BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 152, 8 June 1877, Page 3

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

'1 he monthly meeting of the Bruci Council was held in the Council Chambers, Milton, on Monday. There were present : Messrs 11. Clark (Chairman), Smith, Landels, Petrie, Robertson, Murray, Duff; and Wayne. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. The -following letter was read from the Public Works Office : — Public Works Office, Wellington, May 10, 1877. Sir,— As it it ia desirable to put the control of tlie Matau Bridge, at Inch Clutha, in local hands, the Hon. the Minister for Public Works directs me to ask you whether the Bruce County will take over the control in accordance with the provisions contained in the 85th. section of the Public Works Act, 1876. Considering that the only accessible outlet from Inch Clutha, either to the railway station or by road to Dunedin, ia through the Bruce County, the Miuister anticipates you will readily comply with this request. — I have, &c, John Knowles, Under-Secretary, Public Works. After some discussion, the following was moved by Mr Petrie, ■ seconded by Smith, and carried : — " That the Bruce County Council take over charge of the bridge pro tern, i but that when the Clutha Counties Bill comes into force they should take charge of it." A letter was read from the Colonial Treasury, forwarding duplicate of Treasury voucher, showing that the sum of L 578 Os Cd, being subsidy upon amount collected by the Road Boards within the County, had been placed to the credit of the County at the National Bank of New Zealand, and makes a total of LIOO3 lodged to the credit of the County since 1877. — Also from the Treasury, stating that the sum of L4l 14s 2d ' was the Council's amount of gold duty, and that the sum of L 264 13s 3d hud been received from the tolls from Ist January to 28th April, 1877. The toll money which had been placed to the credit of the County is made up as follows :— East Taieri Toll, L6B Os 2d ; Waihola Toll, L 75 (is 9d ; Clutha Junction at Clarksville, Ll 17 ls 2d ; South Tokomairiro, L 4 5s 2d. A letter was read from the Public Works Office, acknowledging receipt of the Council's letter relative to the control ol the Taieri Ferry Bridge, and stating in reply, that the Minister for Public Works thinks it would be advisable that the Taieri County Council should make a written request to him, on the receipt of which he would at once give the matter his consideration. The Clerk mentioned that a copy of the letter had been forwarded to the Chairman of the Taieri County Council. The following characteristic letter was read : — Waihola, May 30, 1877. To the County Council of Bruce. Gentlemen, — On comma: to Clarendon toll-gate on tho Bth, Ofch, and 10th, I found the gate closed up, and on asking the collector why the gate was closed he told me that wa3 his business, and told me to be off, and that he would report me to the Commissioner. The gate being closed it kept cattle and horses trespassing on roads and breaking fauces. Be it known to the County Council that I will not take any threat or impudence from your servant. Your early consideration of the above will oblige — Youi-s, &c, Donald M'Mastrr. After some remarks, the letter was referred to the Toll Collector for explanation. A letter was read from the Crown Lands Office, Dunedin, authorising the County to take possession of the build-in<>-s at Stoney Creek, lately used as a toll-house. It was agreed that the toll-house be advertised to be sold by auction at the upset price of L2O. The following letter from Mr Pyke was read :— < Clyde, Vincent County, May 5, 1877. " Sir,— As the working of tbe Counties Act, and the several Acts incorporated therewith, has practically demonstrated sundry defects in those measures, it has been suggested that conferences of Chairmen of Counties included within the Provincial Disti-ict of Otago and Southland, might advantageously be convened previous to meeting of Parliament, with a view to the amendment of existing legislation, and, therefore, do myself the honour to ask whether you are willing to attend such conference which is proposed should be held in Dunedin at an early date, to be fixed when replies to this circular have been received. — I have, &c, Vincent Ptke, Chairman of Vincent County. The Chairman and several Councillors expressed their entire approval of the proposed conference, and a motion was passed requesting the Chairman to attend. The following letter from the President to the Tokomairiro Athenamm was read : — Tokomairiro, June 2, 1877. To Chairman Bruce County Council. Gentlemen, — In accordance with the resolution of the Committee of the Tokomairirc Athenaeum, I beg to make application for a grant in aid of the funds of this valuable institution. It has, as you are aware, been established since July, 1870, and has proved of great benefit to numbers of residents within the district, but in consequence of parties leaving the neighbourhood and the continued depression of business tbe subscriptions have fallen off considerably. The Committee were imder the necessity of replenishing and adding to the library, and are now urgently requiring assistance to defray the expenses incurred for books, and to carry on the good work. They therefore respectfully apply to you, and hope you will be pleased to grant such an amount as will materially h/jlp them in maintaining the usefulness of the reading-room, library, &c. Of course you will be cognisant of the fact that you have the, power to coihply with the request under clause No. 191, part 9, of the County Councils Act, 1878.— 1 have, &c, Alfred Joxes, President, Tokomairiro Athenaeum. After a brief discus.-ion, the matter was allowed to stand over till next meeting. REPORT OF INSPECTOR. A full report by the Inspector was read upon the present condition and requirements of the County roads. His estimate for maintenance for the four months,' ending 30th September, 1877,

