BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1602, 5 August 1882, Page 21

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Bruce County Council met on Tuesday. There were present— Crs Clark (chairman), Wilson, Calder, Duff, Robinson, and Murray.

TUAPEKA HOSPITAL.

The Secretary of the Tuapeka Goldfields Hospital wrote asking the Council to oblige them by passing their usual vote for the maintenance of tha Hospital. The Chairman intimated that the contribution from the Bruce County to the Hospital funds amounted to £1891, and this was more than the Tuapeka County had contributed, though they might have raised more money from private sources. It was decided to vote £50 in the meantime.

REPORTS.

The report of the Clutha County Council's engineer on the Matau bridge was read.— The Chairman explained that he had seen the bridge since the flood, and he was glad to see that it had stood so well. As the engineer had stated, there was no doubt a slight bend, but he (the Chairman) thought it had been that way from the first. The report of the Clutha County Council's engineer and the Bruce County Council's inspector regarding the removal of piles and wire rope belonging to the old Clutha traffic bridge was adopted.

1 THE COUNCIL AND THE TOWN BOARD.

The Chairman, speaking about the friendly lawsuit which had been agreed to by the County Council and the Kaitangata Town Board for the purpose of deciding the < point regarding the paying of publicans' licenses within the town districts, remarked that he thought they had taken a very strange way to test the case. He had been informed, a very short time previous to the case coming on, of the! Board's intention to proceed against Mr Gray, of the Bridge Hotel, for selling liquor without a license, but he had not been informed where or when the case would come on. With a view of ascertaining the date he had waited on Mr Reid, solicitor, who stated that the case would be heard the following day, and that he had received a telegram to act on behalf of the Town Board. Now it seemed that there had been some sharp practice on the part of the Town Board, for Mr Stewart, of Balclutha, was their solicitor, and he had also been asked to take up the case. It seemed very like as if the Board wanted to put the Council at a disadvantage, as by having both these solicitors engaged the County Council, as they had.no proper notice, could not have a solicitor in attendance. Mr Reid, however, on jascertaining the facts of the case, he was glad to say at once telegraphed back to the Town Board stating that he would not act for them. However, the case went into Court, and the hotelkeeper, on producing his license from the County, gained the case. Thus the point about the license fees still remained undecided, and he could not say what action the Town Board would now take. He thought this did not look very much like a friendly suit, and he was glad to find that they had been checkmated in so far as obtaining the services of Mr Reid was concerned.

Cr Calder concurred with the remarks of the Chairman., as did also Crs Wilson and Robinson.

KAITANGATA.

The Inspector reported on the damage done to the Kaitangata road by the river. He found thata portion of the road opposite Mr M'lnnes' house had been carried away within 10 feet of the fence, leaving only room for a dray to pass. Serious encroachments had also been made in other places. The banks above and below the old jetty had also been washed away in several places. As he had found that the Town Board had employed men, who were at the time of his visit repairing and protecting the road, he had taken no steps to expend the Council's vote for the work.— The Chairman said he believed the men were doing good work, and he believed that the Council would pay the vote, though they had no necessity to do so unless they liked. — Mr Petrie remarked that the work was of so urgent a nature that the Town Board had to take immediate action. He thought they were fully justified in going on with the work. — On the motion of Cr Wilson, it was resolved that, as the Town Board had entered on the work on their own responsibility, consideration of their application for payment of the £50 voted at last meeting of the Council should be deferred till next meeting.

GENERAL.

Cr Wilson brought under the notice of the Council the obstruction caused by the old tollgates, which were in many cases allowed to swing to and fro in the wind, to the danger of travellers. — It was resolved to offer the Clarendon toll-house and gates for sale, and in the event of a satisfactory price being obtained, to take steps to dispose of or lease the others.

The Chairman said he was glad to hear that the Tokomairiro Licensing Committee had come to their senses, and granted a bottle license to Mr Win. Moore.