BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3384, 22 January 1919, Page 9

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Bruce County Council was held in the Bruce County Chambers on the 14th, and was attended by Crs Scott (chairman), Begg, Hyslop, Clark, Boyd,. Bell, Gardyne, Sinclair, Driver, Siheat, and Russell. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. Til© county inspector (Mr J- H. Bateman) reported on the state of the work in the county for the month of December. . BANGER'S REPORT. The County Ranger reported that 39 head of cattle and 14 horses had been found wandering on the county roads ing the month of December. —Adopted. ' CORRESPONDENCE. Henry Barnett (Stirling) applied for a share in the carting of maintenance metal and gravel.—Agreed to S. Hunter (Taieri Beach) wrote complaining of the bad state of the road in the vicinity of Cooper's coal pit?—Received. A. M'Donald (clerk, Clutha County Council) wrote stating that the matter of repairs to the boats at the Clydevale punt would receive attention as soon as possible. As the old boats were practically done, new boats would soon be required.—Received. J. Rose (Balolutha) wrote offering £4 for all the flax growing on the lower road leading to Pukeawa. —Offer accepted. C. J. M'Kenzie (District Engineer, Public Works Department) - wrote stating that it was desired to ascertain the standard which was being insisted upon by the several local bodies for the construction of private roads before the local bodies will accept dedication, and in particular it was desired to know what each local body requires in the way of metalling and gravelling; also what class of bridges and culverts were required.—Received, Colonel JV Cbwie Nichols, O.C. ■ Ofcago District, wrote suggesting that single trees be planted as mile posts throughout the Bruce County, in memory of the men from the district who have made the supreme sacrifice. This idea had been approved of by the members of the Waitaki County Council. —Cr Boyd said he was in favour of the planting of trees to perpetuate the memory of our fallen soldiers. This would be a living memorial which would be always on view. He was dead against making a convenience of memorials, such as erecting hospitals or building bridges. He would move " That this council expresses its sympathy with the proposal."—Seconded by Cr Driver,—Cr Clark moved as an amendment "That the council express disapproval of the suggestion to plant trees as a memorial. He was in favour of a concrete bridge over the main road, with a marble tablet bearing 1 the names of the fallen soldiers. —Or Sheat seconded the amendment.—The motion was carried by six votes to four. The Hon. G. W. Russell (Minister of Internal Affairs) wrote stating that each local body would have full liberty to make its own arrangements regarding peace celebrations.—Received.

Percy Pv. Purse (town clerk, Hastings) wrote asking the council's support of a resolution passed by the Hastings Borough Council recommending the Government to strengthen the financial position of the Public. Health Department so as to extend its powers . and functions to enable it at all times to successfully combat and control any epidemio that might attack the community ; that a scheme be evolved whereby the bacteriological work of' the department might be extended in every direction and every encouragement _bo given to men of marked scientific ability to offer their services.—lt was decided to support the above resolution.

Several circulars were received bearing on the Royal Horticultural Society's effort to raise £1,000,000 throughout the British Empire, in order to undertake the work of restoring orchard and garden industries in allied countries in Europe.—Support or donation was solicited. —Received. Mary O. M'Pherson (Berwick) wrote stating that she was prepared to accept £5 per acre for the land which was to be token for drainage purposes in regard to Boundary Creek. —Left in the hands of the inspector and Cr Driver to arrange.. The Bruce and Glutha County engineers jointly reported on the proposal to cut a canal through the sandspit opposite Melville's property at Port Molyneux in order to give a straight outlet to the Koau. —Held over until the Government engineer's report on the matter was reoeived, the county engineers "to be thanked for their comprehensive report. Alexander M'Lean (Balclutha) wrote drawing attention to the dangerous corner on tho Kaitangata-Stirling road.—lt was decided to have the road attended to as soon as possible, and also to instruct the owner of a. hedge which obstructed the view on the road to have same cut. GENERAL.

J. "Woods (Springfield) waited upon the council and applied to have an old road lino leading to his property formed and graded. The inspector stated that the works would cost about £so.—Tho applicant stated that he was willing to give his own and horso labour if the council would grant his request. —It was pointed out that the work would benefit only one person.—Or Russell suggested that applicant give £25 either in nione? or labour" toAvards the cost of the work. —The matter was referred

to three members of the council to inspect the roadlino and report. Or Russell moved —" Thai the council agree to give Mr J. Bruce £25 for a deviation of the Table Hill road." — Seconded by tho chairman and carried. The dog tax for the ensuing year was fixed as follows: —Cattle, sheep, and rabbiting dogs, 2s 6d each; all other dogs, ss. It was decided to grant a license to the Ewjng Phosphate Company to lay down and maintain a tramway line leading to its works for a period of five years under certain specified conditions. Cr Hyslop referred to the number of stray cattle wandering on the county roads, especially in the Greenfield distriots. These oattle were responsible for much damago being done to the fences on tho roadside. He considered that the county ranger was being defied,■_and he would move —"That owners intentionally allowing cattle to wander on the county roads be prosecuted to the utmost limit of the law."-—Thia was seconded by Cr Russell. —Cr Clark said that if every offender was prosecuted the county would require the services of five or six rangers.—Tho motion was carried. Or Hyslop moved —" That inquiries be made as to whether the county or the Government is responsible for keeping down noxious weeds on the river banks adjoining roads in the county.—Agreed to.