VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 1210, 3 December 1919, Page 5

VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

♦ —"fe« '" £g jg The monthly meatiug o£ tho Vincent County Council was held at Clyde on Wednesday, 26th November. Present: Jrs 8. T. Spain, J. Shoppard, D. Mid■leton, J. M'Kuight, G-. 3. Paterson, J. Kane, J. Ritchie, C. Weaver. The first business dealt with was the election of a new chairman. x Cr Middleton moved •« That Cr J. Vl'Rnight be appointed chairman."— Seconded by Cr Wearer, The motion was adopted unanimously. Cr M'Knighfc took the chair and thanked the council for the honour done him. Every man, he said, naturally desired to feel he had the goodwill and confidence of his colleagues. He also took his appointment to be a compliment j to the riding be represented. For the immediate future tue council would require to keep a firm grip on the financesthis did not necessarily mean that all progressive and necessary work had to cense, but they would have to go cautiously. Certain ' works requiring early attention were; thorough repairs to tue Alexandra and Clyde bridges, as also replacing the oil system of punts in the northern ridings with up-to-date bridges. Tnis wcu'd entail considerable expenditure, wuioh could only be met by either * special loan or a request to tbo Government for a straight out grant. He •vould do his very utmost to attend to too needs of all parts of the county. Cr Ritcbio congratulated tho new chairmin on his appointment. Ho fott sure that Cr M'htuight had the ability to do the position justice. Tho time wag a hard one as far as tho linincial position ut the council was concerned, ■• but this would give the new chairman a chance to prove his iituoss aud ability in oiliee. Ho would do his best to help the chairman in administering the alliirs of the council.

Cr Spain also congratulated Mr M'Knight on his appoiutment. As retiring chairman he expressed his tbanks to the council for their co-operation during his term of office, and promised to extend the- same help to Lis &UCCSSSOT. He was of the opinion that the otHee of chairman ought to bo for a term of two years.

Congratulations were also extended by Crs tjlieppard, Weaver, Middletoa, Kane and Patorson. Minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. —Correspondence; Jas. IVtcv (Matakauui) drawing attention of the eouticil to a. water race pegged out by Mr T. C. Donnelly to run down the road line, and protesting that this would be daugerous to stock being driven along the road.—Beeeived. T.Goran (Galloway) informing council that li! had had to undertake the damming back of the rivor to protect the land and bri.lge site, at a cost to himself in labour and material of £3O. He asked that tbo council pay half of the expense.

After bearing reports from Mr Menzies (engineer) and Cr Spain the council lecided that a grant of £lO be made to Mr Govan.

T. Duggau, secretary Central Otago A. and P. Association, asking that Show Day, December lOtb, bo declared a Holiday in the county.—Agreed.

W. H Smith (Galloway) complaiuing of wandering stock breaking down fences. The nuisance had been bad for the last 18 months, asking the council to do something. A similar letter 5 from Mr A. Paterson (Hawea Flat) complaining bitterly of the wandering stock nuisance in that locality. At times thero were 50 head of cattle on tho road?, entailing continual fence mending.—Complainants to bo informed that a ranger (James Holt) nad been appointed. —Deputation.—

A deputation consisting of Messrs J. Wilson and J. Clare waited on the council in regard to the proposal of tbe council taking over certain water rights. The deputation opposed the proposal. Mr J. Wilson, who appeared on bebjrtf of the Domain Board, stated that he did not consider it fair for the council to allow its name to bo used in court when the case was no longer one for a change of purpose, but was now an attack on the validity of the titles, in which the council ought not to interfere.

Mr J. Clare also addressed the council in support of Mr Wilson, and considerable discussion took place between councillors anl the deputation. Petition from ton Lauder settlers— Messrs li. Brown, J. Leask, J. Wilson, 11. Sirnes, Janet Clauston, Jas. Clouston, G. T. Alexander, T. F. Moran, Lucy Moran, A. Brown—asking the council not to commit itself in tbe mattor <?f the purchase of mining water race and rights with a view of transferring them to a change of purpose, without first oalling a public meeting.—Beeoivcd. —Water Eights.—

Cr Ritchie moved ''-That this council agrees to purchase Laues, Conroys and Fraser River mining rights and dams, and that the common seal of tho council be affixed to the necessary documents."— Seconded by Cr Paterson and carried.

