WAIMEA. COUNTY COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 4, 4 January 1877, Page 2

WAIMEA. COUNTY COUNCIL.

The first sitting of this Council took place m the Grand Jury Room to-day. PresentCouncillors Barnicoat, Wells, Oliver, Bird, Dencker, and Gillow. Cr Wells said that the preliminary business was to elect a chairman, and he had very much pleasure in proposing Mr Barnicoat. Cr Oliver: Excuse me, but should there not be some one in the chair now? That, I believe, is the practice of the House of Commons. Cr Barnicoat: In the House of Commons the chair ie taken by the Clerk. Cr Wells said that Mr Barnicoat was an old resident in the County, and had always taken an active part in public affairs s\nce representative institutions had been j introduced. Asa member of the Provincr'al Council he had acted with great credit and ability, and he felt sure that he was the best occupant they could find for the chair. Cr Oliver agreed with every word that had been said with regard to the services rendered by Mr Barnicoat. He would much rather j have seen the election of chairman left to the ratepayers, as in so great and important a County as that they represented it would have added far greater weight to his position, and in his electioneering tours he would have had an opportunity of seeing I for himself the requirements of the various ! districts. However, as the Council had to elect its own chairman, he very warmly and cordially seconded Cr Wells' resolution. Cr Dencker thought they could not have a better chairman. He had been noted for his fairness as Speaker of the Provincial Council and was highly esteemed by all. The resolution having been unanimously carried, Cr Barnicoat took the chair, saying that he felt deeply sensible of the honor conferred upon him. His intention had been not only not to seek but to refuse the office if preferred. He saw there men whom he would have preferred to see in a position so onerous. It was because it was so onerous that he desired to shun it, for he had many public duties to peform as it was, and as years advanced he felt a decreasing inclination to take part in public affairs. However, he would do his duty to the very best of his ability. As to the preservation of order in the Council, he felt sure that, composed as it was, there would be nothing to do in that respect, but all their proceedings would be conducted with perfect decorum and propriety. The office of chairman must involve many duties that the Act did not attach to it, and he would have to make himself intimately acquainted with every detail of the very complicated measures under which they had to work. The Chairman, having read the proclamation convening the Council, said that one of the first questions to be decided was whether they would assume the full duties as provided by the Act, or only a portion of them. Three inonth3 were allowed for them to arrive at a decision, but he thought it should be done as soon as possible, although they would probably prefer to wait for a full attendance of the members. Cr Dencker thought they had better defer the discussion of the question. Cr Oliver was of opinion that the institution was so new that it would be far better to wait until they had gained a wider experience, Cr Oliver offered to act temporarily as secretary, which was accepted, Cr Oliver moved— « That a Committee be appointed to draw up a code of Standing Orders, and report upon the best method of conducting the routine of business of the Council; such committee to consist of the chairman, Cr Wells, and the mover " This was seconded by Cr Dencker, and carried unanimously. Cr Oliver moved— "ln relation to the grant of £30,000 lately made by the Government for making the road between Nelson and Westport, that Mr Curtis be respectfully requested to produce any surveys, estimates, or ofcliei- documents in connection therewith and that the chairman do apply to the Minister asking that the sum requited Jo complete so much of the same as is within the Wai* roea County be placed at the disposal of the Council. This was seconded by Cr Dencker and carried unanimously. It wsg also resolved that Mr Curtis be respectfully requeued to supply a map of the County with the boundaries of the different Sidings defined. A long conversational discussion, which lasted until three o'clock, ensued on various matters connected with the Act. among other questions raised but not decided being thaf pf the payment of members' expenses, Cr Dencker stating that he had told his .constituents pWnly that unless he received enough to cover his actual expenses he could not afford to attend. ' The Chairman quite agreed that this ought to be done, saying that if the Council met at Motueka he should certainly expe ct to receive his expenses.