BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Clutha Leader, Volume XVII, Issue 833, 4 July 1890, Page 5

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The above council met at Milton on Tuesday last. There were present — Messrs H. Clark (chairman), Inglis, DiUhie, Mackay, H.iggart, Noble, Oakler, and Macpherson. CORRESPO-ST DENG E . Tho secretary to the Land Board wrote asking the council to indicate where the moneys accruing from deferred -payment lands bfitwoou 2nd February and 20th April, 1890, were to be expended. — The clerk stated that he had supplied the information. The Surveyor-general 1 -. wrote requesting the council to show on"a prepared form the length and character of roads constructed or improved during the period from Ist May, 1889, to 31st March, 1890, with the money granted by the Survey Department. — The clerk stated that he had filled up the form as requked. The Chief Surveyor, Dnnedin, asked for a report of roads opened up during the year ending 30th June, 1890, to give access to Crown lands within the country. — The Chairman stated that no money had been granted for the purpose referred to, consequently there was no report fco make. A letter was received from Mr J. C. Anderson, M.H.R , with reference to the vesting of Crown lands in Tuakitoto and Kaitangata Lakes in the council, stating that tbe Government intended to bring in a bill for that purpose. In a second letter Mr Anderson stated that there was not much chaucc of a vote being obtained to rebuild the bridge over the Tokomairico River at Milton, the Minister of Public Works beinsr of opinion that the local bodies in thickly populated districts must raise the money locally or take advantage of " The Local Bodies' Loans Act 1886 " in carrying out such works as the building of a new bridge. — The letters- were rec jived. The Wairarapa North County Council wrote asking the co-operation of the council to get the counties Act amended in accordance with the following resolution passed by them — •' That, in the opinion of this council, power should be given to county councillors to. levy special rates over the whole county for the purpose of providing interest on loans to renew bridges of the value of L4OO and up-, wards, without taking a poll of the ratepayers." — Received. j The JVlatau Licensing Committee ( MessrsAnderson, Bryce, and Rutherford) wrote claiming the sum of LI Is each as travel^ ling expenses in attending the annual of the licensing committee. — Mr jMaophersoa moved — "That the council

