BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 208, 5 July 1878, Page 3

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Bruce County Council was held in the Council Hall, Milton, on Tuesday last. There were present Messrs Henry Clark (chairman), Petrie, Murray, Robertson, Wayne, M'Farlane, Duff, and Smith. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The outward correspondence was read and approved.

A letter was read from Sub-Inspector Thomson nominating Constables Clark, Warring, Tate, Hackett, and Comyn as Inspectors of Slaughterhouses for the County of Bruce.

It was moved by Mr Petrie, and seconded by Mr Robertson—" That the constables named be appointed Inspectors of Slaughterhouses. " — Carried.

A letter was read from the Clerk of the Wiiipori Road Board re claim of Mr Thomas Adam to have his name inserted on the Electoral Roll, and explaining that his name had not been on the Valuation Roll^ or on any roll as a ratepayer. — Received.

A letter was read from the Minister of Public Works intimating that he had transferred the control of the Matau bridge to the. Clutha County Council. Mr Smith moved—" That the balance of unexpended money voted by the Clutha Council for repairs to the bridge be returned."

Seconded by Mr Duff, and carried. A letter was read Mr Newshaw, manager Henley estate, asldng the terms for a lease of the Taieri bridge tollhouse. Answer — Ll3 per annum, payable quarterly, the tenant to keep the building in repair.

A letter was read from Peter Williamson, expressing his willingness to act as poundkeeper, buthis stockyard having been erected to hold quiet coavs and sheep, it would require some necessary repairs, which would cost say L 6.

It was moved by Mr Smith, and seconded by Mr Murray — " That the amount of L 6 be given on condition of Mr Williamson agreeing to keep the pound for three years. " — Carried.

A letter was read from the Clerk of the Matau Road Board asking for information so as to take steps for the separation of North Molyneux Subdivision from the Inch Clutha Subdivision.

The Chairman said the R,oad' Board had powers under the amended Act of the Roads Ordinance of 1874. The Council itself had no power in the matter.

A letter was read from the Clerk of the Tokomairiro Road Board asking for a subsidy of L 2 to LI towards the cost of constructing a new bridge over the Tokomairiro river, on the road to Coal Gully ; also enclosing a copy of the Engineer's report on the state of the bridge. Mr Wayne moved — " That the Tokomairiro Road Board be requested to state which would be the cheapest, to make the road along the river side, or the present road in use with two bridges." Seconded by Mr Murray, and carried. The Chairman said with reference to the canal from the Taieri river to the Titri station, the question arose to whom the land belonged. Instead of belonging to Government it was still private land. It was a very short distance from the river to the station., and before the Council assisted, as requested, the land would have to be vested in the Council or the local Road Board.

It was moved by Mr Wayne, and seconded by Mr Duff— " That the local Road Board take the necessary steps to get the land vested in some corporate body. " — Carried.

The Chairman stated that a meeting had been held at Kaitangata a week ago, when a resolution was passed that the lakes be vested in the Council.

Mr Petrie stated that there was a large and well-attended meeting at Kaitangata, and several resolutions were passed that the Lakes be vested in the Council. There was also a requisition being numerously signed in the district, asking the Government to vest the Lakes in the Council, and he moved " That the Government be urged to hand over the Lakes to the Bruce County Council." . .

The Chairman explained that the Lakes would be a very good thing for the Council if they could be kept at their summer level. Then 700 or 800 acres would be to let, and a good rent could be got, but the Government wpuld not -hand over the Lakes untrammelled. They would hand

over the Lakes only on certain conditions, and the Council would require to spend money before they received any returns. There was a person anxious to get theLakes, and no time should be lost in get ting them handed over, the Clutlia Eiver in the winter time being at its lowest. The cost of erecting the lock, according to Mr Blfiir's report, would bo from L4OO to LSOO. There was an offer to purchase the Lakes at L2OOO, but there was a strong opposition, and the land was not sold. The people in the district had confidence in the Council, which they had not in a private individual. Mr M'Farlane seconded the motion, which was carried.

Mr? M'Farlane stated that he had received a letter from the Kaitangata B,oad Board asking him to bring before the Council the necessity of something being done to make the road between the bridge and [the railway crossing, and the road alongside the river bank to the jetty at Coal Point, which was in a very bad state, The Council was asked to give LIOO towards doing the work.

Mr Petrie said that he was in favour of the Board receiving a grant. They had not received anything from the Council. He suggested that Mr M'Farlane should put it in the form of a notice of motion.

Mr M'Farlane gave notice that he would move at the next meeting—" That the Council grant the sum of LIOO to the Kaitangata Road Board."

BALMORAL ROAD BOARD,

Mr Smith moved—" That the Balmoral Road Board be granted a sum of L4OO being £ for £, for the erection of a new bridge across the Tuapeka river at Tuapeka Mouth, in place of the present dangerous rotten structure."

The motion was seconded by Mr Duff, and carried with the addition — " That the Tuapeka County Council pay half." Mr Robertson moved that the actual travelling expenses of the Inspector be reported. It was a usual thing, and the Government always paid travelling expenses. He thought it was the proper thing to do.

Mr Murray seconded the motion which, was carried.

The Inspector's report on the work clone during the month was read. It stated that the damages done by the late floods in the County had been repaired by day labour, and the roads and bridges were in a good state of repair, although some of them sustained damage by the flood. — The report was approved. Accounts amounting to L 202 14s lid were passed and ordered to be paid. It was resolved that an application be made for a free pass to the Inspector on the railways in the Bruce County. The receipts for the month were reported as follows ;— Licenses, L 195 : dogtax, LlO9 10s ; gold duty, L 25 3s sd ; goldfields revenue, LI ; deposits. L 3. Mr Duff stated that Mr M'Master had waited upon him as to a culvert in front of his property on the Main South Road. There was three feet of water upon the land, and he would move that the Inspector examine the culvert and reporb upon the same at next meeting. The motion was seconded by Mr Murray and carried.

The Chairman reported that he had accepted the tenders of Messrs Clymer, Nash, and Francis, for repairs to Manuka Greek bridge, for the sum of L 64 15s. — Approved. SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the Council was afterwards held to confirm the Bye-laws relating to pounds in the Country, which were' approved.