Bruce County Council.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 143, 12 June 1903, Page 3

Bruce County Council.

■ -W The monthly meeting of the above was held in the County .Chamber on Tuesday Present- Crs Noble (chairman), Driver, Haggarfc, Mosley, Adam, Begg, Crane, Mar- . tin and Bryce. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, the report was adopted, and the pay-sheet passed for payment. MONTHLY REPORT, Roads.— The roads keep in fair condition for the traffic. The late Socdg rendered the unraettatled roa^s almost impassable .for some days, but they are improving again, although not much can be expected until the Bpring. Works.— The works on hand have made progress up to the flood on Thursday, 28th May, and*Bince that time very little has been done to the works. The formation contract at Akatore is still being carried on, and fair progress has been made with the works. The formation at Bennett's, Lovells Flat, is now finished, and a start had been made on the Lakeside contract, but it.was stopped owing to the wet weather. The wideniog of the road ,l Balclutha to Pillaus," has made fair progress. The "flood waßhed out the ford on the Wash Pool creek, PnkpitO, and completely stopped the traffic. Men have been put on to repair the damage, and it is expected the roads will be opon for traffic again by the end of this week. The Table Hill formation contract has made but slight progress since last report. The metalling contracts have all been stopped for the present, as the roads are too soft to receive metil. Mr Cormack is at present repairing the main road, between Milton and Clarksville. The flood on the 28th and 29th of May did no serious damage to the roads, except at Washpool Creek, Pukepito. A large culvert at Mr John Sutherlands was damaged ; it is an old culvert with wood, covers, and is being replaced by a three feet concrete pipe. Several other culverts were chokod with the large volume of water, but they have been cleared out and repaired. The flood was unusually high at Clarksville, and on Milburn and Salmond'a Creek, and at Lovells Flab a 5 large portion of the roads were under water for a short time. The clearing out of . the centre ditch, lnclutha and Matau drains, are now finished, and they are acting very well io keeping the water off the lands. Part of the embankment ou the Waipori river burst during the late flood, and steps are beiug taken 'to repair them again. The bridge over Graham's Creek, and a large wood culvert at Dickson's, on the BerwickClarendou road, have been re-planked, and timber ha? been laid down to repa ; r the culvert on Gleoledi Creek. The grading on the street line past Mr T. Bryce's is nearly completed, but the work was suspended owiDg to wet weather. Works under Government votes, have been laid off io Akatore Blocks and on the road to Circle Sill v??5 , Forb Hill, aacl tenders called for the wort. The receipts for the month were £1634 Bs, 3d, and the expenditure £935 18 1 4J, CORRESPONDENCE. From the Premier stating that Empire Day, the 25th May, was to be celebrated on the Monday, and would be observed by the Government offices throughout the colony. — Received. From the Chief Engineer for Roads stating 'the repairs for Balclutha Bridge had been undertaken and will be cariied out by the District Road Engineer of Dunedin, and asking the Council to pay into the public ace unt at the Bink of New Zealand, Milton, and forwa.d the rtoeipt to Wellington. > The Chairman stated that the Council's share of the expenditure amounted to £500, which the Council had agreed to raise by a l. separate rate over the whole county, and be. was of the opinion that the payment to the bridge repairs should stand in the same position as Government votes for works within Jibe county j tb»t wra*, ; W mate pw

