Clutha County Council

Bruce Herald, Volume IX, Issue 870, 9 January 1877, Page 7

Clutha County Council

The first meeting of this Council was held at noon on Thursday, at the Balclutha Courthouse. Present— Captain M'Kenzie, and Messrs F. Roberts, James Scott, R. Scobie, A. N. Jowitt, D. Henderson, W. Dallas, P.

Ayson, and J. N'Neil

Mr Jowitt moved that Mr Wm. Henderson be requested to take notes of the proceedings of that meeting.

Capt. M'Kenzie seconded the motion, which was carried.

Mr Henderson proposed, and Mr Dallas seconded, that Mr John M'Neil be elected Chairman.

The motion was carried

Mr M'Neil then took the chair amid applause from the strangers assembled.

Mr M'Neil then briefly returned thanks for the honor conferred upon him, and signified his intention that the good feeling and confidence which had been reposed in him should not diminish if it was in bis power to increase it. He then stated that the business for which they had assembled was now finished, with the exception of appointing the date for next meeting. He suggested the advertising for applications for the office of clerk, to be sent in prior to their next meeting taking place. He then referred to the adoption of the Act, or otherwise. He said that if the Act were not adopted they would be merely councillors in name, and if adopted it would j be an expensive piece of business.

Capt. M'Kenzie remarked that they had three months to decide, and stated that a great deal of harm had been done by many of the members of the Assembly being under the impression that all the portions of the various Counties were under Road Boards, whereby a large proportion of the inhabitants of the various Counties had been disfranchised. He referred to the Waipahi district, in which there were only twenty-five votes, and about 100 electors. He then drew attention to the Valuation Act, in which it was stated that a valuation had to be made by the 15th of January, 1877. But the Council had the option of applying for an extension of time, if made within 14 days from the 15th of January, which he suggested should be done ; otherwise they would not be able to levy any assessments until next year. He moved that the Chairman be requested to apply, under Section 211 of the Counties Act, 1876, for an extension of time.

Mr Scott seconded the motion, which was carried.

Mr Jowitt moved that one of the members of the Council be requested to act as honorary secretary until next meeting, and that applications for a qualified clerk be advertised for. He suggested that Mr Dallas should be requested to act.

Mr Henderson seconded the motion, which was carried.

Mr Dallas agreed to act as hon. sec,

Mr Henderson remarked that he was not aware whether Capt. M'Kenzie's motion was in order or not. He thought that they should know whether they -were going to adopt the whole Act or not prior to doing anything. The position in which they stood was forced upon them, yet, being elected, it was their duty to do their best for the district. Capt. M'Kenzie again drew attention to the dause referred to, and said that if they did not conform with the clause within the prescribed time they would be shut out until next year.

Mr Henderson said, with reference to the valuation, that where Road Boards existed it would be easy to obtain a valuation, but where no Boards existed he did not know how they would get on. He did not apprehend any great danger by applying for an extension of time.

Mr Roberts favored the application for extension.

Mr Jowitt remarked that there existed a very general opinion that the members of the County Councils did not comprehend much •f the existing Acts. He was of opinion that what they did know was not very much. He then quoted ifoe following : —

A little learning is « dangerous tiling, Drink deep or taste not jttia Imperial spring- ; . These shawm* draughts j#toxji«j£ (he brain, And drinkliig largely sobers us agafc/ . He then stated that his draughts had as jre£ been very, light., indeed, but would not say what tie ? future dips would be. He moved ffegt the bon. secretary be requefted lo write

to the head of the Government in Dunedin,

requesting him to forward to each of the Councillors a copy of the various Acts bearing on their duties.

Capt. M'Kenzie seconded the motion, which was carried.

Capt. M'Kenzie said he hoped that in connection with the calling of meetings his fellow-councillors would bear in mind that all Councillors did not reside in B.ilclutha, and to consider that they got no pay or travelling expenses. He was unfortunate enough to live at one end of the county, and had no business to bring him to Balclutba, which was situate at one corner of the county. He expressed his earnest hope that all meetings would be conducted in an unselfish manner. He then suggested that as the first meeting had been held at Balclutha the second should be held at Waipahi. — (Laughter.)

Mr Jowitt remarked that the distance should be considered at all times, and that the Secretary and Chairman could be entrusted to transact a considerable amount of business instead of calling meetings.

Mr Dallas spoke against the appointment of a clerk until they settled upon the adoption of the Act.

Mr Ayson remarked that they could appoint a clerk whether the Act was adopted

or not

Mr Scott drew attention to the very unsatisfactory state of the Main South Road since the Government had withdrawn the surfacemen. He stated that unless the surfacemen were put on at once it would he a great loss of money to the County ultimately, as it would take in the course of a month ten times the cost of at once repairing the ruts. He moved that the surfacemen be instructed to continue their work on the main road. Mr M'Kenzie seconded the motion, and said that it was a very important matter, and one which should not be neglected. He hoped the motion would be carried. Mr Henderson agreed with the desirability of roads being repaired, but opposed the inj curring of any expense at present, as the whole Act would require to be gone into before they could undertake any contract. Mr Dallas said that any Road Board could apply and have its main line of road made over to it. The Chairman — To whom do they apply ? i Mr Dallas— To the County Council. Capt. M'Kenzie drew attention to sec. 105 of the Counties Act, which states that if main roads are neglected the Government have it within their power to repair them and charge the County.

Mr Ayson drew attention to section 188, which states that the Council can agree with any Road Board to maintain their own main roads.

The Chairman'answered that they had been elected to do that work themselves, and he considered that it would be unfair to saddle it on to the various Road Boards.

Mr Henderson urged that nothing could be done in the matter without a notice of motion being given.

The Chairman said that their main road passed through several districts where no Road Boards^existed. It would theretore be their duty to see the works attended to.

The motion was carried by 4to 2. Messrs Scott, Scobie, Roberts, and Capt. M'Kenzie for, and Messrs Henderson, and Dallas against. Only the six voted.

Mr Henderson moved that Balclutha be the County town. Mr Dallas seconded the motion. Capt. M'Kenzie remarked that he was not going to oppose the motion, but he desired to know if it was necessary to fix their place of meeting. They might at their next meeting require or desire to alter it to Dunedin, or probably Wellington. For instance, if Messrs Henderson and Dallas were ill at next meeting, they could arrange their following meeting at Wellington or elsewhere as they pleased.

Mr Henderson having replied, the motion was put and carried.

Mr Henderson moved that the Chairman and Secretary be requested to look for suitable offices for the Council to meet in. Mr Ayson seconded the motion, which was carried. Capt. M'Kenzie moved that the Council now adjourn until Tuesday, the 16th inst., at noon. Mr Roberts seconded the motion, which was carried. "