BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3030, 10 April 1912, Page 13

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of tho Bruce County Council was held on the 4th inst. ; presenters H. M. Driver (chairman). T. Scott, D. Bovd, 11. Russell, 0. Haggart W. Bell, U. Gardyne, J. Clark, E. King. T. Hitdton, and J. M. Begg. CORRESPONDENCE. The Collector of Customs. Dunedin, forwarded a return showing the gold declaration for Bruce for February to be 960 z.— Received. The Town Clerk. Dunedin, wrote forwarding a plan showing the route of a new roadwav between the council's electrical works at Waipori Falls and Berwick. A small portion of the proposed road passed through ti:e Bruce County. The writer asked for tho consent of the council to the construction of this part of the road, and also for its good offices in taking charge of the expenditure of the money required for the construction of such part if so required by the Government. If necessary the city 'electrical engineer would acoornpanv the county engineer over the road if the'latter desired any further particulars.—j Chairman to inspect and report. , B. B. Couston (engineer for the Taieri County Council) wrote, by request, drawing attention to the bad state of portion of the load on the Taieri side of the Taieri Mouth bridge, the Bruce Council having in the past looked after its upkeep.—To be informed that as the road was on tho Ta-ieri side of the river, the council would not bo responsible for its upkeep. The Taieri County Clerk wrote, in regard to the Bruce Council's request to be allowed to cart 200 tons of metal over the Taieri County's roads from Henley to Berwick, stating that his council had no objection provided a fee of Is per ton was paid in respect of such traffic. —It was decided to a.sk the Taieri Council to reconsider the matter, the chairman expressing his opinion that it was a somewhat unneighbourly action to impose such a charge. Goorge ' XI. Christie, Waihola, wrote asking the council to convey to him at its own expen.se the part of the old roadline passing through his property, which had been given to him in place of the present road. —RequevSt to be granted, and tho matter attended to at once. ! T. Gordon, Hillend, wrote pointing out tho bad state of the road leading to his property from between Smith's and Reid's sections. Tho water-tables needed cleaning out, and there were several holes to be filled in.—Referred to inspector. A. Lilburne, Fairfax, wrote applying for some decking to make a crossing over tho creek on the nortJi side of his property. He also asked the council to erect a toriTTK>rary fence along the roadline. —It was decided that Crs Russell and Haggart and the inspector attend to the matter. C Scott, Taieri Beach, wrote asking tho council to endeavour to provide sorno moans of crossing the river at Taieri Mouth as it would be at least three months before the new bridge would be ready. Ho had already ruined two of has horses by swimming them across the river.—To be informed that the council could not see its way to undertake any responsibility in tho matter. | Sixteen settlers in North Balclutha petitioned the council to repa.ir the road leading from Mr P. O. Hi.slop's to past Mr J. M'Guffog's. It was at present in a very bad state, but would rapidly grow worse if not attended to.—The inspector to have, the work carried out. j inspector's report. The following is the Inspector's monthly rojjort:— Roads.—The Lawrence road from Round Hill toward Manuka Creek is badly rutted and requires filling in with rotten rock before the metal is put down, and will take about £ls. It requires doing at once. Several of the clay roads are in need of reforming in places to keep the water from running down the centre. This work can_ be d<-■■■!■ by the surfaceman. Work.—The surfacemen havo been em- ! Cloyed in road formation, spreading metal, ridge repairs, and general surface work during the month. Owing to the amount of weeds growing in tho Lakes canal and stopping the flow of water the lake has ' risen very high, and the canal requires! cleaning out at a cost of about £3O. Bridges.