VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 841, 31 May 1878, Page 3

VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Cottricil met in the Council Chambers Clyde, on Wednesday, May -29 th, 1878. Present—Vincent Pyke, Esq., Chairman, (Kawarau); D. A. Jolly, Treasurer (Hawea); W. Greenhank (Matakanui); M. J. M’Ginnis (Earnscleugh). The business opened with the Statutory Meeting To consider and settle the balance sheet for tho year ending 31st Match, 1878, which combined statement of assets and liabilities, statement of rhal'estate, anil statement of public debt of the County. Tho Chairman having read the various statements which were of a voluminous character, entering into the minutest details ; also the ' certificates of the County Auditor, which were extremely satisfactory when it was resolved that the balance sheet be settled. The -assets shewed a cash balance of LI 1,690 8s; and liabilities L 7,903 8s Bd. Special Meeting To consider resolution of last meeting of the Council for the re-distribution of the County into nine ridings. Resolved—That the resolution carried at last' Meeting of the Coufieil;be carried. Ordinary Meeting. The minutes of previous meetings were read And confirmed. Schedules of correspondence, inward and outward, wore read. The/ Chairman read a carefully prepared return of all works, and the cost of same, carried out by the County during the year ending' March 31st, 1878. The following correspondence was considered : The Chairman explained that the result of an amount of correspondence with the Police Department relative to tho collection of the Dog Tax was, that the Police would continue to collect the'tax till July Ist next. Relative to the boundary between the Vincent and Tuapeka Counties the Chairman said no end of trouble had arisen. It was, however, arranged, hut, it was five miles further"South than at first marked out. He also explained that a deputation of the Tuapeka County was to meet and confer with the Vincent County as to the amount of revenue collected by the TuaOounty and which was to be refunded to the Vino°nt Cbunty. Relative to the proposed Conference of County ChainUm it was resolved—That this Council does'not think it expedient for any such Conference prior to the coming session of Parliament.

On the question of reserves it was resolved—That this Council is of opinion that all reserves in the County should be vested in the ChUMtil.

Resolved—That the resignation of James Hix as Returning Officer Tor Manuhcrikia - Hiding bo accepted. Relative to tbc future management of Hoqntals. The Chairnuu road a report of the Sub-Committee iippoiutcd to consider the subject. The report is as follows—That for the purposes of managing the Hospitals the Ridings of Kevis. Kawarau, and Hawco, as at present constituted, bo joined with the Cromwell Borough for the support of the Cromwell Hospital ; and that the Hidings of Matakanui, Manuhcrikia, and Earnscleugh, as at present constituted, bo joined with the Boroughs of Clyde and Alexandra for the support ofth’e Clyde Hospital.

Resolved- -That this Council endorses the terras of the Sub-Committee re management of the Clyde and Cromwell Hospitals, and that the Chairman summta a conference of the Mayors of Clyde, Alexandra, and Cromwell, and make arrangements with them as to the terms proposed by ‘this County if possible. Resolved—That the application by Mr J. S. Dickie for a refund of part payment of cost of bond bo agreed to. Memorial. By Cr M'Ginnis—From Mr J. Drummy, asking for remission of penalty for non-com-pletion of bridge across the Tinkers Sludge Channel in contract time. Received. r ßyHh'e Chairman, in the absence of Cr Pitches—From 88 ratepayers in Matakanui and Manuherikia Ridings, praying the Council to proceed at once with the erection of a traffic bridge across the Manuherikia at Blacks. Received. The Chairman said he had a document to lay before the Council. Though it was ac■companied by a request it was hot at the same time a memorial. The document in ‘question was a memorial to the Waste Lands Board to throw open a Meek of land ■on Earnsoleugh Station for settlement. The request was that this Council should use its influence with the Waste Lands Board so as to get the request complied with. Cr M'Ginnis spoke not alone forcibly hut eloquently on the subject. Ho said he was quite sure there 'would be ten applications ■for every section, and that by men whose whole and sOle desire was to obtain a piece of land to make ahome upon, and said he supported the prayer of the memorialists in the honest conviction that it will be taken up and settled upon. One of the duties of the Council he thought was to do all in its power to settle people on the land, and to ■use their every influence with the Waste Lands Board to promote settlement. In his remarks he dwelt upon the success that had attended all who had gnlie in for fruit g.-owing on small spots of land in the immediate locality of the laud applied for, and expressed his belief that if the '.and is thrown open an industry will spring up that will not only benefit the district but the country. He hoped the Council would accede to the wishes of the memorialists, and strongly recommend the Waste Lands Board to fcauac an immediate survey. Ho further pointed out that no land as yet had been taken from Messrs Strode and Eraser’s run.

