VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 962, 24 September 1880, Page 3

VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual two-monthly meeting of the Vincent Comity Council was held on Wodnesdav, the 22nd inat., in the Conmil Chamber, Clyde, There were presentVincent Pyke, Esq. (in the chair), and < 'ouncillors Pitches, Colclongh, Naylor, Jolly, Fraser, M'Ginnis, Masters, and ril i oo.odi, Mr Pyke asked a favour that as he dc irod to speak on the minutes, that the s Misioni'in of the previous meeting'should 41.T . |<y the chair. i T Colclongh objected to such a course, ns it. was laid down in the Standing Orders That when the Chairman was present he .eh nil take, the chair. Mr Pyke explained that as he neither could, nor in fact would, sign the minutes as written up, ho asked the favour rather than exercise the privilege he would have if be occupied the chair.

Cr Colelougli persisted in his objection, asserting that he had no other motive than in having the Standing Orders adhered to. Mr Pyke thereupon left tire chamber, and Cr Jolly, was vo'ed to the chair. The Clerk then read the minutes of the previous meeting. The Acting Chairman said he took exception to the noting in the minute hook the names of tenderers and the amounts of tenders for the Sandy Point Bridge, and sai 1 that as tho accepting of the tender was left an open question the last to the present meeting, the full pai ticnlars should not have been entered and thus made public. A good deal of discussion ensued, the majority of tlie Council thinking, however, that though no great harm hail boon done, in future the full particulars of tenders should not be stated till they were accepted. The matter then dropped and the minutes were confirmed.

Mr Fyke came into the chamber, and standing on the floor asked to be allowed to move that a paragraph in tho minutes should be excised.

Cr Coleloudi still persisting against the chairman while present occupying any other scat than the chair,

Mr Pyke took the chair, and wished to draw atention to the fact that the minutes just nad were manifestly unfair, inasmuch as it was recorded that a motion referring to the action of the Chairman had been debate 1 ami withdrawn whilst the motion itself did not, appear anyahere. Unless the motion was inserted, there should not have been any reference to it. It was a remarkable thing that during his absence every year the opportunity wts taken for making an attack upon him. The same thing occurred last year and this year, and in both cases incited or led on by the same m nnhor (IT Coiclnngh). Ho thought this conlnet vrv cowardly. It wis the assassin’s thrust dealt in the hack, when not there to defend himself. The action taken was moreover inconsistent, for it app 'are 1 by the records that the Council apuoved of the.Engineer's action in stopping the works, and in the same breath tried to censure the Chairman 1 for insti noting the Cngineer to do so. H; - (the Chairman) would have faile I to do h:s j duty if ho had not sent those instructions j when he found the Clovernmont calmly proposing tn alienate the 2d per cent, of land hind, ami to deprive local bodies of subsi- j

dies already lawfully due and owing, and it I must lie borne in min 1 that he had not di- ; rented the Engineer to stop any particalir wotk Hi would have been to j blame had he done s\ Tim instruc- . ti-nis telegraphed were as follows - | mediately stop all works not of gnat ■. an<l uiy ’i/t pending the decision of Parliament on i lie financial prnposa s of the (Jiivvnmi ■n’'.'' It was left to the E-igi-imer’s iliscre ion to di-cide what works abonld bo stopped, an lif any mistake hal b -eu.ma le why di I nor, the Conned rectify it when th y met soon af:e ? As their am ion | now stood the memOers who ml leavomed to ! jiass a vote of e oiiureon the Chairman ha t j stultified th nisei ves. He would be not I rue to hini'-e fif he did not mm -■ that the objectionable paragraph bcexei-oiil from the minutes ; as it, stood it was an amnigimm sentence which might liman iiuvthing, anl could and probably would .hereafter be m igni tiiad, aol distort*: I anl misrepresented with the diabolical ingenuity of perverse malignity, engendered hv a corrupt heart an I depraved intellect. Tlie.efore lie would m ive as follows : That it he an order of the 0 mnoil that the 4-li clause of the report of the Committee of til-; whole referring to the action of the Chairman in the matter of suspending certain works on the loth .lane, he excised from the minutes of 211 th July. On the motion In ing put, four voted for and four against it. The Chairman said ns the motion dirertly concerned himself he Could not vote for it,

and as he would not vote against it he would leave the chair. Cr Jolly again took the chair, and said he found himself place I ill a somewhat peculiar po-ition, with a motion on the table and the mover absent ; and as without the unanimous consent of the Council he could not deal with it ill the mover’s absence, he had but to declare it lapsed, and would call on the Clerk to proceed with thedm-inoss. The Clerk then read schedule of inward correspondence. Cr M HJimiis here said that as the m itinn of the Chairmans was disposed of he would move-tluthc bo so informed. The Clerk having conveyed the message. Cr Pyke (the Chairman) entered the Chamber and having taken the chair, said he should instruct the Clerk to enter up in the minutes his motion and the names of tho-e Councillors who voted for and against it. This being unanimously agreed to. The Clerk read the Schedule of outward coTespondence. Letter from Tuapeka County Council, asking the co-operation of this Council in bringing a test case to question the legality ot the Government in stopping the sub-

