VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1178, 26 September 1884, Page 2

VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tbs ordinary lwo monthly meeting of the Council was held on Wednesday, the 24' hj inst.

Present ; W. Fraser, Esq., Chairman ; and Crs. ‘'aeginnis (Treasurer), Pitches, Maekodar, Tobin. Sheppard, and McCarthy. The minutes of previous meetings were read ana coi.firmed.

Schedules of inward and outward corres P' n l< nee wt-re read.

The Chairman reported on the matters referred to him st List meeting .-—Contract No 118—footbridge at schoolhjiiSe, il.n. nockburn—that on account of the local committee’s bemg unable to guarantee payment of amount L.>o agreed to, he had annulled the contract by giving theoontractoia the sura of LSP for material on the ground and labor expended. Contract No. 122 gravelling approaches Fraser River bridge—that he hid accepted the tender of Mr 11. Harding for L 34 15s Od. Contract No. 12.'!pitching and gravelling Cromwell Rond—ho had accepted the tender of Mesms, Stephens land Edwards for L 24 15. The* report was adopted. The Chairman said difficulties had arisen with regard to the powers of the Council to impound cattle depasturing on the commonages. Ho had accordingly communicated with the Commissioner of Crown Lands, who had in reply issued instructions to Mr Mi es, the Ciown Lands Ranger, to impound all cattle not registered. The result had he n that musters of both Clyde and Cromwell had taken place with fairly favourable results, though there was no doubt many yet had escaped from paying for the runnv g of their cattle. Cr Mackcllnr was pleased to hear the .explanation of the Chairman. Ho was, however, aware that some notorious poachers on the Cromwell commonage hj d na a ot to evade the muster, .whilst many d. serving people were put to inconvenience. ■ A general discus-ion took place between Conhoilloi’s over t.h's question, all agreeing that every effort’ahou d ho directed to make the owners of cattle depasturing on tha commonages pay the fees.

Eventually it was resolved ! —That the rangers of the commonages • be entitled to receive the balance of all fees and fines in connection with mustering on the Citumonages after ex peaces are paid, and that the Crown Lands Ranger be indemnified for any action taken by him in connection with the masterings. The Treisurer’s report showing a total indebtedness of L 1783, and assets, rates in arrears, and for current year was read and received. The report of rangers of Clyde and Cromwell commonages was read and received.— It was T'anlmously resolved that no steps, however they might appear, should be neglerod to make all people pay the fees for depasturing on the commonages. The Engineer’s report on bridges and ferries, was rend and received. Report on roads with the following recommendations was received : That L2O on road Clyde to Lauder Creek be expended ; Cromwell to Wana. a, L4O ; Carrick Range to Upper Neyis, L3O ; Hawea Flat culverts, LlB ; Hawea Flat road, Lls ; 1 India road, L7O ; Little Valley road, L4O ; Spring Vale to Rough Ridge, LlO An adjournment now took place till 7.30 p.m. On resum ng—Engineer’s report on contracts was read and received. Discussion now ensued on contract No. 118. footbridge to Bannockburn school—Cr Mackellar saidhe perfectly agreed with the action of the Chairman in annulling this contract, far the reason that the L3O guaranteed had been refused, but ha would urge upon the Council the necessity of the work. He explained that it was a necessity, as thecbildren, without danger, were unable to cross the (Smith's) creek to rchool without the bridge, for his own part he cared but little if the bridge was never b”ilt,.but be appealed ttt forma pauperis on behalf of ■the children that tile C uncil should do the work. He would explain the school was ■erec-ed in its present position against the wisbes.of the majority of the residents of the Bannockburn, and it now appeared that the minority, the Bannockburn Progress Committee,who had gained the one point, were asking that a bridge should be constructed over the same creek, hut in such a position that it would be of no service to the ■school children Ho would simply decline the request of the Progress Committee and not a oept of the proposition to receive their letter.

