VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 980, 28 January 1881, Page 2

VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual two monthly meeting of the Vincent County Council Was hold on Wediv s lay the ,20th instant, in the Council Chamber, Clyde.. There were present— Vincent Pyke, Esq., (in the Chair), and Councillors Naylor, Jo'ly, Colciough, Pitches, Strouach, an 1 M'Guilds. The minutes of the previous meeting were rend an I confirmed The Council wont into Committee to consider the following special business ! “ That as the Conn yis at a loss by the Cly-'e and Cromwell commonages, it is expedient that this Council take steps to p'ace them on a better footing, and that a committee of the whole do bring up a report on the subject, to lie laid before the next Meeting of Council.” After a lengthy discussion, the Committee drew up the following report: 1. That secti ns 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the D pasturing Regulations be revoked. 2. —That seot’on 8 ha amended hy increasing the assessment fees payable annually for great cattle to, 6s. 3. —That section 17 ho amended by increasing the penalty for illegal depasturing to T,2. 4 That the pound-keepers he appointed Rangers, and empowered to impound nure dstered c.att’e. without pay. s.—That mistered cattle be branded with a County hj and; C. That the foregoing recommendations come into force on or before the 31st March next ensuing. - - , On the Council resuming Cr M’Ginnis moved tint the word 5s in section 2be altered, an I 4-6 I be inserted in ben thereof, which was not carried. Schedules of inward an 1 outward cot resnondence were read. Amongst, the former was a letter from the Rabbit Trustees re nois-ming of rabh ts on commonages, an I after discussion, it was resolved to invite anp'ieations from p rsons to destroy rabbi's, at 21 per skin, and tile work to he carried out simultaneously with the runholders The Engineer’s report was read and a looted. Toe Reports of Ferries were read and received. The Engineer’s report on contracts was trad and adopted. Cr Jolly drew attention to the dangerous condition of Cromwell bridge. It had been pomted nnt to hun that some of the wires had given way, and when heavy waggons proceeded over it, this was clearly discernable The Engineer was instructed to visit the structure without delay, and see th it the necessary repairs were eff-cted. Cr Jolly suggests I that the whole of the bridges within the County shout I be inspected at regular intervals of tw"> mouths bv the Engineer, which was agreed to. The Cojlecto's and Ranger's reports were read and adopted. The positionedapnlication of Messrs Attfield an 1 VVclsford f n- permission to depasture 600 head of sheep on Northern Spur was o maidered. Cr Nay'or objected to the Council granting the application, and Cr Stronach avorre 1 that it was impossible to keep sheep on the spur ; they always made (or the low ground, espechlly in the Spring. He was thoroughly against allowing sheep on the commonages. The request was declined. The Council approved of the acceptance of the lowest tender for Lauder bridge by the Maniototo Council. The Council-adjourned at 3 minutes past 6 p. m. till S p in. Evening Sitting. The Connell resumed business at 8, the same members being present Speciai. Business. The Valuation Lists, un ter sections 14 and 18 of the Rating Act, 1873, were laid on the table. The Cha-rman stated that he ha 1 received a te'egram. which ho submittel, from the Minister of Lan »s -fitmg th It. th v Government had decided not to'withhol 1 the subsidy to rep iy the fl rid advance. Subsidy ha 1 been remitted on the 22nd instant. Th we had been a mass of correspondence on the snbj-ct, nud the f -regoing,. the Chairman stated, was the re-nlt. Accounts t > ’he amount of L 27 15s 6 5 we e passed for payment, and the sum of 1,15 was granted for petty cash. The Council then we.ht into committee. On resuming, the Committee submitted the following report ; !. —That, the consideration of Mr Watson’s offer be adj aimed ti 1 after the consideration of mo ion No 1. 2 —That the p-opos.al of Messrs Drummy and Co. for construction of rovl in connection with A 1 'Xantlra bridge be not entertamed at present. 3.