CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 212, 2 August 1878, Page 3

CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Clutha County Council was held in the Athenceum Hall here at noon on Friday. There were present : Messrs John M'Neil (chairman), 1 Dallas, Mackenzie, Scobie, Jenkinson, Jowitt, Ayson, Scott, and Roberts. There was also a considerable attendance of the public, including the Chairmen of the Road Boards within the County. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was read from Inspector Thomson, asking the Council to supply him with forms of receipt for dog tax, and stating that under the Dog Nuisance Ordinance of Otago it was the duty of each police officer in charge to receive the fees payable under that Ordinance, and that the police had been instructed that when a person called at a police station and desired to register a dog, effect should be given to such desire, hence. the necessity for the forms. He also wrote, requesting to be furnished with copies of the bye-laws of the County. — Received ; requests to be complied with. A letter was read from Capt. Mackenzie offering to accept the appointment of delegate for the Clutha County, and attend the County Conference at Wellington. — Received. A circular from the Under-Secretary for Public Works was read, with reference to grant for works on Catlins River road, and stating that a voucher for a further sum of L 250 had been passed to the Treasury for payment, and that the amount would be placed to the credit of the County in due course ; also, a letter from the Treasury, stating that the sum had been remitted. — Received. A letter was read from Robert Robson, Chairman of the Pomahaka Road Board, forwarding a resolution of the Board asking the Council to reconsider the resolutions in regard to alterations of boundaries of ridings, as in the opinion of the Board the alterations were most unfair, and if carried out would cause great dissatisfaction amongst the ratepayers. Mr Dallas explained that tho motion passed had been carried by the casting vote of the Chairman. The letter was received. A letter was read from Mr A. Ironside, objecting to the Council granting a slaughtering license to Messrs Dabinett and Young, as he held a license for the same section. — Received. engineer's report. 25th July, 1878. To Chairman Clutha County Council, Sir, — I have the honour to report that since last meeting of tho Council tho works that were being carried on hy day labour on the Main South Road at Clinton, at Corbet's place and at Waiwera Mill have been stopped owing to the state of the weather. At Clinton there has been 37J chains formed and metalled; theie has also been 460 cubic yards of mainteriai c > metal .providorl, broken, and spread out betuv-en the new metalled portion and Mr Wallace's g.ite. This portion of the road would have required a much larger quantity to have kept it in good repair, but for the reason above stated the work could not be proceeded with. 'Che total cost in connection with those works has been L 692 10s 6d. Formation 37£ •chains, L97 8s ; metal, 1743 cubic yards, LSQS 2s 6d ; that is at tlie rate of 53 9d per yard, or for labour only, nearly 5s 6d per yard, as these have to be paid 4d per yard on 1602 yaids. At Mr Corbet's place and at Waiwera Mill-there has been 29 chains formed, and 35 chains 'metalled. Cost of 39 chains formation, L 36 ss. and of metal, 964 cubic yards, L2OO 17s; that is at the vato of 4s 2<l per yard, ov for labour only, 3s 10d per yard, 4d per yard having to be paid for the metal. Total expenditure, L 237 Os 2d. I Mr Pollock's contract for the supply of 200 cubic yards of maintenance metal on main road, j west side of Clinton, has been completed, less 7£ j yards. I recommend that his contract be con- j sidered completed, anil that he be paid for the . quantity supplied. The metal bas been spread j out, but before it could be done the ruts ou some parts had to be filled with rubble. Contract No. I—The1 — The supply of 144 cubic yards of maintenance metal on Main South Road at the boundary of the township of Balclutha ha 3 been completed. There in an excess of 14 yards over contract quantity. I beg to recommend the Council to t«ko the extra metal, 'the price being reasonable, viz., 6s 4dper yard. Coufcrrct No. 13 — Metalling portion of Port Molyneux road, near to Whytock's Hotel, will be finished in a day or two, the contractor havin" agreed to clear tlio mud from the road and fill the ruts with rotten rock before spreading out the metal. In regard to surface labour, I have to report that there are at present seven men employed ou the main south road : five at surface work, and two engaged at spreading metal, removing slips of earth, and other extra work. On Port Molyneux road there are four men employed. Two extra