BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3148, 15 July 1914, Page 13

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Bruce County Council was held on the 7th, and was attended by Crs Boyd (in the chair), Russell, Clark, Begg, King, Hitchon, Bell, Gardyne, Haggart; Scott, and Driver. IMPUTATION. Messrs H. E. Wilson, Cheeseman, T, and J. Frazer waited on the council cn behalf of the Taratu Estate and Coal Company with the request that a road' should be formed in order to give access to the mine and the property. —In support of the request, Mr Wilson stated that both the company and the owners of the land were placed under great disabilities owing to the fact that they had no outlet. They were, therefore, prevented from making the best use of the land, and he did not think they should be handicapped in that way. Both parties had been paying rates for a great number of years, and he understood these had amounted to close on £IOOO. The company and the proprietors were prepared to buy sufficient land to make the road, and to donate it to the council, and also to give sufficient land to connect-the road to the district. They were also prepared to assist the council in other ways provided some slight concessions were made. It would be impossible to form the original road that had been surveyed, and he estimated that it would cost £SO few the formation of the road now proposed. The length of' the road they wanted was about 40 chains. —Mr Cheeseman supported the request, and heartily endorsed all that Mr Wilson had said. A road was an urgent necessity so far as the mine was concerned, and its absence was a source of great inconvenience both to the miners and to the residents of the surrounding district. The company was also prepared to assist the council to some slight extent in the matter of finance. — Messrs Thomas and John Frazer also supported the previous speakers, and pointed out the inconvenience arising from the absence ot a road. They had also been paying rates for a groat number of years, and the want of a road had prevented them from using their land to the best advantage.—After several questions had been answered, the council decided that a subcommittee, consisting of Crs Clark, Haggart, Hitchon, and the chairman should meet representatives of the coal mine and the property company on the ground on Monday, July 20, in order to decide definitely upon what action should be taken. > A QUESTION OF LIABILITY. Mr A. Rennie appeared before the council in regard to a now culvert at Clarksville that had been broken on his property. Ho stated that it was in a very unsuitableplace, and about 50 loads of material would be required to remedy the matter. Concrete pipes would be required, and ho would agree to do all the carting that was necessary. After an exhaustive discussion, the Chairman pointed out to Mr Rennie that the usual custom was for the ratepayers to maintain these culverts, and not the council. In addition to that, the council had no money available for the purpose. —On the motion of Or King, seconded by Cr Dr.ver, the request was declined, F.NOINEER’s REPORT. The County Engineer (Mr J. H. Bateman) submitted the following report upon the operations of the past month: — "Roads: A portion of the Mount Steep road (at the slip) is in a bad condition, being shaded by willow trees, which keep the wind from getting at the road. The owner promised some months ago to have the trees cut down, but has not done so. The fence also along this property requires cutting back. Works: A broken stone culvert on ‘ Matthews’s road. Clarendon, has been replaced with 2ft concrete pipes, and one on the Main road, near Waihola, with 2Aft pipes. The water tables have been cleaned out, and the side track levelled up on the Main road between Allison’s road and Crichton Hill. A man has been put on to do the surface work on the road between Bloxham’s and M'Neill’s, also on the Circle Hill road. The decking on the Milton bridge has been overhauled and repaired during the month. The formation required on the road at Mrs Hood’s (Helensbrook) has been done, and the metal will bo put on when the road is in a fit condition. The cost of a cutting- and the filling up of two low places on the Circle Hill road, as requested by Mr D. Shanks at last council meeting wil l be about £3O. Application has been made for a Government grant of £2OO for metalling between Mr J. Moseley’s and Mr J. Smaill’s at Inchclutha. The riding member and myself met the settlers interested at Joseph’s Creek, Taieri Mouth, on June 25, when they explained how iho high tides flowing up the creek flooded the Swamp road, and were of opinion that if a double box culvert of sufficient size to carry the creek water were put in and fitted with flood gjates the bridge would not be required, and the settlers themselves would keep the sand bar on the creek open.’’—The Chairman stated that the willows bn the Mount Stoop road had been removed.—The report was adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr J. Paul (clerk of the Fairfax School Committee) wrote asking for the assistance of the council in the matter of draining the school grounds, which were in urgent of some attention.—Cr Scott said that Cr Russell and himself had visited the place, and wore convinced that the matter required to be remedied... The cost would not be excessive.