BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Bruce Herald, Volume XI, Issue 1077, 10 January 1879, Page 5

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting was held on Tuesday, January 7. Present : The Chairman, Crs Smith, Buff, Douglas, Colder, Wayne, Shore, Mxirray and Petrie. CONTRIBUTIONS TO HOSPITALS. The Chairman drew attention to the fact that nearly half the Government subsidy had been impounded under the above head, and several members expressed their astonishment at the largeness of the amount. INSPECTOB OF SLAUGHTER HOUSES. On the request of Inspector Thomson, Constable Higgings was appointed to the above office, vice Constable Cay ford, resigned. MAIN DISTRICT ROADS AND ROAD BOASDS. The following correspondence was read — Glenledi Road Board Office, Milton, January 6th, 1879. Sir,— la reply to your letter of the 28th November, 1878. I have the honor by direction of the Glenledi Road Board, to transmit copy of resolution passed at a meeting held on the 4th inst. That the County Council be requested to take over the Main District Road, as proclaimed, commencing at the boundary road of the Tokomairiro road district. Section 26, block VII, Akatore, and terminating at District Road j section 10 said block, also that portion of road leading through the district to Akatoro Creek, commencing at the bridge, and terminating at Glenledi Creek. — I h»ve. Ac., Thomas Brookm, Clerk to the Board. Axxx. Nsuok T>-q . Clerk, Bruce County Council.

Wangaloa, 30th December, 1878! Henry Clark Esq., j .■,-... Chairman Bruce County Council, i'Sir, — In reply to your circular of date 28th re certain portions of the District A Roads within B-oai Board Districts, be declared Couaty roads. I am directed by the, .Kaitungata Road Board, to iaform you that it is jhe i? - opinion of tne Board that the only suitable road -■ "to be declared a County Road, is the road between Kaitangata and Wangaloa ; and ss the Board is engaged in surveying a, new road to Wangaloa, the Board would beg to leave the matter over in the meantime, until the new road is settled upon. — I have, ' &c. , j Alex. Mitchell, j ...-.;-..'••• Clerk Kaitangata Boad Board i Balmoral Road Board, i Greenfield Station, 10th Dec. .1878,) Sir,— ln reply to your. letter, of date 29th November re County &oadsj I have to irifotm y6u that this Board does not recommend that any roada in their District be taked over by your Council at present. And that they are' in favour of subsidy from any surplus funds that the Couucil may have at their disposal. —I am ftc, James Smith. Chairman. To the Chairman, Bruce County Council, Milton. Office, Tokomairiro Road Board, Milton, December 28tb, 187 S. Sir,— ln reply to your letter stating that a motion would-be- moved at next meeting "That certain portion of Roads, within tha Road Board District be declared County Roads," and your question "whether the Board are in favour of aDy road within the boundary being proclaimed County Eoads," the following resolution was carried at the Jasb meeting of the Board — "That the letter be received; that this Board does not deatn it advisable or equitable for the Council to take over auy road?, but are <f opinin it would be best that the Council should equitably distribute auy surplus funds they may have at their disposal to the Board, allowing fair proportion for oat-lying districts, passing over the roads to to the centre." — I have &c, Geobge Capstick, Clerk to the Board. A. Nelson, Esq., Clerk, Bruce County Council. Inch Clutba. 