Cr. Macgiunis thought that between the Progress Committee, the school committee, and the member for the ri ling, the question ■was getting so mixed that it would be better to shelve the question till something -distinct ami definite as to the site was laid before the Council,

After no end of argument, it was resolved -on the motion of Mr Mackellar—That the construction of a footnndge across Smith’s Creek to the Bannockburn school at a cost not exceeding LOO in addition to the raiterial in hand, heatatonco proceeded with. The letting of tenders for the woik to ha left in the hands of the Chairman, who is to ascertain if the flight selected by the Council and supported by Cr. Mackellar is the rue agreed upon by the majority of the residents of Bannockburn. Engineer's report on votes under Deferred Payment leases was read. Accounts amounting to L were ■passed for payment Application of Mr James Cowan,lessee of Bun 2JI», asking for the assistance of tho Council to enable him to purchase a lease of -a further slice of the Clyde Commonage, to -enable him to make a good line of fence, was read.

The opinion of the Council was that more than .war ever intended had been taken f( bin-the Commonage, .aud that every effort must he :directed against a further curtailing of the area ; an 1 it was resolved that the matter he left in tho bauds of the •Chairman, he hei -g allowed to a range a boundaiy, tut without conceding anything. On the lett--r of Mr Inspector Hickson, Constable Wong Gye was engaged by the Council to hunt up all Chinamen who are mining in the County without miners’ lights.

Account from G. W. Harvey, barrister, if >r opinion given in January, 1832 in refer--ence to the County Chairmanship, was read, and it was resolved that Mr Harvey hj« informed that this Council sees no reason to alter its former decision on the matter.

Mr M. Fitzgerald. Cphir, was appointed Returning Officer of Manuherikia Riding, vice Mr Bishop retired. Tiie Council now adjourned till 9 a.m. ■on the 25th mat.

On resuming the following day, A letter from Mr Jamieson, Quartz Reef Point, to the effect that be was making preparations to utilise his dam th ough which the road ran was read and received.

Letter from Mr W. O. Stewart, Makarora, pointing out the had state of the road from the head of the lake to Makarora Bosh, and asking that the L6O voted two years ngo for this track he expended. Ho explained that the traca was s> bal that ho had taken it upon himself to employ one man for 8 days, and asked for refund. Resolved— That the Engineer he instructed to carry out the woi k for a sum not exceeding LG9, and that Mr Stewart be refunded the money expended by him. The Chairman said his attention had been •drawn to the nccesi y of afoot badge across the Manorburn Creek, there had been a bridge across the creek but it had been washed away. Resolved—That the Engineer he instructed to erect a bridge at a cost not exceeding LlO. Resolved—That the Chairman write to the Cbvernment asking the exact positions of the clerks of Courts as regards their appointments as clerk’s of Licensing Committees.

Resolved—That a slieduls of all roads in the county be prepared between this and the next meeting of the Council. A letler from Captain Raymond asking that this Conned snnport his petition to Parliament for compe is.uim for inventing and successfully introducing into Now Zealand pho>phorised grain for the destruction of rabbits was rea l.

The Chat man said he could not sec that Captain Raymond had a-y claim whatever to the title of inventor, or even for introducing phnsphprised grain. To his own knowledge phosphoris d grain bad been successfully used on the runs of Messrs Bullen aVid others in the Marlboroueh province a long time before Captain Raymond asserts in his memorial that he introduced it (September 1869) ; and he himself had used it previous to then, and finding it to succeed had written a letter to the Dunedin Dai y Time-a, which appeared in August 1860 ; and Mr'B. P. Bailey a week afterwards had publi shed a letter in the Otago (Fitness. He believed in giving credit where it was due, but there was no credit he thought to Captain Raymond.

Cr Macginnis said it was far from being » new invention, as many many years back it used to housed by the hunters in Maniotoba and other parts of America in obtaining- otters and other like animals. The letter was received. •

Tne Chairman said at the last meeting-of the Council . it was resolved that • this Council was in. favour of the abolition of tha ’GMd' Export .Diityd - Ah the question of the abolition of Wo duty tyas now- before Parliament, he thought it would be as wail for a further expression of opinion being

given on tie subject, and that that opinion should be communicated to the members of the district. Though the Council might ha in favour of the abolition, mem here had 1 to look upon the question from a' .revenue point of view. • ’ ! >• -, Cr Macke Hat, while agreeing to the reduction as an abstract question, could-not agree to its loss without soma prevision being mode to replace it from some other source. The duty last year that came to the County was L 1778, and they could not afford to lose such a sum.

