BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19066, 11 January 1924, Page 9

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

APPROACHING ITS JUBILEE. When the conditions under which land could be taken up were made sufficiently attractive the whole of the Tokomairiro plain was quickly settled, and the question of providing means of communication had to be taken into consideration. 1q the early uays of the settlement the work of constructing highways was entrusted to Road Boards, several of which came into existence. These boards appear to have expended the funds at their disposal with discretion, and a great deal in the way of road formation was accomplished by them, and the enormous handicaps under which tlie pioneer residents laboured being gradually removed. In tact, the first settlers did not wait for the institution of any authority to undertake the construction of highways, but combined to improve the outlet from the plain Waihola Gorge by putting culverts on the creeks.

The xtoad Boards performed valuable work for several years, but .the passing of the counties Act in the 'seventies led in the course of time to their absorption by the County Councils, which were endowed with wider powers.

The Bruce County Council came into existence about the end of 1876, and its first meeting was held on January 5, 1877. Those present at that meeting were Crs R. Murray (Tokomairiro), Henry Clark (Mount Stuart), J. Smith (Balmoral), A. Robertson ( Waihola), Duff (Oiarenuon), F. Wayne (Glenledi), and R. Macdonald (Kaitangata). At that time the councils did not require to adopt the whole of the Counties .-,ct unless they chose to do so, power being given to them to leave certain matters iu the hands of the Road Boards. The first business undertaken by the council was the election of chairman. Cr Clark was selected for the position, and it may be mentioned here that he retained it for the lengthy period of 20 years. Mr J. E. Frown was appointed temporary' clerk. It was stated at the meeting that the council was liable for half of each of the largo bridges over the Molyneux and Taieri River.

At the second meeting, field on February 5, 1877, the chairman indicated that from all sources the revenue of the council for the next year would be about £3500. After a lengthy discussion it was decided at this meeting that the third schedule Ihe Act be not adopted, the control of the roads being left in the hands of the road boards.

At the third meeting a communication was received from the Public Works Omce, Wellington, skating that the Government had decided to grant free railway passes to the chairman and councillors to and from the meetings of the council only. The council decided to make tlie following distribution of the county funds among the several road boards within its district: —-waihola Roau Board (including the VVaipori Road Board district). 27 per cent, and tolls; Tokomairiro Road Board, 14 per cent, and tolls ; .Mount Stuart Road Board, 06 per cent.; Crichton Road Board. 13 per cent. ; Balmoral Road Board, 10 per cent. The chairman mentioned that the revenue for tbe first six months would uc only £I4OO, but for the following year it wouxu be £3500.

The fourth meeting was held on March 31, 1877. On that occasion the clerk mentioned that unless substantial repairs were effected to the Tokomairiro bridge within 12 months they might have to erect a new bridge at a cost of about £IOOO.

By this time the council had become v‘tv doubtful as to (ho wisdom of its decision not to adopt the Counties Act in its entirety, the principal reason for this apparently being that it had no control over its funds, which had to bo divided amongst the road boards. Accordingly, on April 9, 1877, the council decided to adopt thr Act in its entirety. On May 7, .187 1, Mr Alex, nelson was appointed inspector, clerk, and treasurer at a salary of £195 per annum, which

was, no doubt, considered substantial remuneration in those days, as wages were much lower then than they were in later Years.

Un dime 4, lot/, a proposal by Mr Vincent Pyke (’Vincent county Council) that a conference of the chairmen of County Councils should be held was approved. The conterence was held a little iater, and a number of matters of importance to those concerned were discussed.

As early as this time the freights charged on the railways were a source of complaint. The chairman of the council remarked at one meeting that as long a* the railway freights for goods remained as they were teams and wagons ri-ould travel on the roads and cut them up. He knew of one person who had saved 32s by having some furniture brought up by wagon. A large quantity of wool was still being sent to Dunedin by road. Or Smith remarked during the ensuing season ho would be sending 10,000 fat sheep into town, but so long as the railway thrift remained as it was he would not send them by rail. The largest work undertaken by the council within recent years was the construction of the Taieri' Mouth bridge, the erection of which cost about £3300.

Throughout the 47 years of its existence tlie council has done a vast amount of work on behalf of the ratepayers, whose interests have been well looked after. At times considerable damage hag been done to roads and bridges by floods, and tbe necessary repairs have involved heavy ex penditure, which necessitated careful administration in order to keep the rates down as much as possible. Tlie council’s worst experience in connection with floods was in April last, when damage to the ex tent of some £6400 was done. Half the cost of affecting repairs fell on the council, which was assisted by a Government subsidy to the extent of £ for £. The number of ratepayers in the county is 1209, and the number of rateable properties is 1743. The rateable value of the land in the county is £1,755,244, and the rates levied total £1361, including a hospital rate of £2778. In 1922 a loan of £7500 was raised to liquidate the antecedent liability, but by the end of the year this had been paid off and the council had cash in the bank to the amount ot £3OOO, in addition to which the outstanding rates, rents, fees, and licenses totalled £isoo. On March 31 last the council’s indebtedness amounted to £20,137. There are 145 miles of metalled roads in the county, 233 miles of unmetalled roads, 30 miles'of tracks, and 60 miles of unopened roads. There are 31 bridges of 30ft and aver, their aggregate length being 3525 ft. During its long career the council has had only three county clerks, Mr Nelson, who was appointed inspector, clerk, and treasurer in 1877, retained all these positions until 1909, when he was relieved of the office duties, but continued to act as inspector till 1911, in which year he retired from the service of the council. Mr Arthur Browne was appointed county clerk in 1909, but he held office for only about 18 months. In 1910 his place was f allen by Mr L. W. Potter, who still retains the position. When Mr Nelson retired Mr J. H. Bateman was appointed inspector, and he has served the council in that capacity ever since. Since Mr Clark’s retirement from the position of chairman, the following members have held it: —Mr Archibald Macpherson (1898), Mrs Robert Murray (1899), Mr Wm. Noble (1900-03), Mr P. Hageart nheisnn (1898), Mr Robert Murray (1899), Mr H. M. Driver (1909-12), Mr D. Boyd (1913-14), Mr Jasper Clark (1915), Mr T. H. Russell (1916), Mr John Adam (1917), Mr T. Scott (1918-19). Mr John Begg, who was elected in 1920, died during his term of office, and Mr Jas. Hyslop carried out the duties for the remainder of the term. Mr Gardyne was elected chairman in 1921, and Mr Wm. Bell in 1922, and Mr H. M. Driver, who has been a member of the council for 22 years, was elected this year. The present members of the council are: —Messrs H. M. Driver, James Allan. Adam King, Jasper Clark, Alex. Renton, Wm. Bell, D. Gardyne, W. J. Sheat, T. Johnston, D. M‘Gregor, and T. Scott,