BALCLUTHA TOWN COUNCIL.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 143, 6 April 1877, Page 5

BALCLUTHA TOWN COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Town Council was held in the Council Chambers on Friday last. There were present : His Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Dunne, Oramond, and Hogg. His "Worship explained that the hon. Donald Keid, Minister of Lands, being on a visit to the township, had desired to meet the Council to arrange with reference to the control of the bridge. The Council had telegraphed to the Government the terms upon which they were willing to look after the bridge, and Mr .Reid, who was present, would explain what the Government intended to do in the' matter. The proposal made by the Council was that they should take charge of the bridge, and expend upon it the whole of the revenue derived from the toll, but without further responsibility, and without preju dice to their present legal position in relation thereto.

Mr lleid said that so far as responsibility was concerned, he did not think there was any responsility regarding the matter resting upon the Govermnent. He did not wish the Council to enter into any arrangement without fully understanding their position. The Government conld not maintain the bridge at the expense of other districts, and if the lecal body did not do so, the Government would do it, and deduct the cost from the subsidies coming to those local bodies. Councillor Hogg said that as he understood the Act the works formerly belonging to the Provincial Government were now the property. of the General Government. The inhabitants of Balclutha had been . severely taxed by way oi toll to maintain ' the bridge, while the revenues had been appropriated by the Government, and now, when the bridge had. fallen into a very bad state of repair, it was to be thrown xipon the hands of the Council. If the Government could afford to let the bridge go to wreck, he thought the township could also afford to d© so. ' Councillor Dunne was gratified that the matter of adjusting - .the control of the bridge between the Council and the Government had fallen to Mr Reid's part, because he knew the of parties. He knew the Council formerly offered to take the bridge, but were refused, when the revenue and the bridge were good. Now that the revenue would be reduced and the bridge had got out of repair, it was to.be thrown upon the Council Ho believed that in a few months the revenues from the toll would not pay the expense of collection, and that the whole rates of the township would not be sufficient to keep the bridge in repair. Mr Reid "replied that at the time the Government refused: to hand over the bridge to the Council "they had charge of the whole main roads, which cost a large amount >of .money, and they could not hand over to the Council so large a revenue

derived from a bridge constructed by public money. If the traffic were now to fall off to such an extent that the revenue 1 from the toll -would not pay the collection, this would clearly shbw^fcliat the biidge was now neither required nor used by the general public, who therefore could not with justice be called on to maintain it.

Ho, however, did not believe the revenues! would fall ofl to any such extent. If the!] local body were unable : to maintain tlief bridge, and wished to free themselves of j responsibility, thoy had simply to pub-j licly notify to thode using the. bridge that i it was unlit and closed for traffic. That j would free them of responsibility. If a loan were required for tho maintenance of the bridge he thought the Government miglit facilitate the matter in some way. ! In the meantime he suggested that the ! Corporation should take charge of tho bridge, and let the matter of responsibility or legal position remain for future adjustment.

After some further conversation it was j found parties were quite at one as to their { respective positions, and Mr . Reid agreed j to hand over to the Gouncil the revenue j from the toll since Ist January now in the hands of the Government upon tho understanding as to responsibility and legal statu quo suggested by the Council, This was all the business.