hands had to be put on to assist in repairing the road at Clnrnside's contract on south side of Four-mile Creek, also in the vicinity of Hogg's Bridge. There is also one surface man on Catlins road. In the outlying districts, on Waipahi to Tapanui road, there are two men employed. I may state here that there has been placed to my credit, at the Bank of New Zealand, tho sum of L 430 3s lOd, beiug the share of the money allotted to the outlying districts. In regard to Mr A. Clnrnside's application for a progress payment, made at last meeting of the Council, I have to state that 1 refuso to recommend any progress payment to be made after expiry of contract time, unless that 1 am satisfied that every effort has been used to carry out the work within contract time. I have received a lettor from the Public "Works Office, Dunedin, in regard to railway crossing on Bury-street, Clinton, which I attach. The following are the sums of expenditure on the different roads submitted for payment ; — To surface labour on main south road £52 0 6 „ Road works at Clinton, do ... 36 15 8 „ Road works at Waiweia Mill, do 16 10 0 „ Payment for metal, do 43 4 6 „ Repairing tools, do 14 0 „ Surface labour, Port Molyneux ro.?d ... 15 15 0 „ Timber for repairing bridges, d 0... 10 0 „ Surface labour, Catlins River road 7 0 0 „ Surface labour, outlying districts 14 5 0 I have the honour, &c, i Matthew Patterson, Engineer to Clutha County Council. Memorandum for Matthew Patterson, Esq., Engineer tb Clutha . County, Kaihiku, re alteration of Railway Crossing at Burystreet, Town of Clinton. Sir, — In reply to your memos, of the Bth April, 1878, and 18th April, 1878, the Resident Engineer at Clinton reports that the crossing has been formed on the only road-line in existence, namely, one that was surveyed and pegged in 1865, and again about two ' years ago. The cost of removing the crossing would be considerable, and certainly should not be borne by the Government. But the Council may do so at their own expense should they determine upon deviating the road. . Thos. B. Low, Pro Resident Engineer. Dunedin, July 19, 1878. Mr Dallas moved that the . report be received. Mr Jenkinson in seconding the motion,

= complimented the Engineer and Chairman upon the satisfactory manner in which the works in his district were being carried out. Report received. PAY&IENT OF WORKMEN. Two memoranda were read from the Engineer with reference to the payment of daymen. The Chairman explained that arrangements had been made so that a man might , be discharged at any time and paid on the certificate of tlie overseer. A" LATE SPECIAL MEETING. Captain Maokenzie called attention to the special meeting of the 31st May, the minute of the proceedings of which did not state by whom or how the same had been called. He wanted the business of the County carried on in accordance with the Act. He accused the Chairman and the Clerk of having called the meeting illegally. If they had ' authority, he wished it produced, so that the matter might be cleared up. The Chairman said the meeting had been called in accordance with the Act. After some discussion the subject was allowed to drop. PLACE OF MEETING. Mr Jowitt called attention to the fact that at last meeting they had agreed with the President of the Athenceum for the use of the hall for their meetings for six months. He suggested that the agreement be committed to wilting. Captain Mackenzie thought the motion premature, as other arrangements fol* meeting might be made perhaps within the period specified. Mr Jowitt's suggestion was agreed to. petitions. Captain Mackenzie laid on the table a petition from the ratepayers hi the Waipahi district with reference to the state of the road to the railway station there. A large number of petitions were also read from ratepayers throughout the County against the recent alteration of the Ridings, and against the County lewying a shilling rate. [These petitions have already been published in the Leader,.] COLLECTOR OF RATES AND TAXES. Twelve applications for the appointment of Rate Collector for the County were received, and after a ballot had been taken, Mr Alexander Ironside was appointed. It was resolved that the Collector should find security for L2OO. inch: clutha county road. Mr Ayson moved — "That the road formerly declared a County road on Inch Clutha be continued from Mr Willock's to the Kaitangata Punt." Seconded by Captain Mackenzie, and carried. UO AD WORKS. Captain Mackenzie moved — " That the Engineer be instructed to call for tenders for the construction of a road from the Waikoikoi Bridge to the Village Reserve, near M'Kenzie's station." Seconded by Mr Scott, and carried. Captain Mackenzie moved — ** That the prayer of the petition re the Tapanui-Gore road be granted, and that the Engineer be instructed at once