BALCLUTHA TOWN COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1342, 18 August 1877, Page 10

BALCLUTHA TOWN COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Balclutha Town Council was held in the Council Chambers, Balclutha, on Tuesday evening. Present: The Mayor (Mr M'Neil), and Councillors Cramond, Hogg, Dunne, Macdonald, Doull, and Canning.

The Mayor, in the course of his introductory address, mentioned that matters of great importance would come before them during the ensuing year — matters o? as much importance as ever had been before them in the past, or was likely to be in the future. He had no doubt Councillors would give all matters fall consideration, and that they would work harmoniously together for the good of the township. _ He referred to the new Municipal Corporations Act as one which required the careful study of Councillors. The matter of the Municipal reserves was another ona which required careful looking into. He believed Balclutha was as poorly endowed a Municipality as was to be found ia the Colony. The only reserve they could call their own was now being much destroyed, and the peculiar benefits hitherto derived from it by the inhabitants abolished through the cutting up of the ground by the railway. This matter should at once be taken up, and he had no doubt that upon a properrepresentation being made to the Government the full endowment provided for under the new Municipal Act would be given. One strong reason for Balclutha receiving the full endowment was the burden that had been cast upon the ratepayers by the bridge having been handed over to them. No Municipality had a burden of anything like this in magnitude. No doubt the bridge might be self-supporting for a short time, but it must ultimately be a serious burden, and there was thus all the greater reason why the Municipality should be liberally endowed.

TENDERS.

Tenders for the following works were then opened : — Charlotte street, re-formation and gravelling : George Bain, L 13 7; A. Chirnside, L 75. Douglas and Gordoi. streets, formation and gravelling : G. Bain, L 17 1; A. Chirnside, Lll7 7s. John street, gravelling : G. Bain, L 5 7s per chain ; A. Chirnside, L 57 5s lid (15£ chains).

In the matter of Charlotte street the tender was regarded as higher than had been anticipated. _ The matter was referred to the Works Committee to see the Engineer, and have the plans altered.

The tenders for Gordon, Douglas, and John streets were discussed. The works were regarded as too expensive, and, after much discussion, it was resolved to arrange with the lowest tenderer for the execution of [the works in a modified form.

COMMITTEES.

Committees were appointed as follow :— Works: Councillors Cramond, Dunne, and Doull. Finance : Councillors Hogg, Macdonald, and Canning. Reserves : Councillors Hogg, Macdonald, and Canning.

ITAIN SOOTH EOAD.

I; was resolved to have metal spread upon the Main South Road at the southern boundary of the township.