BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2254, 13 May 1897, Page 9

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting of the Bruce County Council, held on Tuesday, was attended by the Chairman (Cr H. CUrk), Crs Smith, M'PherBon, Murray, Hewitson, Crane 5 Rutherford, Noble, and Haggarb.

INSPECTOR'S JMEPOUT. The Inspector cf Works reported th^fc tho traction engines were doing much damage to the sraall bridgeo in the Tokomairiro and LovelTs Flat districts. Threa of the bridges were undergoing repairs in consequence of being damaged by these engines. The bridges when originally builfc were never intended to carry such heavy leads, and in every case new and stronger beams were required. With reference to the expenditure of Mr Livingston's rates on the road to his small grazing run, the road was under the jurisdiction of tho Mount SStuarfe Road Board. He would, therefore, zecomniend that £12 be offered to the road board to form portion of the road through block VII, Table Hill dktriefc, on the condition that the board and the- Tuapeka County Council contributed an equal amount, towards the works. He had examined the road to Mac's Valley, up past the Bush Reaerve, Waihola. By an expenditure of about £15 three of tho worst portions could ba Improved and made fairly passable for traffic. Tenders had been called for tho gravelling of portion of road near Berwick. The rsceiptu for ', the month ended April 30 amounted to £217 9s Bd, and the expenditure to £221 19s 10d.— The ; Chairman said these traction engines were going to be very htJivy on the county roads. — Cv M'Phjskson : I think that there should be a special tax. . Supposing it falls on the farmers we cannob help . it. The rates at present will aoti keep up tke bridges ths way thpy tire being broken down. — The Chairman : The owners of these engines are very careless, and never carry any planks with them. — Cr Smith : I think ws have it on the minutes lhafc they shall carry plank*: — The Chairman : Yes. — Cr Smith moved — " That the owners of all engises over live tons in weight be required to carry planks and use them when passing over bridges, otherwise proceedings will be taken against them." — Cr M'Pherson seconded the motion, which was carried. — I!; was decided to allow the matter o£ Mac's road to stand over in the meantime, and the report was then adopted. j TBB HAWKE'I BAY RELIEF FUND. Ifc was resolved ofo the motion of Cr Smith, seconded by Cr MTherson — "That this council desires to express their heartfelt sympathy with the sufferers through the floods j at Hawke'a Bay, and more especially with the | widows and orphans of the brave men who lost ; their lives in endeavouring to rescue those in danger ; and the members of the various ridings agree to endeavour to raise subscriptions to the relief fund, and forward same through the county chairman." i COfIRESFONDENCE. j A, circular w*s read from the Waitaki County j Council asking the co-operation ef the council j in obtaining legislation to enable county ! councils to levy a. tax on bicycles. — Received. ; The Chairman of the Taieri County Council wrote stating that he formally consented to the ! action of the Bruce County Council ia accept- ; iug tenders for the approaches to the punt at Taieri Mouth, and that the whole question would be laid before his council on May 7 for confirmation. — Received. Mr John Lawson wrote stating that he had taken up two special claims at Canada reef, snd. intended carting up the machinery with bullock teams. He also asked for permission to put a fence on the road ude opposite the reserve to keep his bullocks 'from rooming at large and breaking down fences. He would leave two gates for access to Ihe reefs by the general public. — The permission asked for was granted, subject to the work being done sit Mr Jjawson's own expense. Mr A. Jeffrey wrote wiih reference to the proposal to put in a box instead of a bridge over Joseph's Creek at Taieri Mouth. He was of opinion that * box would not suit at the place, as ifc was all shifting sand, and in the event of the box giving way the road to his sawmill would be stopped. .He hoped that whatever was done it would not be the means of closing the road in question. — It was resolved that the £14 now in hand voted by the Government be spent on the work. Mr Andrew M'Laren wrote asking the council to grant him a slaughtering license for a yard in Tokoraairiro South district, and the request was granted. The Controller and Auditor- general wrote forwarding a copy of the balance sheet for the yea; ended March 31, 1897, which he had duly audited and certified to. — The chairman was authorised to sign the balance sheet on behalf of the council, and ib was resolved that it be printed as required by tho ast. TENDERS. Thetender of Mr D. Campbell was accepted for gravelling the road near Berwick, ths price being 2s and Is per cubic yard, according to the . qu&lity of the gravel. THE LAKES DBAINAQE CANAL. Cr M'Pherson moved — " That a committee, consisting of the Chairman, and Cra Hewitaon | and Rutherford, be appointed to de&l*with the tenders of the lock on the L&ke3 drainage canal, upon a reply being received from the Borough Council." Cr Smith seconded the motion, which was carried. The council then adjourned until the flrsb Tuesday in July.