BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLI, Issue 41, 4 December 1914, Page 7

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

ANNUAL MEETING. The above council met at Milton on Tuesday, when the adjourned annual statutory meeting was first held. Present: Councillors D. Bovd, J. Clark, -Ino. Begg, jtinr., K. H. King, J. Adam, P. Gardyne, \V. Bell, R. Sinclair, H. M. I'rivrr, T. H. Russell, and T. Scott. Cr. 1). Boyd proposed Ci. J. Clarlt j('hrichton) as chairman for thetnsuiug year, ami said that he was sure he would acquit himself in that office with i-roiiit to himself and satisfaction to the ratepayers. This was seconded by Cr. Adam and carried unanimously. Cr. Clark thanked the council for the honorable position they had placed him in. He could hardly expect to fill the oflice as ably as Cr. Boyd had, but he would do his best and hoped that at the end of the year he would be able to look back on as pleasant and prosperous a year at the close of his term as tlie one ivhivh had just expired. He extended a warm welcome to the council table to the new councillors. MONTHLY MEETING. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. .Mr .1. H. Bateman (inspector) reported as follows for the period ended November 30: — Culverts of three feet concrete pipes have been put in at Robson's Road, Lovells Flat, and the Lovells Flat-Hill-ciid road and one of 2J feet pipes at Louden's Gully. The contract for formation and metalling at Waronui is now complete. The whole of the metal for this work was taken from Milton to Waronui by the Bruce Coal Company free of charge. The surfacemen have been employed during the month at general surface work. The report was adopted, au<l the clerk was instructed to write thanking the Bruce Coal Company for its action. FINANCE. The statement of receipts and expenditure for the period ended November 30 showed:— 5 Receipts. £ s d Rates, 1914-15 222 13 3 Refund for works .. .. 4 10 0 Government grant (YVaitahuna bridge to Greenfield punt) 100 0 0 Rent 2 3 4

£330 2 10 Expenditure. £s d i Works, ordinary .. .. 277 14 6 1 Works under Government grant 177 17 6 Salaries 10 10 Councillor's expenses .. 13 16 8 < Contractors' deposits' ref untied 5 0 0 Audit fee 9 6 8 Interest on loans . . . . 20 16 10 .Deputy returning officers' expenses (county election) 13 7 6 Printing and advertising .. 15 14 0 Fines and fees refunded .. 5 0 0 £583 14 6 RANGER'S REPORT. The ranger (Mr 11. C. Farquharson) ruportcd as follows on cattle and horses found wandering during the'month:— Tokomairio, 7 cattle, 4 horses; Waihola, 10 cattle, 2 horses; Mt. Stuart, 11 cattle; Crichton, 4 cattle, 6 horses; Balmoral No. 2, 3 cattle, 1 horse; Matau, 5 rattle, 2 horses; total, 40 cattle, 15 horses. —Noted. CORRESPONDENCE. Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote notuying that it had been decided that the reserve on section 31, Block 1., Akatore, stiall not l>e vested in any local body.—Received. Hon. Secretary Kaitangata Town Beautifying Society wrote that the committee urged the council to take steps to prevent further destruction of the strip of native bush along river bank toad from Kaitangata bridge to Mr Smaill's property on the Island, as it formed one of the few attractive walks in the neighborhood.—Cr. Boyd said it was the first he had heard of. thvs. He saw no reason why the trees should be tut but did not know how the council could protect the bush. lie moved that the secretary be written to stating that if he supplied names of anyone destroying the trees the council would take jiroceedings against the offenders. —Carried. Secretary Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board forwarded account of levy for year, £978 15/10. It was also notified that two persons in the county received aid —one 5/- weekly and the other 12/6 weekly. —Received. (Quotations for dog collars were received from Ritchie and Co. (Invereargillj, J. Lockhart (Milton) and J. Taylor (Milton) at £2 18/- per 100.—rCr. Driver moved that the order for the supply of collars be divided between .Messrs Taylor and Loekhart.—Agreed "to. »«: Secretary New Zealand Coal and Oil Co., Ltd., wrote in reply to council's letter asking on what grounds the company made a claim on the council for repairs to the bridge at Kaitangata canal. The writer stated that the council cut the canal through the company's property at Kaitangata and the arrangements made were that the council should build the bridge and keep it in repair.—Cr. Boyd moved that the letter be referred back to the company asking for its authority for making the charge. —Agreed to. Secretary Milton and District Technical Classes Association wrote soliciting subscription towards funds of the classes. During the session just finished classes- were held at the school in dressmaking, painting, book-keeping, and English, and a class for woolclassing was held at Lovells Flat. In all 61 pupils were enrolled, and the attendance was splendid throughout, a capitation grant of 1450 hours being earned out of a possible of 1540 hours. These figures were quoted to show that the classes were worthy of the best support and a subscription gave representation from the council on the committee. —Cr. Scott moved that £1 1/- be donated this year. Seconded by Cr. King and carried. District Engineer, Public Works Department wrote that plans for Dunn's bridge (Tokoiti) are now being prepared and should be ready shortly.—The chairman said he would like to see county moneys concerved for the purpose of being in in position to put more metal on the roads this year. The roads were getting "starved" for maintenance now. He asked if it would be possible to defer the expenditure : on Bonn's bridge.— Cr. Scott and Bussell pointed iflnt that it was absolutely -necesßary Jilt thi£ bridge b$ attended t$

as there was no other bridge giving outlet from that portion of the district which would ' carry heavy traffic.—The letter was received. A. Athy and 14 other ratepayers at Glenledi and Akatore wrote petitioning the council to have Louden's Gully road metalled where required, as it would be in a vary bad state at winter. The petitioners were prepared to do the carting work free if the council would quarry and spread the metal. —The work to be done. GENERAL. The chairman was appointed to sign cheques along with the clerk. The balance-sheet was returned duly audited from the Audit-Inspector. The chairman and clerk were appointed tosign the balance-sheet and have it published. Cr. Russell reported that he had inspected the locality where Mr Timms wanted access to his holding at Akatore. He described it as an awful place, and it would be difficult to make proper access. He moved that the council vote £5 on condition that Mr Timms spends another £5 on the road.—Agreed to.

Cr. Russell moved that tenders be called for cleaning Clarksville and Southbridge drains, tenders to be dealt with in a fortnight's time. —Seconded by C'r. Scott and agreed to. Cr. Boyd moved that the engineer take steps to secure authorisations for all straight-out Government grants.— Agreed to. Cr. King mentioned that the "mysterious" grant for metalling the Greenfield punt road had again appeared on the Estimates. He did not know why this grant was made, as the road was already metalled. He moved that the engineer be instructed to endeavor to get the grant transferred to the punt road to Tuapeka Mouth.—Carried. Cr. King said that he was still anxious to get the grader working in his district. It was mentioned that there were several other calls on the large grader. Cr. Boyd moved that the engineer be instructed to procure large wheels for the small graders.—Carried.