COUNTY OF BRUCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20789, 7 August 1929, Page 6

COUNTY OF BRUCE.

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Bruce County Council was held yesterday and was attended by Crs D. Gardvne (in the chair), T. Johnstone, H. M.’ Driver, A Renton, D. M'Gregor, J. 'Lockhart, W. J. iSheat, W. Bell, and V. Wilson. HIGHWAY MATTERS. ' ' The Minister of Public Works (Mr B. A. Ransom) wrote stating that after investigation he had been able to discover „no circumstances which justified any variation of the decision that the Balclutha.-Tuapeka Mouth main highway should be maintained by the council. With regard to the construction of culverts, the Main Highways Board was unahle to authorise further funds for expenditure in this direction.—Cr Renton moved—“ That the council take over the road in question from September 1, and that the amount already owin'* to Highways Board .for maintenance .(£32) be paid,”—Cr M'Gregor seconded the motion.—Cr Wilson pointed out that two councillors were not present. He would prefer to see consideration of the matter deferred until the next meeting, and as an amendment would move in this direction.—Cr Johnston seconded, and the amendment was carried. The chairman, No. 17 District Highways Council (Mr T. M. Ball), wrote requesting the council to discontinue the practice of placing on the highway loose dirt, vegetable matter, etc., lying at the side of the road.—Received.

A further communication was received from Mr .Ball pointing out 'that the gravel used by the council for highway maintenance contained too large a proportion of fine material, and suggesting that the gravel, in future, be screened before leaving the source of supply. To excess of fine material the writer attributed the number of corrugations which were appearing on the highways within the county.—Received. A circular was received from the chairman of the Main Highways Board (Mr F. W. Fnrkert) suggesting that, to prevent lorry owners avoiding the payment of heavy traffic licenses, there should be appointed a traffic inspector whose salary would be met by all the public bodies under his control.—The chairman, No. 17 District Highways Council, forwarded a covering letter explaining that he had suggested to the Dunedin City Corporation (the body collecting heavy traffic fees) that it should convene a special meeting of all local bodies concerned to consider the matter.—Received.

J, Clark (Lovell’s Flat) wrote pointing out that, as traffic passing Htony Creek had been diverted in the meantime over the Lovell’s Fiat-Kai-tangatn and Lovell’s Plat-Hillend roads, it seemed only fair that a granf from the Main Highways Fund should be allocated to keep these roads in repair until the Stony Hill section was in order again.—Cr Renton said that he had inspected the roads mentioned by Cr Clark, and he did not consider that it was in such a bad state as to warrant'encroaching on the highways grant.—Cr Sheat said he was in sympathy with Mr Clark’s request. If the traffic were passing over the main highway funds would be granted for its maintenance, and he thought this money should he used on

the deviation in the meantime. He moved—“ That the Highways Board be approached for a grant lor the purpose of maintaining the roads in question.”— Cr Kenton explained that lie understood that the money would have to come out of the council’s funds, but if the cost of maintenance would bo met by the Highways Board he would withdraw his objection.—Cr M'Gregor seconded the motion, which was carried. CORRESPONDENCE, hlr D. C. Campbell (Cook Rock) wrote drawing attention to the bad state of the road leading to Cook Rock homestead, and asking that repairs be effected. It was decided that the matter be left in the hands of the inspector and the member for the riding (the chairman), with power to act.

A petition signed by Mrs H. E. Battorsby, J. Andrews, and R. J. Crossan (Berwick) drawing attention to the fact that owing to the narrowness of the stream at Meggethorn bridge, the water was unable to got away, and consequently flowed on to the adjacent flat land owned by the petitioners. They asker that the council assist in o-crcoming this difficulty.—The matter was left in the hands of the inspector and the member for the riding (Cr Driver) to inspect and report at the next meeting.

Mr L. J. Farrunt wrote complaining of tho state of the road surfaces in the vicinity of Taieri Beach, and suggesting that they be remetalled.—The member for the riding (Cr Bell) reported that arrangements wore being made to have the roads in question attended to, and the letter was received.

The district engineer of Public Works (Mr T. M. Ball) wrote conveying a suggestion by Mr F. Waite, M.P., that relief workers should be employed ju the road on the north side of Akatore Greek. The writer pointed fmt that this would be suitable-work for the purpose, but before any decision could he made the department would like to know what assistance the council was prepared to offer.—Cr Bell stated that the riding had no funds at present to assist in this'work.—lt was agreed that the chairman, Cr Bell, and the inspector confer with the district engineer to consider the question further. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. The inspector (Mr J. M. Bateman) reported as follows on the work done on the various ridings during the month:— Crichton Riding.—Lovells Flat-Kaitan-gata road has been badly cut up in places owing to the diversion of traffic caused through the bad state of, Stony Creek deviation. / Matau Riding,—Fifteen yards of gravel have been put down on the, station road at Stirling. Inch Clutha Riding.—The river bank slip at Morrison’s has been made up and planted with willows. Kaitangata Riding.—Th( Wangaloa old road has been repaired, half the cost being donated by the coal company. The four-feet concrete pipes have been put in place at Johnson’s culvert, and the road will soon b„ open for all traffic. Waihola Riding.—Maintenance metal has been put down on Taieri Beach road between Taieri Month mid the Gully road.

Clarendon Riding.—The concrete pipe culvert on Phosphate road was blocked at the outlet ; this'has been opened up and the culvert repaired. Surfacework haSi" been done on various roads. Tokomairiro Riding.—Fifty-three and a-half yards of maintenance metal have been spread on roads about Tokoiti. — Watertahles have been cleaned out in Loudon’s Gully, and a culvert repaired six-inch pipe culvert which broke down at the intersection of Tokoiti road and Cargill street has been repaired with nineinch concrete pipes. General Account.—Timber . has been ordered for redeeking Aitchison’s bridge over Lakes Canal. MAIN HIGHWAYS.

Dunedin to Invercargill.—The whole of this main highway has been graded twice during the month, and is in fair order, with the exception of Stony Greek deviation, which has been jn very bad state. I have been requested by the Public Works Department to repair this section with metal and gravel, at the expense of the Highways Board. A small double culvert near Clarendon, which gave trouble at every flood, Las been replaced with 48-inch diameter concrete pipes. Clarksville to Springvale.—The deck level of a small bridge on Glenore road has been lowered nine inches, and a new hardwood deck put on; this has removed a nasty bump at a bend on the road. One hundred and sixty yards of gravel have been spread between Glenore and Mount Stuart. " ' Balclutha to Kaitangata.—Three hundred and ninety-three and a-half yards of gravel have been put down in this highway during July. Stony Creek to Hillend.—No work has been done on this' main highway. Traffic was held up on this road for some time after the severe snow storm at the end of June. # Green Island to Taieri Mouth.—A portion on this section of main highway has-been patched with metal. ■ The report was adopted. RANGER’S REPORT. The ranger reported that he had impounded 10 head of stock during the month. FINANCE. Accounts amounting to £1314. Os !)d wore passed for payment. TENDER. The following tender was ‘ accepted:— Contract No. 160, carting 950 yards Clutha gravel from Clarksville and Crichton stations to Main Highway.— Mr J. L.' Hughes, 2s 2d per yard.