BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3395, 9 April 1919, Page 7

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tho monthly meeting of the Bruce County Council was held on the Ist; present—Ors Scott (chairman), Begg, Hyslop, Clarke, Boyd, Jardyno, Bell, Sinclair, Driver, and Sheat. Tho receipts for the month amounted to £5583 17s 2d, and the expenditure £1395 16s 4d.

The county ranger reported that nine head of cattle and six horses had been found Wandering on tho county roads during the month of March. —Adopted. Tho engineer's report was adopted. George Moore (Pukepito) wrote complaining that rates had increased 300 per cent, compared with 25 years ago,- and the roads appeared to 'bo getting worse instead of better. —Received.

Malcolm S. M'lnnees (Kaitangata) wrote drawing attention to the canal bank at the railway bridge, and stating that the council had failed to fill in the washout as promised, nor had it completed the purchase of a strip of land alongside the canal for the purpose. The canal had eaten out all the filling which had been put in, and the position now was that the whole of the Kaitangata flats was liable to be flooded from the county canal should an ordinary rise occur in the river. The writer therefore requested the council to fill in the holes in the paddock up to the boundary line of the strip of land lately purchased as early as possible in terms of the agreement.—Left with the engineer and Crßoyd to inquire into and report to next meeting. Thomas Middleton and six other ratepayers in the Kaitangata Riding wrote asking that about 10 chains of metalling work be done on Summer Hill road.—Cr Sinclair moved that the work be proceeded with.— Agreed to. H. H. Clarke (Balclutha) requested that a fence on section 16a, Hillend Survey Distrit, whioh encroached on the roadline to the extent of about 10 yards, be removed to the proper line.—Cr Begg moved that notice be given to have the fence removed to the proper line.—Agreed to. The County Clerk, Manawatu County Council, wrote stating that his coiincil suggested that councils requiring motor lorries for the haulage of metal, etc., should make representations through the Government in order to obtain lorries that had been used in France.—Received.

The Hastings Borough Council wrote asking the council to support a resolution in the direction of having the Governor of the dominion selected by the people, and suggesting that Sir Andrew Russell bo appointed in appreciation of his great and noble work in assisting to save the Empire.—Received. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie (Minister of Bands) wrote enclosing a letter from the Minister of Interval Affairs relative to the formation of the Matau River Board. The writer stated that unless objections were lodged within a month arrangements would be made for constituting- the district at the earliest possible date—Received. The Hon. G. W. Russell (Minister of Publio Health) wrote expressing appreciation of tho co-operation of the residents of the district in fighting the recent influenza epidemic.—Cr Boyd said it looked as if there was a danger of a fresh outburst of influenza, and he thought that an organisation should be instituted to be in readiness should an outbreak occur. —Cr Driver moved that.press notices should be published warning the people to keep their houses in a sanitary condition. —Agreed to.

J. Young (Railway Band Officer, Wellington) wrote in regard to tho consent of tho Bruce County Council to take over and maintain for road purposes a portion of the railway reserve in Mount Stuart Riding A proclamation had been published allocating this land for tho purpose of a road.—Received. Tho Acting Prime Minister wrote stating that the council's representations in regard to the Government being made liable for general rates on lands acquired for closer settlement would be given careful consideration. —Received^ Mc Bowles (District Traffio Manager) wrote in reply to the council stating that the blocking of the Main road by trains at Crichton wa3 a very rare occurrence. With regard to the crossings at Clarendon and Milbairn he had been advised, thai these were side roads on which there was very little vehicular traffio. An endeavour would be made to minimise the blocking of the roads as far as possible.—Received. H. D. Tennent (District Repatriation Officer) wrote asking the co-operation of the council in finding employment for returned soldiers. —The Chairman said that the council had re-employed every man that was in its employ at tho time of going into camp. He considered that it was a standing disgrace to any firm or employer who had nob acted similarly.—The letter was received:."

The Hon. Sir William Fraser (Minister of Publio Works) wrote acknowledging the council's application for a £ for £ grant towards the cost of repairing roads and bridges damaged by the recent flood at Stirling and Kaitangata, and stated that a report was being obtained in regard to the extent of tho damage done. —Received. Tho Hon. G. W. Russell wrote enclosing information in regard to tho proposals of the Government respecting the peace celebrations. —Cr Scott moved that the council donate iip to £IOO (which carried a £ for £ subsidy) towards the celebrations, this amount to bo apportioned between the adjacent ridings.—Cr Sheat seconded the motion, which was carried. M. Brown (Wangaloa) drew attention to sand drifts on the Wangaloa road.—Referred to the inspector and Cr Sinclair for report

:Threo tenders were received for 48 chains formation on Sally's Gullv road, Waronui. and tiie tender of Walter Sinclair (Waiholaj of £lO3 was accepted. A committee was appointed to deal with applications for road-making plant. On the motion of Or Sheat, Mr J. Adam, late clork of the Mount Stuart Road Board, was granted three months' salary as a retiring allowance. Mr C. R. Smith, on behalf of the settlers fat the Glenladi district, waited on the council with a view to obtaining the council $ co-operation in the matter of having frorh eix to six and a-half miles of metalling work done on the roads in the distriot. It waf proposed to borrow £I7OO under the Loans to Local Bodies Act, and this, with the £ for £ subsidy, would make £3400. The settlers were willing to supply horses for the grading work in order that all the money might be used for metalling.—The Chairman stated that Mr Monk (Public Works engineer) had inspected the road and approved of the scheme. —It was decided that the clerk take the necessary steps to borrow £I7OO under the Loans to Local Bodies Act.