BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18653, 7 September 1922, Page 10

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL

The monthly meeting of the Bruce County Council, held on Tuesday, was attended by ’Crs W. Bell (chairman), D. Gardyne, T. Soott, T. H. Russell, W. J. Sheat, W. A. Blair; J. Allan, A. Renton, T. Johnson, H. 11. Dfiver, and J. Clark. The Chairman made reference to the fact that Since last meeting Mr Donald Reid, for many years solicitor to the council, had phased away. On his motion the council resolyifed to send a letter of sympathy to the family. The summary of receipts and expenditure for tfie past month showed receipts amounting to £865 5s 3d, and an expenditure of 6933 13s 3d. The? Ranger reported that 18 cattle and six horses had been found wandering during the month. : 'INSPECTOR’S REPORT. Thej Inspector reported as follows on the state (of the works in the county for the month:—The embankment on the road behind ’Fairfax Cemetery has been widened during the month. In connection with this work *Mr W. A. Lilburne gave four days’ work with two horses free of charge. . The high sides on the lower end of Murray’s road have been taken off; the team work required was done by Mr J. Robinson free of charge. The stop bank on the southern side of tire Lakes canal between the bridge and lock has been shifted back and the broken aides of canal- bank trimmed off. New strut planks have been put down on the Waitahuna ’River bridge, the hand-rails and struts repaired, and several new spiking pieces); put down. Repair work has been done with tho grader on the Elliotvale road and ojre 9in culvert put in. Maintenance metal has been put down on Louden’s Gully road, . Barnego Flat road, Riverside road, Main -road at Stoney Creek, and Tuapeka Mouth 1 ' road at Greenfield, and gravel on Table-Hill toad, Main road (between MilIburn (and Crichton), and on the Glenore road. There is only one contract in the county uncompleted, and this on© is held .up owing to the illness of the contractor. Several settlers at Greenfield have been written to requesting that overhanging trees be cut back to the fence line. New piles, bed plate, cap, and sheeting have been put in on the northern end of Farquharson’s abridge, and new bed plates on the southern end and one pile has been spliced la. the centres span. The surfacemen have been employed during the month at general surface work, spreading metal end gravel, and bridge repairs. It was decided to adopt the report and fthank Robinson and Lilburne for the work done. > CORRESPONDENCE. H. G. West, health inspector, wrote recommending the council to 'consider tho question of instituting a service for the disposal of refuse from houses and shops. Under the Health Act, 1920, every local authority was empowered to undertake or contract for such service. He submitted that in the following country townships— Stirling, Benhar, Tokoiti, Helensbrook, Milhurn, and -Waihola—the council should arrange- for suitable rubbish depots.—The Chairman said it had not been practicable to secure suitable tips in several of the centres mentioned, and the onus was being put oh individual residents.; —Cr Renton stated’that suitable tips had been found at Stirling and Benhar. —It was decided to secure; circulars on the subject from the Health Department for circulation among the ratepayers concerned. Mary C. M'Pherson (Berwick) wrote asking fdr permission to put up a swing gate oh the road leading to Prentice’s above the Boundary Creek. —Samuel Shaw - (Pleasant View) wrote objecting to permission being granted for longer than a year.—Cr Driver said 4 he "thought this would meet Mrs M'Pfierson’s requirements, and it was decided to grant her permission to erect the gate'; for one year. ... Charles Mill (Tokoiti) wrote objecting to Mr Jones being granted, permission to erect gateti on a street line adjoining his property.—The letter was received, it being understood that Mr Mill’s, objection wms valid and must be upheld. W. A. Lilburne (Tokoiti) wrote asking permission to erect gates on dotted tracks through property occupied by him at Akatore.—Permission was granted. D.’ M. Mawson, town clerk, Milton,_ wrote reporting that a committee consisting of the Mayor of Milton (Mr A. Rennie), Crp Henderson and M’Donald, had been appointed to take into consideration the advisability or otherwise of Milton Borough going in for i* power board scheme, and also, if thought fit, to confer with adjacent public bodies oh the matter. They understood that ;the Bruce County Council was arranging for a conference at an early date, and their delegates would be pleased to have an opportunity ■ of attending.—The letter, was received, the clerk to notify the delegates when the (conference was arranged. Ak and H. Fowler (“Berridale,” Clarendon) made application to have metal put on the Clarendon to “Berridale” road. The writers, .and other ratepayers offered to provide "at~least four teams for carting the metal.—On the motion of Cr Driver, the matter was left in the hands of the inspector and himself to make (he best arrangements possible for securing the necessary gravel and accepting the writers’ offer. Archibald Morrison (Kaitangata) wrote drawing attention to the condition of the ditch from Mrs Lawrence’s to the _ Lake drainage canal, and complaining that it was flooding his land.—Cr Renton said that, though the ditch was cleaned, it was just as bad as ever again in a few weeks with grass and weeds.