BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12602, 4 March 1903, Page 7

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

{ The jEoailily meeting of the Bruce County Council, held at Milton yesterday, was attended by Mr W. Noble (chairman), Crs Bo™, Adam, Brycc, Crpjie, Driver, Jloreton, Haggart, and Mosley. INSPECTOR'S REPOHT. This Inspector reported to the following eireci:— Koads.—Roads are all in a good state for, traffic, the continued dry weather having made a great improvement since last report. Works.—Good progress had been made with tlw works on hand. The formation contract on road Bummerliiil to "Wanga'oa was now nearly completed, and tho metalling contract on road Knitangata to Suminerliill was completed. Mr Brady's contract for gravelling portion of AYangaloa road was niso finished, and good progress was being nifidc in gravelling j another part of the same road undsr Hislop's contract. The formation nt Mrs l Leslie's was completed, and a start had beon mado with, tho formation contract at Gumtrce, Akatore. The formation of the road at Kioto's was completed, and tho metalling contract on the road to D. Keid's, and progress was being made with the road formation past Coombe Hay, and tho metalling contracto at Bull Creek bridge and on Bush quarry, Formation contracts on Southbridge road ard on Foster's road, Milbum, were not yet complete, this former nearly so, as also the metalling contract on' D. Clark's load. Fair progress had been mado with metalling contracts on Toad to Armstrong's, and past M'Faul's and Moore's, and thai on Inch* clutha roads liad made better progress during tho past month than at any time since starting, Tho supply of metal under Cormack's contract was making fair progress. The grader had been shifted from tho quarry'at Bishop's to a new quarry at Wright's farm, Hillend. and a. start had been made with metalling of Lovcll's FlatHillend road. The metal for tho Benh'ar road was being regularly supplied, and tho work would soon bo finit-hed. The raising of portions of the Stirliftg-Bttihar road was now'completed. The grading of portion of road past Robson's to Lakeside was done. He hod been engnged in laying off tlm works under Government grants on roads through blocks VI and XI, Clarendon district, at Taieri Mouth. Tho receipts for tho month amounted to £1470 I2s 2d, and the expenditure to £GSI 9s sd. The report was adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. Authority was given by the Roads Depart, raent io expend Government grants as follows: Centre Toad, Inphclutha, £255 and pound for pound; Akatore Jo Fortification, fSO and pound for pound.—Resolved that the engineer proparo plans and specifications of the proposed work 3, and forward tho same to the road sur. veyor for approval. Robert Sheunnn wrote asking the council to take steps to compel tho owner of tli3> land known as Johnson Point to cut. down and remove all the willows oveihanging the river bod, as obstructing the flow of water.—The Chairman stated that tho writer, though a ratepayer in Bruce, lived in Tai*ri County, and his Bruco land was not aftcctcd by the water of tho river.— Resolved that notice be sent to Mr H. L. Johnsou that tli3 willows must be cut. Tho TJjider-sccrctary of Justice forwarded copy of wamnt appointing tho Bntcs County Council to h?ve authority within tho Bruce licensing district.—Received. Twenty ratmiyorg of fhc Balmoral and Crichton Ridings wrote asking th*n council to open up a road through section S.\, Barnego Settlement, in blocks XI and XIII, Hillend district.-—The Chairman said he understood tho road desired was not on the purveyed line, and the consent of the Land Bonrd was nccsssary befoTe anything could be done in tho matter.— The petition was received.—lt was agreed that £5 be fpent in widening the road near Hr | M'Bridc's. The New Zealand Soldiers' Graves Guild, i Wellington, wrote asking for co-opcratiou in the matter of subscriptions.—Received. j Mr D. Barron, chief surveyor, wrote enoios-. ing correspondence from the late Peter M'Gill I re purehaso of closod road between parts of sections 133, block XVII, and section 155, block I XX, Tokomairiro district, and also report from Mr FjniDiore stating that if there was no objee tion to the road being sold it could be valued and disposed of in the usual way.