VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1058, 28 July 1882, Page 2

VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary two-monthly meeting of the Council was held on Wednesday the 2(Jtli mat. at 2.30 p. tn.

Present: (Jrs. M. J. McGinnis, chairman; Jolly, McKellar, McPhail, Pitches, Coldough, Stronach and Welsford.

On the assembling of the Council, Cr. Colclongb, in the name of himself and Crs. McKellar, Jolly, and McPhail, handed in the following protest “ We, the undersigned councillors of Vincent County Council, hereby protest against the validity of any proceedings by the Ci u c 1 until the office of County Chair man shall have been duly made and filled ; and we sav that Cr. Mediums has not een so duly el cte ;, and has not the authority to exercise the power of chairman. We reserve to ourselves the right to take part in any proceedings, notwithstanding our protest as to its legality.”

Ide said the action taken was not in the spirit of opposition ; the desire of himself ami colleagues was to see the business of the Council proceeded with legally and in due order.

The Clerk read the minutes of meetings held on June 14th and June loth, 18S2, win hj were confirmed. T»e minutes of a special meeting, hj id on June 23, for the election of Chairman, wh ch embodied a protest in the name of Or MoKella- against the legality of the motion confirming the appointment of Cr. McGnuuss as Chairman were then read.

Ihe Chairman (Or. McGinnis) said the minutes were irregular, inasmuch as the protest of Cr. McKellar was not made at the time of the meeting, nor verbal notice given of same, and as such was the case the notice must be expunged.

Cr. Jolly oontciniei that the minutes were not correct and c mid not be confirmed as McGinnis was n it legally elected to the chair. He tabled a motion accordingly, which was seconded by Or. McKellar. the Chairman ruled the motion out of order as it did not offset the question before the Council— whether the minutes were accurate or not.

Cr. Colclough said so far as he could see it mattered little or nothing whether the minutes were passed or not in their present form; the question of the right of Or. McGinnis to the chair would be decided elsewhere.

Cr. \\ elsford proposed, Cr. Pitchesseeo ided : That as the protest of Cr. McKellar was irregular, it be expunged from the minutes.

Cr. McKellar asked if the Clerk was to make an entry in the rough minutes of the motion proposed by Cr. Jolly and seconded by himself, though .he chairman had ruled it out of order.

Ihe Chairman said that in accordance with his ruling it could not be recorde i ; he deemed it irregular, and it was then virtually dead. The protest could only be considered if notice had been given of it; but notice of it verbally or otherwise had not been given; however, if verbal notice had been given (which he denied) it was not legal, as it was not in writing and signed ; and moreover the wording of the protest was not in accordance with the truth.

Cr. McKellar maintained that he did give verbal notice of his protest, and referred to councillors to bear him out. lie said the very minutes, as read, bore evidence of his verbal motion.

Cra, Colclough and Jolly said they heard fie venal notice of protest. Crs Pitches, Stronach, and Welsford said they did not hear it.

A scene of confusion ensued, during which the motion was put and carried. On division Crs. Jolly, iMcKellar, McPhail, and Colclough voted against, and Crs Pitches, Welsford, Stronach, and McGinnis for,— the Cairman giving his casting vote. A debate now ensued as to whether the resolution in detail for e> ponging the protest from the minutes was to be recorded. The Chairman ruled in the negative. Cr. MoKellar asked, as such was the decision, to be informed of the mode to be taken.

The Chairman said that matter would be attended to.

The motion that the minutes as amended be concerned, was now put and carried on division.

The schedule of inward and outward correspondence was read.

Letter from Maniototo Council reapproach to Lander Creek bridge and crossing of Lauder Creek was read.

Resolved : That this Council agree to keep the creek crossing in. repair, each County to pay its share, and that a road in due course will be made.

From Dooley and McKersey, owners of Alexandra Pnnt, asking for payment of £2 Os 2d interest on delayed payments.

Resolved : That tho Council do not recognise the claim.

from Mr. A. Robertson, Cromwell pound keeeper, resigning the position, and recommending Mr. W, Olds, the owner of the pound yards. Also letter from Mr. W. Olds asking for the position. After long discussion it was resolved : That application for the office of poundkeeper of Cromwell district be advertised, same to bo considered at next meeting of the Council.

Letters and papers re rabbit nuisance on commonages, inolu ling offers from Mr Masters and Mr A Robertson to undertake the killing of the rabbits at 31 per skin, the county to take all responsibility, or at 3£ per skin, they to take the responsibility. After a long discussion, during which the question of advisability or otherwise of askthe Government to take into their hands again the commonage was seriously considered ; and with reference to the Cromwell commonage, that it was suffering through the carelessness of the neighbouring runholder, from whose country the rabbits came in swarms. Eventually it was resolved on the motion of Or. Jolly, seconded by Cr. McKellar: That the offers of Mr Masters and Mr A Robertson to undertake the clearance of the Clyde and Cromwell commonages respectively, at the rate of 3J per skin large and small; they to find security for the due performance of their work and for all costs ami expenses that may be incurred for any breaches under the Rabbit Act, and that the chairman be empowered to enter into such agreement for the space of one year.