20th December, 1878. Sj r> By direction of the Chairman of the Matau District Head Board, I beg to acknowledge the receipt of letter from the Council's Office of d*te 28th November, 187S, in reference to certain portions of district; roads within the Road Board districts being declared County Roads. And, in reply, I have to inform you that the following resolution was passed at a meeting of the Board held on the 19th instant : "That, in the opinion of the Matau Road Bjard, the County ought not to over any more mads, except those alteacty declared County Roads. But should the County be inclined to take over any roads as County Road?, that portion of road from Matau Bridge to junction of Maiu Swamp Koad with .Southern Trunk Road, and also that portion of road from Kaifcaugata Punt to Kaitangata Bridge be declared County roads within t'uis district. — I have, &c, James M 'Kin lay, Clerk to the Board. To the Chairman, Bruce County Council, Mi ton. Waihola, 10th December, 1878. Chairman Bruce County Council. Sir,— l am instructed by the Waihola Road Bjard to inform you that a circular was re ceived from the Council, stating that notice of motion has been given for next meeting of the Council, viz., that certaia potions of di&trict roads within Road Board districts be declared County rouds. Moved by the Board — "That this T{ O ard is not in favor of any of the roads within Road Board districts being declared County road 3, as the Board approves of the principle of subsidy. — I have &c, John M'Nicol, Clerk to the Board. Berwick, Lake Waipoii, 9th December, 1876. Sir, —la answer to your letter of the 2Sth ult., intimating that a notice ol motion had been given for nexc meeting of the Bruce County CouncU, to the effect "that certain portions of district roads within Road Board Districts be declared County Roads," and al-.o wishing to be informed whether the Waipori Road Board is iv favour of any of the district roads midtr its jurisdiction being declared County Roads ; and if so, to state what portion, ought, in the Board's opinion, to be so declared. — 1 am directed to inform you that at a meeting of the Board, held on the 7th inst., the following resolution was passed : — " That tbe Bruce County Council be requested to take over as much of the Alain Dis trict Road between Berwick aud the Maiu South Road, as may meet the views of the Council."— l have, &c, R. B. Tvelftkee, Clerk Waipori Road Board. The Chairman, Bruce County Council, Milo:n. Crichton Road Board, Lovell's Flat, 20th December, 187 S. H. Clabke, Esq, Chairman, Bruce County Council. Sir,— l am directed to state, in reply to your letter of the 290h November, 187S, that this Board does not recommend tt at any roads in their district be taktn over by your Council at present. — I have, &c, JOHX YOUNGSON. Clerk. Mount Stuart Roid Board. Sir, — Tn reply to memo from County Council, i . with enclose the^esolutionslcarried by the l^ard at last meeting re County taking over road from Road Boards. The following resolutions were passed— "That th-i Mount Stuart Road Baard prefers to retain the management of all roads wituin their district, I' r the following reasons : Ist. That seeing the County Council derive a large .amount cf revenue from Mount Stuart Riding, in addition to subsidies, suoh as miners' right?, per cent, on land sold, the Board is therefore entitled to Urge subsidies, and is the best able to expend Uie same in such works as will benefit the whole district. 2ml. The Mount Stuart R-ad Boai\i is and has been willing to execute all worki witbiu its district in accordance with secli ms ISB and 189, Counties Act." — I have. &-., James Marshall, Clerk, Mount Stuart Road boar:l. Before discussion on tbe above, Cr Petrie obtained leave to withdraw his notice of motion — " That the portion of the road from the Junction of the Main South Koad, at Hilleud, to the Matau Bridge, and from Kaitangata Punt to Ivaitangafa Bridge be declared a County road." Cr Murray then moved, in reference to the question, the following motion, of which notice had been previously given — " That, in the opinion of the Council, it is desirable to take over any road that is at present under the control of Road Boards, for the reasons : Ist In the prospect of early legislation to define the duties of County Councils and Road Boards to each other. 2nd. To avoid the necessity of a general rate being levied by the County Council over to several Bidings composing the same."

