DISSOLUTION OF THE BOROUGH OF CLYDE AND MERGING SAME INTO THE VINCENT COUNTY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 830, 15 March 1878, Page 3

DISSOLUTION OF THE BOROUGH OF CLYDE AND MERGING SAME INTO THE VINCENT COUNTY.

—o — A special Emergency Meeting of the 'Clyde Borough Council was hold on Monday last, the lit!) inst., at 11 a.m. Present —S. Wclsford, Esq., Mayor, and Councillors Auckland, Beck, Clark, Cox, and M'Cotmochio. The Mayor explained the object of the 'meeting was deciding on the terms on which ■this Council propose to mergejthe Town into the County Ha-said it was apparently the desire of thomajority of the ratepayers to take the step, some were against it, and ■others again refused to opinion. For his own part he was not 'against the step, that is, if the townspeople wore protected in some of the properties they had ■striven hard to accumulate, and in the terms submitted to the County that would ‘have to be considered. It was an impression, though a very erroneous 'one, that the Town was so hampered with burdens that there was nothing for it but merge. The only burden the Town had was the Bridge, and now that that had been taken off fheir hands the financial position of the town—as was evident frnm the statement prepared by the Town Clerk—was as healthy as -could possibly be. Ho would strenuously oppose the taking out Of the hands of tho ■inhabitants.of Clyde the Town Hall or the ■ rights ; but as the County, on the ■first occasion the question of merger was raised refused to take over these, he did not, . anticipate now any difficulty on that head. - . After some slight discussion the following terms were agreed to, and the Mayor and Cr B°ck were authorised to submit same to the Sub-Committee appointed by the County to confer with the Council on the question of merge : Ist That the Town Hall and Library buildings and all Water Rights the property of the Town be retained by the inhabitants of the Town of Clyde, to be dealt with and managed by a Trust. to be composed of the inhabitants of the Town of Clyde. 2nd. That the cash assets of the Town of Clyde at the date of proclamation of merger, together with all rates due to tho 31st of March, 1879, and all subsidies on same, he the property of the Town of Clyde, and to be paid to the credit of the above Trust. At 3 p.ra the Mayor and Cr Beck accompanied by tho Town Clerk, met the Sub■Cnmmittee appointed by the County Council vit, V. Pyke, Esq., Chairman, and Crs Cololongh and M'Oinnis. The proposed terms having been read and handed to the Ooun f y Chairman, discussion ensued, during which it was explained that tho principal duty of the Trust would be to w pply the Town of Clyde with a good water

supply, and that if the proposed terms were s.n.-ed to the Trust would have a fund after allowing tor ml contingencies to start with of between L6OO and L6OO. Cr Colcloiigh raised questions as to tho power of the Municipality dissolving itself and merging into the County, it not having been brought under the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876, and also as to the power of forming the proposed Trust to comprise properties granted to the Town. Mr Pyke -said that any municipality could take advantages of the clauses in the Municipal Act, 1878, respecting dissolving and merger, the late Attorney-General having given his-opinion to that effect. The Town -Clerk -explained that neither the Town Hall nor water rights were held under grairt, both properties, including the freehold lands, having been purchased by tho Town out of their revenues. St The County representatives after consultation, during which the others retired, submitted the following .-—That tho offer of the Clyde Corporation be accepted subject to the following conditions—--Ist. That no further charge be -made for the use of the Town Hall by the County Council after the completion of dissolution and merger. 2nd That the cost of keeping the streets 1 "of Clyde’’township fis-repair be deducted from the rates, subsidies, or other monies payable on account of the Corporation thereof until the Slst day of March, 1879, and that a sum of LSO be allowed the County Council at that date for the residue of licenses then current. 3rd That if it be hereafter discovered that there are any special liabilities which might legally devolve upon and become legal liabilities of the County in consequence of such dissolution and merger of the Borough of Clyde, the County Council shall have tho right to levy a special rate on the property of the Town of Clyde ■for the payment thereof. Vincent Pyke, CIIAS. COLCI.OCGH, Michael J. M'Ginsts. Mr Welsford asked for how long the County Council would retain the uso of their present offices free. Mr Pyke sa’d at the host the offices -were very inconvenient, and that in all likelihood the question as to where tho County offices would be built would bo settled in tho conrae of the next six .mouths. The Municipal representatives, after calling into their -deliberations tho other Councillors, agreed to accept the amended terms, and tho Town Clerk -was instructed to write a letter to that effect.