—Matter to be attended to. Mr R. T. Sadd (Commissioner of Crown Lands) wrote, drawing the attention of the council to the fact that a commission would sit at Lawrence on Monday, July 13, to take evidence in connection with the proposed alteration in the boundaries of the Bruce and Tuapeka Counties. The commission would consist of Messrs R. T. Sadd, R. Milne (district valuer, Milton), and Mr James Robertson (Lawrence). —Received. Mr Adam King and 10 other settlers on the Barnego Settlement and surrounding district wrote requesting the council to apply to the Government to have a grant of £l5O placed on the Estimates for this year to metal the worst parts of the road through the settlement, which was known as the " sunflower ” road. The settlers were prepared to carry out the formation free, and as there was good metal in close proximity to the road they trusted the council would do its best to get this very necessary work done.—Cr Begg said the road was one of the worst in the district, and he would move that the request bo acceded to.—Or King seconded the motion, which was carried. _ . Mr David Milne and 48 other ratepayers and residents of Taieri Beach, Akatore,,and Taieri Mouth petitioned the council to take stops to have the portion of the chain reserve at the side of Mackay’s Creek, on each s : de of the canal at Titri, opened up for public use. The writers had spent a good deal of time and money on the formation of a road in this locality, and they

felt sure that any action taken by the council would lead to increased settlement. —Mr D. Reid appeared in support of the petition, and stated that the land in the district was vested in a Mrs Sinclair under the will of her husband. That portion of the roadlins -which the writers wanted opened was, however, vested in the Crown 60 years ago, and still belonged to the Crown, with the exception of a small portion that had been acquired by the Railway Department. The settlors wanted two chains on either side of the road made available for public use, and he thought their request was a very reasonable one, as it would enable them to protect their small river craft irom the heavier barges, etc. —Cr King said that to his personal knowledge the river was of great service to the people of that district, and the council should give them even greater facilities to get out their goods if it could possibly do so.—Cr Russell said he thought it would bo unfair to Mrs Sinclair if she were not given an opportunity of opposing the request. He was not opposed to the petition, but he thought it rather strange that the man who did the biggest trade had not signed the petition.—Cr Bell said he -thought the matter could be settled if a sub-comrmttee waited on the petitioners on the ground, and he would move in that direction, —Cr Hitchon seconded the motion, and it was decided that Crs Russell, Driver, Bell, and the chairman should visit the locality and report to the next meeting of the council. The Taieri, Clutha, Waikouaiti, and Vincent County Councils and the Mosgiel and Balclutha Borough Councils wrote stating that they viewed in a favourable light the Bruce Council’s proposals in regard to the matter of deriving and apportioning revenue from owners of motor vehicles, and adding that they hud appointed delegates to attend any conference that mignt be arranged.—The Chairman said he saw that the Government was proposing to introduce legislation in regard to the matter, and expressed the opinion that ihe conference should be held as soon as possible with a view to sending forward some recommendations,—lt was decided that the matter of arranging the conference should be left in the hands of the chairman and clerk, and Crs Boyd and Driver were appointed dolegates to represent the council.—The Chairman then asked for an expression of opinion as to the basis on which the tax should be levied; and the various methods of rating by weight, by horse-power, or by a tax on the tyres were discussed at length, the majority appearing to favour the latter course. —Cr Boyd said he favoured the method of rating the tyres, and he was very strongly of opinion that the money should, be expended on the main county roads. If the money were divided upon a basis of capital value the country districts would be placed at a big disadvantage, so far as ■ the towns were concerned. He exptessed pleasure at the discussion that had taken place. GENERAL. The Chairman reported that the matter of raising the surfacemen’s wages had been before the council in committee for some time. Full inquiries had been made by the Finance Committee, and it had been decided to bring the council into line with ail the other county local bodies, and pay its men 9s a day—an advance of Is upon the present rate. —Action of Finance Committee approved. On the motion of Cr Begg, seconded by Cr King, it was decided, chat the rates should be the same as last year. Cr King asked what was neing done in regard to widening the Balclutha traffic bridge.—The Engineer said he had inspected the bridge, and in his opinion the cheapest course would be to widen the • new span so as to enable two vehicles to pass. —Cr King: What about the footway the Borough Council asked us about?—Cr Clark moved that the matter bo held over in the meantime.—Cr Bell seconded the motion.—Cr Russell moved as an amendment that the Government be approached to widen the now span to enable two vehicles to pass. — Cr Gavdyne seconded the amendment.— After some further discussion both motions were withdrawn, and it was decided, on the motion of the Chairman, that the council could not see its wav to support the construction of a footbridge as proposed by the Borough Council, but would support a request to widen the new oortion of the bridge sufficiently to allow vehicular traffic to pass. The Finance Committee reported that the receipts for the past month had amounted to £Bl7 14s 6d, and the expenditure to £1216 8s Id.-—Adopted. The Ranger reported that he had impounded 29 cattle and eight horses during the month. —Adopted. TENDERS. The following tenders were accepted:— H. Wilson,, cleaning out and deepening 69 chains of ditch along the Kaitangata road, £36.