VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1108, 27 July 1883, Page 2

VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

An adjourned spam! meeting of the Council was hold at noon, on Wednesday, the 25th inst., in the County Offices, Clyde. Present—Crs Pitches, Fiaser, Macginnis, Stronacb, Mackellar, Jolly, and McOanby. The Clerk took the chair, and explained that the object of the meeting was the election of a Chairman. A dist net understanding being arrired at that the Council was legally sitting and was competent to carry on the business of the election of Chairman, which took some time, it was agreed that the Council adjourn till 2.50 p.m. On resuming at 2.30, Cr Mackellar proposed, and Cr Pitches seconded, that Ci Fraser take the position of Acting-Chairman. Cr Fraser said, whilst acknowledging the compliment, he thought that as Cr Macginnis had occuoied the position of (last) Chairman the position was due to him. The proposition was put and carried. Cr Fraser then took the chair, and said the business of the meeting was to elect a permanent Chairman. Cr Pitches rose and said : Cr Fraser being without dissent voted as ActingChairman, it might fairly bs assumed he had the confidence of the whole Council. He, accordingly, would with great pleasure, propose him as permanent Chairman. It was to be remembered that though Cr Fraser was no new member of the Council, as he was amongst the first of the Councillors, and assisted in the initiation of the County, system, he yet was a stranger to the unhappy differences that had of late been so prominent at their meetings. He was fully assured that if Cr Fraser was selected as their Chairman no one would have cause to regret of their choice. Cr Stronach seconded the nomination. Cr Mackellar proposed Cr McCarthy as permanent Chairman, seconded by Cr Jolly. Cr. Mackellar svd, though he did not expect Ins motion would be accepted, it a* a iv raie would be a wiilkm protest on the records of the Council ihit the northern party had not newi fairly met. The feeling in the northern ridings was that the office should be a rolling one, and hj • felt assured by the southern members refusin' to accede to such a proposition the relative position between the two ends of County, in face ot the fact of them electing a Chairman, would not he in the least altered, and he, could say but for the illness of Cr Colclough, which kept him away, the s one dead lock would as of old exist. I'he argument of new Wood be ng impoi ted bad no weight, as Cr McCarthy was in every sense of the word cap 'hie to fill the office with credit to himself and the County. Cr Pitches protested against it going abroad that the northern members we e met in any unfiiendly feeling. Cr Jolly was *orry to say he could not support the nnmina'ion of Cr Fraser r.s despite whatever Cr Pitches might say. He was of opinion the northern members were not met in the sane rpiiit as they would have felt dispose! to have met the southern members under similar circumstances, and he thought it a great pity the compromise of making the position a rolling one had not been met in the same spirit in which it was made Cr Fraser said before putting cither proposition he desired to ex' lain that the c'def reason of his dissen ing to the P* was, that it could be of no a m tit to the County, to the contrary, it would only have the effect of nine embittering the feeling that had taken root. Rcgar ing North and South he bored the last was heard of it, and that in f iture individual ridings would be referred to and not North and South, he deemed it a great p ; ty that the Council could not manage its affairs as other public bodies without a bittern’s* of feeling. The motion that Cr. Fra-* he elected permanent Chairman was then put and declared carried by 4 to 3 the Chairman said : In giving his vote in favor of himself he was but acting as his constituents would have him. He desire! to thank the Council for placing him in the position, the most of them had known him a long time, and he I "listed that in the conducting of the office nothing would transpire to cause a withdrawal of the confidence reposed in him. Cr Mackellar said he should be only too happy in assis'ing the Chairman Schedules of inward and outward correspondence was read, and of the inward the following we e considered and ordered upon : —From the Colonial Secretary, to the effect that the Government do "ot agree with the proposed action of the Council to deprive holders of privileges under the Mines Act, from running cattle on the Clyde an'* Cromwell commonages free, and that the Government refuse to Gazette the proposed amended Depasturing Regn'ations without clauses giving that right were embodied.