—Resolved that the council had no objection to the sale of the land, and that the chairman be appointed valuer of the closed road. Mr Amos M'Kegg wrote that the funnel of his steamer had beeu carried away by contact with tho wire rope of the Taieri Mouth punt, and asking' for £lo cost of repairs, or else he would take proceedings. The v/iro ropo was a constant source of danger to navigation on tho river, and required raising.—lt was pointc-d out that the conditions were the sarao as on the Ciutha River. It was resolved that the letter be received. Mr J. M. Smith wrote calling tho council's attention to the stato of tho road loading to Clydevalo punt, and to the necessity for a bridge over the Crookburn Creek.—Tho inspector to report as to tho prob&blo cost of bridge at Crookburn i'ord. Seven ratepayers in Clarendon Riding petitioned the council to take no steps to widen tho Waipori River under the Berwick bridge, n3 this would render their land more liable to flood; also stating that an application would be made for a restraining injunction from the Supremo Court if tho work was proceeded with.—Resolved* that tho matter be referred to the consideration * sof tho Taieri County Council. Drs Sutherland and Menzies reported that several cases of scariet % fever had taken place in the district, the usual precautions having been taken.—Received. Dr Ogston, district health officer, wrote in the matter of scarlet fever patients, requesting that certain cases bo visited and reported on; and that supervision might bo made of the disinfecting of premises.—The Chairman; pointed out that .such new duties would leave, the inspector no time for anything else. It was ! resolved that the matter be left in the chairman's hands with power to act. John Keen -applied for a slaughtering license for a yard on section 147, block XVII, Tokomairiro district.—Letters- were read from two objectors to the sito of the slaughteryard— The stock inspector's opinion being favourable; it was resolved that, the license be granted, Tho application of ■ Andrew M'Laron for a slaughtering license was granted subject to the inspector's approval. William Wilson, Ivapiti, wrote asking the council to metal part of the voad leading to his lime kiln,—Resolved that £10 bo spent on tho road. 11. C. Sutton wrote asking permission to cut willows on the river bank near Stilling for protection purposes.—Permission granted. David Tweedie wrote staling that he could not at present carry out the works of clearing Southbridge drain owing to the wot state of the ditch—Resolved that Cr Martin and tho engineer get the work carried out. Six ratepayers, Balmoral Riding, wrote asking that the road leading to the river bank through G. property be made fit for traffic,—Cr Begg and the inspector to meet tho petitioners and ascertain their requirements. A letter was received from the Marine Department to thfl effect that if tho wiro over tho Taieri River were impeding navigation it must be either removed or raised.—Cr Mosley suggested as the best remedy that Sir Joseph Ward be applied to for a bridge. iro driver's grievance. Tho matter of the closed road in dispute between Mr Driver and the Ewing Phoaphate Company was discussed in committee, and tho following resolution passed—"That the council is of opinion that the offer of the Ewing Phosphate Company is unsatisfactory, and as Mr 9 Driver has offered to indemnify the council as to costs that the former resolution be carried out—namely, that the land for tho road bo taken under the Pubjic Works Act." GENERAL. On the motion of Cr Mosley, it was resolved that the special rate over Inchclutlnv district to pay interest on loan be collectcd as soon as possible. On the motion of Cr Adam, it was resolved that a culvert bo put under the road at Palmer's gate, and the Railway Department bo asked to agree to the work. The following tenders were accepted:—Formation of road at Crichton, D. Allison, £39 17s Gd; cleaning out Matau drain, J. W. Parker, Is 7d per chain; cleaning out Matau drain, A. Is *>d per chain; cleaning out Centre ditch, luchclutha, T. Andrews, ]s 7d per chain; cleaning out Titri cunal, A. Jeffrey, £18. It wae unanimously resolved that the county, engineer bo granted a month's holiday.