—The matter was referred to Cr Renton and the inspector to report to next meeting. t . J. H. (Wilson (Waihola) ‘wrote complaining of motor cars , being parked in the middle of ° the road outside, the residence of Mr Tonkinaon, ssn.—The Chairman said that at the spot referred to the road was a chain wide, but there was only nine feet of metal. When he wrote 'Mr Wilson did not know there was a by-law covering the case. Mr Wilson did not wish to go any further in the matter—The letter was received. B. Healey, Tokoiti, wrote requesting assistance in forming the road to his property. —lt was reported that Mr Healey was willing to do -all the - horse work, and it was agreed to accede to his request. The District Engineer wrote with reference to the Toko River bridge (Thomson’s), estimating the cost of a bridge consisting of one span of 40ft with timber decking of Australian hardwood, at £653. At their present price the joists would require to be indented from England.—Cr Russell moved that the council go on with the bridge,—Cr Soott, seconding the motion, Bard that it they kept on spending money on repairs it would more than cover the interest on the new work. —The motion was carried. GENERAL. Cr Johnson suggested that it would -be a good idea to apply to the Mines Department for a £1 for £1 subsidy on royalties received by the department from coal mines in the county. The idea was approved, and a motion to that effect carried. On the motion of Cr Russell it was decided, to . grant Mr Courts, Springfield road, permission put in a culvert, subject to the usual conditions. Cr-Blair complained of the condition of Boundary road, North Baldutha, opposite •Mr :. P. C. • Hislop’s _ property, and was grahted permission with the inspector to epfcnd £7 or £8 on this piece of road in conjunction with the Balclutha Borough. Cr Renton moved that the services of the surfaceman for Matau Riding be dispensed with from- September 11.—Cr Clark seconded the. motion, and said that the use of a Bhovel and spade on the roads was most wasteful.—Cr Scott said the whole of tho council should follow Cr Renton’s lead, but It was perhaps rather early in the season to dispense with tho surfacemen.—The motion was carried. , m , Cr Russell said that the Toko bridge was to bo opened on September 15, but he mofod that it be not opened for heavy traffic such as traction engines and heavy ■motor lorries until the end of next January, and: that a notice to that effect he advertised. —Cir Clark seconded the motion, which was earned.—The arranging of an opening functiori was referred to the chairman and county clerk, and to the Mayor' and town clerk'of Milton. It) was decided to notify the Milton Boipugh Council that pipes from the water tower were leaking on to the county roads. AN INSISTENT DEPUTATION. After lunch a deputation of 14 .ratepayers from the Hillend district, headed by Messrs H J. 'Cuttance and James Little, waited on the council to , ask that, 61000 of loan money Ire expended on the Hillend-Mopnt .Stuart road. • ■ , ' Mr H. J. Cuttance spoke of the, had state of tiie Hillend road, and said that the ratepayers had been told that no more money was] to be spent on it. ' • , Tho Inspector, Mr J. 11. Bateman, stated that/ £SBO had been already spent bn the road, and there was £6OO yet to be spent on ; it—£3oo of Government subsidy and . £3014 of loan money. When that had been spent £665 of loan money would have been epefit on it. Mr Cuttance said they wanted to know why the balance of the £IOOO loan money was not to bji spent on this road. They felt that the promise made years ago ought to be kept. Thefe was still a balance of £3OO odd of loan money unexpended. After further explanation as to .boundaries of the riding and what was yet proposed to be done, Mr Cuttance expressed himself as satisfied. Mf James Little said they were only asking 'that the balance of the loan be held overj until the full Government subsidy upon it was available. Cti Blair took exception to the presence with! the deputation of ratepayers not in the Balmoral No. 2 Hiding. Mf Little said there were sufficient rates raiscd-lrcm three of the ratepayers to re-

fund the whole of the .-61000. There could be no . doubt that the' 61000 was raised for the Hillend road. Or Blair said there were a number of ratepayers there, but ho could bring the balance of the ratepayers to say that the loan was not raised for that purpose. Mr Little read from a report of the .meeting at which the allotment of the 67000 loan was discussed. He objected to the expenditure on certain other roads which he considered comparatively excessive and unfair. Cr Blair - said a mile of metal was all that was promised at the meeting of ratepayers, "they had that in the late Cr Begg’s writing. He would resign his seat before he saw the ratepayers’ wishes gone against. Mr M'Culloch, a member of the deputa-. tion. who said he had been in the district only a year, said he had taken up the land on a definite understanding that the main road was to be metalled. Mr Cuttance said he had come there under a wrong ■ impression about the boundaries, and after hearing the statement from Mr Bateman he had no more to say. Cr Blair moved that Mr Monk, of the Public Works - Department, be associated with the county inspector to report to next meeting on the expenditure of the loan money in .question. Cr Russell seconded the motion, and members of the deputation joined freely in a subsequent wandering discussion. It became apparent that fhe deputation favoured the expenditure of money on the main road as against the back roads. The motion was carried. Cr Russell then addressed the meeting, which gradually broke up shortly afterwards.