BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2604, 10 February 1904, Page 13

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Bruce County County was held at Milton on the 2nd ; present— Mr Haggart (chairman), Crs Adam, Begg, Bryce, Driver, Crane, Martin, Noble, and Mosley.

engineer's eepobt.

The Engineer reported that all the roads were in fair condition for traffic. The works on hand had made fair progress during the month, and several contracts had been completed. The formation, of the road from Wangaloa to Coomb Hay w?s making fair progress, and a start had been made with the formation contract at Summerhill. The filling up of the approach to the Berwick bridge was completed, as was also the formation at Akatore, and the formation contract on Table Hill. The formation on Circle Hill road was still unfinished, and the road works at Taieri Beach were progressing slowly. The metalling contract at Hillend was making better progress, and would soon be completed while the metal contracts at Inchclutha were still progressing slowly, the want of metal on one of the contracts having delayed the work. The raising of embankments on Inchclutha was making fair progress. The timber for the boxes was on the ground, and a start would be made to put them together shortly. With regard to John R. Ward's contract (cancelled) he (the engineer) hrd arranged to have the stones on Farquhar sou's road broken by day labour, having been unable to get anyone to do the work by the cubic yard. The driving of piles at the bridge by Nome's were nearly finished, and the platform would be ready for traffic in a few days.. The timber for repairs to Lovell's Flat bridge was being delivered on the ground, and a supply of timber for Taieri bridge planking had been partly forwarded. He (the engineer) had been summoned, on behalf of the council, by John Brown, ex-tollkeeper at Wangaloa, for" wages for three months on the ground that his (Brown's) name still appeared on. the toll board. The case was heard at Kaitangata, and was dismissed with costs against the plaintiff. — The report was approved and adopted. The Engineer attached a btatement showing that the receipts for January had been — rates, £651 17s 8d; subsidy, £460 10s; goldfields revenue, £2 10s ; rents, £11 ; while the expenditure had totalled £779 5s Bd, including works £638 2s 10d.— Approved.

COKBSSPONDEXCE,

The Engineer for Roads wrote stating that the vote for £100, for construction of roid through block XV, Maungatua, would be handed over to the council for expenditure on the usual conditions. — Cr Martin moved that the engineer prepare plant, cf the wroks, and submit them to the road engineer for approval.—The motion, upon being seconded, was cairied.

The Chief Engineer of Roads forwarded information that authority for expenditure of the £•200 vote fcT roads in Barnego Settlement had been issued to the road engineer at Duntclin. — Tha letter was received, and it was resolved to suggest to the roads engineer that the money should be expended at Watkins's. The Treasury Department wrote asking under what subsection of section 8 of the Local Bodies' Loans Act the council wished 1 to raise the loan of .£2OO for drainage works at Barnego Settlement.— The Chairman reported that the information had been supplied.

The Railway Department wrote requesting the use of a small piece of land at Clarksville for the purpose of a loading bank at Clarksville siding.— The council agreed to grant permission.

The Railway Depaitmont wrote stating it could not undertake tho responsibility witli legard to the culvert leading to Mr Farquharson's property, Lovell's Flat. as the culvert was not on railway land, nor was it within 33ft of the centre line "of lailway. The matter therefore rested betweon the council and the owner of the land. — TLe Chairman said the council could not have anything to ck> with the work. The culvert wo.s not on a roadline ; it was on private property, andthe Railway Department could even order the council to cease operations if work was commenced". — The correspondence was received. The Road Engineer wrote stating he tad no authority to expend any of the Barrego- vote on the erection of a lock at the stone bridge. — Received.

The Tuapeka County Council wrote agreeing to pay half cost of erecting the Crookburn

bridge, and agreeing to Long and Co.'s tender. — Received. The K-aitangala Borough Council wrote requesting the County Council to forward to the chief engineer for roads a plan showing the position, etc., of the Matau-Kaitangata bridge. — The Chairman reported that a map had been forwarded showing locality.

The Property Tax Commissioner forwarded 75 per cent, of the subsidy for the cuirent year, amounting to £460 10s. — Received. The Government Insurance DepartmGnt wrote that premium for insurance of workmen was £1 per annum per £100 of wages paid, and 6s for the clen:ca.l staff. — It was resolved to insure all the county employees.

The Manager of Roxburgh station wrote asking the council io clear the gorse, etc., on the road leading past James Little's property at Mount Stuart. — The letter was referred to the stock inspector for the district.

Messrs Paul, Fiance, and Drumm, wrote asking that part of the road known as Fiancis' road, at the railway crossing, be metalled, as it v.-as impassable in wet waather.— On Cr Martin's motion, the engineer was instructed to furnish a report and estimate of cost at next meeting.

GENEEAL.

A deputation of settlers from Barnego Settlement appeared to request the council to perform drainage works along the main road. They urged the council to have the dutches along the road cleared out, and they pioduccd legal opinion to the effect that the council was bound to maintain all ditches alongside the main road, and within the road area. — Tho Chairman sand the ditches werj net on the leadline. — To settlers stated that their leases shewed the ditches were on the roadlms. — After disciission, Cr Mosley moved — " That tli3 council should contribute half cost cif the woik." — The Engineer stated that the settlers would not agree to this. — Cr Beg^ gave notice that he would move at next nieetung that a previous motion agreeing to pay one-third of the cost be rescinded, with a vipw to having the matter placed on a proper footing. — The deputation ultimately agreed to go on \with t!ae work, the council to pay half cost upon approval of the work by the engmcav. In accordance with notice, Cr Mosley moved that the punt at Clydevale be placed in the same position with regard to charges as the punts at Molyneux and Taieri Mouth. — He urged that fees should be charged on all punts, the revenue to go to the upkeep of the punt. — Cr Begg moved, as an amendment, that the matter be referred to the Clutha County Council for its opinion, with the recommendation that fees be charged. — The motion was withdrawn in favour of the amendment, which was earned.

Cr Martin had given notice of motion — " That a tax or toll of 5s per ton be levied on all flax fibre carted along Biuce County roads." He stated that since giving notice of motion he found the schema would not work, and he would withdraw the motion. Tbp traffic to and from flaxmills was causing serious damage to the roads. He found that to collect such a toll would cost something like 21s for every £1 collected.

Cr Mosley moved that tenders be called for clearing out Matau and Inchclutha dranns tenders to be dealt with by the chairman and engineer.— This was seconded by Cr Martin, and carried.

On Cr Martin's motion it was resolved to call tenders for clearing out Clarksvalle drain and portion of Southbridge drain, This concluded the business.