Árdís - 01.01.1953, Page 66

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ÁRDÍ S
i
However, in spite of the epidemic, all that could get out on
New Year’s Eve, 1876, gathered around a bonfire on the river near
Briem’s to observe the old Icelandic custom of “burning out” the
old year and welcoming the new. This custom was followed for
many years; the bonfire always being held on the river.
Shortly after the New Year, meetings were held resulting in
two amazing achievements—the publishing of a newspaper at Lundi
and the drawing up of a constitution for a provisional government
for the colony.
Gudlaugur Magnusson says in Thorgeirsson’s “Almanak”, 1899:
“Soon after the New Year, men began again to discuss public
matters, among others the government organization for New Ice-
land. Two meetings were at once held, one at Icelandic River and
the other at Gimli. A five-man committee was elected to draw up
a temporary constitution for the colony.” This constitution was
discussed and ratified at a public meeting held at Gimli on February
5, 1877. At this same meeting New Iceland was divided into four
districts: Vidinesbygd (Gimli); Arnesbygd; Fljosbygd (River Settle-
ment); and Mikleyjarbygd (Big Island).
On February 14 each district elected a five-man committee or
“byggdar nefnd” to administer its local aífairs. The committee
elected for Fljotsbygd were: Johann Briem as district leader; Bjorn
Petursson, Jakob Jonsson, Thorgrimur Jonsson and Johann Geir
Johannesson.
On February 21 all the “byggdarnefndir” met at Sandy Bar to
elect a central committee or parliament which they called “Vatns-
thing” or “Lake Parliament”. The Vatnsthing was to deal with
matters affecting the colony as a whole and was headed by
Sigtryggur Jonasson.
The original copy of this New Iceland constitution is now
considered a historical document of great interest. Its laws were in
force until the territory was organized according to Canadian law
in 1883. The first municipal council under the new regulations was
not elected, however, until 1887, under the guidance of Sigtryggur
Jonasson and Gudni Thorsteinsson. Its members were: Johann
Briem, reeve; Johannes Helgason,Thorgrimur Jonsson, Gudlaugur
Magnusson and Kristjan Kjernested. The council appointed
Johannes Magnusson as “matsmann” (assessor) and Gudni Thor-
steinsson as secretary-treasurer. New Iceland was later divided
into the two municipalities of Gimli and Bifrost.