A somewhat lengthy discussion ensued, during which it, transpired that ag there was a probabdi’y of no revenue being derived from tho commonages unless the clauses referred to by the Government were embodied in tho regulations. It was resolved : Tin* the Chairman he authoris'd to have the re* gelations amended in accordance with he Government suggestions, and to take such steps os to make them legal.

Balance sheets for the half years eiinwg 30cb September. 1782, the 31st March, 1883" aso 1. 1 the year ending March 31st, 1883 ; a «n the statement of estimated receipts anu expenditure for the year ending3lst March, 1884 ; having been r.ad and received, and i. having been stated that the valuation of 1 he propel ty in the f'ounty according to the nil prepared by the Propoit'- Tax Commissioners amounted to L 748 239, it waa proposed ami earned that the Council make, and levy a rate of J in the pound. (ForalTthe proceeding papers we refer our readers to advertisements in another cduran). The Council then adjourned till 7.30. p.m. On resuming at 7.30. From Secretary Public Works to effect that Government could not undertake the building of the Cromwell Bridge. The work sh uld be cniUw'ied in the applications under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act—Resolved, that Mr V. Pyke and Mr Fergus, M. H, R ’S, be requested to represent to the Government that the work is a truly colonial one, and that they endeavour to obtain a vote on tho estimates 'or same. From Mr W Olds, ranger of Gromwell Commonage, demanding a settlement of his account for the destruction of rabbits.— Left in the hands of the Chairman to de d with. From Messrs Dmmmy and Co., informing the Counoil that the voucher issued to them for I COO as final settlement of contra -t, Alexandra Bridge, had been returned Ids! o mred. Cr Mackollar proposed that the consideration of the letter be held over till No. 1 mo ion on ihe order paper came up. Cr Macginnis said: To defer the question in the face of a legal opinion that the amount had to bo paid was but a waste of time. Cr Stron >oh supported the deferring of the question. Cr Macginnis here raised the question ■is to legahtv of order paper, and whether fie nrfee of motion, to have been consi lered on 23 d May, could now be dealt with as this was not an adjourned meeting. Cr Stronach, in reply, said he was somewhat surprised when he first saw the present order paper, thinking that fresh notices of motions should have been given. I he Chairman ruled, that as this meeting was not an a.ljourned meeting, and as the meeting of 23rd May lapsed, the motions, accordingly, lapsed, Cr Mackellar then withdrew his motion. Cr Macginnis proposed that the question he deferred till to-morrow ; the Chairman in the meantime to consult with the County Solicitor on the question—seconded by Cr Pitches and carried. From Clyde Athenaeum, asking for a donation—Resolved, that all rates due to M.rcli 31, 1883, be remitted. From Mesa s Dooley and MoKersoy, asking the Council to purchase the Alexandra punt and plant at price, L2o9—Agreed to, and to be removed to Albert Town, From Steam Dredging Co., asking for expenditure of small sum on lower crossing of Fraser river-Referred to Engineer. From Mr J Drumniy, asking as he was not able to get a sight of plans and specifications of Fraser river bridge, that time for rec iving tenders be extended—Resolved, that Mr Drummy be informed that as no meeting of Council had taken place since his letterjjjwas written ; the subject matter of his letter cannot be taken into consideration. From Mr W. Foreman, asking for extension of time for comp etion of contract of Firewood Creek Bridge. Extended three months. From Mr P. Cahill and Co., tenderers for contract No 93, Cromwell to Quarts Reef Point, claiming L 27 through slip of retaining wall. After the Engineer was consulted it was decided not to agree to the request. Fiona Chief Surveyor, rg survey of roads througn new bio ks of land. Referred to the Engineer to report. From W. Masteia, asking for payment of expenses incurred L2 Ss in attending the U. M. Court at the instigation of the Conn cil. Agr- ed to, . From McConnochie and