VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1074, 24 November 1882, Page 3

VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

The annual special meeting and the ordinary two monthly meeting (combiner!) of the Council was held in the Conn'y Oflices, Clyde, on Wednrsday the 22nd inst. Tho full Council were in attendance. The Treasurer, Councillor Jolly, rose and said it was his painful duty to inform the Council that in contequence of certain irregularities In keeping the hooka and accounts of the Council on the part of the Clerk, he had deemed it advisable to suspend that officer awaiting the Council’s pleasure. He then explained that on the afternoon of the 14th inst. he received a telegram from Mr F* J, Wilson, the County Solicitor, requesting his immediate attendance at Clyde; that on there he was mat by the L'dvnty Auditor and JkJr. Wilson, who informed that grave'irfejularities existed in iho hooks of tho Council,—so far in fact that no one single entry had been made on tho debit side of the cash hook since the last audit, and hnt a few on the credit side ; that he also saw Mr. Clark who admitted the irregularities and possible deficiencies, and that in consequence he bad suspended him. He further slated that, in order to arrive at the true position of affairs he had engaged the services of Mr. Boston, also Mr. Dickie, than whom perhaps there was no person more conversant with tlie County affairs; but that aa far nothing definite as to the

True* state of "tilings had been' arrived'"at,” but he w s nf aid other more serious mat- • tera.would arise than had as yet; He-ha I ' nothing furth»r to add, and he would ask the Comic 1 to support him in the action' he had taken. ■ The Council unanimously ''endorsed the action taken. Cr. MiKellar said the thanks of the Council were due to F. J. Wilson for the steps taken by him in the matter referred to by the Treasurer, and suggested that ns Mr. Wilson was now present the Council should take him into their confidence and ask his advice upon tho unfortunate and complicated position the Council found themselves in. As it was necessary that some officer should be appointed to take a record of the proceedings it was resolved—That Mr. Mac ccorge be requested to act as amenuensis of tliis meeting. The Council then went into Committee to confer with Mr. Wilson on the position. On resuming at 3 p.m., with the full Council in attendance, a lot of time was wasted by the Council sitting watching each other, each one apparently being afraid of being tripp. d if he opened his mouth. Eventually Councillor McKellar rose and said : Though the last meeting of the Council broke up without any result, it yet was arranged that the Council'should meet to-day to discuss !he 'hree propositions, viz, resignation nf the whole Council, a p ' bisciti of the ratepayers, or s-perution. So bar as the fb at proposition was concerned, he could see no way nut nf the ditfi nil I y by agreeing to it. It was a perfect abrogation of the power ot self-government, and he would no", agree to it. The second was the most feasible, an 1 if -greed to, and should a southern member be selected by the ratepayers he would himself propose him to the otiice of Chairman, and mo'cover, would render him every assistance in carrying out the duties, and he was sure he would be supprted by all the other northern members. So far as tire third, separation he hoped it would not lie seriously entertained ; it should only be thought of as a last re-oit. It meant the breaking np of a County, tint with eo morale d management, must n-csssiri'y be a rich <me. aud the making of two insignificant ones. If none of the p-oposi ions could lie agreed to there was a way as proposed by Cr. Cololough to select two t’ouncillors, one from the north and from the south, an 1 for them to decide I y lot who was to he Chairman For his own part lie was prepare ! for anv one of the schemes. Throng''out the w hole disi nte he hal ac'ed in no spirit of cbs'rucriveness, and he wanted the public to know it. The real obstructionists were the sou'hern members, and tbev would receive all the blame. Crs. Cojclough and Jolly supported the latter course of ballot. Cr. Pitches said the northern members ■had all spoken upon the terrible position of the County, He coul 1 sec noihing s i very terrible, and fir his own pirt he was not to he cajoled into taking action without due deliberation, in so far as obslrrctiveness was concerned, it was all on the part of the northern members. [ Cr, Welsforrt said when the Council were on the point ot electing a Chairman, two of the nor hern members rose np with theirobs ructlvines’, and now they cast the blame on the south ro numbers. Cr. Macginnis said the southern members could not be accused of olistrnctiveucss. They had m--t c «r the c-msi lerarion and adoption, if possible, of one of tin ee propositions. So far they had been only talking, no one motion haring been put, and yet. the conthern members were aceu-od of ohstrnc-tivi-ness. Af.er the mo inns had been put would be time to talk about obstruction. Hereon a long an 1 at times acrimonious discussion ensued, eventuating in tie retirement into committee to consider the question. On reassembling at 7 pm. an adjournment till 8 pm. was m.rie. Shortly after 8 o'clock the Council again met ami went into committee till 9.30, when, on meeting, Cr. July was unanimously elected Acting-Chairman At mice taking the Chair, he called for nominations for permanent Chairman. Cr. McKellar rose and nominated Councillor Macginnis. He said, without making any invidious remarks, ho had pleasure in thinking tho southern members had selected Councillor Macginnis as their leader. PorBon dly ho was held in high respect by all the northern members of the Council, and ho would have their support and assistance in ihe chair. Cr. Colclongh seconded Iho motion, and other members having spoken tho pioposition was put ami carried unanimously. Or. Macginnis briefly returned th inks for tho honor conferred on him. He then called on theTreisurer to supplement the remarks made by him at he opening of tho meeting re the irregularities of Mr G. Clark. Cr. Jolly said he need not reiterate what he had already sail and had little or no'hing to add. Saving that, with the clerical assistance at work headway was bring made but it would take some weeks to know tho worst. Cr. Cololough said really the only techinioal knowledge the Council basis that Mr Clark had fdlod to keep up his bo .ks. Cr. Jolly said he should lie sorry to say anything definite; Hut sufficient had come to light to warrant dismissal. Cr. McKellar said, disagreeable as the duty was, he looked upon it the better to go straight. The only question that occurred to him was, would dismiss il prejudice the Council in any action it may deem necessary to take hereafter. A reply being giwn in the negative by Mr. Wilson. Resolved—'That in consequence rf the grave irregularities f iund to exist in the books and accounts of Mr. Clink lie bodis missed from tho various offices hel l by him under the Council Or, McKellar said it was evident that a pcrinaneiitrffio -r mils' bo pp, )„ Pa ,.,y on tho woik of the Jounc'd. Ho would a;-

