COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTION.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 182, 4 January 1878, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTION.

«(— , A meeting of the ratepayers in the South . Molyneux Riding was held in the Road Board's office -, Port Molyneux, on Monday last, for thepurpose of nominating a member to fill the Vacant seat in the County Council caused by tlie resignation' of .Mr Donald Henderson.. Mr '"'Thr»s. Paterson - , Baiclutha,. County Returning- Officer* pre-, sided, and about twenty ratepayers were . present; ■-y ' . ■ *~7 „. The Returning, Offioer read.thenomina..tiohs, which were as. follows :— T ; y : ■ Mr R. 'Banks; proposed L by Mr,- Bfender- * son, secondediby Mr Janies Paterson. . «V Mr; Brugh, proposed jby, Mr.Wm. Hay, 'seconded'' by'lN^'Jo-witt.' 1 A :V -'; ' | ' . ; , Mr fr Ji. -H.-f; Jenkinson, proposed? by. Mi'M'Gioskie, > %cMdcdsy vMr Drejwery A v y TMx ßatilfsf .^Sbeihg^yi^^m^said' he had. npt;ihu'ch;to say^but.if elected wpiildi do his beSt to, fcerve \the - ratepayers tp; the jifeost\bf;his,^ility^;;y;^C:; A : i-'-7'A yy

for the district ii^-tJie capacity of Councillor. Mr James Paterson asked this candidate if he would pledge himself to' attend every meeting of Council ivhen practicable. Mr-Brugh promised distinctly to do so. In reply to the question as to which route the proposed railway to Catlins River ought to follow, Mr Briigh said he was in .favour of the Glenomaru route, as it was much shorter, aud presented fewer engineering difficulties than any other route. Mr Jowitt asked the candidate if he did not consider it wiser to push on the first section only of the line of railway at present, a distance of six miles, which it was calculated would cost L 15,000. Mr-Brugh thought that if the first section were made, the settlers in Ahuriri -and Glenomaru would agitate to have it made further, JYf'Lay considered there was enough timber in Glenomaru bush to keep twelve saw mills going steadily for twelve years. Mr Br ugh thought twelve saw mills could cut the whole in one year, Mr Jowitt asked if Mr Brugh- would be in favour of haying South Molyrieux, Br>hgh, and Inch Clutha districts declared a separate county. . Mr Brugh, aftfer softie hesitation, finally declared in favour of this scheme, and also expressed the opinion that the swamp road should be formed properly, instead of wasting money on the river-bank road. Mr Jenkinson said that twelve months ago he had stood for a seat in the Clutha County Council and was beaten. However, although defeated on that occasion, he was not conquered, and had much pleasure in again offering his services to the ratepayers. He did not think himself superior in any respect to any of the other candidates, for both -6f whom he entertained th e-grtatest respect. He Considered much time was required to fill ;tlie office, and that time t he was prepared to give. He thought the various Road Boards were making a serious mistake in delegating to j the County Councils every work of any magnitude, as the money must in any case ' be raised from taxes, and could be spent SiP#ifcr"to make an insane application to, the County Council to take oVer the road, and the public must suffer much inconvenience through this. He thought the Road Board should at once borrow say L3OO, and put the swamp road in good order. » Mr Jowitt asked the candidate if he was aware that the County Council was on terms with the Road Board about taking over this road 1 Mr Jenkinson : No. Mr Jowitt : Do yon think members of the County Council should be paid 1 Mr Jenkinson considered that members should not be paid for their time, but should be allowed travelling expenses. Mr Jowitt : If returned, will you pledge yourself to moVe a motion to this effect at the first meeting ? . Mr Jenkinson : I would do so not later ; than the second meeting I attend. In reply to a question, Mr Jenkinson thought the Railway to Catlins should start from Stirling, cross Inch Clutha, and Come through the swamp tb Port Molyneux, and then proceed -by the 'cli6apest line to Catlins River, He would be guided veiy much by an engineer's opinion as to the route. The Returning Officer then adjourned further proceedings till Monday first, when the poll will be taken. This terminated the proceedings. ta*mmmm*HM*mmmKßmmmmmmmm*mmmmmm