.■..«■■■■,.„«,..„„„ „, „,. ........ „,.,„... Ll , , ,„ •vas as follows : — First, portion between Taieri Bridge and Waihola township, LH)8 ; second, portion between Waihola and tbe Gorge, L9B 4s ; third, portion between the Gorge and Milton, L 242; fourth, portion betwepn Milton and Lovells Flat, L 190; fifth, portion between Lovell's Flat and Baiclutha, L 4 5; sixth, portion between Clarksville and Murray's Bridge, 1334 ; seventh, portion between Murray's Bridge and Round Hill, L 205 : in all, L 1312 4s. It was resolved that the report be carried out in it 9 entirety. TOLLS. A discussion took place upon the question of granting exemptions from toll to members and officers of Council, members of Road Boards, School Committees, clergymen, jurors, dec, but a decision was deferred till next meeting. SUBSIDIES TO ROAD BOARDS. Letters were read from the Mount Stuart, Balmoral, and Crichton Road Boards in favour of subsidies ; and from the Matau and Waipori Boards in favour of certain roads being taken over by the County. After discussion, it was resolved that LSO be given as a subsidy to each Road Board, the LSO voted to Glenledi Road Board to be given, with the consent of Glenledi Road Board, to tbe Tokomairiro Road Board, for the purpose of opening a road to Glenledi district, known as Loudon's gully road, and that the members of Ridings bring up a report on the roads that the subsidy is required to be spent upon. MISCELLANEOUS. An account ol the cost of the first County election was read, showing the amount to be LB3 14s Bd, It was resolved thai the matter be considered at next meeting. The Chairman explained that the County could charge auctioneers' licenses. It was pointed out that a great hard-/ ship might be entailed upon auctioneers, and it was resolved that fhe whole question should be discussed at the Conference of Chairmen. The Chairman mentioned that the publicans' licenses were about due. — It was resolved that the clerk advertise that the publicans can pay their license fees at the office of the Council. It was agreed that the Council should meet on the first Tuesday in the month, instead of the first Monday as hitherto. The Chairman read a draft of byelaws for the purpose of adoption by the Council, and stated that before adopting them the Council should take them into their earnest consideration, as they would be of great importance. On the motion of Mr Lendels, seconded by Mr Petrie, it was agreed to call for tenders for planking the Matau Bridge. The following accounts were passed for payment: — Mount Stuart Road Board, for gravelling and surfacing Glenore road, L 25 8s 6d; John Hollick, repairs to Clarksville Bridge, L3b* 13s; wages, toll collectors, L 1 8; J. li. Harrison, kerosene, Ll 10s. The meeting then adjourned.