VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1032, 27 January 1882, Page 3

VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary two monthly meeting of the Council was hold in the Council Chambers, Clyde, on Wednesday the 25.1 i mat. at 2 p m. Present:—Gis. V. Pyke, Chairman ; McKellar, Pitches, Mcl’hail, Stronach, M Ginniss, Cnlciough, and Jolly. The Chairman said that in accordance with his promise at the last meeting, he purposed tendering his resignation; and aftei the reading i f the minutes won I Ido so. Too ( h-ik then iva l the minutes of lust meeting w hieh were continued. 'I he Chairman said there were two matters before he left tlie chair he wished to explain, the first was in n ferenee to obtaining a diamond drill. 'Since the last meeting lie had ascertained that the cost of one of these machines was LI.IOO,- and-that to obtain one the County would have to pay halt the coat of tile machine, and all the cost oi material and 1 t-.n Huge •the Government oily paying the Inff cost, of the I him macliine. With this information in their hands, it remained for the Council to say if in their present financial position they Could see their way clour to mow fattier

in the matter. The second matter was in reference to tho alteration of road lino in Hawea Flat, Mo explained the action taken, which was to tho effect that tho Government, to suit their own crmvmiioncs. asked the Council to agree to tho alteration of certain roads, and now called upon the Council to pay compensation to the land owners.

The Chairman thou said the next question was one of his resignation ; and that to enable the question to ho fairly and impartially considered it would ho bettor to appoint a chairman pro km. until the app hutment of a permanent chairman. Cr. Pitches proposed and Or. Stronach seconded— “ That Cr. M'Ginniss he app tinted temnorary chairman pending the appointment of a pe-manont chairman. Cr Colclough proposed, and Cr Jolly seconded os an amendment, That as the tho question of appointin' a permanent chairman was one of oonsi lora do importance, the C ntioil stand adj turned for a half-hour."

Cr- M ‘[Cellar and M'Fhail supported tho amendment ; Cos Stronacli, Fitches, and M'Ginuis opposing, on f-he around that no goml could result from an adjournment, and that it would In- only waste of time.

The ainendnmit was then put and lost on division, the chairman giving his deliberative as well as casting vote. Cr C-dclough moved as a further amendment, seconded by Cr M’Kellar —“ That Cr Jolly lie appointed acting chairman.” Both c iimcillors arguing that as it had been the invariable rule of the Council to place the Treasurer in the eh dr on any ami every occasion when the chair was vacant, to now place any other Councillor in the chair would he equivalent to off-erring an unmerited a If-v it to Cr Jtl y.

■ Cr M ’Gi miss said it had not been an invariable mle as other Councillors had hod the position.

Cr Fi'elies sai 1 he had no intention to onst any r< Hedi-ns on Cr Jollv ; ti ere was now no occasion to give Cr Jolly tho preference over any other Councillor, an I he felt he had a ueifect light to nominate whomaover he liked to tin poaiti m.

Tlie amendment was pat and lost. After some further fencing the motion was put and canied ; and Cr M'Giunis to.-k the chair Cr Jo ly moved—“ That the Council di now adj mri lor a half-hour to enable the Chairman to place his resignation in the hj mdß of the Clerk.

Whilst the motion was being put. lha resignation was written out ami placed in the hauls of the Clerk ; the motion was aceor iugly ruled out of order. A long desultory conversation now »nsued eventuating in a motion by Cr .M ‘Kellav for an adjournment for a half hour, which Infra ;ht the whole Council to their feet one after the other; eveutuiliy it was carried.

On returning, the Aoriiw Chin man said tho next- business was the appoi itment of a permanent Chairman. Or Colcloueh here Hue to a point of order saying that in accordance with section dfi of “The Counties Act” the otliee of chairman cannot he filled unless at a meeting duly convened for the purpose by the Clerk, and contended that the ordinary business of the Council most bo proceeded with. Thi=> evoked a long discussion, which was brought to a dose by the Council being adjourned tol 7 p.in.to enable the ac iogobairman to oluaio the legal opinion of Mr K. J. Wilson on tin; point of order raised. On resuming at 7 p in., the full Council being present, ihe. Ac log Chairman read opinion of Mr Wilson which was in effect that the Chairman could only be elected at a meeting called for lhat purpose, and ruled that as the point of order was maintained, he would proceed with the ordinary business of the Council. '1 ii« Clerk then read schedules of inward and outward correspondence, from which the following wer : read and ordered on. From Westland C unty Council, asking the Council to consider sever'd questions pertaining to the Gold Fields Conn lies and

their revenue. Resolved, That the icceip of letter be acknowledged.