—Thattbocists incurred by the Ranger inibe case Chappie v. Dickie he refunded. The T eisurer’s Aumivl Statemmt was read an I adopted. Cr < lolclough a-ke 1 the Chairman whether ’he County had any rights in con-rvotion with tin Pipe Clay Sin 1"e Channel? This Company he stated obtained permission to carry out the work, an 1 hid only done a small portion of it If the Council had any rights, he hop -d its sympathy w mid bo with certain miners who wanted to go on with their work. Mr Wilson, in Con-t had o' jeete 1 to other persons than tlvuo who comprise I the Company referred to, from constructing a Channel. Cr M’Ginnis con curred with Cr Cmclough that the miners should he urn eete I The Chairman w.as of opinion that the best plan would be. to take the mat ter into Court. Cr Colciough would like the .Solicitor to be mstulcled not to 'ake action against the mm rs, bn’ only to watch t,lie mat/er tin beh iff -if the Council. The ese he -aid would come on fir hearing on Friday. Upon anoth t question being asked by Cr M’Ci Inis c incoming ’bn Oa riok Range Wat-r Race Company, Bannockburn, the Chairman rt mai ked that on ina'ters like these notice should be given bvf irchaii 1. Through nnt receiving notices of certain matters, where information was required, he ha I often misled the Council. FI i should decline to give any information on -objects in the future, unless notice was previously given, Cr Colc'ough explained that during the hrii-f absence of ihe Chairman, the C mnwl would have something to talk about, hence his reason for In ingin ; his question Up. The Chairman accepted the explanation. Notices or Motion. Cr. Pyke ui ivod —That the Council re solve itself into Comm'ttec of the whole to consider the' advisatvlity of raising a Special Loin of LFO.OtIO fur the construction of necessary public works. The movermadean excellent and lengthy speech on the above, which we are o .rape led, coupled, with a spirited discussion which ensue 1, tube held over until next iSstlCj owing to the nja§S of statistics contained therein.. Cr M'Ginnis moved as an amendment, that the motion stand over until next meet ..ing fora full-attendance of members, and that a statement of works the loan should he expended on be prepare 1 Cr Jolly' seconded, . the' amen linent, which was , agceeq to„‘, ' . , jt,,was also, deci led fo have a call of the Cpn.nctrior,ti\jt T puiiposc,. .. „„ - ■ The Iffiairra-ii said Im acccp’o 1 the a-mendra-nt with very greit p ensure, as it woul I givel tlie public ample time to consider the proposal.

Thursday, Jan, 27th. The Council met at 10.50. a.m. Present ! V. Pyke, Kan , (Chairman), and Cra Jplly. | Oolclougb, .NrGmnia, Stronach, Naylor aud , Pitches. I The Chairman moved that the Standing | Orders ho suspends I in order for him to 1 move motion No. 7 before Nos. 4, 5 and 6 ; seconded by Cr Cololough, aud agreed to. Cr. moved—That, with the view of presenting to Parliament, next Session, a ' fair and impartial Statement of-I,—The public hem;tits to he derived from the construction of the (Jcagit Central Riilwiy; and—2, —The capabilities of the interior districts of Otago for settlement jan independent Commission consisting of thr-e disinterested gentdem n, willing to act, bo appointed to inspect tho conn; ry commanded by tho line ; to tuk ) evidence thereupon, and to furnish a Report : T.ia Counties of Vincent, Maniototo, a id TaioH tn nominate each one member of such Commission. That tho concurrence of Maniototo ami T.ueri Counties be invited ; an 1 that, in the event of any one County refusing concurrence, the other two have power to carry out tho proposal. The Chairman staled that it seemed to him that some action was necessary on the part, of local bodies representing residents of the interior of the country iu order to contradict the reoresentatidns of tho ’• Lightning Commission.” Tney had succeed ei I in establishing a scare in the minds of members of Parliament about the line being constructed at all It had also frightened the Dim din. men. whch, ho said bodes ill f w the construction of tho work It was useless to talk about settlement if they bad no means of taking their produce to market, and no king but easy access noult enable them to get out of the s'ongh they ha I fallen into The sp-aker had communicated with the ( barmen of other Count es on the subject, who bad favorah y replied. Only the other day he observed a speech by Mr Wak-ti-ld, in which that gentleman had designated this paitofthe country as “a barren wi'ber ness,” basing his remarks bn the rep wt of the “Lightning Commission ’’ No v was tho time for men to go throu.m the country to see the fruit and crops of gran. It a Commission was chosen it would Very largely influence the decision of Parliament, in de ding with the matter in future Sessions The title Occupied by the Commission .would he seven or eight days, which would he qui e sitfli ient. The xp use would piob hly he L3O. for tie sake of vhich they sh aid not tie lect to lay before Parliament a true description of the country. 