BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2006, 4 August 1892, Page 14

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting of the Bruce County Council was held on Tuesday and attended by the chairman (Mr H. Clark), Crs Mosley, Haggart, Murray, Wilson, Noble, Calder, M'Pherson, and Smith.

inspector's report

The Inspector of Works reported that the metalled roads were in a fair condition, but nearly all the maintenance metal supplied had been used to keep them in repair, aud a further supply would be required during the dry weather for nearly all the district roads. A supply of poisoned grain was received from Ashburton and distributed amongst the various ridings, the results in some cases being good. The receipts for the month amounted to LG2I 12s 4d, and the expenditure to L(373 14s. — The report was adopted.

CORRESPONDENCE

The Secretary to the Treasury wrote stating that the Colonial Treasurer had provisionally approved the Bruce County Council's application for a loan of L3OO for the construction of a road at Taieri Mouth, on condition that the council took all the steps necessary to comply with the provisions of " The Local Bodies' Loans Act 18SB." — The letter was received.

Mr J. D. Ritchie, secretary of the Department of Agriculture, forwarded a circular with reference to the celebration of Arbor Day, which was received.

The Under-secretary for Public Works wrote with refeience to an application by the council that a Government engineer be sent to examine the site and report on the cost of a bridge over the'Taieri river at Taieri Mouth, and stated that the district engineer at Dnncdin had been instructed to have the examination made nnd report on the matter as requested. — The letter was received.

The Secretary of the Agricultural department forwarded a copy the Sin ill Birds Nuisance Act passed last session, and urged upon the council the nrccssity of action being taken for the destruction of small birds. — Received.

The clerk of the Clutha County Council wrote, forwarding a copy of a resolution passed by his council at last meeting to the effect that the mem

ber for Clutha be requested to oppose in Parliament any attempt on the part of the Otago Harbour Board to iniposo a rate for harbour purposes on the country ratepayers.— Cr Smith said he was very glad to see that the Clutha Council had passed such a resolution. He was fully persuaded that if the Clutha and Bruce Councils had not taken action that a rate would have been imposed on the country. He was glad to see that it was now intended to levy a primage rate for harbour purposes. This, he thought, was much fairer, as everybody would have to pay instead of merely the people in the country. — The letter was then received.

The Secretary of the New Zealand Farmers' and Country Settlers' League forwarded a copy of the programme of the league, and invited the council to take steps to organise a similar league in the district.

Or Smith thought that it was the duty of the whole of the country settlers to protect themselves against the Socialistic movement that appeared to be going on in the towns now, and it was only by taking some such action as the league suggested that they would bo able to do that. lie confessed it was with very great pleasure that he read of the movement of the league in Christchurch. There was nothing in their programme that he could take exception to. Cr M'Pherson quite agreed with Cr Smith. He thought the idea of forming a league here was a veiy good one. Cr Mosley said the unions in Dunedin were organising themselves with the view of getting their representatives elected to Parliament next election, and they wanted to take all the lands owned by the country settlers and nationalise them. It was, therefore, absolutely necessary that country settlers should take the matter into consideration, and endeavour to elect men to Parliament who would oppose the Socialistic legislation that those in the towns were trying to bring about. If they did not take action soon it would be too late, as Socialistic legislation was spreading greatly, and many editors of newspapers were advocating it. He contended that the only way to settle the country was to retain the present land laws, and not take the land from settlers which they had acquired in the early days. Cr Smith moved to the effect that the secretary of the league be informed that the council would heartily co-operate with the league in forwarding the objects set forth in their programme.

The motion was carried unanimously,

Mr Samuel Vaile forwarded a circular letter in which he advocated certain reforms with regard to the management of the Government railways. — The letter was received.

Mr George Campbell wrote asking if the council were prepared to pay him 8s per chain for the formation of road leading from section 9, block X, Circle Hill. — The council did not see their way to accede to the request.

Messrs M. M'lnnes and J. Ramsay wrote drawing the council's attention to the want of a culvert between sections 5 and 6, block VII, and stating that they would pay no more canal rates until the culvert was put in according to agreement. — The letter was received.

The Commissioner of Taxes wrote stating that he had issued a voucher for the payment of the

balance of subsidy for the year ending March 31st 1892, amounting to L 267 11s Id.— The letter was received.

RATES. .Cr -MTheuson moved-" That the council at next meeting make and levy a general rate of 3d in the pound over the outlying districts within the county, ; a rate of £d in the pound over the road and river districts ; and a separate rate of 3d in the pound over the Matau and Waihola ridings for the year commencing April Ist 1892 and ending March 31, 1893 ; the same to be payable to the collector in one sum on September 6, 18n2.