Crs Pitches and Sheppard were well assured the miners in their districts would rather pay the duty than have their mining properties taxed,. and thought it would be unwise to stir in the matter.

Cr Maoginuis strongly advocated the abolition, urging that it was unfair to specially tax the mining industry; it should be fostered rather.

After a long discussion, it was resolved— That tbe Chairman send the resolution of last meeting to Messrs Pyke and Fergus, M.H. R.’s, together with a full explanation as to the effect the loss of t e gold duty would have on the County revenue. Letter from the manager of Morven Hills station to the effect that two years ago the Council voted L3O towards building a bridge across the Lmdis River. The bridge had been built by tbe late station manager, but from some cause or other the vote had never been applied for. He now applied for the amount. The Council not seeing its way clear without further looking into the matter, to accede to the request, the letter . was ordered to stand over till next meeting of the Council.

Cr. Tobin moved prayer of K. Stewart’s letter re tlie Upper Punt at Albert,own and the Road therefrom be granted.” Carried.

Cr. M'Carthy moved “That the case of Abernethy and M’Lennan re the penalty imposed upon them in connection with Contract No. !14 be considered with a view to the remission of the penalty.”

This matter having been dealt with in the Engineer’s report, it was withdrawn.

Cr. Mackellar moved in consideration of the offices cf Clerk, Valuator, and Collector being vacant, and with a view to leaving the Council at liberty to re-arrange its departmental expenditure, and if thought desirable to re-arrauge the duties of its officers, the County Engineer be given the necessary notice that his services will be no longer required on and after such date as fixed upon by the Council”

Seconde I by Mr Macgiunis pro forma.Cr Mackellar, in support of his motion, said it was apparent to him, as also to a great many of tho ratepayers, that the time had arrived for a considerable retrenchment in the departmental expenditure. He thought as that now all the chief engi« nccring works in the County .was comp'eTd.and burlitileo-hertha i ordinary road works to hj s done, the services of a professional gentleman of the s’.atua of Mr Mac genrue could very well ho dispensed with. It might .he thought by some that his motion was ia antagonism to Mr Macgeorge, hut he could say it was nothing of the kind, in eed, quite to the Contrary, as both professionally and privately, he had the greatest esteem for him. He was aclu ited iu the true interest of the County with its decreasing revenue in tablin'; his motion. Be was of 'he opinion that a Road Inspector at a salary of L2OO a year could undertake all the works now required. Cr Macginnis, wiiie ae ;on ling tho motion pro forma, said he did so that the subject should be well ventilated. He peifectly agreed that retrenchment was necessary, but could not fall in with Cr. Maekellar’s mode of doing it. His view was in the a nalpamalion of the offices of engineer and clerk, with a cadet to do office woik iu the chief’s absence, which would prove more economical and far more efficient than with a Cle k and a Road Inspector. Cra Pitch's, M’Carthy, Shoppaul, and Tobin were of opinion no change was either necessary or practica de.

The Chairman could not agree with either Crs Mackeilar or Macginnis, hut thought it might tie practicable alter a time in making some change. He pointed our, that it might be necessary eventually to amalgamate the offices, hut it could not he expected the same efficiency as at present would be had. So far as the appointment of an inspector, ahat to his mind must fail, as from time to lime the engineering works would crop up, and then to oht in the special services of an engineer would cost more than under the present system. He observed taat economy without efficiency was no economy.

After further discussion Or. Mao innis moved as an amendment: That the whole question of re arranging the departmental expenditure of the Council and the duties of the offices be adjourned till next meeting, in the meantime no clerk be appointed, and that the Chairman be empowered to employ clerical assistance till next meeting. Seconded by Cr. McCarthy and carried on the voices.

Cr. Macginnis moved “That five pounds (£5) be voted to erect a Footbridge over Com-ov’s Creek to enable children to cross by to school.” Carried.

[We aro necessarily very brief in our report; of the last debate, as the Council did not rise till 9 39.]