VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL

Dunstan Times, Issue 1161, 30 May 1884, Page 3

VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL

The Statutory meeting of the Council wns held in the Council Chamber, Clyde, ■on Wednesday, the 2Sth inst. Present; W. Fraser, Esq., Chairman; -and Crs. M’Carthy, Macginnis, Pitches, and Sheppard. The audited balance sheet for the year ■ending March 31st, 1884 ; also statement of assets and liahiliti. 3 were laid on the table, and after being read were adopted. The Ordinary meeting was then held, the •same Councillor’s in attendance. The minutes of previous meeting were real and confirmed. o che tul“6 ofiuwatd and outward corresjinmlo' ce were read The following inward correspondence was bronchi up for consideration : Fom Messrs Sievewright and Stout •solicitors. Pm eli , • n boha'f of the renrewn'mires of the la'e Mr W. Tennant, who met his dea hj whilst oro<s'ng the Tinker's ■Sind c Channel, claiming the sum of L‘2s'l •as compensat ion for the death of the said M r Tennant.

M r F. J. Wilson, solicitor for the county, was : n attendance. The council went into oonunit'ee to con■K'der he letter, and on resumin'.', reported that t,lie council fad to recognUe any reHions'bility >n consequence of the fatal no•c lent tothe I .te Mr IVmtant. and instruct the Chairman to d-fend any ■■•linn that may be I n ur ln, againrt the council in connection with same.

Kom Mr Colnmh Dalton, of Lagoon Valley. Hnwea, complaining of amount, of looney deposited hv him wi'h a. tender had pot been returned.

Explanations ensued, and the Clerk slated that according to usual custom he had enclosed in a letter to Mr Dalton the identical monies received, viz : one LSnote, two LI notes and 5s wo th of stamns, hut had not regi-t rod tho letter. He also stated that on receipt < f Mr Dalton’s lettei he had communicated with the postal authorities, also with the police, hut bad ■obtained no satisfaction. Tho (limi-man said he was, previous to the incident mcuring. quite ignorant of the system adopted with these depo-it monies, and had suggested that in future tt.ey bo placed to a separate account in the bank and drawn noon by cheque. Cr Maekellar here took his seat, and after hearing t • nature of the d’senssion said, t« could scarce give the Clerk ere lit for posting monies without registering the letter *fter considerable discussion, during which the system hitherto adopted tor dealing with these deposit monies was generally reprobated, and it being very generally admitted that the council was liable for the amount lost. It was resolved to leave the matter in the hands of the Chairman. From residents of Lagoon Valley, Hawea, asking that the council should close the -oad through the valley. In support Cr. M’Carthy said the road ■was a source of great annoyance and inconvenience to all the settlers in the valley, and as everyone had a trout ge to the main road, no one could complain if the mad was closed, moreover he said the road was not surveyed, but was merely taken out of each section it passed through. The council failed to see it hail any power in the matter, but agreed that the Chairm m should make every enquiry an I report to the next meeting. From Mr W. W, lones, throwing up rangershtp of Cromwell commonage and dog tax collector, and suggesting that Mr H. S. Mackay he appointed in his st. ad on same terms. —Agreed to. From Minister of Public Works re the rebuilding Cromwell Bridge, to. the effect that if the council was willing to take advantage of Section 30 of the Roads and Bridges Construction Act. application would have to be made by 30th June. The council objected to borrow money from the (Tovemmerit and take the sole responsihili yof replacing the present structure by a new one, and concluded that the Chairman should put himself in communication with the members for Vincent and Lakes, with a view of obtaining a vote by Parliament, for the work.

It was most unhesitatingly and decidedly sta’ed that sooner than that the council should undertake the responsibility, that the bridge be closed against heavy traffic at onee.

From Government re the allocation of monies under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act to tlm council.

From W. Foreman, contractor of the bridge across Frewood Creek, asking for payment for tarring same. Agreed to grant LlO for same.

Cr M’Carthy asked if the votes of last Parliament for LISOO for road works Upper Clntha, and LIOOO lander Block, lapsed on •-count of rot being applied for. It wa» understood that application would he made for the sums to be reinstated on the estimates of coming session.