—Tho Clarksville bridge has ' been overhauled and put in good order, I having required seven new beams, one pile, two corbells, and a new deck. Re- ; pairs have been done to a small bridge at Manuka Creek, on the Main road. A start will be made next week to strengthen the two bridges at Clyimer's, as agreed upon by the deputation appiinted at last meeting, to see what could be done to these bridges. I have not l>eon able so far to get tho beams and planks taken from Milburn t<> Flett's bridge, so that this work is still hung up. Dunn's bridge has been closed to traction engines, and requires one new span of 15ft to make it fit for ordinary traffic. Aitchison bridge. over Lakes canal, requires repairs, and will take one plank and about 30 battens to make it safe for crossing sheep over. Contracts Completed during the Month. — Sawmill road, Matau drains, Inchclutha drains. Cont-acts in progress: Blackburn Creamery road, Morgan's road, Butt road. Qraigie's read, Cunningham's road. Matau drains, Inchclutha drains. Allocations For Maintenance Metal. —Main road, from Taieri ferry to Balclutha ferry bridge to boundary of Waihola and Clarendon Riding. 200yds; Waihola and Clarendon Ridings, 100yds ; Tokomairiro and Waihola Ridings. 150yd>; Tokomairiro Riding. 300vds; Tokomairiro and Mount Stuart Ridings, 200vds; Mount Stuart and Crichton Ridings, 200vds; Crichton Riding, 150yds; Crichton and Balmoral Ridings, 50yds; Balmoral and Matau Ridings, 100yds; —total. 1650yds. Tokomairiro Riding.—North Branch road, 50yds; Table Iliil road, 50vds; Hanlev's road, 40yds; —total, 140vds. ' Mount Stiiatt—Loveil's Flat to Hillend road. 150vds; Clarksville to Round Hili, 450yds;—total. 600yds. Crichton— Lake Side road, past Hewitson's (gravel), 50yd*; Lake Side road (metal), 50yds; Main road to Lake Side road, SOvds —total, 150yds. Balmoral and Crichton—Hillend road. 250yds. Matau —Stirling to Kaitangata, 150vds; Stirling township, 50vds; Benhar to Slain road. 25yds-total, 225yds. Balmoral No. I—Balclutha1 —Balclutha North roads, 50yds. Clarendon —Phosphate road, 50yds. Waihola township, 50vds; —total metal, 315yds; gravel, 50yds. Bridge Allocations. —Taieri Ferry bridge, £500; Clvmcr's bridge, £150; Hewitson's bridge. £SO; Glenoro bridge, £300; Milburn bridge, £SO; repairs, £lso;—total, £IOOO. The report, was adopted, and it was decided that tho engineer should take steps to ascertain the cost of hiring or purchasing a suitable dredge, with the idea of en-

deavouring to keep clean the Lake canal. It, was pointed out by C'rs Clark and Boyd that if a dredge wore put on to clean thcso canals out the weed nuisance would ho largely abated. . OTHER REPORTS. The Finance Committee's report showed the receipts for the past month to have he en £3912 15s, and the expenditure £744 J 4» 7d Outstanding rates were as follow: Balmoral No. 1 Riding, £126 4s 7d ; Balmoral No 2 £205 5s 2d: Clarendon £34 13s 6d; Crichton. £196 lis 4d; Glonledi, £B3 130 lid; Kaitangata, £lO4 18s 8d; Inch, clutha, £234 7s sd; Matau, £144 13s 6d; Mount Stuart. £67; Tohomairiro, £202 9s 2d'; Waihola, £153 3s 6d : being a total of £1609 15s 9d.—The report was received. The Ranger reported having found wandering in the county during the month 25 head of cattle and "l 8 horses.—Received. TENDERS. The following tenders were accepted:— Formation and part metalling Manuka and Mount Stuart road, .lames Ferguson. £35: formation and metalling Loudon's Gully, John Hoggie, £24. GENERAL Mr Millar, renresenting a public meeting of settlers he'd at Mount Smart, waited on the council to ask for its assistance in prevailing upon the Railway Department to re-open a gate opening from the Mount Stuart railway yard on to the county read. —The Chairman it was really a matter between the residents and the department direct, hut no harm could 1 be done by the council supporting the request.—lt was accordingly decided that the council ask (he, District Engineer of Railway.; to re-erect the gate. Cr Boyd moved that: —" Whereas the injury inflicted upon the public roads of tho Dominion by the running of motor ears be oonios more and more evident as time goes on, arid it also becomes necessary us a result to take some measure to compensate ratepayers for the increased expenditure on upkeep, this council respectfully solicits the 00-operation of all other County Councils in having this matter brought before the next county confluence for discussion, with a view to having an amendment made in the Motor Registration Act whereby County Councils would have the right to impose" an annual license fee upon all clashes of motors used within each county."—Tho motion was carried without discussion. It was decided to call for tenders for the carrying out of the work to be done on the Barnego road by Government grant.