VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 833, 5 April 1878, Page 2

VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Council was held in the Council Chambers on Wednesday last, the 3rd inst. Present—Vincent Pyke, Esq., chairman (Bannockburn Riding), and Crs. .lolly and Coleinngh (Hawea Riding), J. P. Davidson and W. Greenhank (Matakanni Riding), .). PRobes (Manuherikia Riding), and M. J. M'Ginnis (Earnscleugh Riding. The Chairman said ; The usual monthly meeting, to have been held on the 27th ult., in consequence of the small attendance was adjourned till this day, and for the business to he gone on with on the order paper of present meeting being got through.

The Bye-laws Regulating Hawking, Impounding, and Slaughtering were adopted. Bye-law Regulating Oepastuiing on Commonages within the County was now brought up, and after some three hours hacking and hauling was recommitted till business of present meeting was disposed of.

The Council now went into Committee for the'consideration of tenders, and on resuming the following report was read and adopted. We recommend the following tenders be accepted : No. 33.—Construction of font-bridge across the Nevis River, near the township.—S. Kaminghair>, L6B ss. No. 33.—Forming and gravelling 13 chains Main Road, Opin'j, and forming, kerhing, and gravelling 220 chains leading to Court-house, Ophir.—Conigal and M'Kenzie, L 129 13s. No. 37. —Const!uction of 87 chains of rpad between Goodgcr's Farm and Perriam’s Hotel, Lowburn.—Mah Hocy, L 239 ss. No. 38. —Construction of Foot and Packhorse BiiVlge across the Nevis River, near Cromhie's.--Grant and M'Kellar, . L 478 16s. Maintenance Contracts. Contract A. —Clyde to Leaning Rock Creek.—F. Allpass, LllO. Contract B.—Leaning Rock Creek to Cromwell.—C. Calnnitis, LIOS.

Contract C.—Cromwell to Kirtiehurn.—

N. Campion. L 95. 'Contract D.—Cromwell to foot -of Nevis Hill. Shepherd’s Creek.—L. Botcher, Ll2O. Contract E.—Cromwell to Lochar Burn (centre). —Fresh tenders to ho invited. Contract F.—Lochar Bum (centre) to

Albert-Town.- Fresh tenders to bein'

vited. Contract C.—Clyde to Butchers Gully (Neiper’s). —Keeman ami Livingstone, L 55 I'Os 6d. Contract H —Clvde to Chatto Creek (centre). -H. H. Watson, L7O Contract 1. —Chatto Creek (centre) to Lauderburn, inclnding branch through Blacks.—P. Dee, LI 80. Contract K.~ Alexandra to Tuape’'# County Boundary.—Bo tier, H29.

The Depasturing Dye-law was again brought up, and after some further amendments, agreed to. The main features are that holders of minerr’ rights and business licenses have the privilege of running one head of great cattle free of assessment | mineral leaseholders one head ; and mining leaseholders not more than five head. Thr’ assessment fee on large cattle, 3s 6d ; sheep la ; pig? and goats, 5s ; andthe fine for running cattle without registration, 40s. for each head.

The Council now adjourned for dinner, and on resuming at 7 p in., the business of the adjourned ordinary meeting was proceeded with.

The minutes of previous meetings . were read and confirmed.

Schedules of inward and outward corr»e pondence were read.

The following letters were read and ordered on From Westland County Council, asking Vincent County to expend thn sura of £ISOO on road connecting the West Coast—Ordered to stand over ; from miners af the Bannockburn, asking that the Coun. ty Surveyor be instructed to make survey of Sludge Channel in Smith's Gully—declined. From Messrs M’Connochie and Tohill, asking for remission of fine infiiutd for non-completion of contract in specified time.—Refused, the Council agreeing that it be a rule and not the exception to enforce to the full all powers. It was advanced that the system of tendering for a certain time and then applying for extension was pernicious. If contractors knew their work or employed a sufficient number of hands they would not be liable to be fined or to seek extension of time.

From T. Fox, asking for return of deposit on contract which he refuses to go on with, on the giound of making errors in his calculations.—Refused.

From Mr R, Turnbull, Linburn Station, asking for partial remission of rates for part of station, by reduciug assessment to LIOO. Agreed to.

Resolved—That Mr J, F. Kitching bo summoned for rates duo ou his property within the County. The meeting then adjourned till the following morning at 10 a m. On resuming, the Chairman laid on the table and read a number of circulars and Idlers from the Government, relative to the future management of Lospita’s within the County, the gist of them being that if the County will take over the management of hospitals within its boundary, that the Government would subsidise all monies received by 1.1 to every LI received, and return nil amounts deducted 'from subsidy paid to Counties on account of hospitals. After long discussion it was resolved That a Sub-Committee. consisting of the Chairman and Crs Colclough and M'Ginnis, bo appointed to confer with Municipal Councils on the question. Cr Colclough proposed—That the Engineer be requested to exanrue and report to this Council on matciials used in the construction of small bridges across sludgw channels at Tinker’s Gully and at Poolburn.—Carried.

He said lie made the motion because hj» was given to understand that the timber used was not in accordance with specific*, tions.

