BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3331, 16 January 1918, Page 15

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly mooting; of the Bruce County Council was held at Milton on the Bth; present—Crs T. Scott (chairman), Sheat, Russell, Driver, Sinclair, Gardyne, Bell, Boyd, Claxk, King, and Begg. Before the ordinary business was proceeded -with, the council, on the motion of the Chairman, passed a resolution of sympathy with the relatives of Captain Colin Bryce, who was recently killed in action. EBPOBTS. The county ranger reported that during last month 40 cattle and 12 horses had been impounded.—Received. The county inspector's report on various .works completed and in progress was adopted. The receipts for December totalled £152 10s, including rates amounting to £139 8s 9d. The expenditure was £844 4s 3d, including salaries, £64 2s lid; councillors' expenses, £23 16s 8d; charitable aid, £124; ordinary works, £213 8s 2d; special works, £l4; interest on loans, £347 Os Id; advertising and printing, £25 12s 6d; dog collars, £l7 10s.—Adopted. COKRESPONDENCE. Mr M. S. M'lnnes (Kaitangata), writing under date of Saturday last,-claimed from the council the sum of £250 for damages alleged to have been suffered by him by reason of the diveresion of water from the Clutha River through the Kaitangata canal to Tuakctoto Lake. The flood gate was destroyed in May, and he took it that it was the council's duty to have maintained this flood gate. As a result of the council's failure to do so, the canal overflowed its banks in September last on several occasions, whereby he suffered damage and loss through river water from the canal.—A similar claim for £3OO was received from Mr Joseph Pilgrim, of Kaitangata.—The communications were referred to the county solicitor for an opinion. In a further letter on the subject of the canal washout, Mr M'lnnes suggested that the time was now opportune for effecting repairs to the canal bank.—Held over. Mr A. Clarkson (Pukekoma) applied for fiermission to erect a gate on the road eading to his property.—Consideration deferred. Mr Samuel E. Green (Taicri Mouth) wrote asking the council to make the road loading to the caves made passable for traffic.—Referred to tho inspector for a report.

Mr Gordon Smaill (Kaitangata) wrote asking if any sum had been placed on the estimates for the road leading from Wangaloa to Hawthornden. He was willing to find £SO on a pound for rxmnd basis for this road for one year.—Cr Sinclair said there was no vote on the estimates for thus road, therefore nothing could be done in tho meantime. —The letter was received.

A letter from Mr C. J. M'Kenzie (District Engineer), containing a proposal to deviate the Kaitangata canal lock, was considered in committee, and in open council it was decided to meet Mr M'Kenzie and Mr FurDkert on tho site, on a date to be decided, with a view to endeavouring to get tho Public Works Department to adhere to the original arrangement made, in accordance with a plan produced to construct the canal. Two residents at Akatoro requested the council to attend to a bad portion of the road passing Mr A. Athy's property.—Cr GardvTio said that thes<> settlers were propared to do the work for half tho ordinary cost. Ho moved that the offler bo accepted, tho cost not to exceed £lo.—Cr Russell seconded. —Carried.

Mr George Coutts (Taieri Mouth) applied to have the bad ruts on tho road between his Rate and Mr "Laverty's property repaired.—Cr Bell was deputed to have this matter attended to.

Tho Commissioner of Crown Lands, writing in respect to the Barnego protective works, said that the gate lock at the road crossing tho main ditch to the Clutba River worked automatically, but might become ineffective if some debris became lodged in it and fireventcd it working. T? only required a ittlo attention. —Cr Begg moved, and Or Russell seconded, that this matter bo attended to. —Carried. Mr Harry J. Cuttance (TTrUrua) applied for permission to remove, his fence, which ■was on the road line, back to his boundary.—The inspector was instructed to ro-

port on this matter to the next mooting of the council. GENERAL. It was decided that tho council contribuo £4- towards tho work of repairing the river protective embankment adjoining Mr Crawford Anderson's property, provided the Kaitangata Railway and Coal Company, tho Kaitangata Borough Council, and tho' Taratu Coal Company contributed a similar amount to tho cost of the work.