BRUCE. COUNTY COUNCIL.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXIII, Issue 1148, 4 September 1896, Page 5

BRUCE. COUNTY COUNCIL.

. ■ £'■ ~*— - — -i' , , .-. The ordinary meeting of the above council was held at Milton oh Tuesday I There were, present ; Messrs Clark (ehaii-rnau), Br'yce,Macpherson, Murray, Haggart, Mosley, Crane, and Noble. CORRESPONDENCE. The Secretary of the Land Board wrote stating that a quarry reserve^ had been made in sections 10 and 12, block I, Akatore Survey District.-— Received. , ■ - . . . ■ The Secretary .of the board also forwarded a letter from Mr , H. B, Flett're the council's expenditure of deferred payment " thirds "in blocks VIII and X, Table Hill Survey District. —It was resolved that the board be informed that the moneys received had been spent on roads leading to and through the blocks in question. Mr James AIIen,, ?M.H.JR., wrote asking if the council still opposed the.Kaitangata Creek Bill, as he had got the bill on the. Order Paper for its second reading.— lt was resolved that Mr Allen be again asked not to take any further steps in the matter in the meantime. • A letter was read from the clerk of the Taieri County Council, stating that the chairman and Mr Snow would "meet the Bruce County, chairman at' Mr Crossan's, Berwick, on Saturday, August 29,' to inspect and con- ! suit, about the obstructions in the Waipori Eiver. — The Chairman reported that he and Mr Macpherson had met the Taieri Council representatives at Berwick, and a resolution had been agreed to take . advice as to the council's power to deal with the willows growon the bank of the river that had been planted by the occupiers' of the lands on the river banks. — The chairman's action was approved. ■ ftiessis Gibson and Lees wrote asking leave to lay down a tramway across the county road at Lovells Flat, and on the r.oad near Mr James Anderson's.— lt was resolved that permission be granted to lay down the tramways requested, subject to the approval ofthe inspector of works. Messrs Reid and Young wrote offering to subscribe L5 each, to metal the portion of road leading to the river coal pits.— lt was resolved that the road be surfaced when the weather cleared up,- the council having no i funds to do any metalling. The Undersecretary^ for Lands wrote stating that the matter of voting an additional sum of L2OO for the Taieri Mouth punt would be considered when the Estimates were made up. — Received. Mr Thomas Johnson wrote asking permission to put a culvert under the road on section 5, block IX, Coast District. — It was resolved that permission be granted to build a culvert as asked for, subject to tho approval of the inspector. The Clerk, Henley River Board, wrote that Mr Carncross M.H.R., had had an interview with the Hon. Mr Cadman, as to providing a dredge for the Waipori River to keep the channel clear of mud and silt, and suggesting' that a conference of , the chairmen of the Bruce and Taieri Counties and West Taieri and Henley River Boards be held to discuss the proposal. — The chairman to attend conference. AITCHESON V. THE BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL. The Chairman reported, in regard to the ease G. Aitcheson v. the Bruce County Council, that judgment had been given in the case, and that the judge had awarded the plaintiff L7O damages, with costs on the lowest scale. The council went into committee to consider the matter, and" Mr Macpherson moved—" That the chairman and Messrs Mosley and Bryce be appointed a committee to take, steps to prevent the Clutha River from flowing up the canal and that the water from the lakes be put down the old creek." Mr Murray seconded the motion. •' Mr. Noble moved as an amendment — " That a meeting of the ratepayers be called to consider the judgment in the Aitcheson v. Bruce County Council case." Mr Bryce seconded the amendment which was carried by five votes to three— Messrs Noble, Bryce, Crane, and the chairman voting for, and Messrs Haggart, Macpherson, and Murray against it. ; It was decided that the meeting should be held at Stirling at noon on Saturday next. It was subsequently resolved, on the motion of Mr Macpherson, secqnded by, Mr Haggart—" That if the meeting of the ratepayers dees not resolve on anything definite the council take.the^necessary steps to divert the water from the lakes to .its original channel.". ' .m ■'"■> '•-••- -BIISdjELLANEOUS. j The Inspector of Works reported that he | had examined the road to Willocks's, at Ben- ' har. To open it up for -traffic three culverts ! would be required, and also some earthworks to reduce the gradient rising on to the' ridge. He- estimated the cost at L2O. The receipts for the month ending; August. 31, 1896, was | HO4 14s Bd, and the expenditure L207 19a. lid,— Thp report was adopted, and it was resolved to defer taking action in the meantime with regard: to the road at Benhar. ■ On the motion of Mr Macpherson, seconded by. Mr Noble,.it was agreed." That the owners of land on the bank of the Waipori River be asked to remove the overhanging willows opposite their properties." J. B'eattie was the only tenderer for gravel- . ling at Lovell's, Tlat, the amount of his tender being L29 18s.— The tender was declined. The following tenders for cutting a ditch on |he side . of flje i-qad leading to the rifle butts were referred to a committee consisting, of the chairman and Messrs Noble and Murray to deal with:— J. Hinchcliff, Ll9 4s; Woodhill and Son, Ll7 9s; Caudle and Moore,. L24, ■ .. .... A special meeting of the council was held at noon, to pass a special order to dissolve the Mount Stuart Road Board and to merge the district in the county. :. . The' original petition' asking that this action be taken was signed by 70 ratepayers.. ! A counter petition was received and signed ' by 46 ratepayers,- asked the; council noi to grant the prayer oi the original petition,

A letter. was received. from -10 ratepayers in the Mount. .Stuart. Biding, who asked that their names, be taken off the petition to merge the Road Board in the county. The Chairman said all the provisions of the act had. been complied with', so- as to enable the board to be merged in the county. The ratepayers who signed _ the counter petition owned a good deal more than half "of the valuation of the whole" district.- •' Deputations- of ratepa/ers were in attendance, and addressed the council in favour of the original. and also the counter petition. -After, a brief •. discussion, the council resolved to decline to pass a, special order merging the Mount Stuart Boad Board in the county. ' . >