to make the said road passable." In support of the motion, he pointed out that the cost of the work would be very trifling, as a few days of surfacemen would do it. Mr Scobie seconded the motion. . Mr Jenkinson considered that the Council should be a little more careful in voting money for such roads. He would vote against the motion unless a sum were named. Messrs Dallas and Jowitt also urgedthat the sum required he mentioned. Captain Mackenzie replied, but did not name- a sum, and the motion was lost. Captain Mackenzie moved — " That the Engineer be directed to report on the cost of making the road from Pomahaka bridge, Kelso, direct to section 20, block 11, Glenkenich." Mr Ayson seconded the motion, which was carried. waipahi railway station. Captain Mackenzie moved — " That the prayer of- the petition re road to Waipahi railway station be granted, and that the Engineer be requested to furnish estimate of necessary work." He explained the condition of the road, and pointed out that the settlers were absolutely prevented from getting their grain sent away. If the road were not formed they would be obliged to go nine miles with their grain along the main road to the Wairuna crossing. Thus the additional expense of maintaining the main road would be more than would be the cost of forming the short road to the station. Mr Scobie, in seconding the motion, pointed out that the revenue received from licenses at the spot would make the road. Mr Jenkinson thought the Council should not vote a penny to the district until the inhabitants formed themselves into a Road Board and rated themselves. It was most unjust to ratepayers in the Road Districts, who . were to be doubly rated, that their funds should be taken and expended in outlying districts wliich contributed nothing. Mr Jowitt concurred. The ratepayers of his district had taxed themselves for years to make their own roads. Now they were to be rated to make roads. for outlying districts which had never paid a penny. This was doing an injustice to the ratepayers, and he would oppose it. Captain Mackenzie replied, pointing out that the people in the outlying districts had all along been willing to pay rates, but the Council had prevented their doing so. They also had been anxious to form themselves into a Road District, but they had been prevented from doing so as they were new settlers and their names were not upon the electoral roll for the General Assembly. Steps had now, however, been taken to establish Road Boards. He was sorry to see the feeling that existed against these districts, because it would lead the people to believe they would never get justice from the Clutha County Council. Upon being. put to the meeting, the motion was lost by the casting vote of the Chairman. THE ELECTORAL ROLLS. Mr Dallas moved — "That the Clerk be instructed- to re-arrange the electoral roll of the County, in accordance with the new boundaries of the Ridings. " ~ Seconded by Mr Jenkinson. , Captain Mackenzie said that in his opinion the rolls of the County could not at present be altered. The CHAiRaiAN said he cauld not see what was to brevent the Council altering the roll. He read several clauses of the

Counties Act, and said that in his opinion the Council had power to re-adjust the roll at any time. The motion was carried. Mr Dallas moved — " Tha\, application be made, if necessary, to Ms Excellency the Governor, under section 209 of the Counties Act, to make ~Wid prescribe such regulations and orders as may be necessary to enable the motions recently carried, altering the boundaries of ridings and representations thereof, to be given effect to at the ensuing general elections." j Seconded by Mr Jenkinson, and carried. ! POMAHAKA bridge. Mr Scott moved — " That the Council shall grant the sum of LSOO towards the bridge and approaches now being erected across the Pomahaka Ford road." Mr Soobie seconded. After a discussion the motion was carried. BOUNDARIES Ol* HIDINGS. Captain Mackenzie allowed the first motion standing in his name to lapse, and moved—-" That the resolution altering the boundaries of ridings and creating a new riding, passed at last meeting, on tho 28th day of June last, and purporting to confirm a resolution passed on the 31st day of May last, be revoked, because the second resolution was not advertised or publicly notified, as required by the 13th section of the Counties Act, and also because the effect of the said resolution is to disfranchise a large section of the ratepayers for a considerable period." In support of the motion Captain MACKENZIE said that since he had been elected to a seat at the Board ho had not been remiss in his attention to his duties. He had, however, been prevented from attending last meeting by illness and. a severe snowstorm. The Council and the Chan-man must have