VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1023, 25 November 1881, Page 3

VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

The fi r st (statutory) meeting of the newly-elected Couneil was lield in the ‘Council Chamber, Clyde, on Wednesday, at i •2 pm. Present—Crs Fyke (Dunstan Riding), Jolly (Clutha Riding), Chas Cololough (Hindis Hiding), M ‘Kellar (Garrick Hiding), W ‘Phail (Hindis Biding), MacGinnis (Earns■clengh Biding), Pitches (Manuberikia RidiuS), S'ronaob (Matakanui). Cr Pyke occupied the chair, and called -on the Clerk to give the returns of the newly-elected councillors This being done he raid as the wish was expressed by councillors than an adjournment should take place for ha'f-an hour, he would ask the Council to adjourn accordingly. Cr M ‘Kellar rose to a point of order, namely the ability of Mr Pyke to occupy the chair He said on a reference to the records of the Council he found thac on the last previous first meeting of the Council, the ( lerk had occupied the chair until the election of Chairman was over. Cr Pyke said on that < ccasion a mistake had been made, and as it was not desirable that a similar mistake should lie again made, be decided on the course he was iiow pursuing. The Counties Act, also the Counlies bye-laws were veiy va .-ue and uncertain on tl>e point. 'I he Act, however, laid down that the Chairman held office till the e'ection of his successor, and as the c.ffice was not now tilled held the position was his as late Chairman. He would moreover say the Act could be so far construed that if the late Chairman was not even a number of the Council he could bold the chair until the appointment of his successor, though he did not suppose that ever such a ca*e would aiise. He had anticipated the difficulty, and had obtained (at his own expense) a high legal opinion on the subjo’t Cr M'KeH ir said he had also legal opinion -on the question, which referred only to the annual election of Chairman.

The Council then adjourned for half-an-hour.

On resuming, Cr M 'Keller asked for the ruling of the chair on the point of order raised by him. He said the question was one for legal decision, and he intended to bring the matter before a court of law.

Or I’yke accepted the challenge, saying nothing would give him greater pleasure than to meetCr M‘Kell.tr in a court of law on the question and at his own expense, and not at that of the Council. He maintained that until the election of his successor the position was his; he, however, said he was not hound to the chair, and would vacate it to any other member on the vote of the ■Conned.

Cr Colclough, with the view of easing the ■difficulty, proposed that Or Jolly take° the chair

Cr Johy raid after the ruling it would be wrong of him to take the position, ns it would of the Council to oust Cr Pyke after the ruling.

Crs Mncginnis and Pitches spoke against Cr Pyke leaving the chair. Tho matter then dropped, and the next business of the meeting, tho election of Chai-man for the ensuing year, was proceeded with.

Cr Pitches briefly proposed Cr Pyke, memlier for Dunstau Biding.—Cr Macginuis seconded.

Cr Jolly moved as an amendment Cr a) ‘Kellar, who, he said, was no stranger either io the Council or the county, and from his social standing was entitled to the position. It was urged by some that a new councillor was not justified in aspiring to to the chair, with some that might be the case, but with Cr M‘Kcllar it was far

different, as from his knowledge of the conducting public affairs he was not alone justified in aspiring to tho position, hut the Council would be equally so m confering it on him. Speakin to Cr Pyke, he said : You have held the office for six years, and been well supported, but now that Tour professional duties will call you away from the district, 1 think yon will not he able to carry on the business ot the county satisfactorily, or devote the required tinie to it' Yon have ofteu said you would not care to hold the seat again, and I hope (you wiU honorably .give way without a contest. It may be thought by some that I am influenced in this by the late action of the Conned. I will not deny it. Cr Mncginnis held that no amendment could be made to a question of the kindIf there was moie than one candidate, they had to bo elected or rejected in the order of their nomination, as the case may be. Cr Pyke said the Counties Act was silent on the subject, the only authority they had to guide them was the standing orders of Parliament, which laid it down that bach member should be taken separately. Or Culclough spoke against the candidature of Cr Pyk«, concluding his remarks by saying with Or Pyke as Chairman old wounds and' - sores would be kept open, whereas by tho election of any other member they would soon heal and be forgotten. He was prepare! to vote for any member of the Council who would been the spot to atled to the duties of the office.

Cr Pyke said the abuse o f Cr Colclongh was far more acceptable than his praise. Eeferenoe had been made to bis professional business being a bar to his accepting office he would disabuse their mind on that point. He had sacrificed LIOO a year of his salary to enable him to visit Clyde when he liked. After the remarks that had fallen from councillors, he would not retire from the contest; he might be coaxed, but never driven ; he did not aspire to the office, and would support an old councillor as for instance, Cr Jolly, who had done good work for the county, in preference to a new chum.

Ur McKellar thought his late public positions fully warranted him in taking the position or allowing himself to be nomitated. There was no possibility of any jealousy arising between him and the Cromwell members, and the constant reference to Cromwell would be stoppedThe motion that Or Pyke be elected cha-rman was then pot and tarried on division, as follows.—Noes MoPhail. Jo'ly Colclough, f most emphatically) and McKeller; Ayes McGuintss, Pilcues, Strouaeh Pyke, and casting vote. Or Pyke said he was glad to see them all laughing, he was not born yesterday, or christened today. Reference bad been ma ie to his professional business; well in entering on that he made a sacrifice, and now he intended to make another. He would not accept any salary for the position; nor any more travelling expenoes than other councillors. He would hold the chair till the next meeting when he would retire in favor of such other member as the council may deem best adapted for the office. He sail I, so tarns his own works were concerned, he knew the county better than any other councillor, and he could say without fear of contradiction that he had placed into the coffers of the county L 50,000 more than any other one ever thournt of. Ho had every I respect, for Mr Me Kellar and his knoledge of public business, but for all that he did not think him so well qualified t > occupy the chair as one aquainted with the work in detail.

The minutes of several previous meetings were read and, after no endqf high words over the omission of a lapsed or irregular meeting, were confirmed.

Schedules of inward and outward corre-spoiid-nce were read.

Engineers report on roads was read and the following recommendations agreed to repaiis to roads, Clyde to Parcells ISO, Cromwell to Nevis L6O, Linclis to McCraes Llo, Nevis to Upper Nevis L 5, Bendigo to Tinkers L3‘ ! , Cromwell to IVauaka L 5.

The meeting then adjourned till 10 a.m. the following morning.