Cr S mith seconded themotion. Cr Wayne didiaot desire to set himself iv opposition to the other members oc to the views of the majority of the Council, and evidently of the majority of the Road boards with which they bad relations, but !%hey Would at once see that the Riding ii represenaed was differently situated to any other iv the country. The Tokomai- 1 riro Road Board declined to expend money upon a portion of the main, and indeed only route to the Gleniedi and Akatore district, which lay within their boundaries, consequently any expenditure by the Gleniedi Board upon that road within their boundaries would be simply useless, whilst the Tokomairiro , Road Board did not supply the connecting Jink without which the Glenledi people were shut out from traffic with the rest of tbe world often for more than six months in. the year. This was all the worse, because whilst other districts if debarred from communication outside thi-ir boundaries on one line of road during the winter, generally found some other, more circuitous, it was true, but still available. Now in Gienledi, when sbut out from Tokomairiro, they had no other mode of egress than to walk into the sea. The Chairman said, that undoubtedly, Glenledi. had a grievance which should receive consideration, but not by the County's taking over a main district road. Crs Smith and T>etrie thought that Cr Wayne was unquestionably in a position which deserved remedy, but that remedy should be by some other means than .acting iv opposition to tbe gre.it majority of the Road Boards. The motion was then put and carried. SUBSIDIES. Before entering upon a discussion, as to the manner in which subsidies to Road Boards should in future be allotted, the Chairman said he thought the system of giving a subsidy either in the form of an equal sum to each Road Board, or as equivalent £ for £ of expenditure by a Board, objectionable. There were, for instance, cases in which roads were used i and cut up principally by traffic coming from outside the road uktiict, aud then there were cases like that of the Mount Stuart Road Board, where practically the whole land revenue of the County came from one district. In both these cases j objections would fairly arise to the systems j of subsidising which be had mentioned. Cr Murray then moved — '"That in the opinion of this Council, the surplus funds (if any), shcild be distributed us heretofore, as grants in aid to the several Road Boards." This was beconded. Cr Wayne thought that the best mode of subsidising Road Boards was that practised by the late Provincial Council of Auckland, acd was on a sliding scale under which the further off a voad district was, from the capital town of the Proviiue, and the less valuable its rateable properly was the larger was the amount of subsidy which ran in this manner from 1 0s to the ji, to £2 to the £. However, he only brought this forward by way of illustration. At present he was auxious that no determination should be come to as 10 the system under which subsidies should be distributed next year , until they had before them proper data on which to go. He would therefore move — '• That v return be made of the expenditure ou such riding and revenue received from same during the last two years, aud in the meantime the matter be adjourned until next meeting, ' Crs Shore and Smith supported Cr Wayne's motion, the latter seconding it, and then that of Cr Murray was withdrawn by consent, aud CriWayne's becoming the substantive motion was cairied unanimoiibly. BALCI/UTHA BRIDGE CONFEEENCE. The following letter was read — Mountain Grove, Port Molyueux, Dumber 23, IS7S. To the Chairman, Bruce County Council. Sir, — I am instructed to inform you that a, deputatim (consisting of Crs Brydoue, Dallas*, and myself), from the Clutha County Council, has been appointed to atttnd a coii-ferenoo on the above subject with the members of the Bruce Comity Council. I now therefore request you to call the same and appoint a convenient place of meeting, and with legard to the clay upon which to hold such conference. I would suggest the fourteenth day of January, 1579, or as soon thereafter as possible. I should be gla:l if you would let me know necessary particulars in time to allow of my communicating the sani3 to my fellow delegates.. — 1 have, &y., Alfred Jowitt, Chairman Clutha Couaty Couucil. The Chairman said that Mr Jowitt, Chairman of the Clutha County Council, had asked him to call a special meeting in reference to this question, which he had refused to