VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1034, 10 February 1882, Page 3

VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

The adj nirued or inary meeting of the Council was held in the County Offices, Clyde, on Tiiursday, tlie 2nd inst., at U a nr, the lull (,‘ininci! in attendance. Cr Pyke occupy mg the chair. In will 1 1— remembered that at the list meeting Cr M iGimnss was in the chair as airing chairman and a j mrneil tlie meeting til the 2n I for the purpose of ontaiiiing h-gal opinion on a point of order raise I by Cr Pyke on the lego, ity of tin; proceedings of the Council, uml on councillors ,-eeiog Cr. P, ke in'tne chair a storm of indignation was rai-c-1 to which he had eventually to give way when Cr McGinniss occupied the seat of b m ur.

Cr. Pyke I lien expressed from his seat the wish to be allnwei to I telegrams received by him from Mr Stout an I Mr ex-Judge Harvey on the p out of chairmanship. Urs Jolly, Mekel.ar and Cnlclough objected, averring that the Council bad mulling to do with private telegrams received bv Co Pyk-*, whilst th -y had the

county sclio’tor’s opinion (Mr. F. J. Wilson) that the chair was vacant, anil that Cr. Pyke was practically dead to it. The scene through-uit this 1 raw! is indescribable, and we an- pleased to draw a veil over it

Cr Jolly inop-sel and Cr. MeKellar secoinlei. ‘‘That the Inis ness of the Gnnnc I lie pioceeded with, and that the acting chairman read Mr Wilson’s legal opinion on Cr Pvko's point of order.

Cr Pyke promised an 1 Ci Pitch "sseoonde 1 “ That die Council si an I adjourned till 12 noon.” Alter c nisi. K-ration, however, as the special meeling was convene I fur 12, it was decided to adj ntru till 3 p.m. Special Meeting. The full Council weie in attendance at 12 30. Cr. Pyke at some length spoke on the position the Council had lapsed into, he held that i lie opinions of Messrs Stout and Harvey should take precedence of Mr Wilson’s, which, he held, was wrong, Me said the ctmir was his until the appointment of his successor. For himself he had no desire for the office—in fact he would not liav e it at any price. Mere another scene of confusion ensued, during which the Counties Act, the Bye Law-, Standing Ordeis, and Standing Onle-s of Parti.ment were quoted at length, and legal opinions nan lied about by the Eight County Qnidmt cs. T'.v ntually tbe clerk (who throughout the scene was in anything but an enviable position) decided to put questions from the chair.

After a number of cross motions and amendments, propositions in favour of both Cis Jol y and McGinniss as permanent cliai innn were put, and each re lilting in tlie 4 vot s for and 4 votes against.

The clerk adjourned the meeting till 3 o’clock for the purpose nf obtaining Itgal advice as to the course he should pursue.

On resuming ar 3 o’clock, the clerk reul opinion of Mr Wilson, which was to the clTrt that it waa impossible to proceed with the hnsiocas of tlie Council until the appointment of a permanent chairman, and that, however weaiying the process, the names must he put until a niajoiity hail been obtained. Tiie clerk then said ho was accordingly prepated to receive fresh nomina ions. Cr Colclonah, in most eulogistic terms, proposed Cr McKellar as permanent chairman, lr Jolly seconded the resolution, and forcibly appealed to the good sense of the Councillors and hoped they would accept the mutton and thus put uu oud to tho

existing dead-lock, which was a s'anding disgrace to the County. Tlie motion was then put, and four voted with the Ayes and four with the Noes. Cr Cololnngh hero protested against tlio notion of the clerk in in putting the motion to the tote, averring that as (here was only one candidate ho must lie declared elected.

Cr I’yko proposed Cr Stronaoh as pei-tua uent chairman.

Cr Cololotigh insisted that he was right, and that Cr McKcllar was duly electo 1 : he would snjgcst that the clerk adjourn for half an hour to obtain legal opuiou on point raised. The clerk said he should adhere to Ids former resolution—that was to keep on putting names. Cr Stronoch’s name was then put an I resulted in a tie Cr Jolly now proposed an adjournment to oh ain local opinion as to legality of Cr McKcliar’s election. Or McGinniss thought it would he better to obtain the opinion of the S die.tor General.

Cr Pvke here again tried to read opinions from Mr Stout and Mr Harvey, hut in the din and confusion fared to succeed. It was, however, at length undeistood that the t' h'grains were tlie property of the Council and they were read ; both ominous being favourable to the chairman holding office Id I his successor was appointed Here another scene ensued, that it is as well to throw the veil over, as our space will not allow us civiug everything that was said or done. Now, would it be well tn detail the numerous insolences that were bandied about.

The Clerk then adjourned the Council to 7 p m., to obtain legal opinion on the point risc I as to the election of Cr M'Kellar to the chair,

(in lesuming at 7 p.m., Cr Pyke occupied the chair, and attempted to proceed with the business. This brought Councillor after Councillor to their feet, resulting in a perfect B ibel of voices ; the Northern members a'l protesting against Cr Pyke occupying the chair. Cr Stronach proposed, and Cr Pitches seenut’e I—That Cr Pyke take the chair. Cr M Kelbir lose an 1 said Cr Pyke had no right to take tlie chair, it was a silly thing lo assume the position, and it was placing the Com ell in a most indignifie I poshion. If it was a ipiestimi of foice of arms but it was not at ail likely to come to that—he would take it upon himself to bundle him out neck and crop—strong protestations were made against such language lie appealed to the Clerk to maintain bis dignity, and to resqnest any Councillor who was out of bis place tn take it.

The Clerk said tie did not know that he was in a position other than to read the legal opinion the meeting was adjourned for.

After protest and counter protest against Cr Pyke holding the chair. Cr Jolly proposed—That tbe Clerk n quest Cr Pyke to leave I he chair and take his proper place at the Cmindil tah'e.

Cr Mci liniiis proposed —That the business of the Council be proceeded with. Cr S ; ronach asked if some compromise could ii"t Ini ma le whereby the business might be proceeded wiih. A protest, signed by Cra M'Kellar, M'Phail, -lolly, and Colclough, was handed in to the Cl 'k against any Blither action being taken by tlie Council so long as the chair is illegal y held by Cr Pyke. Or M ‘Kelbir then took up the telegraphed opinions of Mr Stout and Mr Harvey, and aft'r reading them, sai I, that by bis reading Mr Stout's opinion in the main agree 1 with Mr Wilson and made Mr Pyke position the more i .t liable. Or M'Plmil then read the opinion, and put Ids cons true‘ion on it. More talk and bickering ensued till 0 o'clock, when the Clerk said Ids duty appeared clear to read the opinion obtained, and should object to deviate from the i-ro-per course of Misiness ; be would adjourn the meeting til! 10'3J next morning.