Cr Wearer moved " That this council agrees to purchase the water rights from Thomson Creek, owned by the Mt. Morgan Co., and that the common seal of the council be affixed to the necessary documents'"—Seconded by Cr Middleton and carried.

W. Laidlaw (Matakanui) tendering his, resignation as a member of the Vincent Hospital aud Charitable Aid Board. Iu doing so he thanked his fellow members and the secretary (Mr Dickie) for the courtesy aud consideration extended to him at all times. lie expressed bis persons! opinion on the two questions prominent at the present time —Concentration of Hospitals, and Doctors' Residences. On the first he was strongly; opposed/ to the elunug of either Clyde or Cromwell; both should be efficiently equipped and kept;up.tb the highest standard possible. lu'reho was distinctly in faroujtbjl proceding With the huiidings and making the residences as attract ire as possible. 'He further * congratulated the. Board and district pa baring secured the- services of a "medicaljpfakof such marked ability as Dfe^ui^uull. Weaver aat Bitohie spoke

: Board were. sust»fuing ju Jdsiug Mr Laidlaw. He jjad boau a valuable member of the Board,,«ud brp4ghfc.au impartial ratud : jt'o rJejajf-aa the Board.. would be hard to fill. . .»' 4 .The was received with regret.; a letter ofjap'prebiatiou for sor-. oribouiilf of the public, over a long period of years, to be drafted

and sent to Mr Laidlaw. J. B. Meneiee, county ongineer, tenderiog his resignation having accepted the position of engineer to tho Waimea County Council. The chairman and councillors expressed regret at loosing Mr Monzios. He was, however, a young man, and was quite right to look for promotion. The experience gained in tho Vincent County .vould be of service to him iu the future. Good wishes were extended to Mr and

drs Menzies in their future sphere. _ Mr Menzies returned thanks for the kind words and good wishes of the council accepted, The council confirmed tho action of Cr Spain in appointing James Holt county ranger at att'increase of Is 6i per day ou his present wage as Olydo dayman of l;3s a day. Council to liud and maintaiu a horso aui pay all travelling expenses. The eou'icil to take all pounding tees. -* * —Deputation.—

A large deputation of settlors from Earnsclough interested in the proposed purchase of- water -rights from J. P. Lane waited ou tho council.

Mr C. Weaver introduced the deputation and reported at length on the result of his visit to Wellington. .Mr M'Ginnis spoke ou tho advantage that Hlackmau's water had been to the .settler, of that district. To show howeven a small scheme administered by a public body touded to the progress of the district:. Iu 26 years the families on this urea had increased from seven to nineteen, and the valuation of the properties had increased from £IOOO to £17,000. In the dry season 2 heads of water carefully distributed served 1200 acres, showing how a small quantity of water well distributed can serve a big area.

*ud J. ] '- Thompson also -fl-''Jxivsod the council. The cbairiujm informed" *il7C deputation that what thoy desired, the council had already.agreed to do. Fred M'Carthy wrote asking that a certain bye-road be closed.---Council asked the engineer to report on the matter.

Borough of Cromwell asking; the support of the council to the following resolution ;--'• That thin council draw attention to the poor accommodation provided by the railway department for the convenience of tho travelling public on the Otago Central trains, and urge the drpartment to classify, the lino us a main line, giving the name class of accommodation as is provided on such lines, and making provision for booking seats front Duuedin, to avoid the accommodation being monopolised by short distance passengers."—Agreed unanimously to support the resolution. W. A. Bodkin sending tho deeds of transfer re the sale of rights from J. P, Lano to the Viucent"Cou'ufy Council. — Common seal to be affixed. Financial statement submitted showed tho debit balance to £lO-10, [Engineer's report will be found on page.GO