do. Cr. Pet'-ic spoke in favor of the Council's giving assistance towards rebuilding the Clutha Bridge. Cr Wayne and others opposed this view, the Council had nothing to do with the bridge. It was agreed that the Chairmau and Crs Petvie and Wayne should attend the Conference. THE HOSPITALS AGAI.N. It appeared that the Council had already paid during the previous year £357 0s id under the heading "Hospitals and Charitable Institutions." Under these cir curustances, the Council thought tbe contribution enforced in the circular rather hard, but thought that they must just grin and bear it Following is the Government circular referred to : — Treasury, Wellington, 13 th December, 1878. Sir, — deferring to the deductions now being made, under section 5 of the Financial Arrangement* Act of last Scssiou, from the subsidies

payable to Counties and Boroughs under " The Financial Arrangements Act, 1876 Amendment Act, 1877," I have the laoutir, by direction jof the Hon. the .Colonial Treasurer to explain the manner in which the sums so deducted have been determined. , . , I In section 5 of •' The Finauual Arrangement Act, 1878," it is enacted as follows :— " In any case in which the cost of maintaining hospitala or charitable institutions of any borough or county is defrayed by the Government, the Treasury shall deduct from all subsidies payable to such counby or boroaiih under ' The Financial Arrangement Act, 1876, Amendment Act, 1877,' a sum proportionate to the respective amount of such subsidies, and as may be equal to the cost of such, maintenance, and such deduction shall be in lieu [of any deduction authorised under the thirteenth section of ' The Financial Arrangements Act, 1876.'" No deductions have been made in respect of the cost of Charitable institutions. With rtspect to Hosjibals, as the actual cost fortheyvar 1878 79 cannot be determined be fore the 30th June next, the net expenditure fur 1877-78 which affords a fair criterion of the cost for the current year, has been adoptad as the amount to be deducted and will not be subject to adjustment at the close of the year. In allocating to the several counties aud Boroughs the expenditure referred to, the G >vernment ha 3 been guided by the best information available ; and the cost of maintaining each Hospital has been divided, in conformity with the provision of the Act, amongst the Oountus and Boroughs making use of the institution, in proportion to the amount of subsidy payable to to each. OuJy one moiety of tbe amount recoverable has been deducte 1 fx-om the subsidies now being paid, leaving a second m^ity to be deducted from the remaining half of the subsidy payable in Merch next. It will be observed, ou reference to the statement enclosed, that vhe total amount recoverable out of tbe biibsidy for IS7S--79, payable to tLs County of Hruca is £459 whc'i sum represents its share of tue coat ol maintaining the Hospital as Dunedin for the current year. 1 m \y add that, in all cases in which Hospitals are locally managed and miinta ned, the subsidies of the dunties and B irougbs interested therein have not been sub] -uttd to any deduction in respect of the Hospitals the cost ot which is defrayed by the Government. — I am &c. James Havin, Secretary to the Treasury. To ihe Chairman, Bruce County Council. WATER STJtEET, KAITANGATA. The following tenders for works in this street were received : Donald and John Gordon £170 14- 0 JohnC Gordon £20L 15 0 Smiih Bros £217 0 0 The tender of Donald and John Gordon was accepted, and it was agreed to gi>e the contractors further work at schedule ra cs, on Water- street, up to £200. .VORKISON'\s SWAMP: No tenders were sent in for works at this place, aud tenders were ordered to be called for again. VALUATION LISTS. It was agreed to pay a maximum sum of .£5 to Road Boards for furnishing valuation lists. FItEE EAILWAV PASSES. Or. Smith agreed with the withdrawal of free railway passes to members of Council, and moved that the actual expenses of members travelling to attend meetings of Council be i^fuude-.l to them. This was seconded, and carried unanimous 'y . XL' APEX A AIOUTII. Thft letter from the settlers at Tu.ipeka Mouth, read at laat nioeiing, was considerci!, and the matter was re 'erred to the B.ilmotcil lioul Board. GLIiXLICDI. C'r Wayne moved that .