VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1282, 24 September 1886, Page 3

VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

K •—* flie usual two-monthly meeting of the 1 Council was held in the County Offices, Clyde, on We inesday, the 22nd inst. Present: W. Fraser, Rsq, Chairman ; and Crs Pitches, Howell, Sheppard, Butler, and McCarthy. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. Schedules of inward and outward correspondence were read, and the following were ordered upon:— To the Colonial Secretary, asking for the appointment of Mr C. Shaw, Rabbit Inspector, as Crown Lands Ranger and Inspector of Brands tor Vincent County. The reply was to the effect that the question of Crown Lands Ranger would be referred to the Minister of Lands. As to the Inspector of Brands, the Government were averse to increase the number of districts, and could not entertain the proposal. The Chairman was instructed to write farther pointing out the very great hardship that was inflicted on people in the county to have to travel to Queenstown for all information they may require relative to brands. To Mr James Holt, to the effect that un» less he accepted the offer of the Council in settlement of amount in dispute for supply of water to the town of Clyde by this day of meeting, that the offer woul 1 be withdrawn. In reply. Mr Holt sent in an account for LI 50, and demanding payment. Resolved—That the offer contained in letter to Mr Holt be withdrawn. From Mr F. J. Wilson, resigning his position as solicitor to the Council, and suggesting the appointment of Mr Robert Gilkison as his successor. At a later stage of the meeting, Mr Gilkison was appointed county solicitor From Under-Secietary, Mr G. S Cooper, to the effect that Sections 5 and 6 of the Impounding Act, 1884, have been gazetted ns being in force in Vincent County. From Messrs Featherstone and Steel, making application for balance due on contracts on Teviot road, L3O, and LI 10s for extras, they averring that the delay of time was by the orders of the overseer, who stated that he would be answerable for all lost time. Resolved—That provided the allegations re the Inspector are correct the amount claimed be paid. From Mr Colamb Dalton, asking for refund of deposit on contract be had refused to take up, as he had tendered under misapprehension. The Council agreed that there was no attempt to defraud, and according agreed to request. From M> Davidson, maker of a rat filling machine, soliciting an order for one or more of his machines. Resolved —That the Chairman order one as a trial if he thinks it at all suitable for the purpose. From Mr Gunion, asking that road from Manuherikia to Little Valley be put in repair. Resolved—That a sum not to exceed L2O be expended on the road. It was suggested that a contract be let to Mr Gunion to keep this road in repair. From Mr Barren, complaining of conduct of men employed in that part of the County. The question was referred to the Engineer. The Chairman said he had written letters to the Government re vote for prospecting, and that tfce question was still under consideration. From Constable Rasmussen, Inspector of slaughterhouses, Clyde, asking the Council to fix the fee for inspecting. Resolved—That the charges as laid down - by the Act, viz—$d for small cattle, and 3d for largo cattle be adopted. It was further resolved—That all appli-

