VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 884, 28 March 1879, Page 2

VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual bi-monthly meeting of the Council was held in the new Council Chambers on Wednesday, the 26th inst.. at noon. Present—Vincent P>ke, Esq. (Chairman), and Councillors Naylor, Colclongh, Greenhank, Pitches, and M’Ginnis.

Previous to opening the meeting, tho Chairman, in presence of the Councillors as above, Mr Wales (Architect), and Mr.James Taylor (Contractor), made a short address, during which he said the opening of the building (the County Ctunotl offices! he lo- ked upon as the death-b'ow to the centralizing policy that had previous'}- existed, ami which had robbed the interior not alone of its population but of its capital in favour of the seaboard, notably Dunedin. He then read a scroll which contained a brief history of the County system, the names of the Councillors of \ jncent County, names of the County officers, also of the architect, contractor, and principal woikmen, then placing it. in a leaden case, placed it in an aperture in the front gab'e of the building, and fronting it with the cope stone, a hi. ck. of native marble with the figures “ 1878 ” cut in it and gilt, he declare the building open for the business of the Council We have not space here to give a detailed description of the building. We may, however. state that it is built of blue-stone, the front being in Port and cement in imitation of freestone, while the sides are tuck pointed. It consists of a commodious hall and four moms. The hall has two entrances, the one from the front through a pair 0 f massive doors, the other through another pair of doors lea dug from a lobby on one side which divides the rooms set apart, for the Clerk and the Engineer The other two rooms, which are occupied as the Chairman’s and Committee rooms, are placed on the other side of the hall. Tn tho gable over the main entrance is the County coat of arms in "as relief, and imme flately under it, over the doors, beoigthecopestoiie above referred to. The building presents a striking appearance, and as a specimen o architecture surpasses anything in the upcountry districts, while for execution of detail and general construction it is faultless, and redounds to the credit of the contractor. In tins opinion arc not alone the same having been expressed both by Councillors and the general public. The furniture of the hall, while being of a substantial clt iracter, is at the same time handsome and tasty. Tho tables are of cedar, with turned legs and American leather tops, the chairs being of cedar, with stuffed seats and arms and back covered with green morocco. The seating accommodation for the public are comfortable backed forms. The Chairman’s scat and table are raised about ton inches above the floor, so that, lie has a full command of the Council table immediately below him. The Clerk’s table is placed in the right hand upper c u-ni-r of tho hall, and the reporters’ table on the onno. site side. As we said before, Mr .T Padur was the contractor for the building, Mr W. Auckland being the decorator and i sintor, and Mr J. U Cambridge selected and supplied tho furniture.

The minutes of previous meeting were read. Councillor Colclough said he was not interested in the question that he was going to put ;he did so on principle. He wanted to know if the names of the proposer and seconder of motions passed in Committee were embodied in the minutes. The Chairman said it was merely the report of the Committee, an 1 not the business in detai', that was written up The minutes were then confirmed. The Council then adjourned, and on reassembling at 2 3b, Councillors Fraser and Jolly took their seats. The schedules of inwards and outwards correspondence were read. The Chairman stated that the Council had now received LIO.OOO of the vote for repairing damages done by the late fb>od. In reply to Councillor Colclough, the Chairman stated that the rumour that the survey of the Strath-Tuieri line would stop at Clyde Was a canard set afoot by some mischievously inclined person for purposes of his own. He read copy of telegram he had sent to the Minister of Public Works, as follows Clyde, 21th March, 1879. Public Works, Dunedin. Rumored zuat Strath-Taieri Railway survey staff are

to he withdrawn as soon as survey reaches Clyde. Can you authorise me to deny this? Vincent Pyke, Chairman.” He said when in receipt of reply he would lay it before the Council. At a later stage of the meeting he

