BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2804, 11 December 1907, Page 16

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Bruce County Council, * neld in the Council Chambers, Milton, on December 3, was attended by th« chairman (Cr Mosley), Crs Begg, Bryce. Adam. Crane, Driver, Tough, Brown, and Noble.

The business was 'to pass a special order levying special rates for a loan of £100 for extension of drainage vrtirks in Clarendon Riding, and it was resolved to levy a special rate of gd in tne pound for the purpose upon the rateable value of the sections to be benefited. ,

ELECTION" OF' CHAIRMAN.

Cr Adam proposed the re-election of Cr Moeley as <?uaivm.att' for the ensuing year, and stud that during the two years that the chairman had been in office he had disohaxged the duties with ability and impartiality. Or Driver seconded the motion, and endorsed what had been said by ■ tbe mover, adding that Cr Mosley bad been a model chairman, impartial in his treatment 'of councillors, and always courteous. Cr Noble also endorsed the remarks of other councillors, and said he would be plumed to see Or 'Mosley elected again. He had been a credit to the council and to the county, and although it was held that the position of chairman shSuld be a rolling office, he thought when they had a good man they should stick to him. Cr Mosley was a man of tact as well as ability.

Cr Driver:- A rolling office does not necessarily mean that the office should be held for one year only; it means in some cores for two or even three years, as a chairman sometimes only gets into the working of the position after his first year of cffi:e. Personally, he thought Or Mosley was the best fitted to occupy th« position at the present time. There being no other nominations, the county clerk (who temporarily occupied the chair) declared Cr Mosley duly re-elected. The Chairman, in returning thanks for the honour again conferred on him, thanked the council for its renewed confidence; but. at the same time, he did not think he deserved) the kind and complimentary things that had been »aid of him. His colleagues in the council had done everything possible during his terms of office to make the duties of the chairmanship as light as possible. The position of chairman of a county was no sinecure, but with a council such as that which he had the honoui to preside over the duties were not irksome. He again thanked the council for itu confidence^ and expressed the hope that the coming year would be as peasant as the past year had been. The ordinary meeting of the council was attended by the chairman and the same councillors. '

CORRESPONDENCE,

An Order-in-Council was received stating that the Bruce County Council was entitled to elect one member to the Dunedin Hospital Board and one member to the United Districts Charitable Aid Board.— Received, the county clerk reporting that Mr J. Mosley had been elected a member of both bodies at a special meeting of the council held on November 27.

Mr James Allen, M.P., wrote in reference to the Harbovr Board Bill, stating that he would endeavour to prevent overlapping of the districts He alao stated that the bill would not be proceeded with during the sc c sion, and that he had advi=«d the Minister to receive a deputation of various looaJ bodies on the subject, and he °ugge«ted that »irc:iscincnt3 should be made to mfct Mam

