BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16667, 12 April 1916, Page 7

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Brace County Council was held yesterday; present—'Crs • Russell (chairnuin), Body, Soott, Adam, King, Sinclair, Driver, Clark, Begg, Gaidyne and Bell CONDOLENCE. Prior to the opening of tho general business, tjio Chairman referred to the loss sustained by Cr Driver by the death of his wife, and by tho relatives of ex-Cr M'Pherson by his death. Ho moved that a resolution of sympathy be conveyed to Cr Driver and to tho relatives of tho late Mr M'Pherson. —The motion was carried by a silent vote, and the clerk was instructed to forward a copy to tho relatives concerned. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The clerk read a statement showing that the receipts for March totalled £4971 14s 9ci, and the expenditure £1010 0s Id. Tho clerk stated that tho revenue last year exceeded tho expenditure by £1000, tho amount received being £10,575 136 6d and the expenditure totalling £9360 16s 3d. If the Government grants due (£410) and tho money advanced to the lakes drainago commission (£262 13a) wero repaid, and the rates outstanding wero paid, it would U-*ve the council with a credit balance. If the council continued during the coining year on the lines oi the previous year, it would be able to go for six months without having to work on an overdraft for public works purposes.—Tho Chairman said the financial position was satisfactory. 'JLhey were practically out of debt, and were showing a credit balanoa. 'lhere was still £990 in rates outstanding. The eum of £262 13s, which hadi been paid out of the general fund in connection with the lakes drainage loan had been advanced because the council bad not been able to get its money from the Government. lhere was practically £700 to bo received from tho Government. Ho did not know that the council had been in a better position few many years. —The report was adopted. KEPOETS. The inspector reported that maintenance gravel had been quarried and put down on tile Kaitar.gata- Wangaloa road. Messrs Oockburn, Paterson, and Lockhart had carted about 30 chains of gravelling on the lSlliotvale road, free of. chargo. A start had been made by the settlers to cart metal lor metalling three cuttings on tho Circle Hill road, lhe contractor had completed the building of the pontoon for the lakes drainage, and the Harbour Board's stall was busy getting the machinery on board, ready to start dredging. A start had been made to alean the Matau drains, and the work was being pushed on as fast as possible. Tho contractors were pushing oil with the ercction of the bridges at Mount Stuart and at Dunn's. Tho (Try . :i..- walls in the small bridge on the I'hosplid.w rodd, Uiarunaon, were giving way, and he recommended that the bridge be replaced by a culvert of 3ift concrete pipes. Ihe streets in the Taieri Mouth township had been formed to a width of loft, and culverts had been put in where 1 i,eccssary. All the streets were of an easy grade, exoepting one portion, two chains in length, which had a grade of one in 10.— The report was adopted. The ranger reported, that 40 head of cattle and 11 boreee had been found wandering during the month.—Adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. Mrs B. Chapman, Taieri Mouth, wrote asking the council to give Messrs .Wright and .Uuniiinghan; l) ijqfic^,.j;o,.r gates on the road adjoining, her boundary, as they were a nuisance—Messrs Wright and Cunningham wrote pointing out that when they purchased their property from Mr Orane they understood that he had an arrangement with the council to have the gates in the position in which they were now placed. If they were oompellcd to remove the gates their only course would be to close the present track and leave an opening at the proper plaoe. This would necessitate the council making a road over the gully.—The correspondence was held over for a month, with a view to a settlement of the matter. Mr Edwin Anderson, Akatore Coast, wrote asking the council to reduce tho grade on the road leading to his property, as it ■was impossible to asoend it during damp weather. —It was decided that the members for the-riding and _ the inspector inspect the road, and ascertain what could be done, and that they hayo power to expend up to £5 in doing the wonk required. A petition was received from 11 ratepayers at Milton, asking the council to remedy a nuisance caused by the of refuse from the Bruce Woollen Mills into the river.—lt was decided that the chairman, Cr Soott, and the inspector;- with delegates from the Borough Council, inspect the place and make representations to the manager of the Woollen Mills if required. Mr Samuel Shaw (Pleasant View) wrote directing attention to the state of the road between his property and Berwick, which was almost impassable for the purpose of shifting implements.—lnspector to have the road repaired. The Commissioner oi Taxes wrote asking the council to supply a list showing the full names and addresses of all persons holding debentures issued by the council since March 31, 1915, together with the amount of interest paid or payable on March 31, 1916.—Received. The Audit Office wrote consenting to tho loan moneys remaining on deposit'till November 13, conditionally upon the sum, with increment, being then used in reduction of the loan in tercrje of the council's proposal.—Received. Lieutenant Colin Bryoe wrote thanking the council for having granted him a month's holiday on full pay. With regard to the council's offer to make up his wages to what they were when he was in its employ, he pointed out that he was earning 8s per day for serren days in the week, and therefore there was practically no difference between the money he was getting at; Trentham and what he earned while |in tho. oojmcdPa ompJoy.—Received. ; . * Mr S. Richards, of Pukeawa, wrote bringing under notice a very necessary work in front of his property on the Greenfield road, and which, if neglected, would oause some serious loss. —Referred to tho inspector to attend to.

The Public Works District Engineer •wrote asking the council to arrange to have all its applications for grants sent to his .office not later than April IS. He also asked to be furnished with the names of all bridge works in hand for which tho council •was receiving a Government subsidy, and also a list of the bridges likely to be required during the coming two years, and for which Government grants would bp asked.— It waa decided to comply with the request. The Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board wrote requesting the council to continue monthly payments of the annual levy at the same rates as last year until the levies for the year were arranged. —Received. The Secretary of Labour notified that as no noticc had been received by him, the Minister had gazetted Wednesday as the statutory half-holiday in the county.—Received. GENEBiL. Or Driver moved that the , resolution passed at. the last-meeting authorising the erection of a building for tho preparation of poisoned grain, be rescinded. —Cr Boyd seconded the motion, which was carried. A circular was received from the Taieri County Council containing a resolution asking the Government to limit the power of municipal councils to. erect toll gates .and take tolls on bridges by prohibiting the ejection of toll gates without the sanction of the Governor-in-Council, and by reserving to the Governor-in-Council power to diminish the tolls, or to abolish them whenever ho deemed it advisable to do so.—lt was decided to give tho resolution the council's heartiest support. The new motor by-laws were passed, «nd it was decided to appoint a motor inspector at a salary of £25. Or Begg brought up the question of widening tho Balcluthn-Greerifield road for motor traffio. Ho had obtained an estimate of the cost of making the road safe, and it was sot out at £1300. He moved that tho council tako steps to the road opened for motor traffic.—-Cr King seconded the motion.—Crs Driver, Scott, and Boycl said they were prepared to support the motion provided the width of tho road was inceased beyond 20ft. —Cr Begg said the estimate provided for the width of the road at its narrowest parte being not less than 20ft, and also for all ,the dangerous pirts being fenced.—llie motion was carried.

. THE DOG TAX COLLECTOR AND RANGER. TO IHE EDITOB. Srn,—Will you kindly inform the public if it is true that, the applicant appoipt-ed to the position of doc; tax collector and ranger already holds the po6it : on of rare manager at Whare Flat? If such is the caso ir. says very little for the patriotism of our councillors, when they reject men who havo risked everything for the sake of one who already holds a good position under the council. —I am.' etc., Ratepayer. Dunedin, April 11. [The successful applicant holds n posit-on under the water department of the City Council- —Ed. 0.D.T.) For children's hacking cough Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. —Advt.