BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3018, 17 January 1912, Page 13

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Bruce County Council was held on the 9th, the following members being present —Crs H. M. Driver (chairman), T. Scott I. tl. Russell, D. Boyd, P. Haggart, D. Gardyne, W. Bell, J. Clark, r. H. Hitchon, h. King, and J. M. Begg. CONDOLENCE. On the morion of the Chairman, a resolution was carried expros&ing condilenoo with the family of the late Mrs James Smith, the same to be sent to Mr James {Smith, of Greenfield, and also to Mr Jonn Smith. CORRESPONDENCE. The Clerk of the Clutha County Council wrote acknowledging the receipt of a letter in reference to telephone communication across Ciydevale Ferry, and intimating that his council was agreeable Ho also said that, owing to the increased traffic, it was proposed to extend the fee hours for crossing on the punt between October 1 and March 31 to 9 p.m. (Sundays excepted). It was also proposed to raise the ferryman's wages 5s a week.—Agreed to. Sievwright. James, and Nichol wiote on behalf of Messrs Crutchley and lAnecil claiming £54 9s 6d as compensation in ie road deviation in block VIU, Hillcnd district, and also intimating that their clients ware entitled to a certificate of title to th? closed road running through the property. —lt was resolved that the council take the necessary steps to have the agreement completed, the amount to be taken out of the loan amount for the read. Charles Wilson wrote on behalf of the Ewing Phosphate Co. (L*d.) for permission to break through an unused road line in order to facilitate operations. He inti mated that a few years ago the manager got verbal permission to do so, but it was considered right Mid more satisfactory to bring te question officially before the coim oil.—The Chairman said tliat in all probability the road would never be used. The company was agreeable to leave the road in the same condition as at present when no longer requiring it. —It was iresolved to grant the request, subject to the approval of the chairman and the engineer. H. M'Fau! wrote asking permission to remove a hut along a country road.—The application \vas granted, petitioner to repair any damage to the road at his own expense. Edwin Chaplin wrote asking that certain cattle be removed from the old Main road, Taietri Mouth, which had been fenced. He stated that the public were beginning to use. this road, and that the cattle were a menace. —The matter was referred to the .ranger. T. D. Pearson wrote asking permission to remove a few loads of rotten roik from a quarry on the Barn ego road.—The request was granted, subject to the supervision of the inspector. Mrs Joseph Bremner wrote asking that a gorse hedge be removed in Springfield road. —Cr Hitchon said there seemed to be something peculiar about this hedge. Ho had been toid that it was on the roadJine. —The Chairman said that if that weire so the council would have to remove the hedge.—The Inspector remarked that the hedge was certainly on the road. —A councillor said that the read had been ■widened. —Cr Haggart hold that even if that were so, it was the duty of the property-owners to clear the ruad to the centre.—The matter was left in the hands of the members for the riding and the engineer to re-port at next meeting. John Martin wrote asking the council to remove certain willovvt, from the river at Tokoiti, as they were blocking it and keeping some of his land under water. —

It was resolved that notice be sent to thosr> people allowing willows to interfere with the water courses to have them removed, failing compliance, the inspector to put men on and have t.hom removed at owner's expense.

Frank Dolan wroto asking permission to connect a. drain to the Fairfax road and on to the corner of Burns street. —Granted. VViliam H. Gregory wroto drawing attention to tile drain on the east tide of Union street, and asking that a proper one he put in.—lt was resolved that L'rs Scott, Russell, and the inspector visit the p'ace and report to the next meeting. H. J. Cuttance wrote asking peimission to orect a gate on Mount Smart road, at a point indicated.—Granted, subject to thj ■usual conditions.

Six ratepayers wrote, petitioning through Mir Haggart, member for the Kait.anya.ui riding, that the grade on the clay hill from the Main road to Wangaloa School be reduced. —Mr Haggart explained that the matter had been brought before tho council some years ago when the work was authorised, but the council had no funds. —lt was resolved that the matter stand over in the moiam.iinc.

F. H. Parry wrote drawing attention to the bad state of the road leading from Table Hill School and Post Office to the Reef Gate.—The matter was left in the hands of Cr Hitchon and the inspector, with power to act, involving an expenditure up to £lO, otherwise to report to the next meeting. REPORTS. The Engineer reported as follows: Roads.—The roads have been kept in a soft condition owing to the -wet weather during the month, and have required a good deal of attention from the surfacemen.

Works.—A start has been made with the breaking-up of rock on the road surface at Manuka Creek.—A culvert of 9in pipes has been put across each of the following roads:—Manuka Creek at school, Table Hill road at Sharp's Ridge, and But; road at D. Scott's.—The surfacemen have been kept busy cleaning water-tables and culverts, also spreading metal and rakini;in ruts.

Bridges.—The bridge at Lovell's Flat has been renewed throughout, and is now in good order.—The decking on the Taieri Ferry bridge is getting very much worn, and 56 planks have been put in during tho month. This has used up all tho timl>er on hand, and I recommend that 100 12 x 4 jarrah planks and lewt 7in spikes be ordered for this bridge.—Notices have been put at Glenore and Clymer's bridges, declaring them unsafe for traction engines. This has also been advertised in the Bruco Herald. Contracts. —No. 817. formation and metal. Milton to Canada Reef," is now completed, and the contractor has made a start with the extra metalling and blinding. No. 823. grading at Narrowdales, is completed. Xo. 805, carting metal. Benhar to Stirling road, is also completed. The report was adopted.

The Finance Corn mitt en reported that the receipts were £261 13a 5d and the expenditure. £lO3l 8s 2d. The chief items

in the expenditure were : —Ordinary works. £212 16s 3d; Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, £ll2 5s 8d; interest, £4Bl 4s 7d.— Adopted. The Ranger reported that 24 cattle and 20 horses had been impounded during the month.—Received. TENDERS. For cutting noxious weeds on the Crescent road and banks of the canal, Kaitang'ata, two tenders were received, and the lowest, that of Colin Bryce (£11), was accepted. GENERAL. Surfacemen's Wages.—lt was resolved that the wages of the surfacemen be niised to 8s a day as from February 1. Carting.—lt was resolved that Mr Reed be given a share of the carting and the hire alternate months with Mr Campbell. Dog Tax.—The dog tax for the year was fixed at 2s 6d and ss, the major sum being for fancy dogs. It was resolved that Wednesday be observed as the half-holiday throughout the county. It was resolved that tenders should ba called for the annual clean-out of the drains in Inch-Clutha and Matau. Cr King explained that there were 190yds, more or less, of broken .metal lying on the sides of the Greenfield-Newton road, and asked that the inspector be instructed to call for tenders to spread it where necessary.— Resolved accordingly. The same procedure was adopted in the case of 50yds of metal lying at the Clydevale punt, and the inspector was also instructed to call for tenders to spread 25yds of new metal from Coates's to Wilson's!.

Cr King asked for permission to appoint an extra surfaceman in his riding for a month or six weeks, as the one previously appointed had not been able to undertake his duties at once and some time had been lost. —Granted