Minister antb confer with hims olyija* etijbject when he Otago. — Recerse&,< ' 1 'SJjr Allen also forwarded a copj of the Tateri .Jpijcainage Bill, and the Clefk reported that theejpollowing telegrams ,had. passed between^ tspg^member for the- Sistrict -and the <Shairjnanr of the council on 43»e, subject :t-v From ,tsuf county clerk^'&oveniber i 5; ''.Bruce;', ratepayers strongly object to be' in Taieri drainage district; no- boramunity. of Interest; .. «bsurd to include Wainol* in .diatrict: These lands do not suffer from 'floods as do those » Taieri endowment lexeme; not worth 20» per. •imuni.^ From I^S^yien, November 15: ' - '* Taieri--. Drainage ?~* Bill-" passed .'to-night£ Endeavoured unsuccessfully in Lands. - Convmittee to eliminate .Bruce "lands frojn «eEe#*£;. bill, however, ijow. P*ovjde». thift ooard^ shall classify, anil th*t -{and deirWDK up adVantage from drainegfe~-Hißgfi<Hne sfe*Jl- be exempt from taxation." — The action '"of' the clerk was endorsed, and the letter was receive:!. ■The Manager of the Kaitangata Railway and Coat wrote stating that inatructriojMMaad been given to have' the Msis/a • stain dritin. elezrad out as soon as "possible, »> bidden^ having occurred- owing to the klow3ag<&o£ .«oai dross into the- drain. — JtecweeT. . * \'jrh'e "Secretary of the Load' Board wrote •rtating'^iat the board .wool* not interfere i* regard: to payment oj royalty .- for stone §fieApa eection 3a, Btkxneco Settlement. s"§iwas also received from; fee boardr >. ,sta{«ment rM^frhsds^* «b* '. SE*-' for period ended August, 1907.— Wallace,. less«e of sectkut 3a, Baratgo Settlemenl,; also wrote claiaiing royalty on ail ston*. xamoved from ta* -lanjt tv^ee h* , purchased tha lease f«m Mi* "V&igHf>^Be letters were recaJrod. '*^- " % " " - The Comrty' 6i*rk reputed that the com-, pensatfon money awarded' to James, S'argueon (<bte«aMd) had b««»^p«jd into the' P.O. Mc«ived from th» Public Tiust Offie*.— Wotrf. . ' ... • ...-., The CoHectoc of Customs reported that . the- goW %<ncham£ is Bru^e County 'for September w*s-84oW BdW.— Bocwrred. *' \' Hie Cftrtk* IK+er^BoaaJi wrote adnn# the . co«2teil to. protest agaissi tiMi area unefec the " central oi ti» etmttdl being: inchidedL m» fine Otaga Baxbour Board's jtrrisdietknt.— The " stated thart the council ha* sent -in. a protest wh«& th*- bilt was first iafaro'**B>a r »h<J that tbe/bill' Ittd BOT Uaa ,he.d tmts till n«kt aesai^a. r Eb* Camttty OcA steied that a letter. iad hcea reoesre^ from the secretary of 1b». Hospital Boaid in x*g»id to the wiereabouts «f a patien* from tha district wika waar ux th* institntiao, asding^ies «licit«i the>iac± > that,, the, patUnt lefanwi, t» had. died in t&e isutitu-tion on 9ov«nbnr 29; a fa«t of -which the county at tha time, had been, notified by letter. — $he Chairman said the- leitaz w«s • proof that dual control of the institution was % failure. There was one board too many in the management. Se the Wash-mom bridge contract, Messrs Holmes and White, solicitors for D. R. Cooper, wrote askiog the council to finish the contract, as Mi Cooper was unable to get labour, and it was suggested that the matter might be referred; to a committee of tiie council, with whom an amicable settlement might be made.-rßeceived. W. B'ackie wrote, re the proposed bridste orex to* Taieri SWer, suggesting Idia* the council should writ* to the Taieri Cottnty Council , asking what aesistasce that body would give- towards the erection, of the bridge, and also that as estimate of the- coat steroid be- enclosed.— Suggestion approved, and Taieri ■County Council to be written to as suggested. GBNEEAt. The Sanitary Inspector reported that a "house in which* scaslet fever patient had occupied * roam had been thoroughly disinfected. It was resolved to give Milburn cement a trial in county works. Cr Brown moved — " That the engineer h» . instructed to carry out the earthwork in connection with Roper's Creek bridge." — Agreed to. Cr Koble moved — " That the resolution passed on, October X, 1907, providing that the Taieri County Council be asked to rescind objections send to. the Government against the erection of a bridge at T&ieri Mouth, be rescinded." The condition referred to was made as a preliminary before a conference could be held between the two bodies. — Agreed, .tq, and the chairman, Crs Crane. Driver, Tough, and (Ac mover were appointed to confer with the- Taieri Council -on the matter. Messrs Morgan and Stevenson waited upon the council and asked that some steps be taken to prevent cattle trespawtng on the roads- att Barnego Settlement, ami the county olerk was instructed to put on a special zanger to deal with the matter. Tha .Finance Committee's report stated -that the receipts for the month were £655 9s sd, and accounts amounting to £827 Is lid were recommended for payment. — •Approved. i On the recommendation of the Works • Committee, it was dwcir'=<l to expend J3O on* -the road from Marshal's to D. Gaardyne's <road; tenders tor -the work to be called, to j T>e in at next meeting. i i The tendeis of John Tayior and James , Ijochhart were approved for supply of dogcollar* at 6d each.