£^oo be granted to the G cult di iload Hoard, to be expended £1 for £1 hy the Road Board as iollows — £150 on road from Loudon's Gully to Akatore Creek; £1 5 from Coal Gully to the co;ust at Boot Bocks ; £25 for the Connecting Spur. Cr Wayne having sp- ken at some length in support of the motion, Cr e.eeoiided tin motion, aud during the discussion wh eh Jo lowed, Ci'3 Murray and Wayne fought the battles of the Tokomairiio and Glenledi Iload Boards over again, aud made contradictory statements. Cr Cahier moved that a, sum not excscding £200 be spent on the Loudou's Gully Koad, within the Tokomairiro Hoad Board District, if the Tokom.iiriro Koad Board woull consent to the same by arrangement with the Council* The amendment was not seconded. TJu.'timately a somewhat similar amendment was moved by Cr Smith, providing that the sum .should be £250 (including £50 al.ieady voted), on the understanding that this should not be regarded a? a precedent, and that if the matter could not be amicably arranged with the Tokomairiro Koad Board, JbloO on the principle of £1 for £1, should ho granted to the Glenledi Hoad Board. [.ML'OrMH^G ACT. Cr .Huff called the attention of the Council to defects in the Inipmnding Act, and thn Chairman w.i.s instructed to communicate with the Government on the subject. i STOCK VJ.KDS AT LOYKUh's FLAT. The Cerk was ordered to cumuuiuic.ite with the Government regarding the necessity for s r ock \ards at Loie'l's Flat Railwas Station. REPORTS. The Inspector's report and pay-sheet were read and adopted as follows : — Milton, January 2, 1876. To the Chairman Bruce County Council. ,- v- — ! li >.vo the honor to report to you on the sfri.ttj of the roads and bridges, for the month eiuliiiij 31s; December, IS7U. Roads. The roads arc ail in a very good state of repair, and the suit'acfsmv.i has b«en engaged in scour in 'j; cv" some, ditches near .Mi 1 Cars >n's and at Mr InglisV. and in building up some pieces of the Tokomairiro river hanks to keep the water from overflowing on tbe road aud washing away ( the metal, and gathering loose stones off otir-r I portions of the roads. i Ib v/ill bo neiiess-ary to provide some mainten- | ance metal for that portion of the road between Mr Carson's g,\te aud Wuolsbecl bridge before the wiuter sel-s in, as some portions of it is 1 nearly worn out. The quantity required will be 300 cubic yards.

Bridges. None of the bridges have required any repairs since my last report, and they are all in a fair state of repair, and sustaing the traffic over them without any signs of giving way. The contractor for the repairs to road at Kaitangata, has commenced his contract, arid is progressing satisfactorily with the work. The Tokomairiro Road Board has commenced the i metalling of road to Miiboum railway station, of which the C mneil pays one. half, and the work is being done in a satisfactory manner. The Balmoral Koad Board has also commenced the works under Council grant of £'to £, and the works are being carried out satisfactoilry. I have also inspected some works under the Kaitangata Road Board, on road near schoolhouse, Wangaloa, ana at ene other place on district road. The works were cuttings to improve the gradient and widen part of the road. I have passed them. I have also iuspected some works under the Cnchton Road Board, on road down lakeside, and at Lo veil's Flat railway station. I have passed part of the works. The rest of the works on road leading to Main South Road are progressing favorably. All the above works are being constructed under the Council grant of £ to£. The Kaitangata and Crichton Road Boards granted permission to the Council to construct the works proposed to be undertaken, on the roads under their jurisdiction. Specifications have been prepared, and tfinders c Jled for the works for this meeting.— l have the honor to be, Sir, Your Obedient Servant, Alex, Nelson, Inspector of Works. Expenditure. £ s d James Why took, surfacing ... ... 10 13 6 Robert Thomson, dog tax 10 9 0 Kt id aod Douglas, timber 0 9 0 'Bruce Herald,' advertising ... 26 16 6 Hagijitt Bros., and Brent ... ... 5 15 8 Malcolm Morrison, contract No. 13 100 0 0 Kaitangataßoad Board, Councilgrant 47 17 0 Cricbt-jn do do ... 24 10 0 Treasurer's advance account ... 2 00 Chairman ... ... ... ... S 6 8 Clerk and Inspector 16 5 0 Alex. Nelsou, works ... ... 7 14 Dunedin Hospital 229 10 0 £489 16 0 Alex. Nelson, Clerk and Inspector. Receipts. £ s d Subsidy .., 943 15 11 Gold Duty 24 18 5 Goldtielda Revenue 5 0 0 Dog tax 22 10 0 License ... ... ... ... 1 5 0 MiseclJatieous ... ... .. I 0 0 £998 9 4 Alex. JN'elsox, Treasurer. TITBI EAILWAT STATION". Some necessary metalling whs ordered to be done at the main road joining this station. The Council then adjourned.