decline to recognise tho claim." —Mr Inglis seconded the motion, which was framed. The secretary of the Milton Athenaeum wrote asking the council.. to remit the rates ■on the reserve, as they only received a small rent fur it. — The request was declined, on the motion of Mr Dathie, seconded by Mr Mackay. The inspector of slaughterhouses reoorted that he had inspected the various yard 6 in the county since last meeting, and had found them all fairly well kept. — The report was received. Messrs J. and A. Little John wrote stating that in consequence of the advance in the price of iron they could not continue to supply the council at the present price. They asked the council to relieve them from their agreement. — Mr Macpherson moved — " That the contract be cancelled and fresh tenders called for the supply of nails." — Mr luglis seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr William Smaill wrote re the road through his property, Wangaloa, stating that he would at ones take steps to erect the fence on the side of the road. He hoped the council would lose no time in conveying the hill track to him. — Read. Mr F. A. Joseph, Taieri Beach, wrote asking the council to erect the second fence on one side of the road taken through his property. — The matter was allowed to atand over fur two months. A petition, signed by Messrs J. Crane, J. Reid, W. Russell, and J. Whelan, was received with reference to the portion of the road known as Whelan's Hill. They asked that something should be done to make it passable for wheeled traffic. — It was agreed to allow the matter to stand over till next meeting. Thomas Dickson asked the council to erect a fence on the new road, Clarendon to Berwick, taken through his property, and offering to erect the same himself at 10s per chain. — It was agreed to allow Dickson to put up the fence afc the price named. John Oarrick asked the council to bridge over the centre ditch to give him access to his property. — It was agreed to decline the application. Bryan Healy applied for a lease of the quarry reserve, Fiiirfax, at 7d per acre. — Referred to tho chairman. Matthew Henderson asked that a footpath be made and formed on the road from the Main South road to the Milburn railway station. — Mr Duthie said that the road complained of was a very good one ; the people were simply wanting a footpath. — The letter was received, and it waa agreed to take no action in the matter. The Taieri County Council drew the council's attention to the state of the Taieri Mouth punt. The chain was so much worn that it was repeatedly breaking, and the drum was made on a wrong principle, so that the chain worked with great friction. They recommended that a new drum be made of a different style, with the object of relieving the friction on the chain while working. — Read. Messrs Sievwright and James, for Mr George L:uvso:i, of Taieri Mouth, wrote that while their client was on his way across the river the punt chain broke, aud occasioned him much inconvonienco and loss. They claimed L5 in compensation from the council. —Mr Macpherson thought .that if the punt was going to cost them too much they should give it up altogether. The council should at oncj find out what amount of traffic thsro was in connection with it. This man Lawsoi waa the very person who benefited moat by the. punt, and it was rather unkind of him to come down on the council the first chance he gut when they were doing all they could to help -him.— Mr Mackay moved — " That the council express its surprise at Mr Lawson's letter, as he benefits moi'e than anyone else from the* punt, and tho council is not aware that the punt was in a dangerous sate, and that if charges such as are contained in the letter were made against them the council would stop the punt altogether, as the district conld not afford to pay such demands." — Mr Macpherson seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr W. H. Mackenzie wrote, on behalf of Michael Muir, claiming the sum of.L3 15a, dainagoa i'or loss of a heifer killed oa the Kaitangata railway. — Read. The utider-secretary for Grown lands wrote enclosing copy of tho Tu.-ikitoto and Kaitangata Lakes Bill, and stating ! that the House, having decided that it was a private bill, the standing orders mu3t be complied with with regard to the same. These, referred to advertising the bill in the. district, &c. — The necessary steps to be taken in the matter, and tho M.LI.R. for the district to be asked to endeavour to have the bill modified so as to meet the views of the council. MISCELLANEOUS. The Chairman reported that the council's overdraft had been reduced to L 475. All the rates had been recovered with the exception of L4 or L 5 from outlying districts. Ho hnpad that councillors would be careful in their expenditure in the future, and not allow the overdraft to run up so high as previously. The inspector's report was read and adopted. It stated inter alia that the roads were in very good repiir, the only one that was cut up by traffic being that to Wangaloa. The maintenance metal contracts at Stirling, Millburn, and Greenfield were completed, and good progress was being made with the contract at Lovells Flat. The formation and metalling contract at Table Hill was finished, and also the cutting.of a. ditch between the lakes and the sluice-box contract at Kaitangata. A commencement had been made with the formation and bridge contract at Junction creek, Akatore. Very little progress had been made with the extension of Southbridge drain since last meeting. A sluice-box had been put in the centre ditch, Inch Clutha, in place of the concrete box, as the latter was not serviceable in holding back the tide water. The work of widening and clearing the creek between the lakes had been carried out since last meeting. The contractor for the supply of maintenance metal had been stopped as he was damaging the road. The receipts for the two months ending June 80 amounted to L 761 3s and the expenditure L 477 10s sd. "' The following tenders were received :—- --■For, clearing road at Table Hill —J. W&%r, la 6d per chain (accepted) ; R. .Barrels 7£d ; A. Scott, 2a ; M. Ferguson,^s'J^d. For formation and culvert on ' Wangalolb, road-— L. Hardic, L53 (ac-

cepted) : G. Ottaway, L54 14s ; T. Hislop, L 59 12s; A. Carrnthora, L 57 103. For formation of now road nt Wangaloa— G. Ottaway, L 25 19s (accepted) ; Fergus and M' Alpine, L29 10s ; L. Bardic, L 37 ; A. Oarruthe^B, L4'J 7s 6d ; T. Hialop, L52-3a 9<l. Mr Peter Williamson appeared boforo the council with reference to the opening up of a road up the ETarrowdale gully from Mr Strain's to Akatore, and presented petitions from the ratepayers, praying that the work be carried out. — Mr Mackay moved, and Mr Noble seconded— " That" the work 011 the portion of tho road beyoud the saddle be carried out. " — Agreed to. Mr Isaac Young appeared before the council with reference to the closing of upper road through his property. He urged that the road bo closed at onco. — No action taken in the matter. Mr James M'Donald waited on the council and spoke for some time about the works at tho centre ditch. He asked to be paid for the lass he made carrying out contract. — The council declined to recognise any liability as the engineer (Mr Cumine) would not certify to any further payments on the contract. Mr Duthio moved — "That Constable Thomas King be appointed ranger, at a salary of L 5 per annum. — Mr Noble seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Calder moved and Mr Inglis seconded — v That plans and apecifications for two small cuttings near Mr Dti tine's farm, Lovell's Flat, be prepared, and tenders for same be called for next meeting." — The motion was carried. Mr Inglis gave notice that at the meeting in September he would move — " That the council make and levy a general rate of fd in the pound over all the outlying districts in the county, and a general fate of §d in the pound over all road and river districts within the county ; such rates to be on the rateable value of all property within tho district as appearing on tho valuation roll now in force for the time being for the period commencing on the Ist day April 1890 and ending on the 31st day of March 1891, and to be payable to the collector in one sum on tho 14th day September 1890." The council then adjourned till the first Tuesday in September.