VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 768, 5 January 1877, Page 2

VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

The first meeting of the Council was held in the Court House, Cromwell, on Thursday, the 4th instant, at noon, the full Council putting in an appearance, viz., Vincent Fyke, Esq., M.H. R., Kawarau Riding ; Messrs Baird and Mitchinson, Hawea Riding ; Mr C. M'Kenna, Nevis Riding; Mr W. Fraser, Barnscleugh Riding ; Mr IT. Pitches, Manuherikia Riding; and Messrs Davidson amt Greenbank, ’Mktakanui Riding. The gentlemen having taken their seats Mr Greenbank rose and said, from his knowledge of Mr Pyke, and from the fact of that gentleman having, from his seat in the Legislative Assembly, been mainly instrumental in making the County Act a law of the Colony, he considered him entitled—at the same time well able —to occupy the position of Chairman of the Vincent County Council. He therefore would have great pleasure in proposing Vincent Pyke, Esq,, M.H.R., as Chairman of this Council. Seconded by Mr W. Fraser, and carried with acclamation. Mr Pyke said : Mr Greenbank, Mr Fraser, and gentlemen, I thank you for the honor of placing me at the head of this Council. I, however, cannot shut my eyes to the fact that . the office has its responsibilities, which, also, is shared by every individual member of the Council. The county system must now fairly be said to he on its trial, and it devolves upon'us to prove whether it is a success or not, consequently it is a great responsibility, and f feel it. I have been a strong advocate of the system from my seat in the Parliament of the country, therefore 1 shall do my utmost to make it a success, but if, after a trial, I find it will not work, I will be the first on my return to Parliament to endeavor to abolish it. 1 do not feel it necessary to make a speech. I will only hope that at the termination of my period of office I may have afuller confidence of the Council than 1 have at the present moment. Mr Pyke then sat down. Rising again ho said : Gentlemen, the business of the present meeting will be purely of a preliminary character, occupying but two or three hours ; he would therefore ask the Council whether they would continue on with the business or adjourn for luncheon' The latter being resolved upon, the meeting adjourned for an hour and a half. On resuming business Mr Pyke said he had made a few notes of business, of whilch the following is a fair digest : “ In the first place it is necessary that rules for the conduct of our proceedings and the regulation of our business should be drawn np. In tho meantime I recommend that the Standing Orders of tho General Assembly be adopted as far as they may be applicable, and consistent with the Statutes under which we are governed ; of course I do not propose to apply all tho minutim of Parliamentary proceedings, hut only the general principles. Bye-laws will he prepared and laid before you at a special meeting it will bo requisite to beheld. The next matter that claims your attention is tho appointment of a Treasurer. • It is not necessary that this officer should be a

