VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 861, 18 October 1878, Page 2

VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

—o— The usual Monthly Meeting of the Council adjourned from the usual day of meeting was held in the Council Offices, Clyde, on Thursday (yesterday) the 17th October. Present :—Councillors Jolly (in the Chair) Davidson, Pitches, Masters Colclough M’Ginnis, and Greenbank. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. As there Was some I question as to the correctness of the mi--1 mites in reference to the boring tools, it was decided that the Minnies of meetings in future be read before rising. Councillor Davidson' asked upon whose authority the Meeting of the Council was adjourned to the present time. The Clerk explained that he had written to all the Councillors, all of whom bail agreed to accept of the adjournment. In reply to Councillor Pitches—Councillor Colclough said that, he and his colleague for the Hawca had ordered the several tenders to be withdrawn. The Council then adjourned till 2 p.m. On resuming—A letter from Mr Pvkc, M.H.R. was read, stating As the Central Otago Railway Bill would be brought before the Assembly shortly, and other matters affecting the welfare of Vincent County, he thought it advisable to stay at his post in Wellington, rather than attend tlie meeting of the County Council, and asked that his absence be excused. Councillor Colclough proposed—That the reasons assigned by Mr Pykc, M.H.R. for his absence be considered satisfactory by the Council, which was seconded by Councillor Davidson, and carried. The schedule of Inward correspondence was read and Irecoived, including a letter from Mr J. C. Chappie, embodying his reresignation as Returning Officer for the Eamsclengh riding. Accepted. From Mr Pyke ; also, an opinion of Mr F. J. Wilson, to the effect that monies belonging to the County cannot legally be expended for School purposes. From the-Colonial Treasurer, stating that the Government had decided to hand to local bodies the amount of the Canterbury Land Fund not as yet paid. From the Maniototn County Council, suggesting that the Vincent and Maniototo Counties build conjointly a bridge across Lauder Creek, and asking that the Engineers of the two Counties meat at an early date to arrange for plan and fix site. Agreed to. From Messrs Dalgetty and Co., and Messrs M’Phail and Co., objecting to pay rates on their properties. Resolved—That the rates Collector be instructed to enforce payment of all rates in all lustiness.

, From tho Government, stating that Dry-' bread cemetery was not surveyed, and that :irders had been given to the Su’-vcyor’a staff to get it done at once. Schedule of outward correspondence was read anb Deceived. The following petitionsVere d- alt with. I'resented by Cr. Colclough--Of "•‘Meats of Hawea and Clutha ridings, ashi '-r that the Council mjke arrangements f ■■ -browing open punts 'across the ■ Hawea river river at Newcastle free.—Received. Presented by Cr. Greenbank—Of set Mora in Spottis Hundred, asking the Council to make a road through the Hundred. Received. Presented by Cr. Davidson—Of residents in Matakanui, praying that - a bridge bo eree'ed over Mu.ldy Creek. Received. The petition of residents of. Quartz Reef Point, presented by Cr. Colclough at the last meeting—and again brought up—for the erection of a bridge across the Ciutha at Dead Man’s Point was agreed to further stand over, and, the Engineer was was given instructions to put the bridle track from Cromwell to Quartz Reef Point in good . order. ■ l . ’ ■i, . The report of the Engineer on the damage done to the roads and bridges in the County, by the late floods, and the approximate cost of repairing the same amounting to L 19,74- was laid on the table, and read and received. Or Colclough urged on the Council to bear in mind that some of the works it was absolutely necessary should be proceeded with and carried through without loss of time ; the break in-the Clyde and Cromwell road more especially. The breaking away of this road was a very serious matter to the residents of the Cromwell division of the County. The Chairman said, any vote of money would have to be for purely emergency works. After considerable discussion the following sums were voted, and the Engineer w; s instructed to push on the works as fast as possible, so as to re-open the traffic :—Clyde to Cromwell, LSOO ; Cromwell to Kii-tle-burn, L3OO ; Cromwell to Wanaka, LSOO , Clyde to Nevis, L 23. The report on tho other roads in tho County was, that owing to the continued high state of tho rivers, and the means cf crossing the streams being in nearly every instance washed away, it was impossible to inspect and say what was actually required. The report on the bridges was to the | effect that the Clyde, Maoandrew ; also foot j bridges at Nevis, Thompson’s Creek, Tinj kers Sludge Channel, and Fraser River had : been swept away. j After discussion it was decided—That at present nothing be done towards replacing the toot bridges, they not being urgently , required. | The Chairman said that tenders for the : re-erection of Macandrew Bridge had been called for, the which, in due course would bo laid on the table and dealt with. * Tho meeting then adjourned till 7.30. Evening Sitting. Ou resuming business the Engineer’s re- ! port on Rocky Point Bridge was read ; it j was to the. effect that, from what could bo seen the structure had withstood the forco of the flood, and that the approaches only were gone, and recommended that a boat be procured to open up communication between the two sides of the river. Cr Colclough explained that the punt wires'had been washed away. Moreover, the water was still nearly half a mile wide. The on'y communication, therefore, was byboat. He had been informed by the punt contractor. Mr M‘i achlan, that if a boat was supplied he was willing to work it on the same terms as he did the punt. He would propose that the Engineer ho instructed to obtain a boat at a cost not exceeding L‘2s, and that the same be worked by tho present punt contractors in crossing all traffic (goods and passengers) free of charge, such arrangement not to prejudice tho existing agreement. The report on the Cromwell Brides was to the effect that the only damage sustained by this structure was the slipping of one of the moorings. The Chairman said he questioned tho right of the Council to deal with this structure. Cr Colclough suggested that the consideration of dealing with this bridge could be allowed to stand over as nothing could be done till the river fell considerably. Agreed to. Rc Clyde bridge. Cr. M’Ginnis said it was imperative that communication should be opened up between the two banks of the river, and if the work of re-erecting the bridge was commenced forthwith, it would not be completed for twelve or fourteen months : he would urnpose—That the Engineer be instructed to put on a punt at Clyde, at a cost not exceeding L2OO, and that he call fur tenders immediately. Carrie''. In reference to the wreckage of the Clyde and other bridges the Engineer was instruct ed to ascertain all particulars, and report to the Executive Committee, who are vested with power to do as they may think tit with the same. The Engineer’s reports and correspondence on existing contracts were read and considered. Messrs Grant and Mackellar applied for an extension of time for completion of bridges at the Nevis, and across the Id arm - herikia at Alexandra, urging as reasons that in consequence of tho bad weather, and latterly the floods, they had been unable to get the material on the ground. Cr. M’Ginnis, who was supported by Crs Colclough and Masters, spoke warmly on this subject, saying that by the Contractors own shewing they had had plenty of time to get material on tdie ground - that to grant these requests would be making a bad precedent, and through the delay in tha ■ erection of the Manuherikia bridge, a num- ; her of people on the South and West side i of tho river were put to great iucouvenieaea,

The question as to whether masonry j piers of the bridge already constructed were ] in accordance with specifications, in accordance to the Engineer’s report they were not, and the contractors had been requested to remove the faulty stones. After a deal of talk it was resolved—That no extension of time be granted, and that the Contractors must leave it to the Council to inflict penalties or not. [Our representative here left the room]