Vincent County Council.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2008, 1 October 1906, Page 6

Vincent County Council.

(Continued from Page 5). The Chairman said local doctors were expeeted to report any infectious diseases. Cr Laidlaw said the county was really the responsible body, and it was their duty to look after these things. Cr Kane thought it would be a hard position for local doctors. It was natural that they would not care to fall out with people. The Chairman said it was at people's back door that the trouble existed. A doctor would not care to spy out these nuisances. The doctors must have the confidence of their patients. Doctors frequently asked that sanitary measures be taken. Cr John Pitches thought the best way out of the difficulty was to appoint councillors. Cr Butler thought they might start by appointing Cr Pitches for Ophir. Cr Laidlaw said the doctors were subsidised by the Board, and he did not see why they should not be appointed health officers. The Chairman suggested that Cr Laidlaw bring a motion before the council at its next meeting. On resuming in open board the Chairman read the report of committee as follows: Resolved that the schedule of accounts, amounting to .£966, Vie passed for payment. Resolved that the Chairman's action re application for admittance to the Benevolent Institution be approved. Cr Laidlaw's motion re bye-law regulating motor traffic on county roads. In speaking to the motion Cr Laidlaw said that the cars were not numerous enough to educate the horses to get used to them. xVt present it was positively dangerous, and lie thought it the council's duty to do something. Cr Kane seconded the motion. There were some very dangei'ous roads in the county, and a bye-law was necessary to protect ratepayers and travellers. The Chairman thought the traffic of motor cars should be regulated. He was pleased to see the motion on the order paper, and had instructed the county clerk to obtain copies of such bye-laws from several county councils. Since giving the clerk instructions a Bill had been introduced in the House to regulate the traffic of motors, and it would probably become law. He thought, therefore, it would be as well to wait till next meeting, when they would have some data to go on. Agreed to, a special meeting to be held on Nov. 28th for the purpose of framing a bye-law. Coimrm'"'" lion from Harbor Board, Otago, re Railway Department taking land. —Received. Both the Chairman and Cr Kane spoke very strongly re the action of certain Dunedin gentlemen doing their utmost to stop the railway at Clyde. If the Dunedin people expected the country people to support them they must give better treatment. The Chairman quoted figures to show the splendid asset there was in the country beyond Cromwell. Crs Jameson and Heaney thought they should pay them back in their own coin. • Cr John Pitches thought it was casting reflection on the Government. The Premier had told the Harbor Board that they would get justice, and he thought they should be satisfied. He was not prepared to sign the petition. Cr Laidlaw's sympathies were entirely with the people of Hawea Flat. They had been promised the railway 25 years ago, and they had taken up land on the strength of that promise. lie did not think those few people in Dunedin had anything to do with the stopping of the rail way .at Clyde. The Chairman .said that a wire had been received from Mr Eraser, M.H.R, stating that the railway would be completed to Clyde in March next, and the Minister would be prepared to receive a deputation, and go over the country with them. The Chairman said that the amount spent on small birds last year was .£3OO. Cr. Kane thought it a large sum of money, but he thought it money well spent. Jt would be a good thing to continue to buy heads and eggs. He proposed that the Council buy eggs and heads at the same price as last year-viz., Is Gd per 100, and that a sum of £IOO be voted for the purpose. Cr. Butler said the birds were not nearly as numerous this year, whatever was the cause of it. Cr. Kane's motion was carrie<l. Cr. Wm. Pitches, referring to the discussion that took place the day before on drainage said that Cr. Laidlaw and the Chairman spoke strongly. The Chairman insinuated that he spoke a lie at the Court, and also that if he did not take up a position to protect the ratepayers interests he ought to resign. Cr. John Pitches thought the Chairman's remark was uncalled for ; it was for the ratepayers to decide that, The Chairman contradicted it. Cr. W. Pitches said he had authority to represent the County. In the il Dunstan Times " of November, 1905, it was suggested by the Chairman that

he (O. W. Pitches) should interview these people with respect to a vote for the drainage scheme. He was quite satisfied he had authority. The Chairman said that he suggested that Or. Pitches should consult with his fellow-ratepayers privately, but not as a Councillor. The Council s liability ceased at the end of the pipes for which they paid. Cr. Laidlaw said he would not withdraw anything he had said about the matter. He thought Cr. W. Pitches had forfeited his seat in voting for the pipes. He practically voted for a pipe for himself. The Chairman said that the pipe was a public one for the use of the ratepayers; and he (Cr. Pitches) happened to be one of them. He thought it was a pity it had cropped up, and there had been a misunderstanding. The matter was dropped. Cr Laidlaw asked that a gate be put up at the back of Mr Naylor's property at Matakanui.—Withdrawn till next meeting. Cr Win. Pitches asked the engineer if any tiling had been clone to the road at Calloway. The Engineer said he had hung it up because tin- railway might fence it oil", and a new road would have to be made. (V Wm. Pitches also asked that sonic repairs In; made to Mc Arthur's road.—The Engineer to attend to it.