read the following telegram which he had received “Dunedin, March 2Gth, 1879. Am not aware of any intention to withdraw survey staff before survey is completed to Pembroke, hut if so it can only be temporarily to enable works to be put in ban 1 this year, and which cannot otherwise be done with present s aff. The intentions of the Government are to proceed with survey to Pembroke ; and you may depend upon this being accomplished before we are in a position to go on wirh actual work of conservation, so that then, assuming temporarily withdrawn, central interior will be in no wav prejudiced. Jas Macaadrew, Minister Public Works. The Chairman said the Governm-nt had informed him that the question of a t. legr inh to Wanaka would be included in the next estimates to he laid before Parliament The Chairman stated there had been only two objections to the assessment of the past year ; the one was an evident error, and the other was reduced from L2sb -to LIBO. Resolved—“ That the Council decide to

recommend that a road line be reserved through the mining reserve from proposed site of bridge at Dead Man’s Point to Tay street, Cromwell.” Resolved—“ That the Chairman, in conjunction with other County chairmen, combine to take action to obtain their due proportion of the Otago Land Fund.” The reports of the Engineer on Roads and Bridges were read. The Council then resolved itself into Committee, which, on rising at 6 p m., adjourned till 8 p.rn.

Evening Sitting. On the Council meeting, they again went into Committee. On meeting again the report of the Committee was read and received. Amongst the matters dealt with in the report was one having reference to the use of boring r ids

Accounts amounting to L9l 17s Od were passed for payment. The Reports ot the Banner, Valuator, License Inspector and Rate Collector, the latter showing the total amount of rates unpaid to date being L 124 25., were read and received.

Resolve,! -■" That, the County Solicitor he instructed to oroceed for the recovery of all rates unpaid " The Treasurer's report, to the effect that *inci; the last audit, the total amount of receipts had Seen 1,18.408 7s. Id., and that the credit balance in hand was M 4,003 The meeting then adjourned till next day. Thursday, March 27. The Council resumed business this tnnrnin;; at 10 a m., the same Councillors as atten led yesterday beina present. The Notices of Motion on Order Paper, as foilouß, were dealt with. 1. Councillor Colcloctqh moved—"'That tenders he invited for the supply of toolg and materials, as per schedule, deliverable at Clvde. Cromwell, and Black«, for twelve months. 1 '

This motion was amended by adding the •word “ Alexandra,” and was seconded by Councillor M’Gisnis, and after some discussion was carried, some Councillors, however, holding that the proposal was impracticable, ami would entail loss both in time and money 2. Councillor Colclouoh moved - -“That tenders 1 e invited for the County account from the three local banking institu’ions.”

Councillor Pitches seconded, as he said, to test the feeling of the meeting. Councillor Colclouoh in support of the motion said he had intended tabling the motion previously, hut opportunity had not been favorable. One chief reason why the motion should be carried was from wh it he had been told—that at the time the existing tender was accepted, there was some unfairness. He then gave a deal of hearsay evidence that apparently fell but light'y on his hearers -, he then urged as a reason for the change, that it was never contemplated that one Bank should have the County business in perpetuity, and further that as the money market was materially changed since the arrangement was entere 1 into that ‘ar better terms could bo obtained. The Chairman contradicted the statements of unfairness, and said the expressions should either be wit idrawn or an apology made ;he sai 1, having unbosomed himse'f of his just indignation, he desired to explain that the Rank of New Zealand, if they had, as Councillor Colclough would desire to impress on the Council such a good thing in the County account, they might have had equally a bad thing, hut be failed to see it ; they were particularly accommodating, and as to change the account would entail no end of expense and trouble, he hoped the motion would not he carried. After a lengthened discussion the motion was put and lost. , 3. Councillor Naylor moved—“ That •■-the resolution passed at the last meeting respecting the re-erection of the Clyde bridge, he altered so as to read as follows—- * That the Engineer be instructed to prepare plans and specifications for the re-erec-tiou of a bridge at Clyde, as soon as plans and specifications have been completed for bridges already approved of' " A considerable amount of discussion took place over this motion, Councillor ColOLOUOH saying it was an attempt to gain an ad vantage by a side wind, and he was determined that until more necessary works in the northern part ef the County were under weigh, he would oppose it. The motion was eventually carried. 4, Councillor Colclouoh moved—“ That a few. daymen ha nut on the Cardrona track road to repair damages by the flood, and otherwise clear the road so as to be practicable.”