known that he was unavoidably absent, and might have postponed a resolution of such importance till he could be present. The Council, however, had confirmed the resolution to alter the boundaries in his absence. He referred to some remarks made by the Chairman at last meeting, pointing out that public notice of the meeting to confirm the resolution had been given, but that there had been no petitions against it. He (Captain Mackenzie) argued that if the absence of petitions had induced the Chairman to confirm the resolution, the table that day had been flooded with petitions and this should be sufficient reason for the Chairman to vote for rescinding the resolution. These petitions, he said, had been got up by the people themselves, and not on the instigation of anyone. There would have been petitions against the confirmation previous to last meeting but for the snow storm preventing meetings being held. He also pointed out that the public had had no public notice of the intention of the Council to do array with one Hiding and to create a new one. Since this had been known the greatest dissatisfaction had been felt, and the whole of the ratepayers affected had signed petitions against it. A large tract of unoccupied land had beenadded to the South Molyneux Riding simply as an excuse for continuing the unequal representation. By the action of the Council he believed a large number of ratepayers would be disfranchised. He did not believe the Governor would extend the time for making up the rolls, and the people therefore could not vote. He believed the alteration of the boundaries had been made from the best of motives, but the Council had acted hastily in the matter, and now found the alterations made were unjust and unsatisfactory. It would therefore be a graceful act on the part of the Council to rescind the resolution and thus conform to the clearly expressed mind of the ratepayers affected. Personally, he had no interest in the matter, and was solely guided by the wishes of his constituents. Mr Scott seconded the motion. In the face of so many petitions the resolution could not be allowed to stand. Many large ratepayers were opposed to the alteration, and the whole of the ratepayers in districts affected by the change had. petitioned against it. He had heard personal motives imputed, but he did not believe any such motives existed. The Council had simply acted hastily in the matter, and now finding they had done wrong, they should rescind 'the resolution. Mr Scobie said the motion was one of serious import to the ratepayers, and the Council was bound to listen to it. He referred to the valuation of the various Ridings, to show the injustice that had been been done by the recent alteration of boundaries. A large number of petitions were before the Council, and he claimed for those full consideration. Mr Dallas was glad to hear Councillors repudiate personal motives in connection with the alteration of the boundaries. He also referred to the population and valuation of the Ridings, and. could not see how it was desired to take away a member from South Molyneux. As to the petitions, he reminded Councillors that at last meeting Mr Scobie intimated his intention of raising up the whole country to have the resolution rescinded. But for his action there would have been no petitions on the table. Mr Jowitt said that since he had been elected a member of the Council his only object had been to do even justice to the whole .ratepayers within the County. He had never attempted to secure an advantage for his own district at the expense of any other district. He reminded the Council that the question of altering the boundaries had originated with Captain Mackenzie, who took advantage of his (Mr Jowitt's) absense from' a meeting and the death of the other representative for South Molyneux Riding, not only to get a resolution passed altering the boundaries, but also without notice, and illegally, to alter the representation of the Ridings. - Thus this intense stickler for law had attempted to alter the representation illegally, and in this illegal act he was supported* by Messrs Scobie and Scott. Thus these three gentlemen had attempted to do him and his district a gross injustice and to do it in an illegal manner. With reference to Captain Mackenzie's absence from last meeting he (Mr Jowitt) had seen a letter published some time previously in ■ the Clutha Leader. The letter was' signed by Captain Mackenzie, and when he (Mr Jowitt) read it he at once came to the conclusion that it was not Captain Mackenzie's intention to be present at the meeting. , „ Captain Mackenzie called Mr Jowitt to order. A mild scene occurred, during which Captain Mackenzie said il" the Chairman

would not protect liim inside the building, he would know how to protect himself outside.

