^. Sidings m the County stood more m need of assistance i than Kawakaw a Biding. - Cr. Snelson considered that where the money is raised there it should be ' spent, and that back settlements are entitled to equal consideration with more settled districts, and that their wants should be attended to. Cr. McDonald thought with Cr. Gower, thut the proceeds of land revenue should be spent m the district where raised, a moiety going to the County Council. Cr. Halcombe was m favor of developing settlement by the making of roads. The 20 per cent, should be spent m the districts m which it was raised. So far as.the "Kiwi tea was concerned, unless tho settlers m that locality got a subsidy, settlement wonld be impeded for several years to come.. Cr. Sanson said that those throngli whose industry and efforts land has m value should share m the subsidy, and if representing a liiding such as Cr. Gower, he would go iv fors the same thing, m fairness to those who have made the country what it is. Cr. Goweb was neither convinced nor frigufened at argmnents brought foi"

ward by .the Chairman and Cr. Sansonv He had considered the question m all its bearings. Nothing had been shewn that would make him a party to taking, away arterial roads; the back settlements had been the making ' of the Riding ; represented by the Chairman. Those who are iff the .front can always manage better than those who are behind ,: ■..-■ y Cr. San Son; m moving ah amendment, pointed out tke advantages enjoyed by petitioners over those settlers living m timbered districts, m having a level country. For years past they had been able to take drays over any part of their district, and would advocate giving them one-half . He begged leave to move the~"following~ amendment : — • That 50 per cent, of the money derived from land revenue b# paid over to the various Highways Boards, and the balance of 50 per cent; be divided pro rata between the various Hidings m the County of Manawatu, to be determined on a basis of rates. Cr. Macabthite, m supporting Cr. Grower's resolution, pointed out the injustice of taking from back settlements the money needed for their develop- , ment, and giving it to those who were not m so much need ; and said that the , Council reminded him of an Esquimaux, dog-team, — the driver flogged the first , dog with the whip, who bit the one ia front of Lhim, the operation being repeated by each dog m sitccession until the front cne was reached. The, Chaibmax considered that it would not be fair to the rest of the. Riding to spend £1000 on that part oE Carnarvon, and asked Cr. Grower whether he' wanted the 20- per eenfc. and the 15? per acre that the Council had resolved to-urge the Government fo" grant? Cr. Go web : Yes, if we can get it. A councillor then remarked that Cr.. Macarthur had told them a very pretty story about the Esquimaux and his dogs ; he would like to know the position of the dog'in front who had* nothing to bite at? ... • - Cr. Snelson thought, from the tenor of some remarks that had fallen from Crs. Sanson and Thynne, that both those gentlemen had suffered from- some> injustice. . He considered that, there is not the same necessity for roads u> the * Carnarvon district as . there is m other districts, which may befbu'sh or swampy. Cr. Halcombe considered the case as one of justice. The . prosperity of a. country isjmore advanced by spending yionoy m unsettled ' than settled districts. Crs. S&nson'a amendment put, and lost by 6 to 2. Another amendment by Cr. Sanson,.' " That the further consideration of the question be adjourned to the next meeting of this Council," was also lost. Cr. Gower's resolulion, "That 10 per, cent, of the amount derived from, the 20 -per cent, allowed by Government ou the laud sales m the various 'Ridings be banded over to the County Council, and the balance expended oh roads, im> • mediately benefiting the land. sold," was then put and carried,. . . He petition of Gorge Road settler.*, proposod by Cr. Halcombe, seconded by Cr. Snelson — That the Engineer he instructed to. report to the Council at its next sitting what -work is necessary to bo done m widening the road, between the Borough of Palmerstott and the Olangaki Flat, specifying those parts which are most required to be dealt with st once ; and to give estimates of the cost of widening the road and clearing the bush oil. such parts, and on the whole distance^ - Carried. • . ; ■He Mr Beale's application for slauglrter-house license, proposed by Cr. McNeil, seconded by Cr. Snel* son — That Mr Benlo he \fritfen to, enquiring if thrslaughter-honse ho purposes to erect is outside of half a mile from the boundary of the Borough, and point out to him that if it. is within half a mile of the Borough houndary, the Council have no power nftne matter ;* and also refer him to' clause" 24 of the Slaughter-house Act "of 1877, wherein he will require to advertise his intention to. "apply for a license. Moved by Cr. Sanson, seconded t*y Or. Gower— • - That a sum not exesedmg £300 be placed, on the estimates, for the purpose of "erect-, ing a suitable building to transact the busi-^ ness of this Council m," such building to" be erected m Foxton, such vote to be ."subject" 1 to our being able- to obtain .a free site- f or the same. The Chaibman, m supporting, the, 'motion, pointed out that it would he a good, business speculation ; that .at present the Council were paying 158 per week for the r.oom m which councillors wore now sitting; that.it would be a considerable saving to the County* and probably a source of profit. The front part o£ the building might be let for a good rental, as the proposed cite lies m the best part of the town of Pox-. ton, being' the south side of tke Uuurthouse reserve. ■ , Cr.''M acabthur could not see his way clear to v6to_£3oQ for such a purpose ; tho money was wanted more m othet ways. Itoads were wanted more just now than County Council, buildings. Cr. McDonald^ What's £300 P We spend that amount m worse things tha» the one proposed. Cr. r Halcombe would support the motion if the Pencil- were sure of getting the site free. Crs. Sneison, Gower, and Sanson. supported the motio^ which was put and carried. „ Proposed by Or. Sanson—" That this Council, vote the sum of £50 a* salary for the Chairman for the ya»r ending November 27, 1878. . Q». Gower trusteS that the Chairman did not think that the. Council only valued his services at the sum named m the* resolution. Councillors , we're fully cognisant of their chairman's energy and disinterestadn'ees, and he hoped that Mr Thynno would consider; that while he had the greater honor,, ha had the greater screw. Proposed by Cr. Sanson, and seconded, by Cr. Kaleombe — That Cr. Gower be appointed Treasurer to this Council m place of Cr. Loudon re* signed, and that Cr. Macarthur s be re* quested to countersign cheque* for- the^ month of August. ACCOUNTS PASSED.. Accounts amounting to £167 3s. lldi were passed for payment. A vote of thanks to Cr. McDonald -for. the care he had bestowed i^pon the ?;Otaki road, and the trouble he had ' taken to see that repairs had been faith* ' fully carried out, was proposed by Cj\ McNeil, and seconded by Cr. Sanson. Jiepolved, That %> next meeting-

the Council take place on Monday, September 9ih, ail2.3Qp.in. ; " NOTICES OF MOTION. " Cr. Snnson to rridre at the next meeting of the Counnl, That a rate of sixpence m t lie £ on the annual value of. property m the Manawatu County bo struck. * V; ■' :.;■.■■'"■ 'S- : - J ..■■■ Cr. Hnlcombo to move at the next meeting of the Council, Tliat tho road between Feilding and Halcombe, byj? way o£ thp':Mahgaone Eoad from Halcombe, and by the way -of Makirio road and Manchester street to Feilding, be declared a ! G6unty road. , ;