Bruce County Council

Bruce Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3097, 8 September 1899, Page 2

Bruce County Council

The ordinary moathly meeting of the Brace County Council, held at the Council Chambers, Milton, on Tuesday, vi as attended by Crs Murray (chairman), Begg, Clark, Driver, Hewitaon, Haggart, Noble, Crane, and Rutherford. > , '■ , ' IKSPKCTOB'S BBPOBT., . : , '• The Inßpeotor'a monthly report wa» as follows :— I have the honor to report to you on the state of the roads and worka for the month ending Slat August, 1899. Roads— The roads have improved very muoh daring the last two weeks owing to the continued dry weather, and several of the olay roads have had .the deepest iutu filled in. Works— -The contracts on hand have made fair progress daring the past month. The formation contract at Fortifica'ion is making good progress, and the contract at Wangaloa is well in hand. A start has aleo been made to road formation throng a viliag settlement Taieri Beaoh, and also with too oontraot "Balolntha to PillansV The fenoiog on the new road near Cirole Hill ialso nearly completed. The fenoing on the road deviation at Pearson's is matting slow progress, but tho formation is now avaiUbW, for the traffic. The oulvert at Lovella F.ac has now been repaired, and several other onlverts have been renewed and repaired since my last report. I have inspected tb« road at North Balclutha referred to in cbe petition preeeatad 6o tbe Couccil two months ago. When I examined the road it was in good repair and there was no ap pearanoe of it balDg oat up by the traffic i > aDy way. Thi* ro*d leads to two dwolling | houses in Matau and two dwtllmg houses in Bilo!utha Borough; and in any improve men s that may be made to this roai the Borough Council in my opinion ought to contribute the half of (Stbe coat, since 1 inspected the road I have learned that tbe chief cause of complaint is its wot state ia winter time for the school children pssiing over it. If a footpath was made on one side that would meet all the requirements in the meantime. The surfaceman in a week would be able to clear and level down a footpath at tbe lower side of the formation. I have prepared a report on the contract of metallirg road from Falconer's to the Shoota, whioh ia herewith attached. Receipts and Expenditure — Receipts : subsidies, £269 17b 13 ; rates, £37 16: 6i ; goldfields revenue, £6 6i 3i. i- xpenatiarc : work?, £192 17s 61 ; Government votes. £40 ; surfacing roade, £48 19i ; Hospital Bjard, £19 5a Id ; Charitable Aid Bu&rd, £42 15a 3d ; salaries, £23 18 j 4d ; &d---vertising, la 7d ; small bird nai.i.jnots, £10 8^; miscellaneous, Is lOd. The report was approved. FALCONER'S TO " SHOOTS." Messrs Mondy and Sim, on behalf of tbe Fortification Coal Company, wrote i stating the Council had not carried out x ts agreement with the company as to the metalling of road to the " Shoots." The company had paid £65 9a an half cost of the work, and the Council had only expended £70 on the work*, leaving a balance in favor of the company of £30 9a. Unless a resolution was passed agreeing to refund the above amount proceedings would be taken to recover the same. The Inspector reported as follows : — On the 4th October, 1898, a deputation waited on the Council to metal the road, and a resolution was passed that if the Fortification Railway and Coal Company pay one-half the c >st, the work would be carried ouc. On the 23rd November, 1888, Mr D. Allisoa'a tender was accepted for 22 chains at £5 193 per chain ; works to be finished on 31et January, 1899 ; the works not to be started until the company paid the money. The money was not paid until 6bh January 1899. On 10th December, 1898, I wrote to Allison asking him to come and sign the contract and commence work. He signed the contract oa 6th January, 1899. That would make the dat* of finishing the contract about the end of February, 1899, or fiom the da f e of signing contract — 14th March, 1899 On 21st February, 1899, I wrote to Allison that he v- as dallying with the work, and that the penalties would b^ enforced if he did not carry it on more quickly. Oa 3rd M*rch, 1899, I wrote to the coal company stating chiit the contractor's attention had bpe ■■ called to the delay in carrying out 'he works. On the 4th March, 1899, 1 wrote again to Allison pointing out the delay and drawing his attention to the time of the completion of the works and the penalties involved. On 21st March, 1899, I wrote to Allison, statiDg that co assist him to finish his contract I would allow him to empty metal on road without putting it in heaps and then spreading it on the road again. On 21st April, 1899, I wrote to Allison to stop layiog metal down on the road, as the formation was co soft that the metal was being lost in it. The metal laid down amounts to 21 chains 20 links in two portionp, leaving about 10 chains to finieh tbe road from " Falconer's to the Shoots " The metal being laid down in two portions does not add to tbf difficulty of driving coals over name, The total distance from Fa'con^r'n to "Shoots" is 32 chains, more or lees, instead of 22 chains as represented by the deputation that waited on the Council. The delay in carrying out the works was partly caused by the coal company not paying their c ntribution in time. A delay of six weeks occuwed between the seceptap.ee of the teoder and the payment pf

