BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 9

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Bruce County Council, held on the 2nd in tho Council Chambers, Milton, was attended by Crs W. Noble (chairman), J. M. Begg, H. Clark, H. M. Driver, "W. Crane, G. T. Martin, P. Rcg^art, and W. S. Mosley. The Chairman mentioned that Cr Hewitsor. would not be present on account of the death of his mother, which, had occuired that morning.

THE AXATO3E BBIDGE,

Cr Begg handed in the following protest- — I 'regret tnat it is necessaiy for me to piotest against the /.ay m which the contract lor the Alcatore bridge was let. At a meeting of the council, held m October last, a lesolution was passed that no tender be accepted for the 112 ft Bridge, and it was further lesolvcd that a plan be prepared with a 40ft span and submitted to the chief surveyor for approval ; when approved tenders to be called for the work. This resolution had neither bsen carried out nor revoked. It was, therefore, li.formal to accept a tenc.cr lor- the larger bridge. Th-e Counties Act p*or Vides that at least seven days' notice must be given to each cour-cillor of the proposal to icvoke or alter any resolution of ths council. Had such notice been given in the case of the Ak.s tore- bridge, councillors would h&.ve had time to consider the question. There is an abundance of stone close to the proposed site of the bridge, which could be used for filling the approaches. An opening of 40ft- is sufficient — in fact, 20it should let through all the watei. Every foot taken from the woodwork and filled in with stone means a saving of £4, so m this way £300 could easily be saved and a better bridge got. It is, therefore, a great waste of money to build a wooden bridge costing double and which will require to be periodically lexiewed. ' Cr Clark thought that the leading of the letter was hardly regular. The question before the meeting was the confirmation of the minutes. The Chairman remarked that Cr Begg had his opportunity of objecting at the previous meeting. Cr Begg : I never had the chance. The Ciisiirnian There was a full meeting of the council here when the motion was carried, it was your place then to object Cr Begg: The (motion was for a 40ft span. The Chairman replied that it was for a 112 ft epan because the original estimate for a 40ft span was no use. He added that concrete ■would cost a great deal more than timber. Cr Begg leiterated his contention that the action of the council in letting the contract was Cr Crane remarked tli>t he did not know (how the council were to get out of the position as the contract had been let and the work was BO Cr S C°lark xemarked that they could not override a motion of the council that stood m the ■books, , „ „ ' The Clerk said that they could not build the rpiers in the sea without having a very expensive plant on the ground. There was over 6ft pf water when the tide was in. Cr Begg moved — " That a committee of the council go and inspect the site of the bridge." ' The Chairman seconded the motion, which [Was subsequently withdrawn. »' Cr Crane then gave notice to move at next meeting — " That the resolution re the Akatore fbridge span, adopted at a meeting of the council held mi October 2, 1900, be rescinded." The council then proceeded to the next business

inspector's report.

3?.oaSs.— The Injector revolted that tJie ioada

j were 11a a very good state for traffic, the conI tinued dry weather having hardened them up. ! "Works. — The works m hand had made fair progress since last month. The metalling of loads m Inchclutha had made good piogress, but some delay took place from not getting a constant supply of metal from Logan's Point. , Scarcity of trucks was the cause assigned for , the delay. The metalling contiacts had made ' fair progress. The man m charge of the stone i crasher did not seem to properly vuiderstpnd ttie working of it, as he could not set the machine to break the metal small enough. An expert had been sent to instrvict him, ai.d better work ; could be looked for in the future. The load foimat.in at Pukepito was nearly complete with xue exception of the culveit at Balmoral I Creek, which was being delayed owing to nonarnval of the concrete pipes. A stait had been I made with the road formation, Balclutha to Pillans.

Bridges — The contractor for the bridge over the Matau, at Kaitangata, had some of the piles and beam 3on the ground, a"d more material was arriving daily. The inspector further reported having also examined the District road at Helensbrook. It had never be'en formed, and water lay on it in wet weather.

The ieceipt3 for the month amounted to =£2396 10s Id, and the expenditure to £463 O3 6d. — Adonted.

GENERAL.

Cr Driver moved — " That the following motion passed at last meeting be rescinded. — " That the charges on all punts be made a charge to the general recount.' ' — Cr Begg seconded the motion, which was lost by one vote, Cr Martin walking out of the room rather than vote on the motion, which he clpimed was illegal.

The Chief Surveyor wrote ackmg for a report on the works carrred out under Government grants during the past year, and of all works m progress. — The Chairman repoited the information had been furnished.

A letter was received from the Minister of Lands stating th?t the Government proposed to place the following sums at the council's disposal, subject to the conditions in the attached agreements. The votes were — Centre road, Inchclutha, pound for pound subisdy, £650 , Kaitangata Riding road, pound for pound subsidy, £250. — The chairman was authorised to sign the agreements 01 behalf of the council.

The Chief Surveyor r.lso wrote asking for a report on the sums required to open up roads to Crown lands in the county for the year ending March 31, 1902, giving the position and nature of the proposed works and the area of Crown lands to be benefited by the roads being formed. — The Chairman mentioned that the clerk had forwarded a statement of the sums required.

Cr Driver reported that the committee appointed to examine the road to be fenced through Mr A. Lea Smith's property had visited the place since last meeting. They recommended that tho portion of the road taken from Mr Smith's property be fenced on both sides, the total distance being about 60 chains. They also suggested that the fence to be erected should be a post-and-wire fence with droppers. — Adopted.

W. H. Palmer, secretary to the Taratu-Kai-tangata Railway and Coal Company, wrote asking permission of the council for the right to build a railway on the land within the reserves on the margin of the lake. — A legal opinion from the council's solicitor was read on the subject, and a committee, consisting of the whole council, was appointed to consider the matter find report to next meeting.

On the motion of Cr Mosley, ;t was decided to call for tenders for the carting of metal to Centre-Inchclutha road. Dr Mason^ chief health, officer for ihe colony,

wrote emphasising the importance of hsving the sanitary condition of the district looked after.

Tho tenders of D. Allison for the supply of 200 yards of graiel on Lindsay's road at 3s lid per yard, and of R. H. Fiurbairn for road formation at Akatore at £27 10s, were accepted.

Cr Mart:n gave notice to move at next meeting — " That all mam roads and bridges be made a chsrge on the general account."