sides wus read. The Chid, man said he had seen the mayor of Dunedin, who had agreed to l>o one of a party to test the question. He (the Chairman thought the expense should not be very great, as ho would suggest at first to obtain a good legal advice and if it was good to ca'-ry it on, and if adverse to them to allow the matter to drop. Resolved.—That this Council join with other locally governed bodies in testing the legality of the Government in slopping the fiul'S'dicS. Report on Ferries, showing amount of traffic for the past two months was laid on the table. The Clerk explained that the lessees of the Alexandra punt refused to supply the required returns. The Chairman said he did not know they could be compelled to furnish the return. .Schedule of cheques paid away since the last meeting amounting to L29i!B 17s lOd was laid on table. Engineers report on contracts, was read ami laid on table; which showed that in the spirit of economy and retrenchment 1-200 had been saved on both Clyde and Alexandra bridges. After discussion, it .was resolved that the Engineer .be requested to reduce the expenditure in every possible direction.

Engineers report on roaila, was read and laid on table.

*■ Unsolved— ’Chat the sum of L 7 be expo idu I in necessary repairs on road to If w 'a rush. 1! s dve i- That Mutineer bo instructed 'o mad, -Maori Feint to Hawoa Mat, .mi t iced.

Unsolved—That a sum not exceeding 1.2 H) he expended on road Lowhuru to ilocky Point. Resolved —That a sum not exceeding 1.21) lie expended in road, Cromwell to Nevis, on Nevis side of Big Hill. Cr Colclongh sp ike against the expenditure of this money, saying there were other parts of the 0 unity that required more immediate attention. The. Cmtncil then adjourned til! 7.30 p in. Evening Sitting. Ou Council resuming. The Engineers report on Ferries was read and approved. The Connell then adjourned till 9.30 a.m of the 23rd iust. . Morning Sitting. . Same Councillors present. Cr Fraser a deed that a stern Hue be placed to Lowbani punt, also that approach he raised. Or Jolly asked that a building ha erected at same ferry for the ferryman. Resolve' —That the toll house from Macandrew Bridge bo removed to the Lowborn Ferry, at a cost not exceeding 1.2. Crs Fraser and Jolly suggested that the upper print across the llawe.a be abolished.

The matter was left over for future con sideration.

lb-port of Engineer on Nevis Road, explaining that a party of Chinese were win king close to Nevis foot bri Ige and endangering the road and that the whole of the trouble was through the advocacy of a Mr Colclongh, of Cromwell, mining agent. Cr Colclongh explained that being a particular friend of the Mr C delough mentioned, In objected to the reference, and held that tho Hn .ineer had no right to cast imputations on Councillor's The Engineer was ordered to take the necessary steps for tho protection of the road.

The Rate Collector's Report, showing that LlUtl!) 5s hail been collecteil, and 1,1007 still due, was read. The report also said that Mr J. F. I\itching refused to pay rates on certain runs held hy him on the cronnd that the leases fell cine hi March, 1831). 11 ■« ilvel--That action he taken to recover the rates from Mr Kitching if they are legally due. Rangers report was rea l, and produced a long an l acrimonious discussion, the question being nised, as to whether the commonages which are prove 1 to he a cause of gr at expense, should he abmloii'l anl ban le i over to the Hovei nm nit. The c ist of poisoning of rabbits no to present tine was stated to he LS7 Ills (11

The Chairman suggested that he he allowed to write to the Uovemment anl ask whether they will take the com in mages olf the hand s of the Cmined.

Cr MMinnis objected to such a course living pursue I, and said it was a subject that should be dealt with hy notice of motion.