It was resolved that the necessary steps be taken to close roads in the Waitaiiuna JEast survey district.' . noaim'« Tuaaax: The- engineer 181 8 report was read and adopted as follows: — Roads. — The roads continue in a good state ' for the traffic ; surfacing has been done and repairs made to culverts and clearing water- • tables. Works.— The metalling contract on the Hill«ftd road is making good progress, and will -Wfinishejl before -Ifce end of the year. The •works on road .formation- near Milburn ■ are making fair progae**. The. gravelling contract on Table Hill jaact tol absorb the Government vote is nearing compLe&otu Tie maintenance metal contract o.n Clydevale Punt' road is now completed. The "maiifteiianee tnetal supplied to Sotrthbridge-hs* Been , delivered and carted a& to the roads >y. the settlers interested The culvert at SoanWs, on the Faisfax rood, is now finished. A culvert on the Main road at GresKsh's gave way, and it ?a being repaired. The culvert on Main, load at Finch's is shewing sign* of giving way, and steps axe being taken to renew «ame. The bridge known as " Black bridge " i»Mi need of ftoctensire repairs. The planking • and some of the walings, etc., are very much decayed, and require to be replaced with new ti*b*er. The werk* on th« IncfacLutha auxiliary drain are making good progress. Several of the bridges over the drain have been: erected, and timber hae been. «d*red' Jos,- the remainder of the bridge?. The work 'of protecting the banks of the river at Inchclutha hag been attended to. The ditch from Stirling Dairy Factory, through Stirling township,. h«» bejftji cleaned d*-^ offensive ' qiatier from the factory. Tie work. of widening Riv«Mjide toad, newr BiHaeos's,. i* nutloag fair progresr. This work" M done ouf <• of a Government " vote. "With tefertnce to" the complaint of Davis and Henderson as to the _Bitto\ot the Coombe- Bay mad. aecoaa. swamp from riverside to ridge, the road was formed by 'taking. iW earth from a ditch, cut on, each side of the road/ It w*s very 'poor material for raising the road, and it has sank aw*y vwtil the road i» on' the level of the swamp again. "VSfh*t is wanted is to cart ■em* hard clay faom the ridge and rose the Toad to a depth of Sin, and that would maker that portion a* good- -as- the rest of fch* ro*d Am. the bank of the river. Th» estimated coat is £12. Be Peolton Bras.' request to make the toad passable to the boundary ef their property: Thfrxcedisaii old track lead- - ing from Waaigalba to Milton-, and' is- seldom used for thrmigh tneffic. It is an oM dotted road through section* 10, 20, and % block VT, Saitangst» South district. The road was originally formed to a- width of 12ft, and it iias narrowed down to a width of 10ft in •some places. To form the road tip to its original width I estimate the cost at £14. The road where it la*vee section. 20 on to the main ridge is fenced across, an<? no traffic can go through it in the meantime until the fence is opened up and a gate placed on tune. I aUo examined the road complained of by Mr Mitchell. The culvert is an old wcoden one, and has broken down so that no water can pa»s through same. A new pipe is required and earthworks are necewary to cove* game and raise a low portion of 'the road, tha estimated cost being £1% A w«od culvert on Wangaloa rood, opposite Johnson'?, has beer crushed down, and the wwter cannot pttes ...trough. A new pipe- culvert is required at a probable cost of £5 for pipes and earthworks. The cress road at Inchclutha haa been in some places blown full of light sand from the adjacent paddocks. This occurs when the land is ploughed, and before it is covered with grass or crop, and the question arises. Who is liable to clear out the sand from the ditch? It stands in somewhat the nine position as the drone from the railway blowing into the Matau drain. As this ditch affects only the drainage of the property from which the -•and blows, the owner can hardly ask the council to clear out the same, seeing that he is the cause of the stopping of the drainage. I await the council's instructions in the Batter.