BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLI, Issue 1, 10 July 1914, Page 3

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The above council met at Milton on Tuesday. Present: Councillors D. Bovd (chairman), J. M. Begg, E. H. King, T. Hitchon, .1. Clark, AV. Bell, H. M. Driver, T. H. Eussell, T. Scott and D. Gardyne. INSPECTOR 'S EEPORT.

The inspector (Mr J. H. Bateman) reported as follows on the state of the roads and works in the county for the month ending June 30: —

Roads.—A portion of the Mount Steep road (at the slip) is in a bad condition. This portion of road is shaded by willow trees, which keep the wind' from getting at the road. The owner promised some months ago to have the trees cut down, but has not done so. The fence also along this property requires cutting back.

AA r orks.—A broken stone culvert on Matthews' road, Clarendon, has been replaced with 2ft concrete pipes, and J one on the main road, near AVaihola, I with 2ift pipes. The water.-tab'es have I been cleaned out and the side track levelled upon on the main road between Allison's road ami Crichton Hill. A man has been put on to do the surface work on the road between Bloxham's and McNeill's, also on the Circle Hill road. The decking on the Milton bridge has been overhauled and repaired during the month. The formation required on the road at Airs Hood's, Helensbrook, has been done, and the metal will be put on when the road is in a fit condition. The cost of a cutting and the filling up of two low places on the Circle Hill road, as requested by Mr D. Shanks at, last council meeting, will be about £.' W. Application has been made for a Government grant of £2OO for metalling between Mr J. Mosley's and Mr .1. Smaill's, Inchclutha. 'The riding member and myself met the settlers interested at Joseph's Creek, Taieri Mouth, on the 25th, when they explained how the high 'tides flowing up the creek flooded the swamp road, and they were of opinion that if a double box culvert of sufficient size to carry the creek water was put in and fitted with floodgates that the bridge would not be required, and that the settlers themselves would keep the sand bar on the creek open. Fresh tenders have been calledfor maintenance metal on Stoney Creek road, and tenders have been called for cleaning out and deepening the Crescent roadside ditch. The chairman stated that the removing of the willows on the Mount Steep road had been done. The report was adopted. (JULYRETS AT CLARRSVILLE.

A. Beniiie, ClarksviHe, waited on the council re a culvert that had been broken. The council Lad put five culverts in all on his property, and he considered it could not have put the one complained of' in a more unsuitable place. He had received no notice that he had to cover the culvert. About 50 loads of material would be required to put it in order and to make it suitable for the passage of a traction engine. He considered that the earthenware pipes were most unsuitable for a culvert in such a position. Concrete pipes with a good covering were required. If the council put these in he woulu do the carting. The Chairman said the council had not been in the habit of keeping these culverts in repair, as the road rates were solely for the upkeep of the roads. Beside.-,, the council had no money to devote to the purpose. Councillor King moved: "That the council cannot see its way to repair the culvert."

Councillor Driver seconded and the motion was carried. FINANCE. The statement of receipts and expenditure for the period ended June 30 showed:— Receipts. Government Grant, Glenorc Bridge £;;oo 0 0 Government Grant, Blackburn Creamery Road . . 131 18 ;j Government Grant, Claren-don-Berwick Road .. .. 52 7 G Government Grant, Tuapeka Mouth to Waitahuna Road 50 0 0 Government Grant, Milton to Canada Reef ~ .. 50 0 0 Goldsfields Revenue .. .. 0 10 0 Rates, 1913-1914 204 6 5 Rates, 10 per cent 6 14 0 Contractors' Deposits.. .. 9 10 0 Slaughtering Licenses .. 3 0 0 Rent 8 3 4 Miscellaneous 15 0 £Bl7 14 6 Expenditure. Works, ordinary £565 6 10 Works, under Government i Grants ~ 137 17 3 Works, Special Rates.. .. 24 7 2 Works, under Loan Account 30 0 0 Councillors' Expenses.. .. 13 16 8 Salaries 41 5 lo Commission on Dog Tax Collections 7 0 0 Commission on Government Grant Works 12 2 0 Interest on Loans .. .. 375 5 1 Contractors' Deposits Refunded 3 0 0 Insurance on Building .. 3 7 6 Office Expenses 2 14 9 £1216 8 1 RANGER'S REPORT. H. C. Farquharson (ranger) reported that during June cattle and horses had been found wandering as follows: Balmoral No. 2 ; 5 cattle, 2 horses; Matau, 3 cattle, 5 horses; Waihola, 4 cattle; Toko, 3 cattle; Mount Stuart, 5 cattle, 1 horse; Crichton, 9 cattle; — total, 29 cattle, 8 horses.—Noted. CORRESPONDENCE. Collector of Customs forwarded returns showing that 1650z of gold had been purchased in the county during April and 107oz in May.—Received. Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote that a commission would sit at the Magistrate's Court, Lawrence, on Monday, July 13, to take evidence re the