Cr Smith seconded the motion, which was carried.

CHARITABLE AID.

Cr Smith moved to the effect that an additional rate of three farthings in the pound be levied for the purpose of paying the cost of hospital and charitable aid. He stated that one-fourth of the county rates went at present in charitable aid, and his object in moving in the direction he had done was to bring the fact home to ratepayers that they were paying so much. Cr Haggart seconded the motion, which was lost.

THE GORSE NUISANCE. Mr Angus Steel waited upon the council and complained about the gome and briers being allowed to spread in the Clarendon township, and stated that he had suffered great loss owing to the encroachment of the same on his ground.— lt was resolved that the inspector take action against all parties who allowed gorse to spread on the county roads, and that he cut down all gorse on the roads in the event of the occupiers of the adjoining sections refusing to do so after receiving notice about the matter.

COMPENSATION FOR L\ND. The Committee appointed at last meeting to report with reference to compensation to be paid to Mr Alew Yorston for a deviation of a road on section 1 of 31 aud section 32, block If, Clarendon district, reported that they agreed with Mr Yorston as follows :— Mr Yorston to give the land required for the new road in exchange for a road on the boundary of sections 30 and 32 ; the said road to be stopped and conveyed to him free of charge. Or Mr Yorston to give the land required for the road for L 5 per acre, or a lump sum sum of Lls for all the land required ; the council to bear all the cost of the conveyance of the land to the Queen, Mr Yorston agreeing to erect all the fencing for 10s per chain. — The report was adopted, and it was resolved that steps be taken tj carry out the arrangements agreed to re the stoppage of the roads. It was resolved that Mr George Campbell receive Lls and fencing as compensation for land to be taken for a road through section 9, block X, Clarendon ; the council to pay the cost of the survey and the conveyance of the land to the Queen.

THE LVTE SIR HARRY ATKINSON.

Cr Smith moved — "That this council place on record their appreciation of the valuable services rendered to the colony by the late Sir Harry Atkinson as soldier and statesman, and desire to assure Lady Atkinson that they look upon his lamented death as 'a public calamity and national loss, aud desire to tender to her and family their deepest condolence ; and that the chairman be instructed to rend a copy of this minute to Lady Atkinson, adding that this is the council's first meeting since the sad event." Cr M Pherson seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.

THE WAITAHUNA BRIDGE. Cr Smith moved— "That the council obtain a supply of steel girders for the Waitahuua bridge from Messrs Herbert and Co., of Lawrence, at the prices quoted in their circular of date June 23 ; the matter to be left in the hands of the chairman and Cr Smith." The motion was agreed to. TRAVELLING EXPENSES.

Cr Smith moved — "That the travelling expenses to councillors be as follows : — For Kaitangata riding, 30s ; Clarendon, 30s ; Balmoral, 30s ; and all other ridings 20s." — Carried.

ROAD TO KELLY'S. The committee appointed to report on the road leading to William Kelly's reported that the road in question leaves the Swamp road and extends to the Kaitangata railway line a distance of 30 chains. A culvert was required where it left the Swamp road, and the only formation possible was by digging a ditch in the side of the road and depositing the material in the centre of the road. They estimated that the cost of opening up the road would be 10s per chain, and that the total cost, including that of culverts, would be L2O. — It was resolved that the work be done at a cost not exceeding LlO.

THE OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY. Cr Smith moved — "That this council endorses the action of the Otago Central Railway League to get the line extended into the interior of this provincial district, and hopes that the Government will see its way to place a sufficient sum on the Estimates to allow of the work being more vigorously prosecuted." Or Haggart seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.

CO-OPERATIVE INDUSTRIAL SETTLEMENTS.

The circular from Mr H. F. Bastings, advocating the establishment of co-operative industrial settlements with the view of lessening the burden of charitable aid, which was discussed at last meeting, again came up for consideration, when pr Smith said he was very favourably impressed with the scheme. No doubt amendments would have to be made in some of the details, but he looked upon the scheme as a step in the right direction.

Cr M'Pherson also spoke in favourable terms of the scheme, but stated that he did not agree with some of the details. He moved that the circular be forwarded to the Government for their favourable consideration. The motion was carried unanimously. SUBSIDIES.

Cr M'Pherson moved — " That this council protest against the withdrawal of the subsidies unless the council is relieved from the charges under the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act, and that the member for the district be asked to oppose the action of the Government in the matter."

The motion was seconded by Cr Mosley "and carried.

TENDERS.

The following tenders were accepted :—Formation of road near Berwick, D. Campbell, LlO ; contract No. 341, formation of road near Waihola, Mr Wisniskay, L 27;2 7; contract No. 3<12, formation of road near Waihola, J. Campbell, L2B.