Prom Mr C T. Marie, threatening action for damages for loss sustained by him through hiscoall -ase being injured by roads, and th i drainage of same into his leases. Cr. McKellar explained that in consequence of previous letters received from Mr. Marie, Crs. Jolly, (Jolclougb, McPhail and himself, accompanied by Mr. John Campbell, surveyor, had visited and inspected Mr. Marie's and adjoining leases; and they wonld beg to report; That there is no Deceitsity for the Council’s in Inference.

From Drummy and Co asking for certain concessions and allowances in connection with the Alexandra Bridge At abater stag" of the meeting, and alter consideration of the subject in commit toe, and taking the evidence of the Engineer, it was resolved : Th it the claims, £’>l 9s, for into. e>t, for saikne-s in payment of instalments of contract payments, an i £ 151 for alleged loss of time, 77 days, completion of contract be allowed ; but that claims £169 for galvanizing cab’es ; £4ol) clerical error in carr mg out calculations for stone work nf small piers, and £899 for IS tons extia iron work used in construction of the hrid.e, he disallowed.

From the Engineer’s report on the bridge is was gb-aiwd that the total cost of the structure was £18,360.

At the request of Or Colclough a b tter' to the agent of the Bulk of New 2 Man Cromwell, re the election of Cr. McGinn s to the Chairmanship was read. Cr. Jolly, Guinty Treasurer, rose and said he had to expiess his surprise at the action of the presumptive Chairman Cr. VcGinniss, in signing cinques before first handing into the bank his signature notifying his authority. He then explaine 1 that in consequence nf such omission eeit iin cheques had been returned dishonored, thus damaging the County credit.

The Chairman stated the c mrae taken by him was in no way bregnlar, he had but followed in the steps of his predecessors and in so far as his signature w is concerned’ that was well known to the agent of the bank, and he could not lint thi-k there was more in the matter than appeared on the surface.

Cr. Colclough stated that when he was in the Chair he had written a letter to the Bank conveying his appointment. Cr. McGinnis (Chairman) said such a letter, not being sent from the County Offices was but presumptive and not confirmato y evidence, and was no more worthy of beinoacted upon than was the knowledge of the Rank authorities of his signature and lie could not but say that the course taken by the Bank in dishonouring a few cheques for paltry amounts was most extraordinary. In answer to Cr Stronach the Treasurer said the cheques dishonoured amounted in the agregate to over £37 ; including S. M Dalgleish. £2 2s ; S. N. Brown, Cromwell Argus , £26

The meeting adjourned till 7 30 p m. On resuming the full Council were in attendance.

Letter from County Solicitor, accompanied by draft amended depasturing re nU. tions, -was read, and it wis decided to eave them with the Chairman to complete. In reply to Cr. Pitches : The Clerk said Mr Beattie’s claim re Dog Tax registration was now settled and cheque made out. Also that Mr. Bishop’s claim for expense' as returning officer in November last was n >-v in course of settlement ; and that he had no object in sending the Dog Tax collector to Blacks district first.

In reply to Cr. Cololough : The Chairman said that he had informed the Government, in replv to a question on the subject that the goldfields revenue an I gold dury was pledged to the hank to cover overdraft, and if same were taken away the Council would he unahle to meet its liabilities.

Cr, McKellar said that the inference drav n from the above reply was that the policy of the Vincent County was adverse to the abolition of the Gild Export duty. Petitions presented hy Cr Weisford 19 shenherds, praying that three dogs the hona fide property of shepherds, he exempted from the Dog Tax ; and hv Or. McPhail from 39 residents in Hawea Pi hng, praying for the immediate erection of a home bridge over Boundary Greek, were road

The Engineo-’s reports on roads, bridges, ami ferries were read and ordered nnqi • the expenditure authorised hefng : R„aa Tinkers to Tiauder, £lO Clyde to Parcells £3O ; E ist Rank of Hawea, £lO, Lindis to Pass, £2OO. Cr. McPhail, the member for Hawea Riding, also manager of Morven HiliS Station, said that he was prepared to supplement the County expenditure by a considerable amount.

The Council then went into committee to consider letters and reports re Alexandra Bridge, and on contracts, and on n sinning at 2am. on the 27Hi they adjourrfed till 9.30 the same morning. Morning Bitting. The Committee reporte 1 that the successful tenderers were as follows : Contn ct No. 90, Dunstan and Co. 91, P Costello and Co. •i 92, G. Partridge ~ 93, P. Cahill and Co. „ 94, Redding and t Co, ■ i 95, Pierce and Co. , ~ 96, Donald Hutton.

The Engineer’s report on deviation road to Hawea, and roads in Tarras districts, was read and received.

The Treasurer read his report, which showed that at present date the total liabilities of the County was £7,344, and the actual overdraft £5 sfi2. He said tha’ the hank authorities had intimated to him rihat henceforth the limit of overdraft, £3OOO. could not, he exceeded Cr. McKellar said there were several liabilities that had to he mi l, nn I shat forthwith. I t was therefore necessary that some arrangement should be come to, he suggested that the Chairman and Treasurer wait on the Bank and make such arraipjements as they may deem best under the circumstances.

Several small accounts, including some in connection with the new Licensing Act, •were brought up for payment. Cr. McKellar said it was high time to put a stop to the exorbitant and outrageous charges the Council had to meet in connection with the Licensing Act, and he thought some steps should be taken whereby the Council will have the control of the expenditure and the appointment of officers Resolved : That a rate of one shilling be made on all rateable property in the County Notices of motion by consent were adjourned till the next meeting. The meeting then closed.