VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1117, 28 September 1883, Page 3

VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

The twenty-fifth ordinary meeting of the Council was held in the Offices, Clyde, on Wednesday, the 2G, hj inst , at 2 p.m. Present —Crs W. Fraser (Chairman), D. A. Jolly (Hon. Treasurer), Macginnis, Pilches, Oololough, iilronach, and McCarthy. _ _ ! The minutes of previous meetings were read and confirmed. The schedules of inward and outward correspondence were read. Of the correspondence the following were read, considered, and dealt with : From Leslie Harper, applying for persnivsion to quarry stone near Cromwell Bridge, in the places operated upon by Messrs Grant and Mackellac.' The Engineer was insirueted to deal with the applioaii n, but to take into consideration the rights granted to Messrs Grant and Mackellar. From Colonial Secretary, accompanied by Government Gazette, containing proclamation of boundaries of Duustan Commonage, and the newly-famed bye-laws ; also a map showing the boundaries. Also letters fiom Messrs Attfield and 1 Wesford, and from Mr W. Masters, applying o the Cou’-cii for the right to lea-e 3,1(J0 acres, more or les--, of the area proposed to be taken off the commonage, were read. Suiiie consi leraMe di-enssion took place over the matter, during which tie late action of the Was.e Lands Hoard of r com- i no n ling the Governor to set aside 5900 i aores of the commona ,e as a depasturing lease was reviewed. Crs Macginnis, Jolly, Pitches, and McCarthy, spoke in strong protest against any interference with a privilege that had \ been held by the district for so many years, j each and all while questioning ihe power of i Waste Lands Board or the Government to ■ intoifere with a privilege, which from the 1 length of its existence had virtually become , a prescriptive riaht, held that the carrying I out of the proposition, and so curtail the extent of the commonage, would he inflicting a hardship upon many residents and settlers in the district. Cr Colclough disputed the assertion that it was a commonage, and said the Governmea were at perfect liberty to deal with the land as with any other Crown lands, an 1 thought that as much general benefit would be derived by the area being in the bauds of one holder, as by being a feeding ground for everybody’s cattle. Or Strenach failed to see the benefit of land being set aside as a commonage, it being only used as breeding ground by a few people. Cr Macginnis could not aquiesce in any proposition to lease aUy part of the commonage. The Chairman also entered his protest against the recommendation of the Waste Lands Board. Kventually it was resolved—That Messrs Attfield and Welsford and Mr Masters be informed that this Council have no power to lease any part of the JDuustan Commonage. Proposed by Cr, Macginnis, seconded by ,r. Jolly, that the Chairman convey to the Government and to the Waste Ban 's Board the protest of this Council against the leaving for depasturing purposes any part of the Dunstan Commonage.—Carrie-L . From Mr W. Hou John, carer of the L -g----gate punt, asking for two weeks leave of absence. C ran ted. From Mr Foreman, contractor of the Firewood Creek Bridge; also from Mr Harding, the contractor of new approach to Clyde Bridge, asking for extension of time t > complete their separate contracts. Resolved —That Mr Foreman be granted 15 days, and Mr Harding until the 26th of October. From the Colonial Secretary, pointing out that the seal of the County was not in accordance with Section 10 of the Counties Act. The Chairman was instructed to take the necessary steps to validate the seal. From Mr Howard, Lindis, to the effect that he was summoned for rates due for the year ISS2 85, that he had paid same, but to save unnecessary trouble and ex pen re, lie had paid amount of summons and costs, and now asked the Council to refund amount paid. Resolved—That as the receipt for the amount iii question is still in the receipt hook, this Council cannot consider the application for a refund. From Mr A. A. Oliver, asking the , C Hindi to close the old road, Clyde to Alexandra, as it runs through parts of the sections lately grained to him. It was pointed out by Cr. Macginnis that to go through the whole of the forms as embodied in the Public Works Act fo legally close the road, was an i xpensivo ami tedious process, and suggested that as the road in question would never be used, Mr Oliver had better fence it in. After discussion, it was resolved—That this Council has no objection to tho road being closed, provided that Mr Oliver de fray the cost. From Mr F. J. Wilson, stating that the appeal case, Jamieson against the County

