BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Witness, Issue 2669, 10 May 1905, Page 11

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL

An ordinary meeting of the Bruce County Council was held at Milton on the 2nd : present — AEr Haggart (chairman), Crs Begs-. *Bryc», Adam, Crane, Sutherland, Noble, Tough, and Mosley. , ~~

ENGINEER'S HHPOB.T.

The -Engineer (Mr A. Nelson) reported as follows: —

"" Roads : They are in fair repair for the traffic, and very little .surfacing has bsen done during the past month, the work done being repairs to culverts, etc. .Works: The work of cutting and, widening Morrison's Creek between the two lakes is almost completed, and it is expected that work will lower the upper lake to at least one- foot below the former

level. The metalling of Centre road, Inchclutha, is nearing completion, and it is ex- j pected to be finished in about 10 days. The { clearing out of the lower portion of the centre; ditch is also nearly finished, and part of the i ditch through the Crescent Estate has been i

cleared out. The work of widening road tusat Circle Hill Schoolhouse is nearly completed. Bridges and- Culverts: A wood culvert in Main road near G-lenore has had a new covering put in. same. The bridge over river at Milton- has had the upper planking repaired for the winter traffic. The timber has" been

laid down for repairs to bridge over river - near J. Farquharson's, and also for a new bridge_over .Morrison's .Creek. Timber has-

also "been^ supvlied. for a new culvert near Boundary ~ Creek on Clarendon-Berwick road, in -place ot one broken down. The contractor has Tnade a, start with, the metalling of portion of Loudens Gully- road to the Coast." — The report was adopted.

FINANCE

The' statement of receipts and expenditure ehoweg the former at £352 19a 6d7 and the latter at £312 14s lOd. Amongst the receipts were: Rates £648 19a 6d and loans £300, and " included in. expenditure were works £173 lls 6d and surfacing £53 10s Gd. — Approved.

CORRESPONDENCE

The Treasury Department -wrote stating that a loan, of £350 for metalling Centre road, Inchclutha, was available, on condition that the council would take all the steps necessary to comply with the provisions of the Local Bodies' Loans Act. — The engineer was instructed to take the necessary steps to secure the loan.

The Treasury Department also wrote stating that a loan of £500 -would be granted to extend and improve Matau drainage works on condition that^the council complied with the provisions of "the act. — In this case it was decided to call a meeting of ratepayers of the Matau drainage district for next Saturday week to discuss the question.

The* Department of Justice wrote stating that the Minister was preparing a Statutes Kepeal Bill for next session, and the opinion of the council was sought as to any local acts it thought should be repealed. — The council decided to suggest that the Tuatitoto and Kaitangata Lakes Act of 1890 and the Amendment Act of 1891 should be consolidated, and that the lands affected ba vested in the council for. "say, the next 50 years.

The Eoads Department wrote stating that the amount originally intended to be spent in repairing Balchitha traffic bridge was £3000, the three local bodies concerned to pay JESOO each and the Bruce County had paid J379 12s Bd, leaving a balance of £120 7s 4d. If this amount were paid, into the public account at

once the department would resume the repairs to the bridge. — The Chairman reported that a reply had been sent that the council's shary of the cost would be paid on the district engineer certifying that the work had been done. The Land Board wrote stating that the Clutha River Board had applied for a small piece of land- at Clydevale punt for access to the goods shed and landing stage. The Land Board asked if the council had any objection to the land being set aside as a reserve and vested in the River Board. — It was reselved to agree to the proposed reservation.

A series of letters were received from Dv Ogston on the sanitary condition at Roxburgh Station and on a typhoid fever case at the same place, and also on a case at Fairfax Dr Young, health officer for the county, reported that 'steps had been taken as recornmend«d for the abatement of the disease and the nuisances complained of. Dr Youn^ also reported a case of diptheria at the Manuka Creek Schoolhouse and a case of pulmonary * U A?°^ iOS ! s at Fairfax.— The town clerk (Mr A. .Nelson) was appointed sanitary inspector for the district, and the correspondence was received. The clerk we* also instructed to see that proper precautions were adopted at Manuka Creek and Fairfax. The Society for Prevention of Cruelty io Animals wrote asking the council to take an interest ir. the society and to form district committees to report any cases of cruelly — Received.

Walker Johnston wrote drawing the rouacii's attention to a portion of road leading past his .section as being- covered by water in winter, and no provision being made to take oil the water.— T4i<? Engineer reported that step?were being taken to improve the portion of road referred to. %

H .Craigie and Sons wrote askin^ that sonic improvement bs effected in the road at Riverside, as it was -covered with water at high tide. He offered to cart the motal from Tifri Station free of any charges.— On the motioxi of Cr Sutherland, it was agreed to have 1-2 chains of the road Taised and metalled, jfd to call tenders for the work.

Archibald. M'Kechuie and A. M'Laren wrote applying for renewal of slaughterhouse licenses- — It was agreed to recommend the department to renew the licenses.

Malcolm Morrison wrole offering £Q rent par annum ior lot No. 7, Lakes Drainage Keserve. — Accepted.

The Bank of New Zealand wrote asking tho council to pass a. resolution io authorise :itf advance to the fund on account of overdraft. — On the motion of Ci Noble, it was decided fo "apply to the bank for an overdraft np ihe limit allowed by the act. Frazer Bros, wrote drawing the council's attention to the road past Morrison's as being cut \vp by flax-carting" traffic, and they as3-Ti»d that the road be repaired or the traffic slopped during winter.— The letter was received, the Engineer stating that he was taking &teps to have some repairs effected.

GEMESAL.

On the motion of Cr Noble, it was decided to carry out the recommendations made by i committee" on July 4, 1599. with reference" to road deviation at Gleniedi. The recommendv tion of the committee .was that the present road be closed, and that a deviation through James M*Gingan's land be made.

Cr Begg moved that all ratepayers be allowed to take a traction engine through the toll-gate on Balelutha-Pukepito road free of charge when the engine Viras reqxiired for threshii-g or >]i-aff-cutting purposes. — The motion was agroed to.

The Kngineer was authorised to p-rocuro maintenance me£al for Maiii road and Kivereide road, Balmoral Riding.

On ihe motion of Cr Bosrg, the ppgii.eer was instructed to report on the question of erection of bridges over the "Waitshtir.a Kivei at the lower and upper end of Greenfield Settlement and the roadingto and from same.

W. Murphy and D. Gordoj. wrote asirin°r the council to grant theni a share in the foniiciJ's carting.— *lt was agreed to call tenders for the county carting. On the motion of Cr Mos'.ey. it was I'oimallv decided to make a special rate of l-12d in the poTind- to provide interest oa the lo~n for Centre road, iTietieHttl.a.