the money>-and that was the best part of the season tor doing the work. And further to show that the Council intended to meet the coal company generously in carrying out the works, arrangements were entered into to metal the whole distance, which could not be finished owing to the wet abate of the formation. Cr Hewitßon said that at last meeting he proposed that £22 should be refunded, as, from the way Mr JFinlay M'Leod made bis statement, he was led to believe the Council bad failed to do their duty in regard to the money received from the coal company. But he had changed his opinion after hearing what Or Clark had just stated. The Council had tried their best to fulfil the work and had done so, with the exception of about 80 links. He could not see that the company bad any claim upon the Council ; the Council had done their duty so far in trying to fulfil the work right through and bad only been prevented by the weather breakjing so early. Or Driver had, at the previo^B meeting, seconded the motion for refunding the company £22, owing to what he heard Mr M'Leod say. On hearing the report just read, he must say he quite agreed with the remarks of Cr Hewitson. Cr Ciark eaid it would be remembered that he suggested that consideration of the request should be adjourned for a month. At the last meeting they heard a very fine statement from Mr M'Leod; and, naturally enough, some of the Councillors were led away by that statement thinking it was all right. He could not see how the company's claims could be allowed , because for six weeks the company delayed paying their contribution, and that six weeks' weather was the best they hid during the winter; betides there was now only a distance of 80 liokg to complete the total length One great; point in Mr M'Leod's address was that the woik had not beeu completed in one continuous piece. Now, be (Mr Clark) thought th*t was not a disadvantage to team^ as when they got over the swampy ground they could have a reyt vhen thoy came to the metal. Besides, after al', tbe company had been carting c aal over the road all the winter ; the road could not have been very bad ehon a three-horse team cDuld take a two ton load over it. Cr Haggart proposed, and Cr Rutherford seconded, and it waa agreed that the letter be received and no refund made of the money paid. COREESPONDEtfCE. From Mrs M. Thomson, as follows : " Cnuld you inform me by whose order Mr Higgie, on Monday, 28th August, laid down poisoned oats on the road in Louden'a Grully, from the lower end of his fence to near the top of tbe hill at his house ; also, on my side of the road. On Wednesday night three of my sheep broke out on to the road, and on Fciday, at noon, they were dead. That day I went and gathered up a handful of oats ; and at present more oats are to be seen. I think that as I pay rate 3, and although the sheep broke out of the turnip paddock, I surely have a [ right to tbe road without poison on it. I spoke to Me Higgie about the poison, and he said it was a pity that more of the sheep were not dead." — It was meationed that the writer of the letter was Mr Higgie'a mother-in-law. —The letter was minuted as ' " Received." From the clerk, Inch Clv ha River and R >ad Board, asking the inspector to lay off some workd in connection with flood banks proposed to be erected at different parts on tbe riveJ bank*. — The Inspector reported that he bad taken tevfltj over the proposed ba,nkß with the view of furnishing the Boa?d with a working copy gf the works. — Approved. From the secretary of the New Zealand Counties' Association, stating that no conference of the delegates will be held this session; that the Parliamentary representatives will carefully watch all the proce€dings in Parliament, and that if necessary a conference would b« convened. Prom Mr A. B. Farquhar, on behalf of Mrs J. Butters, askiag the Council to exempt her from payment of rates ; as she is a widow and mac of her family are assisting ber at present. — Proposed by Cr Kutherford, and agreed to, that Mrs Joseph Butters r*fcß>i be remitted in the meantime. Three I'atapayers in GHenledi riding asked the Council to improve that portion known as Miller* pitich* makiDg it fit for dray traffic ; us at present it is only a sledge track. — Ag-ei'd on the motion of Cr Driver, seconded by Cr Haggart, that tbe land revenue frpm the district be

