BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2914, 19 January 1910, Page 11

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The regular monthly meeting of this council was held on the 11th at Milton; present—Crs H. M. Driver (chairman), J. Begg, J. Adam, J. Smith, J. Clark, W. Bell, D. Gar-dyne, D. Boyd, T. H. Russell, and P. Hagg-a.rt. An apology was received from Cr Tough. CORRESPONDENCE. James Allen, M.P., recounted the efforts ho had made in committee in the House in connection with the borrowing powers of local bodies. He also forwarded draft of Defence Bill, and stated, further, that be was urging upon the Government •the necessity for a grant of £IOO to open up the- road through Handle's, section 20a, Greenfield Settlement. Copies ..of Parlimentary papers were also sent. —Received. The Minister of Public Works wrote intimating. that the council's request to make amendments to • the Public Works Act in connection .with gravelling- and metalling roads and streets on land subdivided for the, purpose of sale- would be considered when any legislation was brought forward on .the subject.—Received. A. C. Wells wrote complaining about the, conduct of the ranger in taking possession of a mare. —Received. The Collector of Customs advised that the amount of gold purchased in Bruce County for the month of October was lloz.—Noted. Ernest Winter, Inch Clutha, wrote complaining of being wrongfully charged with cattle wandering, and requesting the council to remove three fences which J. Askey had erected across the road between his (Winter’s) house and the river.—The engineer was instructed to inquire and report. James Keen, Milton, applied for permission to erect a sledge hut on the south bank of the Tokomairiro River, near the mouth. —Engineer and member for riding to attend to the matter. Mrs Dow, Stirling, wrote drawing the council’s attention to the state of the ditch alongside her property on Swamp road.—Engineer and member of riding to report. The Clerk Clutha County Council wrote stating that it was proposed to improve the approach to the Clyclevalo punt at Green field at an estimated cost of £lO, and that it was found necessary to replace one cf the pontoons on South Molyneux punt at a -cost cf £4B 10s. The council’s agreement to these works was asked for. —The latter item was agreed to, but it was considered that the former expenditure w-as not necessary. •' The Bruce Coal Company applied for leave to, erect crossing, from M‘Gill’s- subdivision to their private siding.—Granted, subject' to engineer’s supervision. The Town Clerk, Dunedin, forwarded a draft copy of the by-laws and , regulations proposed to be made in connection with the provisions of section 9 of the Waipori Falls Electrical Power Act, 1904.—Received; David Russell wrote applying that his request to erect a gate on the road line be granted, he having complied with the provisions of the act. —Granted, subject to the engineer’s appx-oval. Amos MTvegg (Henley) wrote offering to run a ferry service between Titri and Taieri Mouth for a small subsidy.— The council failed to see the benefit that would be afforded to its constituents by the proposal, and the letter was received. Permission was granted the Taieri Ferry School Committee to extend a fence five chains along the river bank. GENERAL. Cr Clark moved that eight chains and a-half of road bo gravelled on Robson’s Hill, and that tenders be called for next me-o t i n g. —Ca r ri cd. The statement of receipts and expenditure for the month showed' the foi’mer to have been £155 2s 3d. and the latter £798 16s lOd. Cr Boyd brought up the matter of a windmill in the Inchclutha Riding about which complaints wore being made. _ It wus stated that the windmill was squirting water over the road, while the fans often frightened horses. Ho asked whether the council had any jurisdiction in connection with the m.attar. —The Chairman thought they had not, but after some discussion it was resolved that a legal opinion bo obtained on the subject. A report and letter received from the Otago School Commissioners in connection with a road at Berwick were held over foxconsideration at next meeting in response to the request of the commissioner’s x’anger. who -desired to attend and explain the matter. Cr Boyd moved, and it w-as unanimously resolved —“ That a vote of thanks be sent to Mr James Allen, fun

the trouble he has taken during the last two or throe months in connection with loans, etc.” Mr Boyd said Mr Alien had gone to a lot of trouble at times, and had always been willing to give every information possible. At a formal special meeting; in connection with the weekly half-holiday it was decided to continue as heretofore—namely, Wednesday. A special meeting to consider by-laws as specially revised by the council was held. The alterations made were that the tax on traction engines be reduced from £5 to £1 all round. No speed limit for motor cars is contained in _ the bylaws. It was resolved that a special meeting be held on March 1 to confirm the adoption of the by-laws. engineer’s report. The following is the engineer’s report: Works. —The contract for the formation of the Mount Stuart-Manuka Creek road is not yet completed. The formation contract at Stiell’s is still unfinished, and the contractor shows an inclination not to finish the work according to the specification. I would recommend that the contract be cancelled unless more men are put on to

finish the work according to the specifications. The formation and earthwork on tho road near Annicich’s. Akatore, is now completed. Mr Annicicii supplied the horse work free of charge. The formation and earthworks on road leading to bridge over Toko River near H. if. FLett’s is also finished, and a start has been made to widen part of tho road or an embankment near Mr M‘Neill’s, Circle Hill On the bridge over the North Branch River at David Thomson’s two new beams have been put in to make it more safe for the traffic. The work at Neddie’s Bridge is now finished with reference to the concrete abutment and wing walls, and the driving of the centre row of piles will be in hand in a few days. It will be necessary to make an arrangement with Mr Norris for a temporary road through his paddock during the time the bridge is closed for traffic. The punt at Taieri Mouth is now again in working order, i and the additional vote of £ISOO to erect the proposed bridge over the river now ■ appears in the Public Works Estimates for j the current year. Some work has been done on the road leading to the Koau Punt in protecting the road from the encroachment j of the river. The ditch on Parker’s Lake- i

| side road is making fair progress. The ditch . is full of tree roots, which make the work I harder to carry out. The three-foot concrete ■ pips has been put down in place of tha wood culvert at Anderson’s, Lovell’s Flat. i Portion of the road in Balclutha North gats very soft in wet weather. It is proposed to metal three chains of the ro ad on the worst portion. As this read is on the boundary between the country and Balclutha borough, application will bo made to the Borough Council to pay the half-cost of the works, which is estimated at £l2. The deviation of road cn Louden’s Gully Saddle through Mr David Gardyne’s property is in hand, and will soon be open for the traffic. This will make a great improvement of the road at this place. None of the contracts let at I last meeting have made any progress. Tho j contractors intend to make a start in a j few daysl I have examined the road oom- • plained of leading to Messrs Wisely and : | M'Leod’s, North Branch. As a considerable j sum of money was expended in metalling j part of this road last year, I do not see mf ■ way to recommend any more expenditure in the meantime. The report adopted.