VINCENT COUNTY ELECTION.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1104, 22 June 1883, Page 3

VINCENT COUNTY ELECTION.

MR MACGINNIS AT POVERTY BEACH. On Tuesday evening last Mr M. J. Macginnis addressed a meeting of the ratepayers of the Earnscleugh Riding, at Mr Pattison’a house, Poverty Beach. Mr W. F Forrest was appointed chairman, and called upon Mr Macginnis to address the meeting. Mr Macginnis said that the meeting was probably as well posted up in the recent affairs of Vincent Coupty as he was himself, but he considered it his duty as a candidate for re-election to explain certain facts in connection with ihe deadlock which had taken place, in order co justify himself for the action he had taken in the matter. The deadlock was originally caused by Mr Pyke resigning the office of Chairman before his term bad expired, and by this means killed the office, there being no Chairman to exercise a casting vote, and the North and South members being equally divided, business was brought to a standstill. Things went on in this way until the irregularities of Mr Clark occurred, and it being necessary to do something to carry on the County business it was agreed to toss for the privilege of appointing a Chairman, subject to the condition that the successful candidate should resign at the end of four months, and that he should not use his position to elect a permanent Chairman. He was fortunate, or the reverse, as the case may be, in being elected Chairman, and at the expiration of the term was elected for two months longer, when according to agreement, he resigned. Since then various attempts have been made to elect a ,y Chairman, but without success. An impression was abroad that the only object of the southern members was to elect a chairman from amongst themselves, but this was not the case, for had the north been represented by men who fairly represented the county no difficulty would have been found in coming to a settlement of the question. But the southern members had a knowledge of certain suspicious facts in connection with the actions of some of the northern members, which rendered them distrustful of them, aud they determined, if possible, to prevent any of them from exercising the powers of Chairman of the County. ■ The head and front of the northern opposition is Mr Mackellar. He came into the Council expecting to he elected Chairman, but fortunately he did not suceed. There were older members of the Council just as well qualified to fill the chair, and he (Mr Macginnis) did not see why they should be thrust aside. He found when he was Chairman that Mr Mackellar was acting as a Councillor and contractor, and in one contract, in which he was int,.rested, a claim for extras was made, and he endeavored, as a Councillor, 'to browbeat the engineer, who had reported un favourably ot the claim. He had the strongest reasons for believing that he was also conneote I with a tender for repai.a to the Macandrew Bridge.and from certain cireumstannes which came to his knowledge, he, as Chairman, gave instructions that the contract should not be signed, as a Councillor is prohibited from having any interest in C maty contracts, and the matter is still lying in abeyance. It was a knowledge of things like these which induced him to refuse any compromise which would have the effect of putting Mr Mackellar in the chair, as the Chairman is possessed of considerable powers, and should be above suspicion, Mr Jolly bears a very good character as a straightforward man; hut from certain occurrences which took place, he believed that he would be a mere puppet iu the hands of Mackellar. One one occasion, tenders were called for a bridge across Firewood Creek, plans and specifications of which were forwarded to Mr Jolly at Cromwell for inspection by contractors. At this time Mr Mackellar was in Dunedin on business, and Mr Jolly sent the plans, etc., down to him ; although being a Councillor he was incapable of tendering. These plans were kept in Dunedin until after the date fixed for tenders to be sent in, and consequently persons who wished to tender, could not examine the papers, and could not tender, and he (Mr Macginnis) caused the date for receiving tenders to be extended. Again, when tenders were invited for a bridge across the Earnscleugh river, hpJ 1 aft instructions that the plans and specifi:fj ous should not be allowed out ot the office; but as soon as he left the chair Mr Jolly wrote to the Clerk, instructing him to forward the plans and specifications to Cromwell which was done, and parties, of course, who called to inspect them could not do so. He could not see his way to vote for such men as Chairman, and would not agree to any compact which would place either of them in that position. It was on these grounds that he advocated the resignation of the members ot the Council, as he hoped that men would be elected who truly represented the County, and not men whose chief aims are for themselvei and who-e solo interests lie in the town of Cromwell; there would then be no difficulty in arranging a settlement on the basis of electing a northern and southern member alternatively, for he did not believe in either party holding a permanent monoply of the position. He was not in favour of separation, and would only agree to it as a last resource ; as a division of the County would necessitate two sets of officers, and would cause a waste of revenue through the extra number of officials required. At the same time the County divided would have no power, whilst as a whole it undoubtedly had; but if the ratepayers send back the same men to take the stand they did formerly, he could see no other solution of the difficulty. Referring to the irregularities m the accounts ot the County Clerk, he said they arose through want of proper supervision. There was no Chairman to look after the affairs, and it was the Treasurer’s duty to do so. Yet what did they find I That daring six

