BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Bruce Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 1209, 4 June 1880, Page 5

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

This Council held their monthly meeting on Tuesday morning. Present— Mr Henry Clark (Chairman), Councillors Murray, Petrie, Wilson, Hughan, Shore, Calder, Duff and Smith. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the outward correspondence was laid on the table and portions of it read. The inward correspondence was next considered. A letter from the Clerk of the Tokomairiro Road Board contained specifications of certain works which had already been partly executed, and were submitted for the approval of the Council, to be paid by the grant in aid of £399 12s 6d lately voted to the Road Board aforesaid. Mr Smith said that as a rule it was nofc right to take over works which were already commenced, but perhaps Mr Murray might explain. After some explanatory remarks on the subject Mr Murray moved, and Mr Petrie seconded — " That these works be approved of." Carried. The Chairman added that the Inspector had examined the works and had found them substantial and satisfactory. A letter from McDonald Bros, applied for the transfer of a slaughter license held by them, to a new site near Stirling. Mr Petrie stated that there would be no objections on the part of the residents, and mo ved — "That the rt quest be granted," which was seconded by Mr Smith and carried. A letter from the Clerk of the Tuapeka County Council, re Tuapeka Mouth Bridge, was read. It btated that the Council did not recognise any responsibility in the erection of a bridge in that locality, it being situate without the County ; they would, however, be willing to accept the following alteration of boundaries —"That the portion of the Tuapeka Electoral district, now in the County of Bruce, be added to the County of Tuapeka." The Chairman remarked that this would be cutting off a large slice of our County (about 60,000 acres). Tne Clerk produced the map of the County, which was inspected by the Council. Some discussion ensued, Mr Duff remarking that he was inclined to treat the proposal with contempt. Mr Murray— They will ask for the whole of our Couuty next. Finally it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Smith, seconded by Mr Dull' — " That the communication be received. ' A circular from che Dunedin Branch of the Melbourne Exhibition Committee was read, askiug the assistance of the Couucil in forwarding as many exhibits as poKsil.de from the County of Bruce, aud ollering to give further explanation if required. After some discussion Mr Petrie remarked that a lojal Committee, with somo fuuds at thoir disposal, could forward the object under consideration. The Chairman said thafc the Couucil should pass some resolution to pay expenses for forwarding exhibits. Mr Smith thought tbat a matter of say £50 would be well spent for such a purpose, and wculd uot be lost. He would move — " Thau this Council, in order to give inducement to parties desirous to send exhibits to Melbourne, agree, to pay expenses of conveying any such exhibits from the County of Bruce." Seconded by Mr Murray, and carried unanimously. A letter from the Colonial Treasury informed the Council that a sum of i.'21l 7s 3d had been remitted to the National Bank to their credit. This amount comprised £189 los S:', land revenue (20 per cent) ; £20 l'Ja Id, gold duty, and 12s Gi fees and fines — the whole for the quarter ending March 31. The following letter from the Colonial Secretary's office, and addressed to the Chairman of the County, was read : — S IR; — Adverting to your letter of 12fch iust., I have the honor, by Mr Dick's direction, to inform you that, from a return obtained from the Dunedin Hospital, it appears there were 25 patients from the Borough of Milton and County of Bruce treated in that hospital during IS7O, and that the printed statement you forwarded only referred to patients remaining under treatment on the 31st March, ISSO. Under these circumstances it would be unfair to the other Boroughs and Councils, which are charged for the support <>f the Duuedin Hospital, that the County of Bruce should not also pay its share. (Signed) Hugh Pollen, for Under- Secretary. The Chairman remarked that the agreement offered to be made was that they would support the Tuapeka Hospital, and would pay for any patients tbat went to Dunedin. After a brief discussion the matter was allowed to stand over for further consideration. The Chairman explained that the contractor for the repairs to Taieri Beach Jetty having been killed, and the next lowest tenderer having declined to undertake the work, he had thought it beat to call for fresh tenders. The Council approved of the (JhninuanV aetioi', and the following tciidcis were then opeucd :