Tim Council thought it was merely a little interference of unsuccessful tenderer*.

Mr 11. Simiamon applisd for his monthly cheque for maintenance contract. The Surveyor’s report was read to the effect that the road was not being attended to, amj that it was in a most disgraceful state.

Resolved - Tiiat Mr Sinnamon he informed that the money would be paid with usual deductions

Petition from residents of Nevis. praying that Council assist Mr O'Brien in constructing a road to his coal pit, was brought up by Cr Colclough in the absence of Cr Masters, lie proposed that the sum of L 25 be granted. The Council expressed itself as being against any such expenditure. If votes of this kind were commenced there would be no end to them. The coal pit was private property, and the owner should make hi* own road. Cr Colclough persistently argued in favor of the vote, bu eventually had to he satisfied hy the proposition—That the Surveyor when he next visits the Nevis, be requested to examine and report on the road. Pcsolvcd—That the road works Pander Creek to Drybread and M&takanui be at once proceeded with. Cr Colclough said as in all likelihood it would he some months before the bridge across the Clutha at Wakefield would b* completed, and as the tax levied on crossing the punt was one that pressed very heavily on the pi o;de of the Ben iigo District, and further, as the County Council had relieved the residents of Bannockburn, Alexandra, and Clyde by removing the toll from the bridges and punts at those places, be thought it would he but reasonable to remove the tax from the people of Bendigo by rendering the punt free. He wonld desire to point out that, a* a further reason why the course suggested hy him should lie adopted, was in consideration of the lately increased traffic through so much land fa the west hank of the Clutha being taken up for settlement.

The Chairman said the question raised by Cr Coldough opened up another, viz , that of beeping eontrnctois np to contract time. With regard to the Clntlia Bridee, the work was undertaken with the view of relieving the residents of Bendigo from the tax complained of. The original contract time had been extended four months, which would fall in on the 25th of May next, and he objected to any further extension being granted ; if the bridge was not completed by then there was only one thing to do, that was, impose the penalties, which would he sufficient if paid to the punt owners to open the punt to free traffic.

Cr Greenback remarked that the contract time, six months, had been extended to ten, and he thought that if the bridge was mt completed by then the penalties should be imposed.

Resolved—That a Sub-Committee, lusting of the Chairman and Treasurer, b appointed to inspect and report to this C mnuil when the C'lutha Badge will u, open for traffic, and as to throwing open the punt free. Or Jolly brought up a memorial from residents of Comishtown, praying that the Council will construct a foot-bridge connecting Cromwell with Comishtown. In support of the memorial Cr Jolly pointed out tho necessity of such a structure not alone as a safe means whereby some thirty children might bo enabled to attend school, but also as affording a ready means of communicating between the two-banks of the Kawarau. He said he did not press for the work to be commenced immediately, but that tho principle should bo recognised by the Council. _^Mjl’esolved— I That plans and specifications tR prepared, and tenders called tor a bridge across the Kawarau at Cromwell, connecting Cromwell with Comishtown. Cr Pitches asked wh at was intended to he done about the bridge across the Manuherikia at Alexandra. The Chairman said tho delay had been caused through the illness of the Engineer. Papers tie dissolution and merger of the Town of Clyde into the County were laid on the table and agreed to, and the Chairman and Treasurer were appointed a SubCommittee to sign the necessary documents and attach the seal of the County to same. The Executive Committee reported on the desirability of rc-dividing County into nine ridings. Resolved—That a special Committee, consisting of the Chairman and Crs Colclough and M‘Oinnis be appointed to enquire into and report on the above. The Executive Committee reported recommending that the County offices be built at Clyde. Resolved—That the further consideration of report stand over till the Sub-Committee report on the re-division of the County, The following was the division on the above—Crs Davidson, Green bank, Jolly, and Colclough, ayes ; Crs Pyke, M'Ginuis, and Pitches, noes, The Treasurer submitted in accordance with Sec. 107 of the Counties' Act. Eatimated statment—Receipts and Expenditure for the year 1878-9, showing the amount proposed to be expended, £34,933 12s 4d.

A lengthy discussion ensued on the rate to be struck.

Gr Davidson, Greenhank and .Colclough supporting 8d in the £., while the others were in favor of Is.—the latter arguing that as the subsidy on rates would in all likelihood cease with the present year the highest possible rate should be made. It was eventually decided that the rate he la. in the £.

The question of printing bye-laws and advertising general County notices was hnmcht up, eventuating in the Chairman and Cr C.dclough being appointed a Subcommittee to arrange with the proprietors of the Cromwell Argus and Dunstas Times as to terms.

Accounts amounting to LI 14 4s 2d were passed for payment.

The Printing Committee reported having arranged with the proprietors of the Cromwell Argus and the Dunstan Times for printing and advertising. The following motion in name of Cr Jolly, notice of which had been given at the last meeting, wasjearried— That the sum of LIOO be set apart as a donation to the Clyde a id Cr unwell Hospitals, the amount to be ®qu dly divided between the two Institutions. Resolved—That the title of the officer of this Council in future be Engineer and Surveyor. The meeting then adjourned.