Cr Jolly, in seconding the proposition, 'said he agreed with the mover that it was the duty of the Council to encourage settlement.

Cr Greenhank saidVhe hoped that when the'duvvd’/'was made it)would be open for settlement, and not left locked up for years as ia'his neighbourhood.

.Resolved—That this Council support the Memorial, and recommend the Waste Land Board to grant the prayer of the memorial. Application of Messrs Grant and Maokellar for the exclusive right to two acres of land for a quarry on the east side of the road'below Cromwell Bridge was read. Discussion 1 ensued, resulting that they'be allowed 5 chains of frontage to road during the pleasure of the Council.

Resolved, on motion of Cr Greenhank, That the fine imposed on Mr Drummy for non-completion of bridge across Tinkers Sludge Channel'Vvithin contract time, be remitted, In tabling his motion he said the bridge had been completed, yet there were no approaches. He thought it would, be simply folly to’impose the penalty. The Engineer was instructed to get the Approaches'made at once. Resolved—That a'penalty of LlO he imposed on Mr Drummy ,;for not completing tho bridge 1 across i Poolburn in accordance with 'specifications, and that the contract bo determined.

The Chairman I !*said that [Cr Jolly and himself had waited on the owners of the Wakefield Ferry with the object of having "same*thrown; openjto ■ the. public [free ■ mitu the bridge was completed. They, however, had been unable’to agree as to terms. They had offered the owners L 7 per week. In reply, the Engineer, who was present, said the contractor promises to have the bridge finished by the latter end of July.

The Chairman said the tender for th'e bridge fell due on tho 25th instant, that tho penalty for every day over the contract time was Lii ’per day, and that he understood the (penalty would be enforced. He then read a letter from tho punt owners, in which the Council was reminded of their promises to pay them the sum of Ll5O on the understanding that tho rates of charge were not to be increased ; that the average takings exceeded LlO per week, and that they did' not feel ‘ disposed to accept of a sum than UilO'pe'r week to work theii punt free.

C c Jolly said the tax weighed very heavily on the residents of the district, and so long as a charge was made for crossing so- tfmcli longer would the settlement of the lands lately thrown open be defcried. He fully admitted that the district was fairly treated by the Council, but seeing that all the ferries in 'the 'County had betn made free he saw no reason why this one should not. He would propose—That the Bendigo Ferry be thrown open free from the Ist of June, and that the Chairman be empowered to make arrangements with the owners to pay them a sum 'not exceeding LlO per week.

Cr'M'GSnUis said ho objected to the proposition, as he did not think the grievance was so great as was represented ; he would, however, second the proposition.

After further diseussibh, it was declared cifried,

A number of reports from the Engineer on the contracts on hand, the works being performed by day labour, and the works necessary to he at once proceeded with, were read.

Some discussion took place on the desirability of carrying out largo works by day labour; ‘ decided that in future day labour he employed only where it was not possiblc’to make p’oper specifications for tenders.

Resolved- That the report of the Engineer on works requiring immediate attention be adopted, and that tenders be called for them at once. The works enumerated are : Traffic bridge over the Eraser’s River, foot bridge over ; Smith’s Gully, Bannockburn, culvert and cutting over Leaning Rock Creek Clyde and Cromwell-road, road works Ilawea, and road works Blacks road near Spottis Creek.