-cerdingty. pjojimui fluttJMft. D}ckio;ba;Trgr -pointed Aotiug-Cierk to perform the duties formerly undertaken by Mr. Q-. Clark, pending the appointin' nt of a permanent officer. Salary at the rata of LO per week. Seconded by Or. Colclough and oarrie I. Resolved—That the Treasurer .be empowered to employ extra clerical assistance to make up the books and- accounts of the Council un ler the supervision of Mr Dickie at a salary of L 6 per we >k. Resolved : That advertisements he inserted in the Daily Times, Morning Herald, Cromwell Argu*, and Dusstan Times, inviting application for the office of County Clerk ; salary, £275 per year. The Chairman and Treasurer were deputed to wait on the Bank of New Zealand authorities to arrange for continuing on the County account. The Council then went info committee to consider tenders, and on resuming the following report was read : That the following tenders be accepted— Contract No. 98.- W Foreman and Co., Firewood Creek Bridge. Contract No. 101. (Nottingham and Co., Repairs to SpottU Bridge Contract No. 91. F. Hill, 54 chains road Cromwell to Perriatos. Contract No. 100. - Vo tender accepted, Bridge across Boundary Creek. Contract No. 102. —Foot Bridge, Bindigo Creek. The Engineer was instructed to put up a bridge at a cost not to exceed £2O. The report was read and adopted. It being now past midnight, several m itions for adjournment were put, ultimately it was resolved that the meeting adjourn till 10 a.in. tre following day. Thursday 23r '. Dn resuming at JO. 3 1 a.ui Crs. Maeginnis, •Gh firman ; and McPhail, Pitches, Scronach, Welsford, and Colclough in attendance. The business on tire order paper was proceeded with, viz. : The consideration of the Depasturing Rogula'ioin. These have already been printed in our columns as an advertisement an I also as reading matter and were passed with but little or no amendment. 1. Ok. Colclough to move—That a return be forwarded every quarter from Inspectors of Slaughtering Licenses of the numbers ot stock killed and the number slaughtered by each licensee.—Lost 3 Oil Pitches to move— That the sum of £IOO lie voted for forming and Igr (veiling road iu block X, between j section 1 and 2, block XI, between ! section 7 and 8, Ida Valley.— Cur- ■ ried. \ i. Cr. Pitches to move—That the j decision arrived at at the last meeting | of Council in voring £6OO for extras i on f'ontract 52, Alexandra Bridge, be revoked, and the whole matter be | again considered in Committee of the whole Council. Lst Tiie sum of £ls was voted for petty cash. The meeting then-adjeurnml.