PUBLIC MEETING AT INCH CLUTHA.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 127, 15 December 1876, Page 6

PUBLIC MEETING AT INCH CLUTHA.

II- * * J' A "public meeting was held at the Drill ll "Shed, Inch Clutha, on Friday evening, to fi -consider as to the advisability of taking Ii steps to have Inch Clutha added to the ll Bruce County. The attendance was very h 'small |i Mr James M'Kinlay was called to the li chair^ and explained the object of the jjj meeting. lie considered that the fact of :jj Inch Clutha being placed in the Clutha ;j 'County would cause the inhabitants great f-f inconvenience. For example, he said, i! in the election for a member of the Cotmty jj Council, they would have to go all the it "way to Waitepeka, whereas had they been I in Bruce County they would simply have j.^ bad to go across the bridge to Stirling. j ' He concluded by asking every one to ex- ; paess his opinion upon the subject. I Alter a long pause — Mr Mosley complained of want of notice •of the meeting. All those who had property upon the Island had an interest in the matter, and ought to have been present to express their opinions. He thought it would be a very, difficult matter to alter the boundary, as both Councils would liave to petition for it before it could be done. For his own part, he was not satisfied either with the boundary of the Bruce or the Clutha Counties. He thought the Clutha should not be under the domina. tion of either Tokomairiro or Clinton — that the bormdary should be the natural basis of the Clutha — from Stoney Creek to Clinton, and on the north by the Blue Mountains — the watershed around the Clutha. After another pause, and the Chairman having repeatedly asked some one to speak, Mr George M'Donald moved that a petition be drawn up to the County Councils with a view of Inch Clutha being transferred to Bruce County. Seconded by Mr C. Smaill. Mr Mosley said that before taking any •action in the matter, they should know the mind of the settlera. The present meeting did not represent the settlers of Inch Clutha. He suggested that the meeting should be adjourned till Monday, the 18th inst. , and that they should endeavour to secure a full attendance. Upon being put to the meeting, six for the motion, and six for the adjournment. The Chairman gave his casting vote in favour of adjournment. A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the proceedings.

After the above meeting Mr G. Inglis said he wished to explain with reference tfc o his having waited upon Mr George M'Lean upon the subject, — that several of the settlers had asked his opinion upon it, \ and he said he was going to Dimedin and "would ask some of them there. Having to see Mr M'Lean upon other matters, the subject of the transference of the Island to Bruce was mentioned, with the result stated in the newspapers. He (Mr Ingbs) considered Inch Clutha should be -a Riding of Bruce, as its whole interests were connected with Bruce and not the ' Clutha. If they were united to Bruce the bridge would be free, and if not, and if he were returned for the Matau, he would move that a toll be erected. Being a member of the Road Board, he felt as much interest in Inch Clutha as any part of the district. He would only make one remark in conclusion, and that was that if they continued in the Clutha County they might rest assured all their taxes would be spent on the south side of the river, and not upon the Island. Mr Mosley said the action of Mr Inglis in going unasked to Mr M'Lean upon the subject was another reason why he wanted a full meeting, to .see what the inhabitants "'thought of it. The meeting then separated.