BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3239, 12 April 1916, Page 32

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Bruce County Council was held yesterday; present—Crs Russell (chairman), Body, Scott, Adam, King Sinclair, Driver, Clark, Begg, Gardyne and BelL

CONDOLENCE. Prior to the opening of the general Laisiness, the Chairman referred to the loss sustained by Cr Driver by the death of his wife, and by the relatives of ex- 1 -'*' M'Pherson by his death. He moved that a resolution of sympathy be conveyed to Cr Driver and to the relatives of the late Mi* M'Pherson.—The motion was carried by a silent vote, and the clerk was instructed to forward a copy to the relatives concerned.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The clerk read a statement showing that the roceipts for March totalled £4971 14s Bd, and the-expenditure £lOlO Os Id. The clerk stated that the revenue last year exceeded the expenditure by £IOOO, the ftmount received being £10,675 13s fid and the expenditure totalling £9360 16s 3d. If the Government grants due (£410) and the money advanced to the lakes drainage commission (£262 13s) were repaid, and the rates outstanding were paid, it would le*.ve the council with a credit balance. If the council continued during the .coming year on the lines of the previous year, it would be able to go for six months without having to work on an overdraft for public works purposes.—The Chairman said the financial position was satisfactory. They were practically out of debt, and were showing a credit balance. Ihere was still £990 in rates outstanding. The sum of £262 13s which had been paid out of the general fund in connection with the lakes drainage loan had been advanced because the council had not been able to get its money from the Government. There was practically £7OO to be received from the Government. He did not know that the council had been in a better position for many years. —The report was adopted. REPORTS. The inspeotor reported that maintenance gravel had been quarried and put down on the Kaitar.gata YVangaloa road. Messrs Cockburn, Pateison, and Loekhart had carted about 30 chains of gravelling on the Elliotvale road, free of charge. A start had been made by the settlers to cart metal for metalliirg three cuttings on the Circle Hill road. The -contractor had completed the building of the pontoon for the lakes drainage, and the Harbour Board's Btaff was busy getting the machinery on board, ready to start dredging. A start had been made to dean the Matau drains, and the work was being pushed on as fast as possible. The contractors wero_ pushing pn with she erection of the bridges at Mount Sltuart and at Dunn's. The dry s'une walls in the small bridge on the Phosphate road, Clarendon, were giving way, and he recommended that the bridge be replaced by a culvert of 3i;ft concrete pipes. The streets in the Taieri Mouth township had been formed to a width of 18ft, and culverts had been put in where accessary.' All tho streets were of an easy grade, excepting one portion, two chains in length, which had a grade of one in 10.— The report was adopted. The ranger reported that 40 head of cattlo and 11 horses had been found wandering during the month.—Adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. Mrs E. Chapman, Taieri Mouth, wrote asking the council to give Messrs Wright and Cunningham notice to remove gates on the road adjoining her boundary, as they were a nuisance.—Messrs Wright and Cunningham wrote pointing out that when they purchased their property from Mr Crane they understood that he had an arrangement with the council to have the gates in the position in which they were now placed. If they were compelled to remove the gates their only course would be to close tho present track and leave an opening at the proper plaoo. This would necessitate the council making a road over the gully.—Tho correspondence was held over for a month, with a view to a settlement of the matter.

Mr Edwin Anderson, Akator© Coast, wrote asking the council to reduce the grade on the road leading to his property, as it ■was impossible to ascend it during- damp weather. —It was decided that the members for the riding and the inspector inspect the road, and ascertain what could bo done, and that they havo power to expend up to £5 in doing the woftk required. A petition was received from 11 ratex>ayers et Milton, asking the council to remedy a nuisance caused by the discharge of refuse from the Bruce Woollen Mills into the river.—lt was decided that the chairman, Cr Scott, and the inspector, with delegates from the Borough Council, inspect the place and make representations to the manager of the Woollen Mills if required. Mr Samuel Shaw (Pleasant View) wrote directing attention to the state of the road between his property and Berwick, which was almost. impassable for the purpose at shifting implements.—lnspector to have the road repaired. The Commissioner of Taxes wrote asking the council to supply a list showing the full names and addresses of all persons holding debentures issued by the council since March 31, 1915, together with the amount of interest paid or payable on March 31, 1916.—Received.

The Audit Office wrote consenting to the loan moneys remaining on deposit till November 13, conditionally upon the sum, with increment, Being then used in reduction of the loan in terms of the council's proposal.—Received. Lieiitenant Colin Bryoe wrote thanking the council for having granted him a month's holiday on full pay. With regard to the council's offer to make up his wages to what they were when he was in ita employ, ho pointed out that he was earning 8s per day for seven days in the week, and therefore there was practically no difference 'between the money he was getting at Trentham and what he earned while in tho council's employ.—Received.

Mr S. Richards, of Pukeawa, wrote bringing under notice a very necessary work in front of his property on tho Greenfield road, and which, if neglected, would cause some aerious loss. —Referred to tho inspector to attend to.

The Public Works District Engineer

wrote asking tho council to arrange to have all its appl itions for grants sent to his office not later than April 15. He also asked to be furnished with the names of all bridge works in hand for which tho council was receiving a Government subsidy, and also a list of the bridges likely to be required during the coming two years, and for which Government grants would bo asked.—lt was decided to comply with the request. Tho Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board wrote requesting the council to continue monthly payments of the annual levj at tho same rates as last year until tho levies for the year wore arranged.—Received. Tho Secretary of Labour notified that as no notice had been received by him, the Minister had gazetted Wednesday as the statutory half-holiday in the county.—Received. GENERiL. Cr Driver moved- that tho resolution passed at tho last meeting authorising the erection of a building for tho preparation of poisoned grain, bo rescinded. —Cr Boyd seconded tho motion, which was carried. A circular was received from the Taieri County Council containing a resolution asking the Government to limit the power of municipal councils to erect toll gates and tPike tolls on bridges by prohibiting the erection of toll gates without the sanction of the Govcrnor-in-Council, and by reserving to the Governor-in-Counoil power to diminish tho tolls, or to abolish them whenever he deemed it advisable to do so.—lt was decided to givo the resolution tho council's heartiest support. The new motor by-laws were passed, and it was decided to appoint a motor inspector at a salary of £25. Cr Begg brought up tho question of widening the Balclutha-Groonfield road for motor traffic. Ho had obtained an estimate of the cost of making the road safe, and it was set out at £llOO. He moved that tho oouncil take stops to have the road opened for motor traffic—Cr King seconded tho motion.—Crs Driver, Scott, and Boyd said they were prepared to support the motion provided tho width of the road was inceased beyond 20ft.—Cr Begg said the estimate provided for tho width of the road at its narrowest parts being not less than 20ft, and also for all the dangerous parts being fenced.—Tho motion was carried.