■ V-iiSittWi. . months of the year he had never examined the cash book, rate book, or ledger, and in the cash book there was not a single entry on the credit side for th*> whole of that period. It was the Treasurer’s duty to have examined the honks, and he considered Mr Jolly responsible for what had occurred. With respect to the vote of £6OO to Drummy and Co., te was not afraid to explain his action in the matter. The claim arose in this manner, Drurhmy and Co. put 19 tons of iron work in the Alexandra Bridge over what they had tendered for. Also, in calculation the schedule of prices for the masonry, they nut down 200 yards, at £4 10s per yard, at £450, instead of £9OO, through a clerical error. And the contract for the wire ropes specified that ♦hey were to be twice oiled, but no cables were made at Home of the size required, unless galvanised, and consequently the contractors had to pay the extra cost of gslvanised cables. All he advocated was a matter of ustice to the contractors. The County solicitor said that the contractors had no legal claim against the Council, but he believed that all governing bodies should treat their employees fairly. There was £I9OO of the cont-actor’s money put into the bridge above what they had tendered for, and be believed if the ratepayers understood the nature of the claim they would endorse the action he had taken rather than shield themselves from an equitable claim by a legal technicality. The reason he opposed arbitration was this There was no dispute as to the work done, as the County Engineer admitted that it wa* only a question as to whether the contractors had an equitable claim against the Council, and if the Councillors could not judge of a matter of that kind they were not tit for their position. With regard to financial affairs, bo said the Council some time since found themselves in serious financial difficulties in consequence of the large public works in baud, and the sudden withdrawal of their moeity of the laud fund, which reduced the County revenue at a moment’s notice by £BOOO. The ounty consequently had to study economy, and confine themselves to keeping the toads in repair. He was happy to inform them that now the County was in a good financial position, and in about two months time would have a credit balance in its favour. He knew that there were several small works required for the riding he re* presented, but in consequence of their financial position he did not press for them. He also referred to several works which would be carried out in the riding he represented by taking advantage of the Roads aud Bridges Construction Act. He begged to thank the electors for the invariable courtesy he had received from them. He was placed in a position of honour as a working man, and he considered that it was a great honour that he, being as ha believed the only wo'king man iu the Council, should be elected to the position of Chairman on the occasion of the first vacancy. He said he would be happy to answer any questions which might he put to him. No questions being asked, Mr Pattiaou moved, ami Mr Paget seconded— That this meeting pass a vote of confidence in Mr Macginnis as the rep esentative of Earnscleugh Riding.—Carried unanimously. Mr Macginnis briefly returned thanks, and proposed a vote of thanks to ihe Chairman, which brought tne proceedings to a close. DUNSTAN RIDING. At the nomination on the 2Cth inst, Mr Wm. Fraser was alone nominated, and accordingly declared duly elected. Mr Fraser, who was present, briefly returned thanks for the honour conferred on him, and said he hoped that nothing would transpire during his term of office to cause them to regre having reposed their confidence in him. He would not refer to the wretched past, his desire would be to bury that and to start anew. MATAKANUI RIDING. Mr John Stronaoh and Mr John Cole Chappie were both nominated for this seat - A poll, accordingly, will have to be taken on Saturday, the 30th iast. Both candidates, we understand, have addressed the electors, but no reports of tneir speeches have reached us. From what we can understand the contest will prove a close one as opinion is pretty evenly divided as to which is the most suitable candidate. UPPER RIDINGS. We telegraphed for information respecting these, but we are sorry to say that we were not supplied with it. We have heard, however, that Messrs M'Kellar, Jolly, and Cololough were returned unopposed for the Carriok, Clutha, and Lindis ridings respectively, and Mr M’Carthy wi l ! be unopposed for the Hawea Ridings. The nomination, however, will not take place till to-morrow.