VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21643, 13 May 1932, Page 14

VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL

' MONTHLY MEETING - The final meeting of the present Vincent County Council was held at the County Office, Clyde, last Thursday/ Cr Ritchie was in the chair, and Crs S-. A. Stevens, R. E, F. Butcher, A, C. Secular, J. F. Partridge, and D. Urquhart were also present. . The chairman, before commencing the business of the meeting, sympathetically referred to the loss suffered by the engi-neer-clerk (Mr E. W. George) 'in the death of his father. He also said the county and district regretted very much the death of Mr Thomas Wilkinson, who had done much good work in all parts of Central Otago, and had left many fine buildings as monuments to his memory. He moved a motion of sympathy' with the relatives, and this was passed in the customary manner. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was received from Mr E. T. Kitto (Alexandra) stating that_ his orchard was being damaged by drainage of water from the road, and asking for a channel to be made into Slaughteryard Gully.—The inspector to view the , site and report later. " Mr D. Sinnamon (Poolburn) wrote stating he had not applied for a building permit for house alterations because he was not aware that such was necessary. —The clerk said the necessary forms had been forwarded to the writer. The trustees of the Nevis Public Hal! requested the council to reduce the'annual license fee, as there were no funds for the payment of the license.—lt was decided that the trustees should be informed that the council had no power to remit the fee. . . Mr F. R. Riley (Dunedin) thanked the council for its decision to get a report regarding improvements to Dingle Track. The secretary of the Returned Soldiers’ Club (Alexandra) wrote expressing appreciation of the council’s assistance to the club’s members, and asking for suggestions whereby unemployed men might secure further help.—Received. Mr J. L. Stewart Wright, secretary of the Cromwell District Mining Association, intimated that the strong exception taken by the County Council to his letter was considered by the executive of his association on April 13/ The writer wished the council to understand no innuendo was made, implied or inferred and he failed to trace how his statements were interpreted to mean what the council imagined. He asked that his letter should be retained by the council, —The chairman stated he had seen Mr Wright and had informed him that the council took_ exception to the statement that it did not take sufficient interest to have validated a suggested payment of £75 for . the clerical Work being done for the Mining Association.—lt was decided unanimously to adhere to the previous decision not to receive the letter. . r Mr T. C. Donnelly and party (Matakanui) wrote asking again for the use of water in the Undaunted head race from Thompson’s Creek for gold mining purposes during the months that the farmers did not require it. Mr J. Cairns (Matakanui) also, applied for two heads for mining from the same creek. —It was decided in view of the development of mining not to grant any applications in the meantime until the extent of the prospecting became more apparent. The town clerk (Dunedin) stated that a conference regarding heavy motor traffic regulations would be held on June 2. The chairman was appointed to represent the council. , ' / Mr W. A. Bodkin, M.P., wrote stating that he did not think the Government intended abolishing the Main Highways Board, but if it did the petrol tax would probably go direct to the council. He also stated that there was a suggestion of amalgamating some of the local author!-, ties and paying over to them their proportion of the petrol tax. —The chairman stated that the executive of the Otago association had objected to the petrol tax going into the Consolidated Fund. The Main Highways Board had done such good work. that its abolition would be a distinct loss. He was pleased they had Mr Bodkin’s support for its retention. ,

The Lime writer agreed to support the council’s objection to revaluation in the county.—Received.The Minister of Public Works acknowledged receipt of the council’s objection to accepting the responsibility for the Hawea-Makarora road, and promising further to consider the representations.— Received. • • s The resident engineer of the Public Works Department (Alexandra) stated that the charge for irrigation water used for mining would be 10 per cent of the gold won.—This led to some discussion, and the clerk was instructed to point out that the charge proposed whs hardly fair, as, under certain conditions, the miner might be paying much - more . for Jess w'ater than a constant user qf-a larger volume. ‘'REPORTS. The returning officer intimated that for the Vincent Hospital Board only five, nominations were received for seven vacancies.—The council decided to recommend Messrs C. T. Alexander and D. A: Middleton to the Minister of Internal Affairs. The returning officer also reported that nominations for the Otago Central Electric Power Board were one short of the required number.—Mr C. T, Alexander was nominated for this vacancy.

Following on the road inspector’s report it was decided that the, following work should be carried out: —Some repairs to be made to Lindis track (Clyde), the. Cromwell Goi’ge to be regraded immediately, and repair work to be done oh the Bannockburn Hill, the main road at Lauder to be graded and gravelled, Booth’s road to have attention when lorries were in the vicinity, repairs to be made,to the road above Cromwell, and new rope to be installed for the chair. It was decided, in view of the inspector’s report, that f 500 would be needed to carry out the work on the Dingle track in a satisfactory manner, that the work could be. done only if unemployed'labour was available. . ' • '■ ' i

The dog registrar gave registration figures as follows: —1034 dogs at 2s 6d, 128 at ss, and 14 at ■ 10a. The chairman’s letter to the Minister of Public Works protesting against the charge for water for the Roaring Meg scheme was approved. Accounts amounting to £553 11s 3d were passed for payment.