Williams, saying that they had ma le an error in their calculations of material for bridge over the Fraser River to the extent of L2O Si, and asking that wh-n tenders were opened te lessen the amount of their tender by that sum, Übj i-ted to, as such a course would lie establishing a bad precedent From Property Tax Commissioner, accompanied by valuation rolls. From Solicitor to Council, saying that judgment had been obtained against Mr W. Harrison for L 3 ' rates due ; but there was n>• tf -cte to levy on. Held over for further conti location. From Mr T. H. Dunn, threatening the Cierl; with an ac ion for not producing and showin him the original cash book. Fha Cl-rk said he bad already received a summons an-* had handed same to County Solicite , Res dved :—That the Council prot ct ihe Cork l!i“olved : —That the donations to the Ciom veil an I Clyde hospitals be at once psso-.l foi ptynlent. Tti 'IT" k «-.v instructed to in future lay on the table -f tii« Council a list of unpaid rat> s l he E lojneer’a report on the Clyde Water snpp y waartad. Ch .irman ordered to rep n-t Engineer’s report on contract No 9 read— Agreed that |i-natty on contractor P. Hill, tor non completion of contract in stipulated time, be remitted. Engineer’s report on Bridges and Ferries was read -And recommendation that font bri go over Ben !igo Creek at cost of L 35, be held over iil next meeting. Reports on roads read—And recommendsions as follows agreed to : L2O on rna i Tinkers to Lauder. L 5 ion indn rod opposite Mt. Pisa. 1.50 on road Co-operative store to Angel’s In reply to question, the Eugineei stated that all daymen kept a diary of each days proceedings. The Clerk said : That the sum of LIS 092 was applied for under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act. Ii being now 1 a.m. the Council adjourned till 10.30 a.m. next day. Thursday, 26th duty. On resuming at half-past ten, the same Councillors in attendance, A long and somewhat acrimonious discussion took place on the question of Mr J. Drummy’s letter, eventuating in the resolution—That tho opinion of Mr F. Chapman, snlici'or, Dnnelin, be obtained, and that Mr F. J. Wilson, the Countv , Solicitor, he instructed to wire down to him the case. Cr Jolly said the system adopted for some time past by the Council in respect to S'-coimt* had been 'ax, and he would propose that a Finance Committee, consisting of Crs. Macginnis, Stronach, and the mover, to examine all accounts before they were laid before the Coumil. Cr. Stoonach said a good deal of niiann Vstanding was abroad respecting the disposal of the moiety of the deferred pivment land rents, anf would ask tho amounts that had b- en received trom that . source.

On reference to the teturns from the Colonial Treasurer’s Otiice, dated March 3, 1883, it was ascertained that the to al amount received from that source was L 287 17s 7d. and that LI 12 6s 61 was then due. L 25 3s of which was due on 'he blocks in the lower end of the County, and LB7 3s 81 on blocks in the upper ridings. It was also explained that the tenders ad vertised for in the Hawea Blocks covered the amount above referred to. Or McCarthy asked if main roads, hounding blocks, were treated as roids within same ? He said it was the gei tral opinion in his riding that the money should be expended on what might be termed the district roads, and that the main roads should be dealt with out of ordinary revenue. A number of accounts were laid on the table, examined, and passed for payment The Conncil then adjourned far dinner, on resuming at 2 30. p.m., Cr McCarthy said : He would ask leave of the Council to move—That the Coloni; 1 Sjere'ary be reqiested to so amend the Counties Act as to provide for the election of Coonty Chairmen by the ratepayers where the number of Councillors was even, and that Mr Vincent Pyke and Mr T. Fe.