member of the Council; for many reasons, however, I think ho should be. In connection with this office is the appointment of two other members 'df the Council, who must sign cheques together with the Treasurer. Now, it has occurred to me that the labors of members generally may be lightened by the appointment of an Executive Committee, whose functions would lo to assist the Chairman in the transactions of business of a purely executive character, and to report to the Council at intervals. The Counties’ Act.prwides for ordinary and special meetings, and for a special meeting in February to consider the valuation list, and for the appropriation of the County revenue. I think that in all three or four meetings will be sufficient when the necessary preliminary business has been completed ; hutif any extra meetings are required, it is in the jurisdiction of the Council to convene them. There are also valuers, county clerk, and surveyor, or road engineer to be appointed for whom it will bo necessary to advertise, and it will also be requisite for the salaries of such officers to be at once fixed. In the appointment of Valuers no time ean be lost as the Valuation Roll must bo lodged in the office on or before the 15th January. By the Eating Act the time can be extended by the Governor, hut as it is not well to depend'upon such extension you will therefore be asked to instruct the Chairman or Executive Committee to appoint Valuers. The County Clerk and Surveyor can be appointed at a special meeting. In the meantime, however, your sanction will be required for the obtaining of temporary clericahassistance ; also for the executing of works of emergency, and the maintenance of the roads. In this direction it seems to me that greater efficiency with considerable economy can be obtained, and I shall ask you to define the duties of the chief officer, whom you may decide on appointing. With regard to the salary of the Chairman, you are at liberty to deal with it now or at the special meeting to be shortly held, but I would prefer it he left over till the special meeting. The banking business of the County will also claim your attention. The adoption of the common teal, the arrangement for temporary office and office hoars, and other things will also claim your attention. In conclusion, gentlemen, 1 may inform you that I have, with the view to facilitating business, applied to the Minister anministering the Government in Otago for information relative to the lands in the County, which information, I'think, will be of valuable assistance to the valuers and the Council. After some dew remarks as to the Standing Orders, and in reply, M r Pyke said they were the same as used by the late Provincial Council. It was resolved—That the Standing Orders of the General Assembly, in so far as they are applicable and consistent to the working of the County Act, ponding the adoption of bye-laws, be adopted. The Chairman said as this was the first meeting, and by acting strictly up to the Standing Orders, some members might feel inconvenienced, in debate he would sug gest that the Council resolve itself into a" Committee of the whole. The suggestion was acted upon. Resolved—That Mr William Fraser be appointed County Treasurer, and the Chair' man and Mr Baird as the other two officers to sign cheques together with the Treasurer. Resolved—That the Chairman and Messrs Frasoi and Baird be appointed the Executive Committee to transact the necessary executive business of the Council. Mr Greenback asked if it would be possible to obtain the valuation list by the time specified in the Act. The Chairman said he thought not. Tho first valuation list would necessarily he, from the time being so circumscribed, but a rough one:; but to give as much time as possible he would suggest that’instructions be given to telegraph to tho Government for an extension of time/ Mr Fraser thought the first thing to be done would be to ascertain what extension of time the Government would grant, as if any roan offered to make the valuation within the specified time, he would say he was not tit to do it at all It was discussed as to who should appoint the Valuers ; whether the Executive Committee or the Council as a whole. Mr Pitches thought tho duty should devolve upon the Council. Mr M'Kenna said it would be a saving of time if the Executive Committee had the appointment, and would propose that the Executive Committee be empowered to appoint Valuers, and arrange for their payment ; seconded by Mr Mitchinson. Mr Fraser said ho was not aware such responsibility would Test on the Executive Committee. He hoped they would not be asked to appoint tho cleric and surveyor, and thought before the proposition was carried the salaries should be fixed. The proposition was carried. The next question was tho appointment of clerk and surveyor. After discussion it was resolved—That applications be invited for the office of valuers, applicants to state remuneration required ; also, to invito applications for tho offices of county clerk and surveyor.—See advertisements. Resolved—That tho Executive Committee bo empowered to employ temporary clerical assistance ; also, that they be empowered to execute any public work of emergency, repair roads, &c., pending the special meeting. Resolved—Tint the fixing salary of Chairman be left over for special meeting. A long discussion ensued over tho question as to where the Banking business of the Council should he transacted, ultimately it was resolved—That tho Executive Com mittee ascertain on what terms Banks wore willing to take the County business, and that in the meantime all monies accruing to tho Comity bo paid into the Bank of Few Zealand, Cromwell to the credit of the Vincent County account. The business of the Council in Committee being finished, business was resumed, and it was proposed by Mr Fraser seconded by Mr Pitches -

That a special meeting of the Council, for the purpaso of passing bye-laws, appointment of officers, and the transaction of other business, be held ih the Town-hall, Clyde, on February 1, 1877. Mr M'Kcnna proposed-That the meet, ing be held in Cromwell, seconded by Mr Mitohinson. Mr Fraser said ho had nothing to say i a favor of or against Cromwell as the meeting place, ho proposed Clyde as it was more convenient for the Council. Mr Pitches said he did not ‘consider Cromwell any more important than any other place in the County. Ho represented ns important a riding as any, and thought, as he and others had travelled nearly forty miles that day to attend tho meeting, tho mover of the amendment should give way.. The original motion was declared carrie \ Messrs (Davidson, Fraser, Pitches, an, ' | Greenback being for, and Messrs M‘Kenna, ' Mitchinson, and Baird against. The Chairman in reply said he did not, neither did he'consider it his duty to vote on a question affecting the convenience of tho Council when there was a majority; when the public was affected it would be different. Notice of Motion by Mr Fraser—That at the next'meeting the fixed meeting placijof the Council be decided on. The Chairman submitted a desig.or the County seal, which was adopted. The seal which is the design of Mr Pyke ia—“ On a shield Vert, a cherron Argent ; in the upper dexter compartment a plough or; in the up. per sinister compartment a pick and shovel or ;‘under cherron a lamp or. Motto —ltihaec vincimus, the whole surrounded with the words, “ Vincent County Council, N.Z. The meeting then adjourned.