BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23828, 7 June 1939, Page 3

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL

annual meeting cr McGregor elected chairman Cr D. McGregor was elected chairman of the Bruce County Council for the ensuing year at the annual meeting of the council yesterday. Cr W. Moore was elected deputy-chairman. Present at the meeting, which was followed by the monthly meeting, were Crs McGregor, Moore, J. Clark, H. M. Driver, W. J. Sheat. H. King, A. Renton, V. Wilson. A. Higgs, J. Boylan and J. Allison. Finance The clerk (Mr U. Walker) reported that the expenditure for the past month was £2603 17s lid, compared with £2079 16s 8d for the corresponding period last year, and the receipts totalled £l3Bl 18s sd, compared with £732 4s 7d. The receipts to date were £5550 10s 9d, and the expenditure amounted to £4992 9s 7d. There was a credit balance of £558 Is 2d, compared with a credit of £1455 10s lOd at the corresponding date last year. The report was adopted. Striking of Bates 9 Cr Clark gave notice of motion to move at next month's meeting that the rates for the year be the same as last year, with the exception of Balmoral No. 1 and No. 2 ridings, in which the general rate would be increased by id in the £. The total rates in these ridings would be decreased, however, owing to the omission of the loan rates. Legal Proceedings Threatened

Messrs Wilkinson. Rolfe and Wilson, solicitors, of Dunedin. wrote on behalf of Mr C. W. Storer (Kaitangata), stating that they were taking proceedings against the council to have blocked up two culverts that were draining water on to his land and claiming substantial damages for the depreciation of the area. Before taking the matter further they would be glad if the council would consider closing the culverts and compensating their client for the damages done to his land. Cr Clark said that the council had not cut the ditch. It was dug on the ratepayers' own responsibility, and, in fact, in 1892, a resolution was passed by the council that the ditch be filled in. This was never done as the ratepayers protested. The man who bought the farm took over all the responsibilities. The culverts were placed in the natural water courses. After discussion it was decided, on the motion of Cr Moore, seconded by Cr King, that the letter be referred to the council's solicitors. Corresnondenca Mr J. Casey, of Milton, wrote asking the council to attend to the surface water adjoining his sections at Helensbrook.—Mr R. Mills, of Milton, also asked for pipes in the Tokoiti district to be cleaned out.—The requests were left in the hands of the members for the riding and the inspector. Mr W. Millar, of Tokoiti, wrote drawing the council's attention to the practice of casting ashes, tins, and glass about county roads and hedges which had caused injury to his children and cows.—The matter was referred to the members for the riding and the inspector.

The secretary. of the South Otago Centennial Committee wrote asking the council for a suggestion as to the most suitable dates for holding; the Centennial celebrations. He also advised that the council's scheme for a Centennial park at Toko Mouth had been approved.—Received. The clerk of the Tuapeka County Council advised that his council would support Bruce in its efforts to have the Balclutha-Lawrence.Main highway declared a State highway.—The clerk of the Clutha County Council also ad-

vised that his council was supporting the proposals-Received/' ' ■ ■•>' The secretary of the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers' Union wrote asking the council not to impose heavy traffic licence fees on farmers' lorries, as the law:left the matter in the hands of county councils. —Cr Renton said that farmers paid the rates and they were entitled to use a lorry instead of a wagon and horses. He could see no reason why farmers should have to pay the extra fees. He moved that the council should not'impose the fees.—The clerk stated that, while the county was in the pool with the Dunedin City Council, it would not be able to do this as farmers could be prosecuted if they took their lorries into another county or borough/ It would be better to take no action until after the conference of local bodies today.—The matter was held over until after the meeting. ....'■ Mr G. Reid/inspector of stock, Balclutha. wrote stating that he, had been doing everything in his power to get land owners to clear ragwort from their properties, and in most instances they had complied .with statutory notices and verbal requests. There was no trouble in keeping the weed in check where sheep were allowed to graze.—Received.' ~• '., ~' . ; ,;'

The Public Works'/Department advised that the following subsidies had been granted by the, Main Highways Board:—Balclutha-fLawrence highway, £300; Green Island-Taieri Mouth highway, £8; Balclutha-Wangaloa highway, £255; Stony -Creek-Hillend highway. £75; and Kaitangata-Paretai Punt highway. £3s.—Noted.- ,: .:.