From A . G Robertson, pound keeper and ranger of Cromwell Commonage, asking for compensation to the extent of 1.5 for damages do io to his fencing at the l n st muster. Re-olvel, That the Council does not renogniz i the claim. Tfrrn the Chief Surveyor relative to tho Hawea boats and propose,l deviation. Resolved, Tnat the Chief Surveyor be informed that this Council decline to take furtbur action in alteration or diviation of roads on Hawea FI it, block V., unless the 0 ive Ilineot pay all costs an I charges of coin] ensaiion or otherwise, and that this Council consider the -’iviation refers 1 to a desirable one, and desire that it should he carried out forthwith.

From Garrick Range Water Race Com pany asking for a release of mortgage of their witcr-raoe and plant, the company hj iving o irried out the conditions stipulated by the Government and the County Council. Resolved—That the County Engineer be supp'.ie I with ail pipes in ounce.io i with Vne water-race, and lv r quisle! to inspect and report on th i Company's race and plant at the next me icing.

Correspond'nee re imp wilding C. Hedlund’s cattle. It was explained that no notice of inten'ion to register the cattle nor were the cattle registered, [t was resolved

a cuord I ugly, that the app'ioatiun for refund of impounding fees he not considered till after the reading of the Ranger's report. Letter from Mr MT’hail re repnhs to Lindis Road was referred to tho Engineer for his renort.

Telegram from Mr Willnntt, Mt. Pisa Station, notifying that unless amount of

judaement obtain -d against the Council in conucc.ion wi U destroying the rabbits in the run be pod forthwith, execution would follow.

Cr Pyke, the late chairman, said when C'r Colciongh’s noiice of moti in on the same subject, was being dealt with, he would fully explain why the cheque had not been signed in the ordinary course.

From Mr I >. M 'Farlane asking for compensation for lona sustained through road way up Conroy’s Gully giving way and precipitating his waggon mid bullocks over the cm inikment, thereby killing a horse and i daring other properties. Ordered to Stan f over.J

From Mr W. William asking to he allowed expenses for iinisiering at same rate as the ranger is »mv paid, viz, Is fid per head. IN s deed— That the letter stand over till next meeting.

Goi ivspcni lence rc collection of Dog Tax by Ldxes authorities from persons within the Vincent County. It appeared that certain amounts had been collided by the Lukes County collectors that belonged to the Vincent Comity, it was resolved that the County Clerk write demanding a refund in all such fees wrongfully collected by them. Engineer's report on roads was then read and received. liofureiiee was made to the capsizing of (}. M •FarUoas bullock team over Conroy’s road bur. no decision was oom« to. The meeting was then adjourned till 10 a.m. the following morning. TncaaiiAY January 2Ctti. On the Council rcsninine, all Councillors, were in' attendance. Or .M'Ginniss in the chair.

Tho Chairman said the first business for consideration was tho election of permanent chairman ; ho would suggest that ilee.ioit lake place o.i T’hurs tay, tho 2nd of Fee, at 12 a.m., and that tho County Cluck he so advised. It was resolved aceiinlmaly

'The Engine.i s report on Ini ige«, embed • ing tlie recommendation, that tenders tie invited Ini' the construction of tho approaches on the Western hank, was toad and received. Resolved—That tenders he invited. ami that a Commitee of tho Council be appoiuteil to consider the same. Or Fyke hero rose, and said that he desired to move a point of order as to tho legality of the Council’s {transact mas. Cr Fyke hereupon explained the point of order raised ; reading train the minutes of the past meetings, whereupon he ointeudel that as from the embo lying of certain resolutions in the minutes of previous meetings, the whole proceedings of this mooting were illegal and invalid ; aid suggested that befoie further business was done the opinion of the .County Solictor should be obtained.

Discussion (here ensued extending over r.evrly two hours, during wiiiuhjalt sorts of questions relevant and irrelevant to the question at issue were raised, and al sorts of personalities were indulged in. The Acting Chairman throughout exhibiting a wonderful amount of patience and lornearauce. he at length ruled that the point of order raised, was worthy of consideration, and a ijourned the Council till Thursday, the 2nd February, at 11 a.m. The meeting then dissolved.