BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXIV, Issue 1223, 10 December 1897, Page 6

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

■♦- The ordinary meeting of the Bruce County Council, held at Milton on Tuesday. There were piesent Messrs H. Clark (chairman), Macpherson, Hewitson, Noble, Crane, Murray, Haggart, and Rutherford. An apology for the absence of Mr Smith was receied. Mr Smith stated that had he been present he would have had much pleasure in proposing Mr Clark for chairman. He would also be inclined to let the Crichton ratepayers take any action they think proper. The County Clerk (Mr Alex Nelson) took the chair for the election of chairman. Mr Noble moved that Mr Macpherson be elected chairman for the ensuing term. He stated that the retiring chairman (Mr Clark) had requested that he should be relieved of the duties pertaining to the office this year. He had long filled the position of chairman and he devoted a lot of time and work to it, but, as he had himself said, he was now getting well up in years, and wished to retire. Mr Macpherson, the speaker said, wouid make a worthy successor. Mr Rutherford seconded the motion. Mr Macpherson had always taken an active part in public matters, ai)d he had no doubt he would make a good chairman. Mr Clark, in supporting the motion, said it was now 20 years, since he was appointed chairman of the Bruce County Council. It was a long time to look back upon, for he had occupied the ohair uninterruptedly during all tho»e year?. As councillors would remember, he expressed a wish at last meeting that he should be relieved of the duties of chairman. Ho thought that the council could not do better than selfcfc Mr M'fherson, and he would be only too glad to support. .him and assist him in every way. — (Applausr.) There being no other nomination, Mr Macphers4n was declared elected. On taking the chair, Mr Macpherson endorsed all that had been said of the way in which Mr Clark had discharged his duties as chairman, and stated that he would endeavor to officiate in his new capacity to the best of his ability. CORRESPONDENCE. The Town Clerk wrote asking the council to send delegates to attend a meeting for taking steps to worthily celebrate the jubilee of the province of Otago. — The Chairman and Mr Clark were appointed tho council's delegates. Mr Allan Holmes, solicitor, wrote, on behalf of the Crichton Riding ratepayers, asking what authority the council had in charging the cost of the case Aitcheson v. Bruce Countj Council against that riding. Unless clear justification could be shown for the couise that had been taken he was instructed to institute proceedings against the council to put the mattpr right and have the costs charged to the county's fund account. — The matter wan discussed in committee at length, and i l ' was eventually decided to charge the costs to the funds of the county as a whole. The Secretary to the School Commissioners wrote that the latter would be propared to assist the council to the extent of LlO to make a practical road from th*. south-east corner of section 8, block V., Akatoro district, to the ncrth-west corner of the aaid section, and that the occupier of section 45, block IV, was provided with a road as aforesaid Bt for traffic. — Received. Mr James Allen wrote that he had communicated with the Minister for Lands re <£ for £ subsidy towards the bridge at Waipori, but he questioned if he would be able to get anything on the Estimates, as Bruce was looked upon as a, council fairly well provided for. Joseph Smith, Wangaloa, wrote askinj? the council to supply him with timber to covsr a culvert on road to his coal pit. — Agreed to. MJHCKLLANKOI/K. Tho committee appointed with rogard to the Kailangata punt reported that they met tho KaitangiUa Horough Council to deal with the tender* for working th« punt, and it was then decided not to accept any of the the tenders, bufc to call for fresh tender* for the work. — Tho committed action was approved.

On the motion of Mr Rutherford, seconded by Mr Haggart it was resolved — 'That the box at the lower end of Inchclutha be cleared out, and that tenders be called for the cleaning out of the ditch on the said road.' The inspector was also instructed to repair the culvert at Kaitangata punt. On the mot;on of Mr Haggart, it waa resolved — 'That a portion of the road down the river to Coombe Hay be formed, and that the work be done by the grader.' The tender of James Lockhart for i the supply of dog collars at 5d each was accepted. 1 Tho following tenders were accepted : Metalling on Begg's track, J. Beottie, L 183; formation at Benhar, W. Wilkinson, L24 2s ; metalling at North Branch, R. C. Hutton, L 32 15s; formation at Mac's Valley (Waihola), J. Orlawski, 19s 6d per chain. The Inspector's report on roads and works vras read and adopted and the monthly paysheet passed for payment.