'lho speaker ha l no uouhthat they w mid get the matter done very easily and cheaply to the benefit of every man, woman and child in the district. Cr Co'.clongh said that if the Council could satisfy ttael I.that the expense of a Commission wou d not he more than L 5 I, he thought, as custodians of tho punlic purse, tho Council should deem it its duty to use every possible m -ans in their power te put the matter before Parliament. The details of the m itter would require more attention than the Chairman ha I given it A very grave matter would he the appointment of these disinterested persons. They mast he men not only whom the Council had every confidence, hut also the Government. It was really this that they wwe sending round a Commission to upset the view's of that sent by the Government. The time for a Commission to visit the district was moat suitab e as cro| s and fruit weie thoroughly ripe. Ttie speaker was inclined to secon I the motion, hut he felt very little hops of sue ess At any rate the Council would i.ot have occasia ito look back and say that they hj i I not studied the interests of every person in Otago. Cr M’Ginnis thought that the appointment of a Commission would he time and money thrown aWay. The sjre.iker then passed some strictures on the It ill G ■vet'nment, for their tr -atm-jnc of C nt al 0 a ,o, and concluded by suggesting that the matter he allowed to s in i ore - . Cr Jolly sai 1 as repress itativos of the interior, tho Cou <il should not leave a stone unturned to bring the q ;es i-m prominently befne Pa lianient irom tine t> time, and he only Hoped tie wh de of t' e public ho lies in ihe in eri t would gi p e the matter their support. He was wi ling o suppott tin mo io i, an 1 hal no doubt hat tno interior was quite willing to stand on its merits, Cr Strcmach movel as an amendment that all th; worls after *‘ C >m uissiii ’’ in the 17th line he delete I. The Chairman remark* 1 that the very fact of leaving in the words propos d to b<> struk out might induce the Taieri Council to agree. They might sav, “ tbe Vincent C-uuity are going to have the railway whether we consent or not, so we ha I better agree.” Cr Pitches having expressed bis belief that the C immission could not inspect the district for Lst>, an I that there w-mld he a difficulty in getting gentlemen to devote their time to the matter, Tho amendment was put and lost. Cr M‘Giii"is moved, as an amendment, that the B irongh of Dune lin ho aske I to c> operate, seconded by Cr Pitches, an 1 agree ! to. Cr Naylor moved, as a further amend meat that the words “ disintereste 1 gentle man ” bo left out, aud men of “ a thorough knowledge of the capabilities of the country ” be inserted in lieu thereof. The amendment was lost for the want of a seconder. Th.i.motion, as amended, was adopted. A sub committee consisting of the 1 'hair, man, Creasurei and Cr Stroii ich was appoints I to select one of the Commission on behalf of this County. The Chairman iu imated his intendon of writing to the 'Linedin Chamber of Commerceon thesuhjiot, which, ha sai l, mhht throw out some suggestions. The‘dhainn in inci lentally remarked that this I 'onnty of late had received considerably fairer play from the (miss of (Christchurch than that of Dune lin, and referred to the manner in which the latter was attacking Vincent County. Cr. M ‘Ginnis moved--That the road he formed and culverts erected over thn water races outside Messrs Strode and Fraser's freehold on main load Clyde to Butchers’ Gully: Tho mover stated that Mr Fraser bad waited on him wiih reference to this matter. There were seven races req iring culverts erected over them, and he thought about £49 would cover tho cost. Seconded by Cr Stronadh. The Chairman suggested that Messrs Strode and Fraser should build the culverts atth.ir own expense, to the satisfaction of tho Engineer. after which the C mncil would take charge of and keep them in repair. They could do nothing until tho road was surveyed, and ihen oily during the summer. A tier a letigihy Conversational discussion, Cr Jolly moved as an amendm nt that the wortls “ and culverts erected over ihe waterraces” .be deleted. , Agree 1 to. Cr Jolly ’also moved that Butcl.er.s Gully bo survey-d, w ich was agreed to. The motion, as amen ed, was then adopted. Cr. M'Qinnis movpd—That the tempotary roid rai -ryod at the tuna of survey through sections 2, 8, an I 9, cl ick X, Leaning Rock district, be now close 1A greed to.

I Or. Naylor moved-That one hundred | and fifty pounds (1.150) be expended on reI pairing and continuing the road from Clyde to the head of Waikorikeri Valley. On the recommendation of the Council, the I mover agreed to a postponement of his mo ioit I until next meeting, there being no funds available for carrying it out, Cr. Jolly moved—That the sum of £ he voted tor the erection of either a punt lor chair over the River ClUtha, below the junction qf the Lug .-ate,. The moVcf agreed to a poslpoUHnsnt of Ida mntioi until after thefi ancial arrangements of the Council had bien adjusted. The business having been disposed of. the Council rose at half pist 12 o’clock.