The principle of stuffing the Order Paper with motions asking for votes of small sums of rnoneV. was objected to by the whole of the Council, and it was eventually resolved

that the attention of the Engineer be drawn to the road in question. 5. Councillor Colclough moved—“ That as the newly made Lindis road only requires to cross the river at one place, and where facilities exist for a light suspension bridge, the engineer be instructed to report as to the feasibility of utilizing the two chair wires at Maoandrew Bridge : after opening of said bridge by placing them at the Lindis crossing referred to, as part of a pack bridge, and generally to report on the scheme.” He said the total cost of the structure would not exceed 1.250, and if constructed would prove of great public utility. Councillor Greenback said he desired to express bis dissent to the construction of these light bridges. The motion was carried 6. Councillor Colclough moved—“ That tenders he invited for the construction of the road—Rocky Point to Quartz Reef Point.”

The Chairman said he had received a letter which affected the motion, and he thought it well the Connell should be made acquainted with its contents before coming to any decision. He then read a letter from Messrs Grant and Mackellar, contractors, Cromwell, wherein they offered to complete the Rocky Point Bridge and open up com munication for the sum of 1.10,000, to be completed in twelve months. He (the Chairman) was not quite sure which r-uro would be the most useful, and he suggested, so as now to prevent discussion on a subject all the Councillors were not particularly well acquainted with, that the next meeting of the Council, whicn would lie a special one, should be held in Cromwell, when the two routes could be inspected, after which the Council would be able to give an intelligent vote.

Councillor Gbeknbank spoke earnestly against the motion until the question of which road was most desirable was confirmed Councillor M'Ginnis embodied in an amendment the Chairman’s suggestion ; it, however, was lost, anil

The motion was carried. 7 Councillor Naylor moved - “That the application of James Maxwell and Alexander Patterson for relief and assistance whilst disabled from work by accident received in the County service, be considered and dealt wi'h by the Council.

After discussion it was resolved to give Patterson the sum of LlO, he being a mar ried man with a wife and family of three children. It was distinctly understood, however, that the Council did not recognize their employees had any claim on them, and that the present case was te be no precedent. 8. Councillor Jolly moved—“ That a Committee be appointed to enquire into and report upon Mr Timothy Gorman’s claim for compensation—re Kirtleburn Uoad passing through his private property.” Withdrawn bv consent.

9. Councillor Jolly moved—“ That the Engineer be instructed to report at next meet! g of the Council as to the necessity for raising ten chains of the road leading to the Albert Town punt, on the west side of the river, about four feet above its present level, and otherwise protecting the bank from the river encroachment.”

Carried. The Council then a ’journed. On icsuining at 2 p in, : 10. Councillor Jolly moved—“ That the Engineer be instructed to prepare an estimate of the cost of maintaining the different main County roads for the season ending March 31st, 1880 ; applications to be called for persons willing to undertake the various works at stated prices to be fixed by the Council, the successful applicant to provide horse and dray for the more efficient carrying out of his contract.”

Over this motion, the question of contract versus day-labour was ventilated, each system having its admirers, eventually it was resolved :—“ That the main arterial roads, viz.—from Tuaneka County boundary, via Alexandra to Clyde, and from Maniototo boundary to Clyde, and thence on to Kirtleburn, be let by tender, and all other roa Is to be repaired by day labor 11. Councillor Naylor moved—“ That the sura of forty pounds sterling he granted to Mr W. G. Rees, for repairs to the road between Little Valley and .Robertson’s Crossing, Manuherikia.”

The question of principle here again cropped up, the Council holding that roads required repairing, application should be made in the proper quarter. It was re solved to vote the sum of L2O. The Council now went into Commi f tee, and on resuming recommended :—“ That th • schedule of monies L 3235 Is. sd. required by the Engineer be voted ; also, 1,100 be paid to the contractor for extra work performed. The Council then adjourned to the 23rd April at Cromwell.