BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2045, 4 May 1893, Page 13

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the above council was held in the Oouncil Chambers, Milton, on Tuesday, when there were present— Crs Clark (in the chair), Murray, Mosley, Haggart, Wilson, Noble, Calder, Smith, and Macpherson, inspector's report. The Inspector reported that the roads were all in good repair, but the late foggy weather had made them a little muddy along the seaboard and on top of the hills. The formation on road at Lovell's Flat was now finished, and the formation of road at Lagoon Bush was making good progress, while the formation and bush clearing at Taieri Mouth was nearly completed. The contractors for metalling the roads had got the metal laid down, and the breaking of the same would poon be finished. The lowering of the box at Lakes Drainage District was now finished, and the deepeuing of the canal had made good progress, and would be finished in about a week. The work of repairing the railway bridge on the canal would also be finished in a few days. The contract for clearing Crescent ditch (Matau drainage scheme) was finished, and fair progress had been made with the cross ditch from Crescent to Swamp road. The contract for the ditch on the side of Swamp road had been thrown up by the contractors (J. Beattie and Co.), they having made an error in their estimate for the work. The ditch on the side of the railway line had been commenced, but was stopped by Mr R. Aitcheson throughsomemisunderstanding with the Drainage Committee. Work had again been commenced on the ditch on Mr Kelly's land, and the question of crossings over the ditch opposite the railway crossings would have to be decided on. The committee recommended that the extension of the ditch from cross road up to Lawrence's should leave the side of the road and be taken up the roadline. The surfaceman had been engaged cleaving out the Southbridge dram. None of the bridges had required repairs during tho month, but it would be necessary to order new beams for the bridge near Clymer's. A new covering had been placed on tho culvert near Chapman's, aud stones laid down to cover another culvert nearer Waihola.— The report was adopted. The statement of accounts showed the receipts for the month to have been £1353 11s, and the expenditure £658 18s 6tf. CORRESPONDENCE. The Chief Surveyor wrote requesting a report on the roads opened up to give access to Grown lands in the county.— Received. The Chief Surveyor also requested a report showing what roads the council would recommend to be formed to give access to unsold Crown lands within the couuty.— Received. . A letter was read from the Land Board asking if the council had any objection to a grazing lease being granted to Mr J. M'Leod at Stoney Creek.— TheVecretary Charitable Aid Board wrote forwarding a statement of amounts of contribution to Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards.— JO6J 06 Josephs, Taieri Beach, wrote requesting the council to instruct Mr Knarston to remove all obstructions from the road this week.— The clerk to write to Mr Knarston on the matter. J Campbell asked the council to refund him the sum of £7 4s, amount of damage done by the action of the late flood.— lt was decided to pay Mr Campbell £1 4s, but that the council decline liability for the rest. _„„., T The Secretary Otago Central Railway League asked the council to send three representatives to attend a conference to take action with a view to having the railway completed to the seventysecond mile.— The chairman, Ors Murray and Macpherson were appointed delegates. A. H. Brett, Hawera, wrote for the return of subscription lists to the Atkinson memorial fund. — Received. , . ... A. A. Scott, Waihola, wrote asking what price the council wanted for the section at Waihola bought by the council from Mr Yorston.— Left to the chairman to arrange. . . The Inch-Clutha River Board wrote asking for the return of their boat in good order.— Received, the matter to be attended to. Messrs Samson and Hardie wrote with reference to the surfaceman being put on to clear the gorse off the road at Wangaloa.—Received, the surfaceman having started the work. H L Johnson, Berwick, asked the council to gravel a portion of the road near M'lndoe's, the recent rains having made the road very bad.— Received. MATAU DRAINAGE SCHEME. J. Beattie and Co. asked the council to cancel their tender for contract No. 367, a* they had tendered for it too low, and also asking for the return of their deposit.