proposed alteration in boundaries of the Tuapeka and Bruce counties. —Assistant Under-Secretary Public Works Department wrote re same, stating that the commission would consist of Messrs R. T. Sadd (commissioner), R. Milne (valuer) and Jas. Robertson (Lawrence) .—Received.

j Adam King, A. Stevenson, G. Harvey, H. Holgate, R. Morgan, J. AVilkins, AV. R. AVilloeks, J. Dippie, P. Murray, Symons Bros, and James Smith, settlers on Barnego and surrounding district, wrote lequesting the council to apply to the Government for a grant of, say, £l5O to metal the worst part of the Sunflower road leading through the settlement, Ever since the astate had been settled this road had been impassable every winter. The settlers were prepared to carry out the formation free, and there was good metal in proximity to this road. —Councillor Begg said the road was one of the worst in the district. He would move that a straight-out grant be applied for.— Councillor King seconded and the motion was carried.

David Milne anil 48 other ratepayers and residents of Taieri Beach, Akatore and Taieri Mouth petitioned the council to take steps to have the portion of the chain reserve at the side of Mackay's Creek on each side of the canal at Titri opened up for public use. The petition stated that the residents had spent a good deal of time and money on the formation of a road in this locality, and they felt sure that any action taken by the council would lead to increased settlement. —Mr I). Reid, solicitor, waited on the council and explained the position.—After a good deal of discussion it was resolved that a committee consisting of Councillors Russell, Bell, Driver and the chairman wait on the petitioners and report to next meeting.

If. L. Brett, Lawrence, wrote offering to supply poisoned wheat at Ib's 6d per bushel, and A. E. Hunter, Mosgiel, at 22s per bushel in 51b bags.—Some discussion ensued as to whether the council should purchase stocks of poisoned wheat.—Councillor King moved that the engineer be instructed to procure iron sheet for drying grain and everything necessary for the making of poisoned wheat on the county premises.— Councillor Driver said he would like to see the council procure 10 or 12 bushels of Bed Funnel poisoned wheat for im- ( mediate requirements.—Both motions were carried.

I'. Murray, Barncgo, wrote asking permission to take a few loads of rotten rock from the side of the road near Mr Smith's, Barncgo.—Granted.—ln connection with this Councillor Begg said he would not like to see it a general practice of permission being given to take metal in winter, as the heavy carting would cut up the roads. John Paul, secretary Fairfax School Committee, wrote asking for some assistance in the drainage of Fairfax school ground, which affected both the school and county road. '.ln this respect the opinion of Mr Batemau would be acceptable. —Request granted on the motion of Councillor Scott. Porter Bros., Tokoiti, wrote asking permission to fence in a triangular pieco of ground adjoining their property at the foot of Cemetery Hill, the adjoining owner (B. Hcalcy) being agreeable, provided there was an entrance left for him.—Councillor Eussell moved that permission be given during the pleasure of the council, conditional on Mr llealey consenting.—Carried. TENDERS. Contract Xo. {)l!i, cleaning and deepening 69 chains of ditch along Kaitangata road.—H. Wilson, £36 (accepted). Contract No. 914, maintenance metal Stoney Creek road.—Three tenders received and all declined. —Left with inspector and member for riding to have road repaired in meantime. GENERAL. The chairman reported that the finance committee, after deliberating on the matter for three months, had resolved to accede to an application to increase surfacemen's wages to 9s a day —Is higher than the existing wage, —bringing Bruce into line with neighbouring local bodies.—On the motion of Councillor Hitchon, seconded by Councillor King, the action of the finance committee was confirmed.

Councillor Begg moved that all rates be struck on the same basis as last year. —Seconded by Councillor Clark and carried.

Councillor Russell moved that tenders be called for work on road at Circle Hill (as mentioned in inspector'a report).—Carried. Councillor Russell moved that applications be called for a permanent surfaceman for north end of Tokomairiro riding and adjoining ridings.—Agreed to.

Councillor Bell moved that the district engineer be asked to inspect and report on the flood-box at Joseph's Creek, Taieri Mouth.—Agreed to.