BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXI, Issue 1041, 6 July 1894, Page 5

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

— ♦_ The ordinary meeting of the Bruce County Council was held in the council chambers, Milton, on Tuesday. There were present — Messrs H. Clark (chairman), Smith, Macpherson, Mosley, Murray, Noble, Haggart, Crane, and Calder. INSPECTOR'S RErOKT. The inspector reported inter alia : — " The only party at work on the Matau drainage scheme is Mr M'Kinlay's, and he is making very slow progress. Messrs Taylor, Fahey, and Co. made a start, but they stopped owing to the water filling up the ditches as fast as they were cut. Nothing has been done to J. Tough's contract. J. Bartley is working at the ditch on the side of swamp road, but the water is a great hindrance. The railway bridge over the Lakes drainage canal yielded to the thrust of a train passing over it, and put the rails out of the proper line. Two planks have been bolted to the beams to give a broader bed to the sleepers, and the rails have been drawn back to their original line. On some portions of the canal the sides are slipping in very much, and I put on a man to reduce the slopes. It may be necessary to slab portion of the banks if the water continues to carry the silt away as it has done for some time past." CORRESI'OMJEXCK. A letter was read from the Balmoral Road Board asking the council to confirm the decision of the ratepayers' meeting in stopping roadlines in Hillend survey district. — Decision confirmed. The town clerk, Kaitangata, wrote forwarding a resolution asking the Bruce Council to make the Kaitangata punt free of charge to the public. — The Chairman said the Borough Council had been asked what proportion they were prepared to pay towards a free punt, but no answer had been received. Malcolm M'lnnes wrote claiming the sum of Ll2 for three head of cattle drowned in the Lakes drainage canal. — Referred to the chairman, Mr Mosley, and the inspector. Dr Fitzgerald wrote that in driving along the Lakeside road his buggy went into a rabbit burrow on the road and broke a spring, and that he will hold the council liable for the damage done, — Referred to the inspector. Dr Fitzgerald to be informed that the council declines to hold itself liable for the damage done to the buggy spring. The secretary School Commissioners wrote enclosing an application from Mr William Currie to stop certain roads through section 3, block V, Kaitangata district, and exchange them for present county road through said section. — Resolved that the council has no objection to the stopping of the roads on Mr Currie or the commmissioners paying the cost. W. P. Watson wrote stating that the railway bridge over Lakes drainage canal was giving way again and required immediate attention. — The inspector reported that the bridge had been attended to. G. M. Barr wrote that he was laying off a railway from Taratu to Lovell's Flat, and that the line would cross the road in several places, and a deviation would be required; and that he was preparing the plan, and would subihit it to the council or its engineer for approval. — The Chairman stated a reply had been sent stating that the council would not place any obstacle in the way. — The council confirmed the reply. John Willocks wrote asking permission to cut some willows off the river bank, Inch Clutha, to be used in protecting the river bank opposite his property. — Permission granted.

i man at Kaitangata, as he could not get a i house to live in near the punt. — The chair- | man's action in accepting a tender for erecting the hut was agreed to. The Kaitangata council wrote giving permission to. place the sledge hut on the side of road on condition that no liability be incurred by the borough council. — Resolved that a rent of 25s per annum be charged for the hut. MISCELLANEOUS. A by-law was agreed to regulating the width of tires to be used in carrying loads over the county roads. It was resolved that the chairman urge on the Minister for Lands to take such action by legislation or otherwise to lease the foreshore at Summerhill to the county council at a nominal rent to enable them to regulate the traffic. It was resolved that a general rate of 5d in the £ be levied over all ridings, and §d in road districts. Separate rates of £ d be levied in Matau and Waihola ridings. The council agreed to adopt the provisions of the " Rating Act 1882," the county clerk being appointed valuer to the council. The following tenders were accepted: — Contract 388, formation at Taieri Beach — F. Josephs, Ll4 2s 9d ; contract 389, formation at Taieri Beach — R. H, Fairbairn, L 6 18s ; contract 390, formation at Taieri Beach — J. Morgan, Ll9 10s ; contract 391, formation at Taieri Beach — S. Roberts L 9. SPECIAL KEETING. A special meeting of the council was held at noon. On the motion of Mr Calder, seconded by Mr Mosley, the special order making a special rate over the Lakes drainage district was confirmed. On the motion of Mr Murray, seconded by Mr Calder, it was resolved that the councii, by a special order constitute part of Tokomairiro riding a special drainage district for the purpose of cutting drains from Tokomairiro river, and that a loan not exceeding L3OO be raised for the purpose of carrying out the work. On the motion of Mr Calder, seconded by Mr Haggart, the council adopted a by-law regulating the traffic of traction engines over county roads and bridges. On the motion of Mr Macpherson, seconded by Mr Mosley, the council resolved to take steps to raise a loan of Ll5O for drainage words in Clarendon riding as an extension of the Clarendon drainage scheme. The council then adjourned till the first Tuesday in September.