Cr Greenbank drew attention to a dangerous piece of road between Chatto Creek and Tiger Hill. Ordered to be repaired. Messrs M'Corinochio and Tohill’s application by letter for L 9, and a second letter for 815, for extra work performed on maiutenance contract, Alexandra to County boundary was read. * Resolved—That L 5 be granted them. The report of the Engineer on road from Albert Town to the llaast Pass, the estimated cost of same being Ll 1,101, was read. Engineer’s rcpUt on survey of Sludge Channel, ’and letter accompanying the same were read. The Engineer in bis letter objected to make surveys for private parties without fee. The question arose whether the Smith’s Gully Sludge Channel was a private or public work, smile 'Councillors arguing that as the County had nothing to do with it cither in central or by subsidising it was a private undertaking ; others thought, it being a work by which a great number of parties were concerned it was a public work. After discussion it was resolvcd—That the Engineer he requested to undertake all surveys he may he required to do by the Council, and to submit to the Council a charge for those he does not consider to come within his contract.

Resolved—That Mr Trennison be allowed , the sum of L 3 ss, for damage done to his dray while working for the County after hours. It was'explained that Trennison, to save the tiffie of a large gang of men that were working on day labor, made it a practice to take the tools to the blacksmith after the day’s work was done, and that it was during one of these journeys his dray broken.

Report fif Mv. F. J. Wilson on action taken against rate defaulters, was read.

Report of Mr J. S. Dickie, Ranger of Commonages was read to the effect that Clyde Commonage would run 400 head of large cattle, add 1000 small ; and Cromwell Commonage DOO of each. description At the present time licenses were granted for 380 head of large cattle on Clyde Commonage ; and 372 on Cromwell Commonage,

These ntnhbe'ra, if was explained were irre-. spective of those cattle depastured under miners’ rights, &e. The question arose ,1s to whether a miner holding a number of miners’ rights could depasture moro than one head. It was decided not.

Applications for depasturing sheep were now considered.

After considerable discussion it was decider! not at present to issue any license for sheep. The Chairman explained the result of his journey toDunediu. Hesaid most fortunately he| had met Mr Stout, Attorney-General through whom he had been able to transact the business he had in hand, thus saving himself the’infliction of'a journey to Wellington, at the same time the Council the expense. 'He then explained that he had succeeded in obtaining the sums voted, viz. > LSOOO for the Clyde’Bridge, and L4OOO for the \ ictoria Bridge. He had ascertained that from the Canterbury land fund half a million sterling was available for the various Counties, of which Xlo,ooo should be paid to the credit of the County on tho Ist of July. He had arranged with Mr R. Hay, Engineer, to assist tho County Engineer in selecting site and preparing plans for the bridge across the Molyneux at 'Alexandra. He had ascertained that the Tuapeka County had received one-half of the sum (L 7000) voted for making road between Lawrence and Alexandra, of which sum he had received L 250, with a promise of more at an early date, and ho had conferred with the Chairman and Councillors as to throwing open the Beaumont Bridge, and a Committee had been appointed to take the matter into consideration. He said he had been informed that some'of tho TuapekaCouncil (a minority) were in favor of aj - plying for the sum for the purpose of making roads. He' salfl'such a thing was never in tended, and characterised such a diversion of a vote a grievous public wrong and breach of faith. He had also endeavoured to arrange tho Boundary question, and, at his instigation, another Committee, consisting of Mr Bastings, Mr Honner, and Mr Bennett had been appointed to confer with a Committee of this Council as to tho present and futitr'c boundary, and the amount to bo refunded to this County by the Tuapeka County, for rates wrongfully collected by the latter within the Vincent County and subsidies thereon.

Resolved, on the motion of Cr Jolly— That a vote of thanks be recorded to the Cnairman for tho successful termination of his mission.

