PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF WELLAND

We have here a copy of the minutes of Welland County Council of nearly sixty years ago. They reveal two points of great interest. (1) The councillors sat in those days from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (2) Owing to the county treasury being depleted, the warden paid accounts out of his own pocket.

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 23 March 1922]

Tuesday, Dec. 19, 1865

             The members of the County Council assembled today at the Court House and at Seven o’clock p.m. were called to order by the Warden, Edward Lee, Esq., when the following representatives answered to their names: M. Betts, Reeve of Welland, M. Climenhage, Reeve of Bertie, R. Coulter, Reeve of Thorold Township, N. Forsyth, Reeve of Fort Erie, Geo. Whiteman, Reeve of Humberstone, Thos. Greenwood, deputy Reeve, do., James Henderson, Reeve of Crowland,  W. James, Reeve of Thorold Village, W. Kennedy, deputy Reeve of Pelham, John Pew, Reeve of Stamford, N. Willick, Reeve of Willoughby.

             Absent Members: A.H. Biggar, Reeve of Clifton, Jos. Garner, Reeve of Pelham, Geo. Graham, deputy Reeve of Bertie, S. Haney, deputy Reeve of Thorold Township, J.C. Kirkpatrick, Reeve of Chippawa, W. Russell, deputy Reeve of Stamford.

Warden’s Address

             The Warden, addressing the Council, said he had deemed this the most favorable time to summon the Council to consider the municipal business of the County, and to close up as far as possible, the business of the year. He was not aware of any matters of great importance that would engage their attention, but if any should present itself, he would bring such under their notice. The Council, had, at the June Session, ordered an audit of the accounts from 1^st January to the time Mr. Thompson vacated the Treasurer’s office. While he, the Warden, did not think it necessary to have such an audit, he considered it his duty to carry out the instructions of the Council. The audit had been made, and the report would be laid before the Council, and from which it would be seen that the statement did not agree with his settlement with the late Treasurer. Mr. Thompson has paid back to the County the sum of $246, paid himself for the report made by Gavin Robertson on the books of the County, as well as $200 paid himself as salary, not authorized by the Council. When the present Treasurer, Mr. McGlashan entered upon the duties of his office, he found but $102 in the Treasury and had the unpleasant fact staring him in the face, of debentures nearly due, interest maturing and accounts amounting to $500 for the liquidation of all of which he had no funds. Under the circumstances, he, the Warden, had assumed the responsibility of supplying such funds as were absolutely necessary to meet pressing demands. At one time, he had borrowed $5000; at another $5000, and on a third occasion he had himself advanced $300 to be repaid on the 1^st January next, and at a rate of six per cent, (hear, hear) which he trusted would meet the approbation of the Council. In compliance with another resolution of the Council, a sale of County lands was held at Port Colborne on the 24^th of October last, and which, while not well attended, not much sold, had realized good prices, exceeding the appraisement of the committee on County Lands. He was happy to inform the Council that during no year since 1855 had there been a greater quantity of Count Lands sold, than during the present one, and the prices also were in excess of those received hitherto. (Hear).  The quantity sold was 1971 acres, realizing $10,739-(Hear, hear) of which upwards of $2000 had been paid into the Treasury on the first installment. Much credit was due the County Clerk for the interest and good management he had evinced in the matter of the Lands. The Warden submitted a proposal from a Mr. Perry of Dunnville to forfeit the sum of $416.20 paid on 50 acres of County Lands, if the County would take back the land, as he was unable to redeem it. Mr. Dilly Coleman has written him, the Warden, asking for time in the payment of his arrears on County lands. He, the Warden, would earnestly recommend the payment of another investment on the amount due the government for the County Lands. The receipts from those lands would next year, exceed $3000, and he suggested the passing of a resolution authorizing the County Treasurer to pay as much as he could afford towards the liquidation of the original purchase. Since the last meeting of the Council he had received the resignation of the Rev. Charles Walker as Local Superintendent of Schools for the Township of Thorold. The School Act provides that in case of vacancy in these offices the Warden shall make new appointments. With the view of affording satisfaction in a nomination, he had consulted the Reeve of the Township who had recommended Mr. Issac P. Willson, who was accordingly appointed. The Warden then laid on the table a number of papers, among which were a circular from the Chief Superintendent of Education relative to the new Grammar School Act; a communication from the County Council of Simcoe, asking cooperation in urging upon the Legislature the adoption of the principle of free grants of public lands to actual settlers as being the only true one for a new country; a communication from the Council of the County of York on the subject of renewal of the Reciprocity Treaty. The Warden concluded by submitting a report from the County Clerk relative to the Bonds of Mr. McGlashan which had been all duly executed, and regretted the absence of so many Councillors, several of whom had been detained through illness.

Application for Extension of Time

             Mr. James submitted a petition from the collector of Thorold village praying for an extension of time to the 25^th of January in the collection of the taxes of that village.

             Mr. Forsyth was under the impression that the local councils had in their own hands the power asked for.

             Mr. James read from the U.C. Consolidated Statutes page 672, Cap. 55, 22^nd Vic, Section 104, to show that the local council had not the power to extend the time.

             Mr. Henderson desired to know if the council of Thorold would pay the interest on monies not paid as its apportionment to the County, if any such had remained unpaid since the 14^th of the month.

             Mr. James said certainly. We ask no relief from the County, but merely time to collect, by which we shall avoid the disagreeable duty of distraining the goods of the people who were unable to pay up to the present time.

             Mr. D. D’Everardo, Clerk of the Council being asked for his opinion said that in a late case between the corporation of Kingston vs. Stevens, the Court held that so long as the poll remained in the hands of the Collector, that officer continued to be invested with all the powers vested in him.

             The prayer of the petition was finally granted on motion to Mr. James seconded by Mr. Forsyth.

Hours of Meeting

             On motion of Mr. Forsyth, seconded by Mr. James, the sessional hours during the present session were determined upon as follows: Meet at 9 a.m.; adjourn at 12.30 p.m., meet again at 2 p.m.; adjourn at 6 p.m.; meet again at 7 and adjourn at 9 p.m.

             The hour of adjournment having arrived, the Warden left the chair.