The Chairman stated there -were several amounts for rates in arrear that would never now he paid, and in connection with the late cle’k’s deficiencies, that was a' repeated ann constant source of annoyance to all the officers, and he would ask that permission be granted the Clerk to write them off.-Granted. ■ The' Chairman was empowered to ask IVJr Inspector Hickson to nomina'e -officers as inspectors under the Adulteration Prevention Act ■ The question arose as to the non-elections of licencing committee’s this year. The Chairman explained that an irregularity had existed with regard to past elections and that same had not been discovered till it was too late this year to remedy it. consequently the old committee remained in office till the appointment of their successors. ■ A The council adjourned till /.30. On resuming at 8 p.m., the Order Paper was dealt with. Cr. Pitches moved—That the prayer of the petition of the residents of Tiger Hill be granted, and that the Engineer bo instructed to have the road repaired at a coat not exceeding L4O. Cr. Maeginnis suggested that a definite sum should be fixed, there were plenty of other bad roads in the county and but little money-for the purpose. Cr. Pitches to move—That the prayer of residents in Ida Valley for the proclaiming of the road through Ida Valley a main road under “The Roads and Bridges Construction Act,” be granted. This motion created a great deal of discussion, the question raised being would the motion involve the council in any liabilities, and moreover wculd it effect the adjoining county of Maniototo. Eventually it was agreed that the Chairman ascertain'if the county of Man ototo object to the road being declared a main road. At a later stage of the meeting it was discovered that the road was already proclaimed a main road. The motion accordingly was wi'hdrawn by cons°nt, Cr. McCarthy moved—That the Engineer be instructed to form a portion of the road from Dowling’s Hotel to Albert Town, between Sections 8-k 24,810ck V. Carried. Cr. McCarthy moved—That the sum of LSO I e voted towards repairing road leading into Bush Gully, east side of Lake Hawea. Opposed on the ground that it was a work that should be undertaken by private enterprise, and lost. By consent, Cr. Sheppard moved that the petition presented by the late Cr. Stronaeh praying that the council vote the sum of LSO towards the destruction of the “ keas,” in consideration of the Govern ment voting a similar amount, After discussion it was looked upon that the council bad no right to interfere in the matter, at the same time, how-ver, thought that the council'as a public body might bring ihe matter under the attention of the Government, and urge upon them granting relief.

The Engineer’s reports on contracts, roads, hridgts, and ferries, were read. Re* garding BannooKburn foot bridge, the Engineer reporte I tha r "race the tender was let, a party of miner’s had commenced working close to the selected site, and in consequence an extra expense of some L3O would he necessary-. Question adjourned till the 29th inst., when Or. Mackellar would be present. On suggestion of Cr Maoginniss it was decided to revert to the system of advertising all unsuccessful tenders. In reply to Cr. Macginnis the Engineoi explained that tenders was not called for the approaches to bander Creek Bridge as agreed upon at. last meeting, as that notes ply had been received from Maniototo council who had to pay a proportion of cost of game.

Resolved; That Chairman telegranh to Maniotoio council, and time question bedes fened till to. morrow 29th in-t. R, a dve.l ; rhit Ihe fo lowing sums as recommended in report on roads be expende 1. Clvde to ParseH’s ... ... L2O Blacks to t a Valloy 20 Cromwell to Nevis ... ... 40 Burnt Cottage Road .. 35 The recommendation that L6O be expended on road head of Wauaka was negatived. The Engineer’s report on tin. allocation of monies to he anplie.d f«r under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act as follows, was read : Cyif to Lauder Creek ... LH72 (’hat,to Creek Bridge ... 821 Alexandra+o Boundary ... 1219 Cromwell to Hawea ... 1650 Cromwell to Nevis., ... 960 Cromwell to Haast Pass ... 54! Cromwell to Clyde ... 472 L 6666 Tfc was explained that of this amount L 5 100 would he expected from the Cove nmem, and L 1666 would be derived from Cru ty revenue. The meeting then adjourned till 9.30 a.m. on the 29th inst.

On resuming on the 29th inst. at 10 a m., Crs. \V. Fraser, Chairman ; Maeginms, M’Carthy, Pitches, Maekellar, and Sheppard in attendance. The Valuation - ' roll for the county was laid on the table, and it being explained by the Chairman that as at present it was most informal, insomuch that a great number of property holders were not empanelled. After a careful perusal of the rolls of each rilling, it was resolved that the Chairman he empowered to place on the roll the names of all persons who to him was represented as being qualified to be enrolled. It being imderstoon that all applications must be lodged before the Ist of June.

Mr Joseph Reston was appointed returning officer for Lmdis riding vice Mr Johnson, deceased.

Tite Treasurer brought up his statement showing that at present the total liabilities of the county was L 1537. Ho exclni ed that during the past year, in spite of tho fact that the estimated revenue had fallen short fully LI 00, principally through the decrease in goldfields revenue, the county has decreased their indebtedness by nearly L9OO.

Cr. Maekellar drew attention to complaints that were abroad respecting the delay in payment of county accounts. He said he had not the slightest donbt bnt that the Treasurer did his best, yet at the same time the complaint existed, and he thought it would be better to increase the county’s indebtedness to the hanks, rather than put individuals to inconvenience.

It was explained that by the system adopted it was impossible to pay up within a month or so of the due date of the accounts. bnt as that system ensured a correctness of accounts it were better that it should be continued rather than run undue risks. Tho Council went mto Committee to consider tenders, and on resuming business ro’ orted that the sue?"ssfni tender for Contract No. 119 was Mr T. M’Nulty ; and tor Contract No. 106 J. Marshall.

The Chairman stated in reply that app!i» cation had heen made for rates dne under “The Cmwn Lands Batina Act.” It was resolved —That tenders he called at once for'construction n! road Alexandra to Boundary, and also for approaches to Lander Creek Bridge ; and that the Chairman and Treasurer be empowered to deal with same. The Council then dissolved.