The Chairman ordered Captain Mackenzie to sit down, explaining ibat he was the only member of Council who did not respect the ruling of the chair, and who refused to submit to order.

Mr Jowitt resuming, said Ik- had no intention of going into personalities, but he wished the Council and the public distinctly to understand that the previous illegal and unfair conduct of the gentlemen to whom he had referred in connection with tho alteration of boundaries and representation was his reason for now voting against tlie motion. He was as anxious for seeing justice done to the Waipalii. settlers as for the South Molyneux settlers, but he did not believe the alteration of boundaries that had been effected would do them an injustice. Ho did net believe any settlers would be disfranchised. He did think it strange there were no petitions previous to last meeting when there now were so many. He would vote according to his own convictions, and in all good faith against the motion. Mr Jenkinson referred to the past steps taken by the Council regarding the alteration of boundaries, and characterised Captain Mackenzie's action in the matter as something very contemptible and odious. The Chairman said Captain Mackenzie was present at the meeting when the" resolution which was confirmed at last meeting was passed, and took no objection to it. He (the Chan-man) therefore had no reason to believe Captain Mackenzie would oppose the confirmation, and even if ho had, he could not have postponed the matter. He would remind Captain Mackenzie that when the matter of an alteration of tlie boundaries was before them on a former occasion there was no word of postponing the business to suit absent members. As to the manner in which he had given his casting vote, he thought it strange some members should talk so much of parliamentary practice. When they became members of Council they had to come to him to find out how to frame a resolution. The talk about disfranchising the electors was mere assertions without proof. He regarded his giving his casting vote as a mere matter of form. The resolution had been passed and full notice given. There was no objection, and his vote had merely confirmed what the Council had passed, and what the publio apparently approved of. Captain Mackenzie, in reply, said tho resolution to alter the boundaries was not law until confirmed, and it was the casting vote of the Chairman that had passed the confirmation. The reason he did not oppose the resolution at the time was because he did not understand it. It waa the same thing with his constituents. Doth he and they, however, now understood it, and they wished the action rescinded as unjust. He also pointed out that the petitions were the spontaneous act of the ratepayers. Mr Scobie and he had been asked to attend the meeting at Waipalii, but they had no hand in getting ' it up. Tne motion was then put to tho meet* ing, and lost by one vote. Messrs Mackenzie, Scobie, Roberts, and Scott, who had voted in the minority then left the room. RATE. Mr Jenkinson moved — " That the rate of Is in the £ be confirmed." • Seconded by Mr Jowitt, and earned. A COMPLAINT. Mr Jowitt complained that the South Molyneux Road Board had not as yet received any reply to a letter re the subsidy paid to thaL Board, which would havo belonged to tho Council had the Act been brought into force in time. The Board had also requested certain returns from the Council, but no notice had been taken of the request. The Clerk was instructed to attend to these matters. place of meeting. The Chairman mentioned that he had been waited upon by a deputation from the Borough Council, who suggested that the County and the Borough should unite in erecting a joint place of meeting, offices, &c. He thought tho Council might appoint a committee to confer with the committee from the Borough, and report at next meeting. * After some discussion the suggestion was agreed to, the committee to consist of the Chairman and Messrs Ayson and Dallas." DELEGATE TO CONFERENCE. Captain Mackenzie was appointed a delegate to attend the Conference of County Councils at Wellington. The meeting then adjourned.