cations for slaughtering licences, or for renewals, must be made to the Council on or before the next mooting of the Council in November, and that same be notified by advertisement. Circular letter from .Mr Badger, the editor and compiler of a work embodying the whole of the laws relating to local government, was read. After consideration it was resolved- That the Chairman, if he considers the work to be of vaine, to order sufficient copies for the use of the Council. The Treasurer read bis usual two monthly report. The Engineer’s report on roads, bridges, contracts, ferries, etc., were road and received. Those reports embodied purely departmental information, and accordingly are of no general interest. The Engineer was instructed to carry oat the work of planting the Bannockburn Bridge ; also to have road made to gravel pita in Eamsolengh Riding ; and farther to call for tenders for gravelling the roads at Bald Hill Fiat Reports of Rangers of Cromwell and C'yde Commonages were read, and tbe recommendations agreed to. A question arose as to the system adopted by the Dog Tax Collectors as to identification of dogs after registration. It was eventually resolved that the Chairman lay down a system of registration. The application of Mr C. Attfield for a license for the killing of small cattle on section 6, block IX., Town of Clyde, was considered and agreed to. The Committee retired into Committee, and on resuming it was resolved—That the tender for Contract No. 167. Robert M‘Anally ; and Contract No. 169, Messrs T. Huddlestone and T. Black, be accepted; and for Contract No. 168 fresh tenders be called. Resolved—That accounts amounting to L 34 Os lid be passed for payment Resolved—That a rate of id in the £bo made for the ensuing year, payable in one sum on or before the 15th October, 1886. Or Pitches thought that the rate should be Jd in the £. He said to borrow money he was averse, and he was of the opinion that rather than borrow money to construct the Cromwell Bridge it would have been wiser to increase the rate to Ji or even to Id in the £. By increasing the rate, so accordingly would be increased the Government subsidy ; and if for no other reason than that it was better to raise tevenue by rates than by loan. The Chairman explained that by raising the revenue by rates, there would be no proportionate benefit by subsidy, as whatever the amount raised by rate, the subsidy could not exceed a certain suit. However, it was against reason to suppose that the Cromwell Bridge could be constructed out of ordinary revenue, the Government and Parliament had ag-eed to give L 3500 by way of subsidy towards the work, accordingly the raising of the balance must be by special means, unless the general utility of the Council as a public body was nullified. He maintained that in the existing p sition of the finances generally, provision for works of such a character as the {Cromwell Bridge must be specially provided for by loan. X-20 petty cash was voted. The following notices of motion were dealt with : Or. McCarthy moved—That the sum of L3O be expended in repairing road between sections 28, 29, and 24, Block 1„ Tarras Survey District.—Resolved that the motion stand over for the Engineer’s report. Or. McCarthy moved—That a sura of LSO be voted towards the erection of a jetty at ihe foot of Lake Hawea—After consideration it was agreed to erect a jetty, but it was understood that it was impossible to pet the work done before the Hew Year. Cr. McCarthy moved - -That a sum of L3O be voted to Mr Hodgkinson. Longslip Station. towards forming a pack track up the Hindis Gorge.—The motion was lost, the Council being of the opinion that it was unreasonable to expect the Council to accede to the motion, considering that the annual revenue from the portion of the Longslip Station in Vincent County was only some L4lO. The Chairman suggested that Mr Hodgkinson should make the track, and then come to the Council and ask for assistance. Cr. Pitches moved—That the road commencing at the end of cross street, Ophir, and known as Waldron’s road, be put in repair at a cost not exceeding LlD.—Carriel. The Engineer was instructed to attend to road leading to upper crossing of Manuherikia at Blacks. The Chairman said at last meeting he had tabled a motion as to the construction of road near Theyers and Beck’s Brewery, but had withdrawn same then, as he had understood that the land to bo occupied by the road was private property. Since then, however, he had arranged with Messrs Theyers and Beck, the owners of the land, for the conveyance of the land required on consideration of the Council paving the costs of transfer. He would ask the Council to now allow him to propose that the sum of L 123 be expended in forming and gravelling road near Theyers and Be-k’s Brewery, and that tho necessary tiansfer of the land be made. The Engineer was authorised to have nadway repaired between Mutton Town Gully and the Clyde Racecourse on the Blacks road. The Chairman said the Acts passed during the last session of Parliament regulating the borrowing powers of local bodies, distinctly stipulated no local body could undertike a loan unless by special order, an' as such special order could oaly be made at a special meeting, he would suggest that a proposition oe made accordingly. After discussion, it was resolved—That a special meeting of the Council be held on Wednesday, October 28, at 2 p.m., to consider a resolution to bring into force within this county tho provisions of tho “ Local Bodies Loans Act, 1886,” as provided by Section 38 of tbe said Act. The Chairman was authorised to arrange with Mr Dickie for a piece of land on Spottis Hundred for a gravel reserve. Cr. Pitches suggested that the Chairman should place himself in communication with the Borough of Cromwell as to the amount they are willing to contribute towards the construction ot the Cromwell Bridge ; he also suggested that Mr Fergus, M.H.R., be written to on the same subject. The allocation of monies under the Deferred Payment land system as suggested by the Engineer, was agreed to. The Chairman said that ho had placed in his hands a letter covering the resignation of Cr. Howell. He had to regret the resignation of Cr. Howell, who, during the time he had been a member of the Council, had proved himself a worthy representative. Cr. Pitches, followed by the other Councillors, all alike deplored the departure from the district ot Cr Howell, but consoled themselves with knowing that he was, by leaving New Zealand, going to benefit himself. The resignation was accepted, and the thanks of the Council recorded to Cr. Howell for his services and their full appreciation of him as a representative. Resolved—That tenders be called for gravelling the main road of Bald Hill Flat. The Council, after deliberation, decided that steps be taken to open np the road leading to Mr J. Holt’s coal lease in Block 1, Leaning Bock District, The moeting’then closed.