— lt was agreed to allow them to abandon the contract, fresh tenders to be called for the work. Robert Aitcheson asked the council to stop cutting one of the ditches in Matau drainage district, as they had not obtained his permission. — Received. , , W. S. Mosley wrote that he had been informed that Mr Aitcheson would not object to the ditch being cut on the side of his property. A letter was also received from the local com. mittee stating that they adhered to the route originally decided on for the ditch. The Inspector wrote that he strongly opposed the route of the ditch as proposed by the committee, as it was on a higher level and was nearly double the distance of that by Pillans's creek. W Kelly wrote that he would be cut off from part of his property unless provision were made for crossings over ditch opposite railway crossings. R. Aitcheson wrote that he would agree to give 12ft frontage to railway line for completion of the work on specified conditions. Or Smith moved— "That this council favours the route along the railway line instead of the long detour, unless the ratepayers positively state that they want the longer route, when the council might reconsider their decision/ Or Macpherson seconded the motion, which It was decided that a meeting of the ratepayers be held at Stirling on Monday night to consider the question. THE LATE PREMIER. Cr Smith moved— "That this council expresses its profound regret at the death of the late Premier Hon. John Ballance; and that the chairman forward a copy of this resolution to Mrs Ballance." , „ .. „ , Cr Murray seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. DEFAULTERS. Cr Smith moved, Cr Haggart seconded, and it was resolved—" That as there is a large amount of rates still outstanding from last year, the clerk be instructed to take immediate action for the recovery of same." TAIERI BEACH. Cr Wilson brought up a report stating that he had seen Mr Livingstone with reference to road to Taieri Beach, but Mr Livingstone would not allow the road to go between his house and his barn unless he was forced He did not blame him for this action, but the council would 311 st have to take the land in question under the Public Works Act. ~ The matter was ordered to stand over for the present. SMALL BIRDS. Cr Mosley moved—" lhat the council obtain £30 worth of poisoned grain for distribution throughout the county."

Or Wilson seconded the motion, which was carried. ROAD DEVIATION. Cr Wilson suggested that the clerk be instructed to write to Mr Chapman andMrYorston to obtain their sanction to deviation of roads through their property.— Referred to the Inspector to act. REPAIRS. Or Mosley drew the attention of the council to the state of the road at Benhar, near the bridge. It was in a very bad stato, and would require the expenditure of a few pounds to make it fit for traffic— Referred to the Inspector. Cr Mosley moved, Cr Haggart seconded, and it was resolved— "That the fence round the willows near Kaitangata be repaired, and that it be placed under the care of Mr Kelly." TENDERS. The following tenders were accepted :—Contract 369 (formation of road, Taieri Mouth)— S. Roberts, £20 13s. Contract No. 370 (road fori mation at Taieri Mouth)— £2s 5s 3d. Contract No. 371 (road formation at Taieri MouttO-pS. Roberts, £15 ss. Contract No. 372 (road formation at Glenledi)— J. Ferguson, £20 5s 6d. The tenders of E. Palmer (£5) and T. Hill (£2O), for rent of punt at Taieri Mouth, were referred to I the chairman and Cr Wilson to arrange. THE RAILWAYS. Cr Mosley said he desired to bring before the council the agitation at present going on to hand the railways over to a body under political control. He thought the opinion of the ratepayers should be obtained in the matter. Crs Smith and Murray also spoke, both coinciding in the remarks of Cr Mosley. SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the council was held at nootl, attended by the same councillors, to confirm special orders. Cr Calder moved -"That the special order levying a rate of seven-sixteenths of a penny in the £ over the Lakes Drainage district be confirmed." Cr Mosley seconded the motion, which .was carried. Cr Mosley moved -"That the special order levying a rate of five-sixteenths of a penny in the £ over the Matau Drainage district be confirmed. Or Calder seconded the motion, which was carried. NEXT MEETING. It was resolved that the next meeting of the council be held on the first Tuesday in July. This was all the business, and the council adjourned. __________