Resolved—That the rabbit poisoning he stopped for I he present. Accounts amounting to L 53 11s Id were passed for paymen*. Memorial of Win Adams, praying fur 1 compensation, for the loss of cattle an 1 pigs, ! was brought up. IDs dved— That the Council decline to ; rrc iguisc the claim. The Treasurer’s statement was read, ! showing the following tignna, Liabilities, I L 12.1572 13s (11 ; Asse's, Ll7 )5. I Cr Fr iser m ive 1— T i it the Cotneil go into Comniittee to consider the Financial position. j Afternoon .Sittixo. On resuming, the Committee reportelas ! follows—Your Commit,tee have 111 ■ honor t > i cpoi-t upnii the Financial position of the ! County as follows. —Hy the altere 1 legisla- I ti-inot the last session of Parliament the an: ieip it' d r-vciiue of the County for the Financial period un ling JlstMirvh, 1331, hj is been lessened by the foil-,wing amounts Land revenue 1/2000 ; Subsidy on rates L3OOO ; making a total of LSI) )1) The nrohahleine ime receivable to 3;st march, 1331, has been estimate 1 as follows—Actual balance in Hank L 1703, OoldlieMs revenue 1/2300; Rates LIDO; Sub-i lies LllOO, vat ions sources min am id, L 3 10 ; total Lti 703 The Li ibilites on co(tenets a''e as fdlows, Alexandra luilge, L 10.351 7s 61, C y-le bri Igo, 1.2,322, lls 01, total Ll2, 1373, ISs 61.—The is'iinalel amount re-quin-d for payment to 31st March, ISSO, is as follows: —Alexandra hrilge 1.5131); Clyde I) il-ge 1/20 )0 ; road m lintcnance and punts, 1/200). Total 1.015); the s d,aides and wag's now being paid, arc at the following ra’ea : C’liairinan L 350 per annum. Engineer L4OO ami LIOO expenses, 1.500 ; Clerk L 250; Inspector "f roads, T/2.U ; I speetor of bridges I/2IU, total Llßl3, hei"g 1,909 fur the period ending as above at same rates. Vincent Pyke, Chairman. David A. .Tullv, Treasurer Adjourned Motions. Cr M'ft'nnis moved—That lenders he called for the erection of the bridge of the Earuselengh river which was previously passed by ihe Council ami ordered to stand over through the Hoods. Lost. Cr Fraser moved—That the Engineer he insti note 1 lo prepare plans and specifications for a traffic bridge over Ihe Lhiflis river, at the mossing of the road Idawea—Hindis to Cromwell. Lost. An amendment to the following effect was carried—That before plans and specifications are prepared for bridge over the Liudis river, the Engineer report to the Council on she practicability of site and estimated cost of the bridge. Cr Eraser move I—That the Engineer lie instructed to wi leu and improve such por lions of the real Rocky Point to Quartz Reef Point as to o at present unsafefor heavy traffic.. Withdrawn hy consent of the Council. Cr Fraser moved—That this Connell in future alters its hours of meeting to 2 p.m. Carried.

Cr Pitches moved —That the Engineer he requested to examine the road at Ida Valley on the lately thrown open block X, and if found impassable, ho be authorised tnspeud a sum of money not exceeding LSO for the necessary repairs. . An ' amendment was proposed to re luce the amount to LlO, aud which was carried.

Cr Fraser moved- That the sum of L he expended in forming a dray-road from the Hawea Bridge to bong Valley. Withdrawn by consent. CrStronach moved—That the sum of LlO lie expended in making cutting and other repairs on the road to Tinkers between sections.'Uaud 51, block T, Tiger Hill. An amendment was carried to the effect that the words' “ifnecessary” be added after the words LSI).

Cr Strmiach mov cd—That the sum ofL2O bo expended in repairing road opposite section 28, block 111, Lauder ; and in making swamp passable between sections 21 and 2d, block HI, Lander. An amendment ‘"was carried, reducing the amount to L 5. . f Cr Stronnch moved—That the Engineer he instructed to rep air the hill -near sludge .channel, on road Dry bread to Lauder Creek. Withdrawn by consent.

Notices of Motion. Cr Colclongh moved—That in view of the financial embarrassment of the County,' and the consequent stoppigp, of County works, the Council take into consideration—

Ist. The abolition of thooffice of County Engineer. —Lost. An amendment, which thus became the substantive motion, as fnllows, was put and carried .-—That tho office of Engineer be retained at a salary of 1.115') and 1.50 travelling expenses. A further amendment on the substantive motion : That the salary lie fixed at LICK), with reasonable travelling expiuses, was put and carried on a division, Crs Naylor, Pitches, Strouach, M'fiinnis, and Colclongh voting lor, and Crs Masters, Fraser, Jolly, and Pyke against. Evening Sitting. A further amendment by Cr Colclongh as follows—That the Salary be 1.4)0 per year to iuclulo travelling expenses, was then put. Cr Jolly said it was to be borne in mind that the travelling expenses when the Engineer had to cairy his implements would be allowed. Crs M'Ginnis and Pitches thought a fixed sum should be allowed. A division was taken with the following result: Ayes—Crs Masters, Jolly, Col• dough, and Pyke. Noes--Crs Naylor, Pitches, Masters, Fraser and Strouach. Cr Fraser moved a further amen Imeut— That the following words ho added to the mo ini That the services of tho Inspector of Alexandra bridge, and of the road Inspector bo disposed wiib at the earliest possible time, and the E mincer perform the duties of those offices—carried.

The proposition as it stands --That the services of :he Engineer be retained, that the salary be Ldllll a year and 1.5 ) a year travelling expenses ; that the services of Inspector of Alexandra Bridge and Road Inspector he dispensed with at the earliest possible time, and the Engineer p-nf nin the duties of these olfices, was then put and carried.

The Chairman said the next question was sub-section 2.—The reduction fur next, year of the salary paid to the office of County Cliainuin to LlUi).- Lost Cr Jolly propped as an amendment— That the honorarium paid to the Chairman be Ll5O a tear The amen inient was carried, which then became the substantive motion. Cr Masters proposed as an amen linen* That the honorarium paid to the Chairman he 1.251) a year. The amendment was carried. Cr Fraser proposed as an amendment -- “ That no allowance for travelling or other expenses he paid” be added to the motion. A memlment carried. The motion as it stands vas then put and carried.

3rd. The abolition of payment of any kind to members.—Carried.

4;h The amalgam itinn of the offices held hy the Conor,y Clerk and those hell by tile Collector.—Carri d.