BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19550, 5 August 1925, Page 8

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Bruce County Council was held yesterday, an-I was attended by Crs T. Scott (chairman), D. M’Gregor, H. M. Driver, J. Clark, i\ Johnston, W. J. Sheat, D. , Gardyn, W. Bell, A. King, and V. Wilson. The Chairman of No. 17 District High ways Council wrote advising that the Highways Board proposed, for the purpose of giving members of the executives of the district councils an opportunity of discuss ing highway matters with the board, to hold a conference of executives in Wellington. The council was asked to inform its Highway Council representative in any matter which it desired to have discussed at the proposed conference. In response to the council’s application for the declaration of the Balclutha-Tua-peka Mouth road as a main highway, a letter was received from tire chairman of No. 17 Highways Council advising that the Main Highways Board had decided that the request could not be granted Both letters were received. The Inspecting Engineer of the District Highways Council wrote advising that in connection with the Lovell’s Flat bridge on the Dunedin-Invercargill main highway, in view of the importance of the highway it was desirable to provide sufficient width on new bridges for two lines of traffic. It; had* been agreed that one single 40ft span would meet requirements, and would provide considerably better waterway than the old structure that had to be replaced. The department, it was stated, was proceeding with the preparation of fresh plans. —Cr dark said that it had been decided to allow preparation of fresh plans to pro-ceed.-—The action of the council’s representatives in granting permission was approved.—Tenders will 'be called for erection of the bridge. The Clutha County Council wrote stating that at its last meeting it had passed the following motion: —“That the upkeep and maintenance of the main highways be taken over by the Government, and that kindred local bodies be communicated with, asking for their support, with the object of making these roads Government roads.’’ The Bruce County Council was asked for its support of the resolution.—lt was pointed out that the suggestion had been turned down by the Highwav Conference.— It was decided that the letter be received and that the matter be brought up at the counties’ 'conference. In response to a letter from the council Protesting against the proposed increased freight on road metal, the Prime Minister. (Hon. J. G. Coates) wrote stating that he would take an early opportunity of placing the council’s representations before the Railway Board for consideration.— Cr Driver said that he had brought the matter up at tile Highways Board meet*ng. He had received the assurance of the board that it would do its best to have the matter amended. However, it was not tile board that was the controlling body. Cr M‘Gregor condemned the recent Railway Commission. “If,” he said, “they had given us a system whereby the rates could ne. reduced instead of increased, they might have done some good.” Complaints had been made about the state of the roads, but the railways, with increased charges, were making the, satisfactory upkeep of the roads prohibitive. That, he said, was (he acme of inconsistency.—The Chairman pointed out that Bruce was at a- bio 1 disadvantage. It had practically ijo quarries adjacent to the roads.—Or Driver said that the commission had in view, when it suggested the increased charges, the blockin'--of the traffic running parallel with the railways, The Highway Board said (Tint roads should be improved; the commission recommended the increased cost of upkeep. r Olark said that to make met*-.l dearer would not stop competition. If the commission had wanted to stop road traffic competition, , it should have recommended heavy taxation of heavy traffic running parallel with the railways. It was decided that the matter be referred to the County Councils’ conference. A, Rennie, of Milton, was granted permission to lay pipes for the supply of water to his property at Clarksville. ‘ •Seven ratepayers of the Tokomaiviro and Crichton ridings wrote requesting that the council should put a concrete culvert or light bridge over a ford in their riding. —The inspector and member for the riding were directed to visit the ford and report. They were given power to act. Claims for work done to drains were submitted to the council. It was pointed out that the council had previously decided that payment would not be made when work was undertaken without the sanction of the council’s officers. However, as the work had been done in good faith it was decided to make payment in the cases submitted. CT M‘Gregor submitted that a precedent should not be established, and the Chairman stated that in the future no claims for work on drains would be recognised unless the inspector' or other responsible person had authorised that work. Cr Clark referred to the danger of the pot holes on the Balclutha traffic bridge. Motorists could not see into these apertures and children would suddenly rush out on to the bridge. It was a great strain on motorists. Ho suggested that, though the council had no jurisdiction over the bridge, the Clutha County Council should be asked to close the openings. Other councillors supported Cr Clark, pointing out the danger. There had been a fatal accident, and the danger was that another accident would come very soon unless the apertures were closed. It was decided that Cr-Clark’s suggestion be carried out. Several county councils wrote stating that they w'ould support Bruce’s resolution regarding Main Highways Board matters. The Inspector (Mr J. H. Bateman) reported that maintenance gravel had been put down on the following roads during the month Stirling Hill road, Hermitage road and Swamp road, Matau Riding; Hewitson’s road, Crichton Riding; North Balclutha roads, Balmoral-No. 2 Riding; Glenore road, Mount Stuart Riding. Several portions of loose metal* had been blinded with gravel on the Riverside road. Maintenance metal had been, put down on the Main road between Titri and Waihola, Tokoiti road, and on the Lovells FlatKaitangata road between Taratu crossing and the cemetery. The high sides had been graded off the Stirling Hill road, also portion of Green-fiold-Tuapeka Mouth road, and the grader, was at, present working on the Clarksville to Glenore road. The rcdecking of Kaitangata-Matau bridge was in hand and would be completed shortly. Last council meeting day a motor car had knocked the side rails off the small bridge near Glenore station. This had been repaired at a cost of £5 14s. Four men had been employed during the month in cleaning portions of the Clarksville drains, and this work would be completed in a few days. The spoil from many roadside ditches when cleaned out by settlers was being left on the side of the road, and formed a bank, which made- it difficult to get water away from the road surface. Settlers should bo compelled to remove this spoil from the roadway whenever a ditch was cleaned out. In various places hedges had been cut and the cuttings left op the roadside to rot or else a fire was run through the cuttings and the sticks left scattered about the roadway. The report was adopted. The Chairman pointed out that something should be done regarding cleaning up of the roads. It was decided that requests should be made to residents that the sides of the roads should bo cleaned of refuse. Accounts amounting to £1247 13s fid were passed for Daymen!. Receipts for the month, it was reported, had totalled £291 2s 2d.