« gus, M. H.R.’s, be asked to give their assistahee in the direction. He said tho question was of great importance, and bo Imped it would receive the support of one and all. Some Councillors demurred to the proposition being dealt with so hurriedly and without notice of motion, others supported the suspension of the standing orders to allow of the subject matter being discussed, they arguing that if it were left till the next meeting it might as well stand over for a year, as the present session would then ha over. Consideration deferred till a later stage of the proceedings The Council went into Commiteee to (•wider tenders, and on resuming, the following report was read and received That the following tenders be accepted : Contract 105, Richard Harding ; do JOS, . M'Connochie and Williams; do 107, F. Fox ; do 108, 0. Wade ; do 109, P , M*Nulty ; do 110, Henderson and Fox. Contract No. 100, that the Engineer be empowered to have the work done up to (he amount of his estimate. Vote of L2O petty cash wag voted. The Chairman said the next duty was to elect a Treasurer. Crs. Jolly and Colclcngh were respectively nominated, and eventually Cr. Jolly was duly elected. The opinion of Mr F. Chapman, solicitor, on the question rt Crummy’s cheque, was now read, and after a long discussion, during which the whole history of the vote was gone into (which by this time is well known to County ratepayers, it was re» dvedi on the motion of Cr. Jolly,seconded by Cr. Stronach, that the late Chairman, having committed the Council to the vote by signing and handing to MrOrummya voucher tor the sum of £6OO, and as the opinions of both Mr F. J. Wilson, the County Solicitor, and Mr F. Chapman, of Dunedin, are that the Council is liable for the amount, that the Chairman be owtrnoted to pay the sum as in fall of all demands in connection with Contract N0.52. The Council was then adjourned till 8 p.m. On resuming, The C airman read the Financial Statement, which showed that atier payment of liabilities to date there wool I be a de'it balance of L 2252 Bs 61 —Resolved, that tho Chairman bo embowered to arrange with th- Bank of New Zen’and about the voucher re Crummy and Co Resolved, that Cr I o dough, in conjunction with the Chairman and Treasurer, sign cheques. Return of number of cattle applied to bo depastured on the eommonagee was ie 1 1 and received. The application of Mr Jas. Smith, Bannockburn, for the use of 'he C mnty boring rola, was agreed.to on tbs usual te'ms. I" reply to qiies ion by Cr Mro.ineh. the Cbai’mao sud he would see that in future returns of all stock impounded in the County pounds were placed on the ttableResl ed : Tint it bo an order, to the Clerk that in future no vouchor leave his Han Is till the cheques fur same are re.urued to him. Cr. McCarthy’s motion was brought up, but was ruled our of ord*r. All the no 1 ici# of motion on th« drier Paper to have been considered on 23rd May were thrown out. X e notices of motion were now dealt with. By Cr. Pitehes That the Engineer lie instructed to repair road between ghe fences near B etter’s > lack-moths shop, Ida Valley, not to exceed Lls ; seconde I by Cr Mao kellar an carrie I. Cr Macginnis moved, mid Cr. Pitches seconded—That the Council make e qniries as to whether the tender ol Donald Hut'nn for Contract, rep irs to Cromwell Bridge, and the tender of Patrick Thomas for Conti act No. 103, repairs to Macandrew Bridge' 1 are dummy tenders or nor. and with that view they proceed—lst. To ex uuine all documents in the possession of the Council relating to the tenders and contracts. 2nd. To examine the Engineer and all documents in his pv , session which might throw light onj>’ 1 matter. 3rd. That Donald Hutvon and Patrick Thomas, if they desire, or any other person who may be able to enlighten the Council be also examined, and should the enquiiy go to show that Donald Hutton was not the real tenderer for Contract No. 96, hut a dummy, or that Patrick Thomas is not the real tenderer for Contract No. 103, hut a dummy; the Council then proceed Donald Hutton and Patrick Thomas. 2nd. With the real tenderer, who ever he may be. 3rd With the contracts in such manner as they (.he Council) may deem fit. It being nearly 10 p.m. before this motion was brought forward our reporter waa compelled to leave before the debate commenced. Before going to Press, we howe ever learnt, that the motion was carried, and that Cr Colclough's motions, in consequence of his absence, were held over till the next meeting.