; expended on this work and left in the hands of the inspector. Erom Mr A. B. Haggitfc, for Mr Gv Jones, asking the Council to stop a road line alongside his property, being a continuation of the road stopped on Mr Salmond's application.-— Agreed, on the motion of Or Haggart, seconded by Crane, that if Mr Jones is prepared to purchase the road and deposit a sum necessary to pay the cost of the advertisement, the Council will take steps to stop the road. From the Kaitangata Borough Council, agreeing to pay its share of the extra sum voted to the puntman at Kaitangata. From Mr It. Thompson, chairman of Waste Lands Committee, enclosing a copy of Roads Obstruction Prevention Bill, and asking the Council's opinion on the provisions of the Bill.— The^ Clerk stated that the main feature of the Bill is that if any ratepayer asks the Council to remove a gate off any road and the Council refuses to act, he can appeal for redress to the Stipendiary Magistrate. — Received. From Mr Allen, M. ET.lt, enclosing a letter from the Minister for Public Works, stating that the Railway Department would not assist the Council in putting in a siding at Titri station by providing the rails and sleepers, the Council offering to do the earth works. — Also from the Hon. Lee Smith on tbe Barue subject.— Received. From the Acting Minister for Landß, stating that the vote " Balclutha to Pukepito " had lapsed ; as a mistake had been made in placing it on the estimates. From the Acting Surveyor General, askiDg if the vote " Balclutha to Pukepito " was placed on the estimate?, would the Council be prepared to expend £ for £ granted. — The Chairman reported that he bad replied that the CoudcH had already voted £ for £ for this work or any additional Bam which may be placed on the estimates for the work. The following telegram received by the clerk on last Council meeting, but too late to be dealt with at the meeting, was read : — " He Lee's interview with Council at Kaitangata. Company will deposit surplus refuse into ditch and pay cost of drain for breadth of railway. — Cr Haggart proposed, Cr Clark seconded and it was agreed — That the Kaitangata Railway and Coal Company be asked to give a detailed statement as to what they intend to do in the matter of tbe Eaitangats creek. " From the TJndei- Secretary, Marine Department, stating that on the application of Mr AlleD, M.H.R , a subsidy at the rate of £ for £ up to £30 bad been approved by the Hon. Minister for Mines towards the cost of clearing the Titri canal from tbe eilt caused by dredgiDg operations on the Waipori river. Messrs D. Mitchell, H. Haggart, D. Lawrence, J. JohnsoD, junr., and Mr s A. Mitchell, ratepayers at Wangaloa^ drew attention to the unsafe etate of the bridge on tbe road at Mr ThosJohnson's for heavy traffic, owing to the rotten state of the timber.— Agreed on the motion of Cr Haggar* seconded by Cr Nolde, that tbe Inspector examine this bridge and if necessary call for tenders for a stone culvert, by next meeting. Several letters were read from the Q-ovrrnmect stating that the votes required for roads and works within the County would be considered wheu the Public Works estimates for tbe current year were being made up. — Received. From Mr W. T. Brabyn, Clarendon, drawing attention of tbe Council to the gorse on roai between big property and Mr Matthews's — about 20 chains in length. If the Council would clear away the gorse he would undertake to keep it clear in future. — Agreed to, on the motion of Cr Driver, seconded by j Cr Hewitson, that the Council dear away the gorse and hold Ivir Brabyn to the conditions of his letter, DEVIATION OP BOAT). Mr Watters appeared before the Council with reference to * deviation of road leading from Terrace Range estate to Berwick, stating that formation was required in a tew places, — Cr D.iver proposed, Cr Begg seconded, and it was agreed that a committee be appointed consisting of the chairman) Crs Crane, Clark, and the mover to examine tbe road and report to next meeting, SPECIAL MEETING. At oqoe, in accordance with notice advertised, a special meeting was held to confirm special order in respect to the resolution proposed by the chagrin m and agreed tp in regard to i aiding # Jpan pf £1500 to be expended on

roads in the Tokomaiiiro riding. The special order vas confirmed, and the next step will be tbe taking of a poll of the ratepayers on tbe proporal. ' BOAT), MATAtT BIVEE SIDE. A report on the road np the Matau river side to Blaickie's was consideredThe report was to the effect that a portion of land ought to be obtained from Mrs Monaghan to widen tbe r oad. Cr Rutherford proposed, Cr Hagg&rt seconded, and agreed to — " That the inspector interview Mrs Monaghan with reference to the land required for tbe road deviation and report at next meeting." 3TEW WOEKS. Cr Hewitson proposed, and Cr Clark seconded, and agreed to that tenders be called at firßt meeting for the formation of road at Curries (Lakeside) improving tbe grade and formation of road at Lakeside opposite Mr "W. Eraser's section, and gravelling portion of road at Taratu. Cr Clark proposed, and Cr Butherford seconded, that tenders be called at next meeting for the metalling of 20 chains in several portions at Parlane's, Thomson's and M'Callum's Table Hill.— Agreed to. Cr Begg proposed, Cr Noble, seconded, and agreed to that tender » be called for the metalling of road to Bishop's to the extent of £100, and to steamer landing place, Hillend, to the extent of £100. Cr Rutherford proposed, Cr Noble seconded, and ifc was agreed that the matter of clearing of the ditch on the side of the railway near Gilroy's be left in the hands of the inspector with power to act Cr Noble moved, Cr Hewitson seconded, and it was agreed that the lapsed contract (Brady's) in Glenledi riding be carried out by tenders being called for same by next meeting.