BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.
It was reported to the Council that Robert Gawn had passed several tolls with a heavy waggon and six or more horses, and had paid only in part, or not at all; refusing, in some instances, to stop when requested. He also partially evaded the tolls by unyoking his horses, and driving them loose through the toll-bars. After discussion, it was suggested that Gawn have a copy of the charges made against him, and a caution given to him that any repetition of any one of the offences would involve him in legal trouble. Mr Duff said this man Gawn was the cause of the tolls having been established. Gawn, by driving through the tolls without paying, had set the Council at defiance and he (Mr Duff) moved — " That he be sued for evading and refusing to pay the Clarkesville toll." This was seconded by Mr Calder and carried. It was arranged that a copy of the rate-roll be left at each toll for the guidance of the collectors, who would then let anyone on the roll go through, even if he had not a pass ; and it was also agreed that each member should have a few signed passes to give to parties entitled to them.
Bruce Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 1230, 17 August 1880, Page 3
THE RE-IMPOSITION OF TOLLS.
(To the Editor.') Sir, — I notice by your report of the County Council meeting that my name had been bandied about at it in a somewhat derogatory manner. As I happened to be with the teams that trip myself, I beg to tell Mr Duff that his statement of the matter is totally untrue. The truth of the matter is this: that the people placed by the Council to collect the tolls did not, in one single instance, know what to charge, so I paid them all, with the exception of one, the amount I thought the Council intended to charge; the one I did not pay there was nobody at the toll bar when I came to it, so I passed on. When about 150 yards away, a woman came out halloaing — dressed almost in nature's simple garb, and that at 10 o'clock in the forenoon. Now, I hope the next time Mr Duff airs his eloquence before the public, when he uses my name, that he will at least take the trouble to get a truthful statement of what he is going to speak about, as I can assure him that I had no intention of defrauding the Council, and have no objection whatever to paying their tolls when using their roads. And I would have thought Mr Duff, when showing so much anxiety in sending a copy of the Rate Roll for the safety of his constituents, would also have added a schedule of the rates to be charged, and then he would have shown some idea of business, without taking the trouble of sending the schedule to that man Gawn. — I am, &c,
Robert Gawn, Dunedin. August 9th, 1880.
Bruce Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 1238, 10 September 1880, Page 5
BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.
TOLLS. Mr Petrie gave notice of his intention to move for the total abolition of the Tolls. Mr Petrie moved — " That any ratepayer in Taieri applying for a toll pass for that bridge be supplied with same." Mr Hughan seconded. The motion was put and lost.
The Chairman said that in Gawn's case he had been instructed to prosecute that individual, but before he could take the necessary steps, Gawn had paid up all arrears, and when the Chairman found that to be the case, he thought it would be useless going any further with the prosecution. This was approved.
Mrs Georgina Miller was appointed collector at the Waihola toll-bar. The use of the house at the toll-bar was to be the equivalent for the services rendered.
It was explained that the writer of the letter in the Bruce Herald on the subject of Gawn was all wrong. In nearly every instance the tolls were collected merely for the use of toll houses; and the boards of toll-bar rates were old ones that had been lying disused.
At the annual meeting of the Otago A. and P. Society Messrs John Angus, Robert Gawn, and Joseph Allan were appointed life members. Mr James Ross's name should be included in the list of those elected as members of the committee.
Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14346, 11 July 1917, Page 5
INTERPROVINCIAL.
The largest deceased persons' estates certified to for death duty in the month of June were those of the late Douglas Blue, Southland, £22,605, and Robert' Gawn, Otago. £22,258.
Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14350, 16 July 1917, Page 2