VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1073, 17 November 1882, Page 2

VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

A. special meeting of the above, with full Council in attendance, was held on Saturday last, the 11th inst., opening at 2 p.ro. Mr. G. Clark, County Clerk, who took the chair, said the business of the meeting was specially to elect a County Chairman in place of Gr Macginnis resigned. By the ruling of His Honor Judge Williams in the late quo warranto case it was clearly bis duty to preside, and under advice of the County Solicitor he was now prepared to . receive nominations for the office of Acting-

Chairman, and in the event of more than one nomination being made be could adopt the usual procedure of putting th) last received first. Ho said it would be as well for the Council to agree to the course of procedure as laid down by him. Cr. Colclough disagreed with the nomi. nations tor Acting-Chairman only being received, arguing that as the meeting was convened for the special purpose of electing a Chairman no other permanent business could be done. - The Clerk said there must of a necessity be a Chairman of the meeting. He purposed to refrain' from voting, and the course as laid down by him he considered the safest and wisest to follow. A discussion ensued during which some of the Councillors maintained that the Clerk, as presiding ofiicer, had the power of voting, to which he replied that his task was difficult enough without adding to it that of voting, and vote he would not. The meeting then agreed to adopt the course laid down by the Clerk, and the business commenced by Cr. McKellar proposing that Cr. Jolly be Chairman of the meeting ; and Cr. Macglnnis proposing Cr. Welsford. The harmless but somewhat amusing pastime of portrait drawing was now indulged in for the best part of an hour; the supporters of each candidate vieing with each other as to which should give toe moat telling deso-iption of the capabilities of their friend for the onerous tsk of Acting-Chair man, following up with a bitter tirade against the opposite member. The scene while it lasted if not particularly instructive was amusing. Ultimately Cr. Colclough awoke to the fact that the scene being enacted was a “perfect farce,” and said it was perfectly clear that in the present temper of the Council there was no probability of either being elected. It would bo well, therefore, to tell the presiding officer so with the view of him closing the meeting* The whole thing was a perfect farce. Cr. M’Ginnis, while agreeing that the proceedings were a perfect farce, regretted that such was the case. The present time was most critical for the County and -required the united voice of one and all, or they would have cause to regret it. Action required to be taken under the “ Roads and Bri Iges Construction Act” if they intended taking advantage of it this year. The vote of £5OllO given in aid of the Alexandra Bridge wanted looking after, as did many other things. If there was no chance of agreeing as to who should be Chairman, which was the real point at issue, let them resign as a whole, at the same time give an assurance they would not seek re-election. He was perfectly willing to do so, and he thought if the Council had the true welfare of the County at heart they would at once act upon his suggestion, Cr. Jolly agreed that there was every necessity to take action in the matter of the “ Roads and Bridges Construction Act” and other things financial; but for 8 men to resign because they could not agree was foolish in the extreme. There was no chance of it being agreed to. A way out of the difficulty would be to reinstate the Nevis Riding, then a dead lock as at present existing could not occur. Cr. Colclough said it only wanted a relator and a quo warranto to restore the Rid. ing. Cr Pitches thonght, with respect to the “ Roads and Bridges Construction Act,” the Clerk and Engineer could do everything that was required ; and as to the other matters the Clerk could write and attend to them. He should object to resigning. Cr. M‘Kellar said the question of resigning was not to be thought of for a moment, as there was nothing to show the next eight men elected would be better able to settle the point at issue than they were. His proposition would be to call on the ratepayers to elect a Chairman, —there was no denying that was the bone of contention. It perhaps would not he quite legal, but they could agree amongst themselves to accept whoever was elected, and in due course confirm the choice made. As to the expense, it might possibly amount to £SO; if so, it would be money well spent. The motions were then put and resulted in ties ; the four northern members voting for their candidate, and the four southern members against him, and vice versa with the southern candidate. Crs. Colclough, M’Phail, Stronach, and Pitches were now seperately and severally nominated as Chairman, but one and all were refused, the voting being the same as above. The Council now, on the voices, adjourned till 5 p.m. to consider the question. On resuming at 5 30, Cr. McKellar proposed that the meeting stand adjourned till Wednesday the 22nd at 10 a.m., and was about to speak to the motion when the Clerk ruled that no discussion could take place over motions for adjournment. The motion was then put and resulted in a tie, the voting being similar as to previous motions. Crs. Maoginnis and Colclough were then proposed as Chairman, tho voting resulting the same as before. A proposition for an adjournment was again put and lost. Crs. Jolly and Welsford were then again proposed as Chairman ; but both were rejected. The meeting then adjourned till 8.30. On resuming, with the full Council in attendance, the farce of proposing members for tho Chair and for adjournment was continued till nearly 10 o’clock. During the time Cr, McKellar said that as there evidently was no chance of settlement of the question nothing remained but for one of the three propositions previously made-' resignation, an appeal to the ratepayers to elect a Chairman by a plebiscite or seperation—to he agreed to. Cr. Strouuch : "Do 1 understand yon to 1 say that if the Southern Councillors will 1 resi in to-ni-ht tho Northern will do so 1 ali-o?” Or. McKollar ; No ; I do not say so.”

The Council ijtxen went .into Committee to see if they could arrange in private upon - tome course. » ■ - On resuming at 11 *ls, Cr. M’Kellar was understood to say that nothing had been arranged, but that the Council had agreed to adjourn till Wednesday the 22ud inst.. at 10 a.m., to consider the following proposition By Or. M'tlinnia—“That all the present Councillors resign, each pledging himself not to stand for re-eleotien. ’’ By Cr. M’Kellar—That considering the ■even division of the Conned re the appointment of Chairman the question be referred to the decision of & plebiscite of the county ratepayers ; that such plebiscite be conducted under the direction of the same returning officers- as in ordinary election and that a sub-committee, consisting of—say CrsSlronach, Colclough. and Meoginnis —he appointed to arrange the conditions under which the plebiscite shall be taken, and to raemoralise tka Governor to legalise such plebiscite under the provision of section 209 of the Counties Act. That failing to obtain the sanction of His Excellency the "Governor as above mentioned, the present Councillors agree, and each Councillor hereby pledges himself to give effect to the result of the p'ebisdte by, at the first meeting of he Council held thereafter, electing the Cnri-man so decided upon."’ The meeting then adjourned till the 22nd inst, at 10 a.m. Before leaving the table Cr. M’Kellar said it afforded him great pleasure in saying that the conducting of the meeting by Mr. ■Clark had given him the greatest possible satisfaction. The position was a most delicate one, and surrounded hy many intricacies, hut through which he had steered Most impartially and happily. Other Councillors endorsed the remaiks of Cr. McKellar.