gress payments as the work was proceeded? with, on the certificate of the inspector, and he would move accordingly. — Seconded by "Cr Martin and carried. From the Road Engineer, Dunedin, asking the Council to forward the amount required for roads, bridges,. &c , within the county, for which it wishes provision to be made on the Road Estimates for the year 1903-04.— The Chairman reported that the following schedule of the works had been applied for :— Tokomaiririro Riding, £500, £ for £, for metalling roads ; Balmoral Riding, £500, £ for £, for metalling roads ; Inch Clutha Riding, £300, £ for £, for meiairWßx„-i,^ Balclutha to Pukopito, £200, £ for £, for compleT>ii*£^r2* d .; Km- . tangata to Wangaloa, £200 improving grade and culverts ; Lovells Flat-Hillend road, £200 for metalling ; Akatore Blocks, £200 for road formation ; Block VI, Clarendon, £100 for road formation ; village settlement, Taieri Beach, £100 for road formation,; Table Hill Blocks, £160 for road formation : Clarendon-Berwick road, £100 for road formation ; Stirling to Morrison's, £100 for raising road ; Crookburn bridge, £200 for new bridge ; Block I, Akatore, £80 improving grade ; Block XXV, Waihola, £120 new road. — Total, £3200. From the Road Surveyor asking if there was a title to the land upon which the Council proposed to expend item 1840 of vote 101, Inch Clutha, as the Chief Engineer required all information in that respect.— The Chairman stated that a reply had been sent that the proposed works were all on the road lines, Inch Clutha. From the Tuapeka County Council suggesting that the sum of £200 be asked as a subsidy, on the estimated cost of the Crookburn bridge —The Chairman stated that he had agreed to the proposal, and asked for £200 °as £ for £ for the erection of the bridge. —Received . From the Inspector General Office, Wellington, stating that the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards had power to appoint a member in place of Mr James Smith, resigned, who held office until the next annual election.— The Chairman stated tbat on receiving the letter be had written to the secretary of the Charitable Aid Board, stating that the Council recommended' the appointment of Mr J. M. Begg in place of Mr Smith. The usual resolution to borrow from the Bank Of New Zealand in anticipation of revenue was carried. From the Department of Agriculture stating that it had approved of a slaughtering license in favor of Mr R. Wyber, which expires on June 30th. Also a letter acknowledging receipt of an application for a slaughtering license in favor of Mr O. &. Kelly. Also a letter acknowledging receipt of applications for renewals of slaughtering licenses in favor of Messrs W. P. Penneli, A. M'Kechme, G. Anderson, W. T. Little, J. Draper, J. Jarvie, G. M. G. Macdonnell, and R. Wyber.— Received. From the Secretary Veterans' Home Committee, *Auckland, asking the Councils assistance to raise funds for a Veteran s Home, as a national monument to all New Zealaodera who fell in South Africa.—Resolved that no action be taken in the matter. From Mr A. Paterson, Waihola, asking leave to form a small boat landing-place on the side of the lake near to the present jetty, and also asking the Council to give a subsidv on the cost of, the landing-place, as it would be used by all owning -boats on the lake.— Resolved that leave to erect the landi gplace be granted. From M-s?rs Kircaldy and Micg=orge offering their services as civil and mining engineers and surveyors. — Received. Several circulars were receiv d from persons desirous of supplying poisoned grain for small birds. From Mr Wm. Kelly, complaining that. Bome parson had blocked up tbe watercourse on the- swamp road, _ Stirlin?, 1 and diverting tha water from its usual course, and asking that the. council take steps to get the ob. true ion removed. .—Resolved that the- obstruction be removed ! at Mr Gilroy's expense, in default of his re- ' moving it, as he had placed it there. ! From Mr Thos. Crane asking, leave to 1 erect and work a flaxmill on tne foreshore • of Lake Waibojaa—Resolved that the J ■; ; ': ;T

request be granted, subject to the payment of a rent of £1 per annum. From Mr D. M'Gill suggesting that a River Board be established to olear the bed of the river, as it was obstructed in places. —Resolved that the attention of the Stook Inspector be drawn to the matter. lb was resolved that the Council supply d ratepayers with poisoned grain for small birds, also that during the wet weather the surfaceman be employed^ to lay tjhe, "grain in suitable places. ' . The question of a supply of metal being obtained for the Hillend road was left in the hands of the Inspector. The Chairman reported that he had attended a conference called by the Government Department of Agriculture, to take steps 2 abate the small birds nuisance, and submitted the 'Bruce Herald' report of the business done.— After a discussion, it was decided to instruct the inspector to use his discretion in putting on the surfacemen during the winter to distribute poisoned grain. The Chairman also reported that he attended a meeting of ratepayers of the Lakes Drainage District, and a. resolution was agreed to carry out the work of widening Morrison's Creek. lb would be necessary to raise a loan under the "Local Bodies Act, to the amount of £750. Cr Bryce gave notice of the following motion for next meeting — " That the necessary steps be taken to raise under * The Local Bodies Loan Act, 1886,' the sum of £750 for i widening iMorrispn's Creek, between the' Kaitangata and" Tuakitoto Lakes, and paying off existing liabilities over tne Lakes Drainage District." J he following renders were accepted for contracts :— No. 640 (formation of road near Hardwiek's), J. Fergusson (North Branch) £19 10s j No. 641 (formation of road near Quill's, Milburn), Thomas Quill, £85.