BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3196, 16 June 1915, Page 15

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the ■ Bruce County Council was hold on the Bth; present—Crs Clark (chairman), Scott, Russell, Driver, Sinclair, Gardyne, Bell, Boyd, Adam, King-. REPORTS. The County Engineer reported that the work required near Mr Campbell’s, atNarrowdale, consisting of the removing of willows and straightening the creek, had been done during the mouth. Plans had been prepared for the work with which the settlers were to assist at the Grange Hill, Glenledi. The metalling authorised to be done on the Sunflower road was finished, over 40 chains of light metalling having been put down. Several of the worn deck planks on the Kaitangata-Matau bridge had been replaced; this had used up all the spare planks at the bridge, and he recommended that 20 planks and any new beams required be obtained for this bridge. The public works road overseer was out during the month, and visited the localities where application had been made for Government grant for the current year. The following contracts had been completed during the month :—Pukeawa to Shand’s, ,30 chains metalling ; Young’s road, 14 chains metalling ; Smaill’s road, eight chains metalling; Balclutha to Greenfield, 12$ chains forma tion and metalling; cleaning Matau drains and Southhridge drains. The wooden top on a culvert on the Lovell’s Flat-Hillend road had broken down, and as the masonry walls were in good order he recommended that an iron top bo put on instead of wood.—The report was adopted. The ranger reported that 40 head of cattle and eight horses had been impounded during the month.—Adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. The District Engineer of Public Works, replying to a letter from the council relative to having flood gates erected at Joseph’s Creek, Taieri Mouth, stated that ho had visited the place, and was of opinion that flood gates would not be of any use. The reason for the water standing some feet above low-water mark was the filling up of sand at the bar. The only remedy for this was to cut an outlet to the low-water mark. —Cr Bell said an application had been made for a grant for a bridge over this creek, and that nothing could be done in the meantime.—The letter was received. Mr James Lockhart applied to have a portion of the road leading past his property metalled, as it was almost impassable in the winter time. —Cr Scott moved that the work be done provided that Mr Lockhart carted the metal.—Cr Russell seconded the motion, which was carried. The Clutha County Council wrote stating that when making an application to the Government for a grant for the bridge over the Koau branch of the Clutha River at Port Molyneux it would be necessary to ask for £3600, being three-fifths of the cost of the structure, the local bodies to find the remaining two-fifths, £2400, the estimated cost of the bridge being £6OOO. —Received. The Clutha County Council wrote asking the consent of the council to the following alterations in the free hours at Clydevale punt;—Summer months, week days, from 6 a.ra. to 10 p.m. ; winter months, week days, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sundays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. —Agreed to. Mr John Pearson wrote asking to have the road line through section 28 block IV, Akatore, closed. Ho explained that this road line had not been used for 20 years, and he had given in lieu of this one another road iine through the same section, which was at present being used.—Agreed to. A PROPOSED LOAN. Cr Boyd (chairman of the Finance Committee) reported that the committee had considered the question of raising a special loan sufficient to construct all the bridges asked for throughout the county. This would mean that a poll of the ratepayers would have to be taken, and before this could be done the amount required would have to he estimated. He said that In the event of a loan being raised the council would be able to spend all the general rate on the roads. This matter would be brought up again.