(:ancellation of dam certificate at Quartz Roaf Point), was decided against the' Council. ’■ ll l The Engineer stated that this dam was right in the line of the new Quartz Reef Point road, and since the decision of the District Court, Jamieson, the owner, had built t, stone wall and ditch right across the mad. and thus obstructed the traffic. He, how r ever, to obviate the difficulty, had put mi men to make a deviation of the road. Hr thought the better plan would be to proceed against Jamieson under the Public Works Act for obstructing the road. Resolved—That tire action of the Engineer in making the deviation be agreed to. Cr. Pitches asked what action, if any, was being taken to .collect hawkers’ license fees. The Clerk said two applications, accompanied by 1.2 10s each, had been made to , him by letter for licenses, and that ho had intimated both parties that a license could not issue unless the fee of L 5 was paid. The whole question of collecting and inspecting the licenses was discussed eventua’ingin the understanding that the Chair man vould interview the Inspector of Police and see if the police throughout the County would undertake the inspectorship. The Chairman said of the matters relegated to him at the last meeting, he begged to report—That the several small accounts that, were in dispute he had settled, having made himself satisfied of their correctness ; that he had settle I with .Mr Olds, the late contractor for destroying the rabbits on the Cromwell Commonage, by taking from him 5500 skins, and had also paid him the sum of Eli Os 61, money duo to Hm for rjepasturing fees on the Cromwell Commonage ; that he Rad arranged with Mr Forrest to look after the Alexandra punt, and that he had obtained a deed from Mr Drummy, the contractor of Alexandra Bridge, that on receipt of the sum of L6OO he would hold the Council free from any further claims for extras.—The report was received. Letter from Mr Drummy embodying a claim for Lsl 9s Bd, this was an item for interest passed i y tne Council some months since, but foi which a voucher was never made out; also fqr L 135 2s 3d, interest on the last instalment of contract price, that wad not p!dd on due date, was here laid on the table and read. The Chairman here entered into a long expla i.ation, and went into the mb u o details of the history of the whole contract, concluding by expressing the opinion that the latter claim was undoubtedly a just one, but he could not say ah >ut the oue for LSI 9s Bd. The Council then adjourned till 7.30. On resuming, the Council resolved itself into a committee of the whole to consider the claim of Mr Drummy for interest. Cr Pitches said when the L6OO vote was passed, it was his distinct understanding that it was in full o f all demands, inolu-■ mg interest; but after hearing the e’eir and distinct explanation of the Churm.u, for which he was entitled the thanks of the Council, he came to see that the claim for interest is a genuine one, and accordingly would propose that the amounts claimed be paid. A long and acrimonious discussion ensued, it being pretty generally admitted that whie the contractors had succeeded in draining the County pretty effectually of every conceivable charge they could make, the Council could not see their way out nf | the present demand, and in the hope that the 1 ist was heard of Contract 52, it was a re- I to pay the claimant the sum of LiSG. i he Engineer’s report on roads and cont.MO a was read and the Engineer was insrruc f ed• to make good the approach to Q la’-tz Point r. al at the Cromwell end, and to expend the sum of L 75 on road Doper Lindis. The report on bridgr s and ferries was read, after which a letter signed by the Secretary of the Hawea Progress Committee, containing i lequest that the iron punt 1 purchased at the last meeting be substi- , toted for the one at the Luggate ; also a 1 i a petition from the residents of the town ; and district of Cromwell, praying that the iron punt he placed at the Lowburn, a j lot of argument as to the state of the various punts ens-’cd, during which it transj pired that the Lowburn punt was in a very unsafe state. Cr. Cololough strongly urged that the prayer of his petition be given effect to, for the following reasons :—lst , that the present punt is unsafe for tbe traffic; 2n1., that the amount of traffic, as proved by the returns, was greater than on both the other punts put together ; 3rd., that if a punt was established at the Lowburn, the Education Board would erect a school in the district. Cr. McCarthy strongly protested against what would undoubtedly be the best punt on the river being placed at any other site than the Luggate. He perfectly agreed