The chief traffic inspector. Dunedin, wrote stating that he considered it highly improbable that the Transport Department would consider the fixing of a speed limit in the township of Waihola, which was only sparsely populated. He would be pleased to call on the council and hear its views. —The clerk reported , that Chief Inspector McDowell had discussed the matter with him and had stated that he considered the inspectors had sun> cienl /power? at. present to stop any speeding through the township.—lt, was decided to send a 1 copy of the letter to the Waihola Labour Party, which had made the request for the speed limit. , Banger's Report The ranger and motor traffic inspector (Mr H. H. Morgan) reported that during the month he found 15 head of cattle wandering on roads within the county. . Fourteen applicants had been tested for drivers' licences; nine had been passed, and five were held over for further practice. Twelve, notices concerning gorse on roads had been sent out. It had been-found necessary to issue summonses to several ratepayers unless the gorse were cleared before the end of June. The report was adopted. Inspector's Report The inspector (Mr J. H. Bateman) reported as follows on work carried out in the county during the past month:— Balmoral No. 1 Riding.—Maintenance gravel has been spread on the following roads:—Newton to Tuapeka Mouth road (504 yards). Shaw's road (75 yards), main highway to Craig's (250 vards). The gravelling contract on the Cairn to Newton road has been completed. The following roads have been graded:—Greenfield to Newton. Cairn, and Cairn road to Newton. Balmoral No. 2 Riding.—The gravelling contract on the Waltahuna bridge to Hillend road has been completed. Crichton Riding.—The Lovell's FlatKaitangata road has been graded and 20 yards of maintenance gravel spread. A portion of this road has been surfaced.

Matau Riding.—The ditch on the Lakeside-Stirling road has been cleaned out. The Stirling and Benhar Hill roads and the Stirling-Benhar road have been graded.

Inch Clutha Riding.—The following roads have been graded: Centre road, Stirling to Townley's, Hastings, and the road to the top of the Island.

Kaitangata Riding.—The KaitangataSummerhill road has been graded and

225 yards of maintenance gravel spread betweeh-Kiltogata and Glehlediloading.—Twfentj'Chains of light metalling have AeexL4au£t. on Ridley's '■■• ipad. \ Thirty-six lyards of maintenance metal on Borthwick's road; andlo-yards on the The road 'between the'Monument and Akatore Coast School has been graded. Waihola Riding.—The Taieri BeachWaihola waffs between the end of the metalling.and Mr E. Whalan's has been formed, and one new culvert put;in. Clarendon Riding.—The- gravelling contract on Shaw's Hill road has been completed. Mount Stuart Riding.—The metalling contract on the Mount Stuart-Manuka road: is almost completed; /'•:', < Tokomairiro Riding. Mamtehance gravel from the Table Hill'pit ..has been spread on : the Kinhesaj, North Branch, and Hawke's roads,' Tokbito road has been graded. ~ ~.- General Account.—The deck .of-the Stirling, .bridge" has had two ] coats; of tar and fine gravel. •,:"■ '.;...■ -A , . MAIN HIGHWAYS , Balclutha/.to Lawrence- Highway;--* Ninety-two hours' grading have been done on this highway during the month. The gravel has settled in, and the . road surface, is in , fairly good order. .;■ ,"• }■•;..••.■■■ ! ,. ; V■ ■ :.•;-.-.:>•'.■? Balclutha to; Wangaloa The whole length of this highway.has been graded - during May,, and maintenance gravel has been spread, on a portion between ;the 'Kaitangata Borough boundary and'the saddle.; Kaitangata to Faretai Punt Highway. —This highway has been graded: twice during the month, and high shoulders have been cut off with the power grader. /

Stony Creek to Hillend Highway.— This highway has been graded and is in fairly good order. \\ Green Island to Taieri Mouth Highway.—Surf ace work has been carried out on this section of highway. The river bridge is in need of repairs. The decking planks are mostly loose arid require tightening up. It also requires a coat of bitumen for a running surface. The truss timbers want painting and all ironwork gone over and either painted or tarred. The est!* mrted cost of the repairs required is £BOO. ;; The report was adopted, .