Some discussion arose from the fact that the lowe-t tender was £43 10s above the Government grant of £150, and it was suggested that the increased cost should be charged against the next surplus fuud to be voted to the Waihola Road Board, to whiuh Mr Hughan, ps a member of that Board, had no objection, so as to sec the work proceeded with without further delay. Mr Hughan then moved, and Mr Wilson sec mdA, " That the lowest tender be accepted, that the balance of £43 10s be paid from auy surplus fund due to the Waihola Pioad Board, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to that Board." Mr Petrie thought there was great difficulty in doing it in that way, as he considered they had no right to deduct the money from surplus funds without giving the Waihola Road Board a chance of speaking for themselves. The Council were taking up a thing which they had no right to do. He moved aa an amendment — " That the tenders lie over, and that the Waihola Road Board be informed of this, and askei if they agree to pay the balance of the crn- ! tract."

The amendment finding no seconder, the original motion was put and carried. Tenders were opened for advertising in the local papers, as follows : — Bruce Herald, 3d per inch for first and subsequent insertions ; T. E. Wilson, 6d per inch. On the motion of Mr Petrie, seconded by Mr Shore, the tender of the Brvce Herald was accepted. The consideration and passing of the annual balance-sheet was allowed to stand over till next meeting, on account of the auditors not having been able to quite finish the audit. A notice of motion standing in Mr Murray's name, re distribution of surplus funds, was withdrawn by consent. The Inspector's report upon the crane now standing on the Waihola Jetty, and another one which is not fixed, was -read. It stated that the former one could be bought for £5, and would answer all the purposes of the inhabitants for several years to come. The other crane would cost £12 or £15 for repairs before ifc could be used. On the motion of Mr {Murray, seconded by Mr Duff, it was resolved to let the old crane remain, and to purchase it at a cost of £5. The Inspector further reported that, through the breaking down of a culvert on Lake-side road, near Mr Carmichael's, that party had suffered certain damage to his property. The Chairman explained that, haying come to the conclusion that the Council were responsible for the repairs of the road, he had authorised fche Inspector to gefc the necessary work done at once. Mr Calder approved of the action of the Chairman, and quite agreed with the report. He supposed the earthwork subsided through the rain, and the Road Board had a right to complain about the culvert. He would move, "That the report be adopted, and the action of the Chairman confirmed. " Seconded by Mr Smith. A very lengthy discussion took place, during which Mr Petrie again mentioned that fche Council were doing wrong in taking up any work ou their own account, and that they should simply see that the surplus funds were properly expended. Under the circumstances, however, nothing better coidd have been done, and the Chairman had acted perfectly right. Finally, the motion before the meeting was passed in the following shape: — "That the report be adopted, and the action of the Chairman approved of ; and that, in future, when works are constructed by the Council on district roads, and have been passed by the Inspector, they be handed over to the charge of the respective Road Boards." With regard to Mr Carmichael's claim of .£'6o for damages, it was moved by Mr Smith, seconded by Mr Duff, and agreed to: "That a committee, consisting of the Chairman, Messrs Calder and Murray, be appointed for trying to arrange for payment of Mr James Carmichael's claim. The report to be brought up at next meeting." ' The Inspector's monthly report on roads and bridges was read and adopted. The monthly pay-sheet, amounting to L6IS 16s lOd, was examined aud passed for payment. After mature consideration and argument the Council resolved, on the motion of Mr Smith, seconded by Mr Duff— "That the Tolls be reestablished at Clarksville, Clarendon, and Taieri Bridge, within the County of Bruce, owing to the heavy traffic of waggons, &c. ; the Chairman to be authorized to issue free passes to all ratepayers within the County." Favorable reports were received of contributions towards the Dunedin Benevolent Asylum funds, both in kind and money, the Chairman expressing the hope that still further exertions would be made towards forwarding so worthy an object. Mr Calder stated that his riding had contributed over L3O in money p.nd goods, and Mr Petrie estimated collections in his district to fully L2O up to the present time. This c included the business and the Couucil adjourned an 1 p.m. I

i' s. n. John F\'i\ju?on & Co. .. 'J 10 15 0 Uric Sinclair (informal) ... 217 10 I) Palmer &. Co 100 10 0 Thomas Findlay 103 10 0