with Cr. Golclough that up to the present time the traffic at the Lowburn punt was very great, hut on the opening of the new road, which could not he delayed very long, the piinciple part of the traffic would pass *he Lowburn an I go tbe direct road. So far as the Luggate traffic, that, with settlement, would increase daily, and moreover, u would be mainly heavy traffic going to and f.o the Hour mill, and accordingly a strong and substantial punt was required. After further consideration, it was resolved that the question of moving the punt be deferred till next meeting. The meeting then adjourned till 10 a.m. on the 27th inst. On resuming on the 27th, the same Councillors were in attendance. The list of applications to depasture cattle on the Cromwell Commonage was read and agreed to. At the request of Or Cololough, the two notices of motion standing on the Order Paper of the last meeting in bis name, and which lapsed iu cons 1 quence of bis perforced absence through illness, were agreed to he dealt with at this meeting. Cr. Jolly proposed that the unpaid rates for the years 1877-8 9 and 80, be struck out as irrecoverable. He stated that they were mostly elite by Chinamen, who could not be found, and explained the accounts standing open created not only an amount of extra clerical work, but were a sourceof annoyance to the auditor, who suggested that they lie struck out. The total amount was only some L3O odd.—Agreed to. Cr Cololough asked if it was intended to take any steps to rectify the many errors that existed in the voters’ roll of the County. He said from his own knowledge there were many owners of properties in his riding whose names were omitted ; not only was the County thus done out of the rates, but the property holder of his vote. He thought at the sitting of the Relief Court some representative of the County should be present to have all the names that is known to be , omitted from the roll being put on. Cr Jolly said it was now very clear that the Council had made a mistake in 1 agreeing to the Government Valuation. To his knowledge many mining propel ties (which by tbe Counties Act are excluded from rating) were now rated, and the payment of rates would be contested, and moreover any amount of mineis’ dwellings i which are rateable were omitted. It was resolved that the Chairman take

such stops as be may think necessary to remedy the defect Cr. Strouach asked wh it steps it was hi tended to take to collect die rat. s in the outdlstricts./, . The ChaPman i" reply siyl that in nooordanee Wi hj previous resolution, the Clerk would vi-it each district, oue notice of which would b • given, Cr. Jolly suggested that all the punts in the County be provided with one. life buoy. Agreed to. Cr. Mackel’ar here took his ■m it. Or. Cololough, l.y lott ~ asked that his name bo withdraw ! from the office of signing cheques. Agreed t>, and Cr. Macgimiis’s name was substituted. The Treasurer brought up his financial statement, which showed that consid ring all floating vouchers as paid, there was aii overdraft of L 1363 12s lOd, and,that ou up-! finished contracts ' tnore was due LIO4O 17s 6d. The report of the Finance Committee iecommending payment of accounts amounting to L 173 2s Id, was read and received. The following motions on the Order Paper were dealt with : ■ ■ Or. Stronnch moved sum of Forty Bounds sterling he voted for repairing the road from Tinkers Main Road to Upper Drybread ” A greed to. Cr. Pitches moved—“lst. That the hours of sitting to wit; if the Council meet at Twelve o’clock, at one o’clock the Chairman, without untion, declaies the Council adjourned until half past two o’clock. 2nd. And again at the hour of six he declares the Council adjourned until half-past seven. 3rd. At eleven o’clock that no fresh business be taken into consideration without the consent of the whole of the Council.” Lost. Cr. Pitches moved honorarium of tin? Chairman for the current year be fixed at the rate of £l5O per annum.”- Carried. The Connell adjourned till 2.30. On resuming, the Chairman stated that Mr Forsyh, the patentee of a “ rabbit, externii ator,” was in the district, and purposed that afternoon operating with his patent oa Earnsekugh run, and as the question of rabbit-extermination was one of more than o deary interest he would suggest that the Council adjonrn so as to have an opportunity of witnessing the trial. He furdier stated, as it would be impossible to witness Mr Forsyth’s trial of his machines and on their return to pet throu :h the order paper that same evening, he would suggest that the Council stami adj mined till Wednesday, the 10th of October. After some slight discussion the Council adjourned accordingly.