VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL

Dunstan Times, Issue 906, 29 August 1879, Page 3

VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL

A special meeting of the Council was held iu the Council Offices, Clyde, on Monday last, the 2oth lust., at 2.30 p m. Present—V. Pyke, Esq. (Chairman), and Councillors Jolly, Pitches, M’Giuuiss, and Colclough. The Chairman having stated the object of the meeting, namely, to consider correspondence relative to the transferring of the control of the Carrick Range Water Race, called on the Clerk to read same. The Clerk then read letters from the Hon. J. Macandrew, asking on what terms the County will take the race. From Vincent Pyke in reply, that he thought the Council would take over the race as a free and unconditional gift. From the Hon J. Macandrew, also from Umler-Secretary of the Goldfields, that the Government were prepared to transfer the whole of their claims—amounting to L 10.971 11s KW—against the Carrick Range Water Race Company over to the County. From the Company, agreeing that the Government should transfer to the County, From the Government, to the effect that on consulting with the Solicitor-General it was understood that special legislation would he necessary to complete the transfer, but that a Bill to that effect would be laid before the next Parliament. The Chairman then rose, and said the question was of such importance that he had been induced to call the meeting, instead of allowing the question to be held over till the general meeting, when the season would well nigh have passed by for effecting the necessary repairs to the race or extending it. He explained that the object of the Company when first they started was to obtain water from both branches of Coal Creek, but their estimates of cost were miserably below the actual cost, and that with the Government aid and all they had only been able to tap one branch. The Government declined to advance any more money, and the Company, with the debt due by them, were unable to either extend their capital or raise money. It was therefore in the interest of the district that the County should step iu and take action. It might be thought that by the County taking over the race that liabilities would be incurred, he would take the present opportunity of saying that he would ever oppose the spending of a single shilling on the race by the County, and that all the costa of transfer should be borne by the company in whose interests they were working. To aid in getting this race again in working order would be conferring a great boon on the district, and he would recommend that the offer of the Government be accepted. Cr Colclough said the general impression in the district was that the race was too small to carry the water already brought into it, and to tap the second creek would necessitate the race being enlarged throughout.

(Jr Jolly said that was scarcely the case. By extending the race it would give a longer supply of water. (T M'Ginniss proposed that the County have nothing to do with tho race. He said the Council had no right to interfere with gold mining specs—with this one especially that was neither good to the Government nor to tho shareholders. This motion was clearly to him merely getting the thin end of the wedge in, and before it was done with, despite the assurance of the Chairman to the contrary, and the generally expressed opinion, ere long pressure would be brought to bear that would make them spend money on it,. The spec is a had one, and the wish is to foist it on to the County. If the County wished to go into gold mining specs, there avere plenty of specs better than the Carrick llange Water Hace. He would strongly oppose having anything to do with it.

Cr Jolly said that being a shareholder he was shut out from having any voice iu the argument, hut he must say he was surprised at the stand taken by Cr M'Ginnis.

The Chairman said the fact of one of the councillors being a shareholder in a joint stock company did not debar him from taking part in the discussion or prevent him from voting. Cr M'Ginnis would protest against Cr Jolly cither proposing or seconding iu the matter.

There being no seconder to the motion, it dropped. Or Colclough said he thought the shareholders should not he discouraged, and did not see why the County should not take over the race, on the understanding, however, that they did not incur any liability, ami further, that they did not interfere with vested rights in fixing the price of water. He would propose—“ That the Vincent County Council accept a transfer of the Government mortgage over the Carrick Range Water Ilace, and will withhold any power thereunder so long as the shareholders prosecute the work of water supply to the satisfaction of this Council, and this Council will in two years from this tune release the Company from the said mortgage if the work be so prosecuted, failing which at any time the Council will foreclose and sell the property.” Cr Naylor seconded, saying every encouragement should be given the shareholders. The position the Council was assuming was that of medium between the Government and the Company. He could see no harm in it. Cr M'Ginnis said ho would oppose the motion. Cr Pitches would rather that the motion had not been tabled, and was afraid it

would do the Council no good. Of all that had been said about the value of the race, and the very small sum of money it will take to put water in the race, ho was only surprised that the shareholders had not raised it. Cr Colclough in reply reiterated that it was a distinct undeistauding with the Council that no money was to be spent on the race. The motion was then put and carried, the two dissentients being Crs M'Ginniss and Pitches, Crs Jolly, Colclough, Naylor, and the Chairman voting with the ayes. The meeting then dissolved.