BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18159, 2 February 1921, Page 6

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL

The ordinary meeting of the Bruce County Council, hold yesterday, was attended by Crs Gardyne (chairman), Russell, Driver, Scott, Bell, Sheat, Blair, Allan, Johnson. Clark, and Renton.

The County Inspector reported that a culvert of 3ft concrete pipes had been put in on the Milburn-Circle Hill road to replace a stone culvert which had partly collapsed. _ The erection of the new bridge on the Main road, near Milton, had been commenced during the month, ’and, this work would be pushed on as fast as possible. The work at Shagree Swamp was held up in the meantime, as the men who were employed there had left and gone elsewhere. The men who had been quarrying stone at Bishop’s for Balmoral No. 2 and Crichton Ridings had left during the month, and this work Was at a standstill. Various works under Government votes and loan money were making good progress, and others had been started during the month. Contract No. 22 (formation and metnffing at Watties cutting) had been let to Mr J. Blair at £8 12s ,6d per chain. Contract No. 20 (formation and cartin<r gravel at Pukeawa) had been let to Messrs Allan and Stewart at —formation 15s per chain, and carting gravel at 5s per cubic yard.—-Received. The Clerk, Clutha County Council, forwarded petition from Mr W. J. Mulraine and 61 others asking that a larger arid more convenient punt be erected at South Molyneux, and asked if the Br.nce County Council would be in favour of a conference between the two councils, or delegates, to discuss the position or the advisableness of having a bridge erected at the site of the present punt. It was suggested that should the Bruce Council favour a conference, such be held at Balclutha on February 11, when a special meeting of the Clutha Council was to be held.—Or Renton said that the best thing to do would be to have the conference with the Clutha If the punt were in good repair it might do for a year or two, though it was certainly small for crossing cattle, etc. The Clutha Council would be able to state in what condition the punt was.—lt was, resolved that a conference be held on the date mentioned, the delegates to be Crs Renton, Clark, Blair, and Allan.—The opinion was expressed that it would be too expensive to erect a bridge in the meantime; the Government would not consider such a proposal. It was further considered that fees should be charged for the use of the punt, but the quest’on was held over till the conference had been held.

Mr G. S. Tonkinson, Milburn, wrote drawing attention to the bad state of the Main road,- Milburn to Waihola, especially as regards motor traffic. —The manager of the Bruce Woollen Company wrote to the same effect.—Cr Bell said there were about 10 miles of the road in the riding, and its upkeep took all the rates. He suggested that some gravel might be put on the worst of the 'holes.— Decided accordingly, the Woollen Fact"ry and Mr Tonkinson to be approached for financial assistance. TTie Manager, Kaitangata Coal Company, notified that the company was prepared to pay half the cost of clearing the Matau mam drain where it was choked by coal dross, provided that it was understood that the payment did not imply any admission eff responsibility on behalf of the company.— Offer to pay half cost accepted. The Secretary, Crichton Coal Company, ivrotd stating that he had been directed to confirm the arrangement arrived at regarding the road from the mine to the railway.—Confirmed.

1 - -Gage (Wangaloa) wrote stating that he was prepared to carry out the terms made m regard to the grant of £6OO and pay royalty of Is 6d per ton until the grant ■was paid, payment tp commence from the date Mr Morrison and himself had waited on the council in regard to the grant.—Loft in the hands of Crs Johnson and Clark and the county clerk (Mr Potter) to arrange Messrs Morrison Bros, wrote stating that they noted that the council had now available a grant from the Mines Department for £3OO (£1 for £1) for their road. They were prepared to cart 250 tons of metal Kalt^ gata to t! ? e road from the top of tine saddle to their mines, the council to prepare the road and spread aMßblind the metal. It-was necessary to, get tW' workdone before the winter, and they were prepared to take delivery of the metal as soon as the council, could get the work under hand.—Offer accepted. Another letter from Messrs Morrison Bros, acknowledged receipt for £25 for work done on the road, but refused to accept the amount as full payment.—The Inspector said ii a L- a - r wor k was finished it took him all his time to get down to Wangaloa.-—'The letter was received.

Mr T. Gage, Mayor of Kaitangata. brought up the question of the unfinished work at the temporary bridge over the canal at Balclutha, left by the Public Works Department.—lt was decided that the council would supply the metal necessary if the Kaitangata Borough Council would cart spread, and blind it.

The Engmeor-in-charge, Public Works Dc pertinent, advised that nlnns and specifications for an 18ft bridge over the Tokomairiro TRivcr at Milton were being prepared.—Received.

Or Scott said that as the Public Works Department was not calling for tenders for the work, a deputation from the council should meet the Milton Borough Council and see if that body was willing to call for tenders (the cost is to be distributed botween the Public Works Department and the borough and county in equal proportions),—Agreed to. 1 Mr J. H. Cuttance wrote stating that at a meeting of ratepayers at Pukekoma it bad been unanimously agreed to ask the council to put down 40 chains of metal in addition to the present proposal of 51 chains on the Ilillend-Monnt Stuart road. Eight of the ratepayers had agreed to give three days’ each fre 3 carting of the metal. It had been further agreed to ask the council to allocate the balance of loan approximately £IOOO, to the grading and metalling of the same road.—After a long discussion Cr Blair moved that 50 chains Joan money work already let be gone on with, the Mount Stuart Riding to bear one-third of the cost; further, that an ad ditional 30 chains be gone on with, the offer of the ratepayers to do three days’ free carting to be accepted, the metal to be spread at the expense of the Balmoral Riding, and the remainder of the work to be done at a reasonable cost, to be borne by Balmoral Riding No. 2. It was decided that the willows at Solvatioif bridge, Tokomairiro Riding, be cut. Cr Renton brought up the matter of road damage at Benhar through the carting of coal from the railway. , He explained \hat Mr M'Skimming trammed his coal from the siding, and , the damage was from settlers’ carts. It would take about £<;.. to put the road in order. Mr M'Skimming was prepared to pay one-third of the total cost, and he would move that the council write to the Mines Department asking for a subsidy of £IOO, £1 for £l, for the work. —Agreed to.—lt was also decided to apply for a similar grant in regard to the road from Dunlop’s mine, Lovell’s Flat. On the motion of the Chairman it vas resolved that the absorption of the Balmoral and Inchclutha Road Boards be pushed on as quickly as possible. The tender of A. J. James (£7 per chain) was accepted for formation and metalling at Glenledi, Another tender was received at the same figure, and the matter was decided by ballot. i Accounts totalling £1412 7s 7d were passed for payment.