Mr Fyke briefly returned thanks, saying that tiis being able to complete all that he had gone away for made him far more comfortable than it he had had to return unsuccessful.

The Cnairman"pointed ont'that the work in hand and liable to come in was more than the Engineer could possibly overtake, and suggested that an assistant Engineer ho advertised for. Agreed to. Or Jolly asked that the Council write to the Waste Lands Board and urge upon them that the block of land known as Lagoon Gully, Hawfea Flat, he thrown open for immediate SL'ttlcment, He said ho knew of plenty of men who were waiting for this block to'be thrown open. Agreed to. The Chairman retired from the Chamber, and Councillor Jolly took the chair. Councillor Cololough ’took his scat at the table.

Accounts amounting to LISG 10s 9d, were examined and pasted for payment. The Council then adjourned till 10 a.m., the following morning. ■Say 30th, 1876.

The Council resumed at 10 a.m., the same members of the Couuc'l being picsent. The following tenders were accepted : Contract No. 36, Ophir-strcet—Jas. Corripal, L 179. Contract E., Cromwell to Gravelly Gully— P. Hill, L 75. Contract L., Nevis to Upper Nevis—held over till next mooting. County Offices—las. Taylor, L 791.

ResolCcd--That the salary of Assistant Surveyor be L 250 per annum, three months’ notice to bo given on cither side. Notice of Motion by Cr Jolly—That the next ordinary’meeting‘of the Council be held at Cromwell.

Cr Jolly, with moderation of language, hut force of argument, supported the metier, adducing as reasons that the members of the Council would benefit themselves and the County by making themselves acquainted with the upper end of the County, and that an occasional meeting of (be Council would tend’to allay any feelings of bitterness that exist. Large works were being carried out in the Northern division of the County, and he considered it only right that all members of the Council should see for themselves the working of the system. Cr M'Ginnis objected to running about from place to place, and holding their meetings. Next (hey would he asked to hold meetings at Blacks-and Alexandra. So far as any feeling was concerned it was only in the town of Cromwell, and the County Council had no right to consider the people of Cromwell, who were outside the County. He further objected to the proposition on the score of the expense it would entail of carrying the books and papers to and fro. Cr Greenbank fully concurred with the mover that a trip through the County would benefit the Councillors, but objected to the trip being undertaken in the middle of winter.

The Chairman left the chair for the purpose of seconding the proposition, and Cr Jolly occupied the chair. Cr Pyko having seconded the resolution and spoke at some length in its favor, the motion was put and carried without a division.

Notice of Motion by Cr Pyke—That the condition of Cromwell Bridge, and the correspondence thereon be taken into consideration.

Cr I’yke read the correspondence between the County and the Government, and the Borough of Cromwell, and explained the Government decide in their correspondence that the Bridge is vested in the Borough,

anil that they can put it in repair, anil dehit the County with a part of the cost. The Borough, however, decline to have anything to do with it, and'll! their 'eorfeaptmilence say that the Bridge is of no benefit to the Town, and. further, that the trade of Cromwell did not come to them through the Bridge. He suggested that he ho instructed to write another letter, and offer, on behalf of the County, to pay the cost of keeping the structure in repair if the Bridge Reserve is vested bribe County, or tb pay five sixths and the Borough retain the reserve.—Agreed to.

Notice of motion hyCr Pyke—That tenders be called for the erection of bridges across the Clutha at Albert Town, and the Ilawea River at the foot of Lake Wauaka. In reply, Cr Pyke said the cost would be about LfiOOO. The Engineer, who was present, said he had made ; all surveys, and estimated the cost of the former at L 4.500, and the other a: L 2,500. After discussion it was resolved—That plans and specifications be prepared, and tenders invited for their construction. Cr. Pyke, on behalf ot Cr. Pitches, tabled a motion for {henoxtineetmg :—“That the construction of the bridge over the Manuherikih river at Blacks 'be forthwith commenced.” Several notices of motion having been tabled, the meeting broke up.