BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 226, 8 November 1878, Page 6

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Bruce County Council was held in tWOo-anty Chambers, Milton, on Tuesday last. There were -present Messrs Henry Clark (chairman), Murray, Petrie, Robertson, Duff, Wayne, M'Farlane, and Calder. The minutes of the previous meeting and the outward and inward correspondence were read and approved. A deputation from the Balclutha Borough Council, consisting of Messrs Hogg, Macdonald, and Dunne, waited on the Council to solicit assistance with the erection of a punt at Balclutha. The deputation having been heard, the members of the Council nearly unanimously expressed themselves in favour of assisting in the matter. Ultimately, Mr Wayne moved that a legal opinion be obtained as to the power of the Council to expend the revenue of the County beyond its boundary. Seconded by Mr petrie, and "carried. Mr Petrie moved that the Clerk be instructed to write to' the Minister of Public Works with the view to having the railway at Stirling fenced in, the same being at present exceedingly dangerous. Seconded by Mr Murray, and carried. A letter was read from the Matau Road Board asking assistance towards repairing the damage done by the floods to the road at Kaitangata, and pointing out that the outlay required was. entirely beyond the power of the Board. Mr Petrie moved that those portions of road from Kaitangata punt to Kaitangata bridge, and from Stirling railway station to the main south road, Hillend, be declared a County road. Mr Wayne seconded the motion. An amendment by Mr Calder, seconded by Mr Duff, that the matter stand over till next meeting, was carried by 4 to 3. Mr Robertson moved that L4OO be granted to the Matau Road Board in aid of road works at Kaitangata. Seconded by Mr Murray. Mr Calder moved an amendment that 1 the matter be held over till next meeting. Seconded by Mr Duff. For amendment, 3 ; against, 4. Mr Wayne moved another amendment, that the County Inspector of Works be authorised to repair the road at Kaitangata under permission of the Matau Road Board. Seconded by Mr M'Farlane, and carried by 4 to 3. A letter was read from Mr Alex. Gray, Coal Point, -with, reference to the washing 1 away of the road at Kaitangata, and stating that several of the .adjoining properties had agreed to give the land required for a new road, but that the fencing and forming of the road would cost LIOO. Mr M'Farlane moved that the Clerk be instructed to request the Matau Road Board to secure the ground required for the new road, and to intimate that the ' Council would assist in forming the same. Seconded by Mr Petrie, and carried. A letter was read from Mi* W. A. Murray, M.H.R., enclosing one from the Minister of Public Works, stating that the lapsed vote of L2OO for road at Kaitangata had been placed upon the Supplementary Estimates, and would be paid so soon as the Appropriation Bill was passed. Mr Calder moved that LIOO of the vote be given to each of the Crichton and Kaitangata Road Boards for works on the river bank road, Kaitangata, and Lakeside road. ■ Seconded by Mr Duff. Mr Wayne moved as an amendment that the \-ote be spent as directed by the Ace, and for the -purpose for which it was intended. , Seconded by Mr M'Farlane. J There voted for the amendment 3, and against 4 * it was therefore lost. For the motion .three voted, and four against ; it therefore was also lost. A letter was read from the Tokomairiro •Road Board accepting the L4OO voted by the Council for metalling the road to Coal Gully, and agreeing at once to call for tenders for the work. A letter was read from the Colonial Treasurer stating that the School Commissioners of the Education District of Otago recently niade a claim of L 5756 8s lid, rents, of certain Education Reserves received by the Receiver of Land Revenue, Dunedin, prior to the 30th December, 1 877, and paid by that officer to the public account without distinguishing it from ordinary revenue receipts. The balance of the land fund was distributed amongst the local bodies, entitled on the 30th June last, the County of Bruce receiving L 555 lis Id. The Treasury had been obliged in order to meet the above claim to recover the sum of L 5756 8s lid erroneously distributed, being the rents of Education Reserves erroneously credited to ' the land fund. The sum receivable from the County of Bruce was L 254 14s 7d, of wliich amount L 203 10s 5d had been recovered, being the £0 per cent bf the land revenue for the September quarter, leavin"* a balance of <I_sl 4s 2d to be deducted from the first revenue accruing to the County? ; •■.•,:.---■ ■'■ The letter was received. '.. The Inspector's monthly report on roads and r bridges, and the monthly pay-sheet were read and "adopted. v ' -■-?■ The. receipts, for the,; month- were. L22l 65.5 d, less amount. of. land revenue oyer-, paid dn July 10, L 203 10s sd;?total, Ll7 16s,' and the expenditure, 1.131 '16s 9d. ? - A "Mr. Calder; moved that LSO be granted- . itowards the formation and metalling of 'portions of boundary road . between the sMouiit' Stuart; andteribhton. road "districts; ihe : said sum.: to ,l>Of as subsidy of t-^f or £ '"• ■in sums to be. expended by' these Boards] £7--; *' lyf^yz ■& 'y;y.'\ui%i}:::.f.tiy'i-jyi{-'{ 'yyy- fiy.-y '«»*. &&&^Ki7IS-7^

the works to bo carried out by the Mount ©tii ard Boaid. Seconded. by Mr Robertson and carried. _ Ihe Chairman then addressed the meeting as follows :— " This, being the last meeting of tho present Council, and as we may not all meet again as members, I may be permitted to make a remark or two before we separate. First, I would like to thank the Council most sincerely for all the courtesy and kindness which it has always shown to myself as chairman. We have been meeting here for nearly two years, and the most perfect harmony and good feeling has prevailed amongst us all the time, and it has, indeed, been to me a pleasure to preside over your deliberations. Uitterences of opinion have existed, and on some matters the discussions have been somewhat animated, as for instance on the Loudon s Gully question ; but even on these matters there has been no bitterness, no ill fcehng displayed. I am not aware that we have made any very serious mistakes, and tlie whole machinery has worked very smoothly. We set out with the idea of making the 00-anty of Bruce a model county, and if we have not realised all we hoped to accomplish, I believe our proceedings and conduct as a whole will compare favourably with any other county in the Provincial District. Ido not know o± any that has done better. Gentlemen, speaking m this strain may be thought by some to be blowing our own trumpet, but 1 think I maybe pardoned on this our last meeting for saying this much. And here I cannot help saying that our successful and harmonious working of the Council is largely clue to the ability, the care, and attention to his duties of our Clerk and Inspector of Works. I have good cause to speak very highly of the manner m which he discharges his duties. He is capable of doing a large amount of work, and he always does it most willingly and cheerfully. You will excuse me for savins this much." ' J ° Mr Wayne moved that a vote of thanks be recorded to the Chairman and Clerk for the very efficient manner in which they had discharged their duties. Seconded by Mr Petrie and carried unanimously. The meeting then adjourned.