BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2505, 26 March 1902, Page 14

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

" THIRDS" AND " FOURTHS" QUESTION". A special meeting of the Clutha County Council was held on Friday afternoon to consider the " thirds " and " fourths " question, a matter that has been in abeyance for a considerable time. Present — Mt J. M'Keil (chairman), Crs W. Hay, J. R. Mitchell, John Johnston, A. C. Saunders, D. A. if'Lachlan, J. Clarke, R. Simmers, jun. The engineer was also present. The Chairman said the Commiosioner of Crown Lands was anxions thai the matter should, be. settled. HeX&.e-'cli^'vrto'iaJfpromised! he would call '^special meeting to, consider the matter. , iai ling -yyhich the conJmissioner indicated that Btrorjg?r measures -would be taken by. the authorities. A general discussion of a conver3ationaf nature occupied fully an hour. The special audit on March 15, 1901, showed in the lan'l fund an unexpended balance of Jlßsl 13s 2d. The balances were as follows: — Catlina Riding, £1112 7s: Clinton Riding, £23 93 id ; Clinton R-ding (Clutha River Trust). £110 Jss; Clydevale, £39 7s 3d; Gfenkenich. £23 2s lOd : Pichard?on, £141 18s 7d: South Mplyr.eux, £38& 5s 9d ; Waioahi. £14 7s sd. Of the?o sums, however. £528 17s 5d was lying at credit of a special bank account. The sum of £10 18s Id has been received during the past 12 months, makia°r a total of £619 15s 6d at special account. This sum has all been expended a3 required by law, except £49 still at credit. In the course of the conference the Engineer (Mr Johnston) suegeste-1 a motion in the following terms- — "That the Land Board be approached to see if an arrangement to spend money on land fuid work up to a certain, amount per month — say, £50, — and that monthly payments be made from general fund to land fund account to meet expenditure, would be accepted ; and that to meet the case thosa ridiugs largely overdrawn be asked to reduce expenditure urtil the overdraft 13 within reaeonable limits, such £50 a month to be charged to such ridinps in proportion to their overdraft as shown at the special audit of 1901." This proposal was eventually adopted, on the motion of the Chairman, and the engineer was authorised to interview the Commissioner of Crown Lands and the Land Board in connection with the matter The following ar? the lidmgs and the overdraft against which the appropriation will be charged pro rata •— Catlins, £1197 16s; Clinton, £164 17s sd; Clydovale, £31 5s 7d ; Clutha, £-577 16s lOd; Pomahaka. £1230 0s 2d; R-chnrd-son, £760 17a 2d ; South Mo'yEeux, £1119 19a lOd: Waipahi, £203 2s 4d. Glenkenich was in credit £118 18s 2d.