CLYDE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 856, 13 September 1878, Page 2

CLYDE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

An adjourned meeting of the Council was held in the Council Chambers on Monday evening last at 7.30. p.mPrescntSamuel Welsford, Esq. .Mayor and Councillors Clark, Cox, Waddell, Auckland and M'Connochie. The Mayor said the meeting was convened to finally arrange the business of the Borough prior to merging, hnt as there was apparently some difficulty in consequence of the non-incorporation of the Clyde Athenaeum and Public Library by Mr Pyke, M H.R., when passing through Dunedin, he considered it would be better, if possible, to get merger postponed till the Library was registered. Resolved •—That the Mayor telegraph to Mr Pyke, M H.R., and ask him to advise the Governor to postpone proclamation of merger till the difficulty, arising through non-incorporation of the Library, is got over. The Public Works Committee reported that they had accepted tho'.tendcr of Mr Holden for making a culvert and gravelling Coqnet-street: and of Mr A. Moore, for re. pairing skylights, tc., in Town Hall. Cr M'Connochio was appointed Inspector of contract in Coqnet-street; and Cr Clark Inspector of Mr Moore’s contract. The meeting was then further adjourned. Tuesday, 10th inst., 7.30 p.m. Present—The Mayor, and Crs Cox, Clark, M'Connochie, Waddell, ai d Auckland. The Town Clerk read telegram from Mr Pyke, in reply to one sent in the morning, to the effect that he did not see any difficulty, and would ace it all right ; also a further telegram to Mr Pyke, asking him if he would get proclamation of merger del ay cl. The Mayor said, as the reply in no way cleared away tho difficulty, and, in fact was no reply to second part of telegram, ho would suggest that the meeting stand adjourned till the 11th inst., at 3 p.m., and that, in the tpesn time Mr Pyke Vo informed

by wire that the Council are anything but satisfied, and ask for reply to question re postponing proclamation of merger. The meeting odjodrued till the 11th in< slant, Wednesday, 11,3 p.m. Mayor and same Councillors present. The minutes of all previous meetings were now read and confirmed. The, Town Clerk read telegram to Mr Pyke, also, two replies Ist Re proclamation. “ I have wired County Clerk to wait upon you.” 2nd. “Neither am 1 satisfied, my guarantee should be sufficient, 1 decline to be made responsible for the blunders of Borough officials.” 3rd. “ 1 find that no.application has been made to alter line of Coquet-street. Does the Council wish the alteration - ,’ The County Clerk said the only explanation he could give would be to read telegram, he had received from Mr Pyke, as follows :— ‘ 1 Explain to the Mayor that 1 cannot undertake to recommend delay iu proclamation of merger without the sanction of the County Council, but I will acquaint Government with wish of Borough Council, and that, ns Chairman, I will guarantee that the conditions of mutual agreement •hall be given effect to in my case.” The Mayor said After’ all the delay he could not see they were one whit the wiser or one bit clearer of the difficulty than they were on Monday evening. According to the letter from the Government the merger would take effect from the 11th [ instant, consequently there was no time to do anything. He therefore could see nothing for it but to wind up the affairs of the Borough, and trust to the County Council to carry out the terms of agree- , ment of merger ; the principal difficulties i were iu connection with the transfer of the Town Hall to the Library Committee and the water question, i A long and heated discussion took place, i resulting in a resolution to proceed with the i business. The Library Committee, in the persons 1 1 i Mr F. J. Wilson, Mr A. Joss. Mr S. Weis- : ford, Mr Auckland, and Mr Faehc, being i present, the deed of transfer and sale to the i Clyde Athenwum and Library Committre j of the Town Hall and Library buildings, and the ground on which same stand, also . of the furniture and other moveable effects, . was read, and the property handed over to • them in the person of Mr George Faehi, - Secretary to the Library Committee. Accounts amounting to 1.73 17s Id were i passed for payment. f The Town Clerk was instructed to teloi graph Mr Pyke that the Chief Surveyor, j Dunedin, has been communicated with re alteration of the line of Coquet-street, amt . j ask Mr Pyke to use his influence in getting . same sanctioned by the Government, i Discussion now ensued on the position . the residents of the town of Clyde find ; themselves in consequent on merging into 1 the county, inasmuch in not being on the , County Roll, and there being no existing , law to place them on it. [ Resolved—That the Town Clerk write to ] Mr Pyke, M.H.R for the Dunstan District, f point out the above fact, and request him , to endeavour to get a clause inserted in the . proposed Amended Counties Bill to meet . the case, <>r to take such course as will get over the difficulty. Cr M’Conuochie rose and said that nothing further now remained for the Courcil to do ; in fact their duties now ceased. Before parting, however, lie would desire that a further minute should he recorded in t the minute book. The present Mayor (S. 1 Wel-tord, Esq., who, he supposed, would \ be the last Mayor of Clyde, had, daring his term of office, diligently and faithfully per- , formed the duties pertaining to the office, i the which had been of no ordinary charae- ■ ter, in recognition of these services be would | propose “ That a cordial vote of thanks bo . recorded in the minutes to S. Welsford, Esq., s Mayor of Clyde, for the untiring energy lie I has displayed during his term of office, and I in recognition of the sterling good sense ami , judgment that has ever been exercised by him in the performance of the duties of his office.”—Seconded by Cr Auckland, and unanimously carried. 3 The Mayor in returning thanks for tho I kindly expression of goal feeling by tho Council, with whom he had been connected r for the past fourteen months, said his desire , had always been to carry nut tho duties of the office with impartiality and with duo . regard to the interests of the general body 3 of the ratepayers. Since he had occupied j tho position as Mayor several important f things had been (loan, not the least of . which he supposed was that which had just , been completed, namely, the merger of tho , Town into the County. He did not purpose . giving an opinion as to the wisdom of the r step, it avas the wish of the body of tho ratepayers, and he only hoped it would 3 prove as great a blessing as it was expected 3 to bo. Not only in Clyde, but in nearly { every one of the up-country municipalities, ! it appeared by the very great difficulty ext perienced in getting candidates for the offices of councillors anl mayors that tho ( people were getting tired of the municipal r form of government; the action therefore , of Clyde in ridding itself of local self- , government will perhaps be but the forerunner of the death of municipal corporar tions, and consequently the giving of greater t vitality to the County system of government. He would desire again to thank the . Council for the compliment paid him. The minutes of the meeting having been , read and confirmed, the meeting separated with the customary vote to the chair.