BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3400, 14 May 1919, Page 28

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of .tho Bruce County Council was held at Milton on tho 6th, and was attended by Ors T. fafiOtt (in the chair), T. H. Russell, D Boyd. fBegs, H. M. Driver, J. Clark 11 Sinclair, J. &8lo», W. J. Sheat, W. Bell, and U. Uardyne. TT _ The County Inspector (Mr J. H. Bateman) reported that tho new bridge over tho Gorge Creek, on the North branch road, was finished, and opened tor light trafnc A concrete culvert on Allison s road, which was too small to carry the creek water in time of rain, had been taken out, and one of 2Aft pipes put in its place. A, brokendown stone and wooden culvert on the Main road at Milburn had been replaced by one of 2£tt concrete pipes. A start had been made by the contractors to form the new road into the Taratu Estate, near Kiutangata; tho contractor had also made a start with the metalling on Murray s road, Moneymore. The bridge on the Lovcll a Flat-Kaitangata road was showing signs ot decay, and a new bridge would be required before long.—lt was resolved, on the motion of Or Clark, that the matter of renewing the bridge on the Lovell's Flat-Kaitangata road be left in the hands of the member for the riding and the inspector. The Banner (Mr H. C. Farquharson) re ported that 35 head of cattle and 12 horses had been impounded during April.—Approved. John M'Crostie, Lakeside Station, wrote drawing attention to the dangerous state ot the road in the vicinity of the flaxmi.l, from the Taratu crossing for about a mile towards Kaitangata. The Brighton Coal Company also drew attention to the state of <he same road. Charles Williams also complained of the same road.—. The Clerk (Mr Roy) reported that ho had replied stating that it was the intention of the council to expend something like bdfJO on the road.—Cr Clark said the Government grant had come to hand, and the work would now be gone on with.—ihe Unairman said the bad condition of the road was brought about through the council complying with the Government's request to assist the coal mines in keeping going. The Stirling Dairy Factory Company submitted a claim for £2B, being the amount expended on repairing the Stirling bridge and cost of enabling suppliers to get their milk across.—No liability recognised. Gordon Smaill, on behalf of a number of Wangaloa settlers, wrote asking that the £IOO placed on the estimates for the Wangaloa road be expended.—Received. Tho Clerk of the Milton Borough Council wrote asking support to a resolution in favour of the Government seouring a fleet of mercantile steamers.—Or Clark said that the Farmers' Union had taken the matter up, but they were informed that the Imperial Government had the matter in hand. His opinion was that the producers should have "some say In outward shipping.—-Cr Hyslop moved that the communication be received. He was opposed to any interference. The mercantile marine had done wonders during the war period.—Cr Driver seconded the motion.—Cr Russell said that, while recognising the good work done by the mercantile marine, he feared the tendency on the part of shipowners to form one big combine. He thought that the Government should have some control over outward shipping. He aupported the attitude taken up by the Milton Borough Council, and moved accordingly.—The Chairman seconded tho amendment. —Or Boyd said that had the resolution come forward two or three years ago he might have taken up a different attitude. At present a colossal building programme was in progress, and, therefore,«kthe need for the resolution disappeared. —The amendment was lost, and the motion carried. The. Valuer-general wrote that the department was engaged re-valuing a portion of the county, and asking the Council to nominate an" assessor to act on the Assessment Court. —Mr John Adam was nominated.

The Treasurer submitted a statement of reoeipts and expenditure for the past month. The receipts totalled £550 2s 6d, and the expenditure £1157 10s 9d It was resolved, on the motion of <?r Russell, that a copy of the souvenir booklet to be issued in connection with the Peace celebrations be supplied to each school child in the county. A communication from .the Minister of Agriculture relative to the recent amendment of the Rabbit Act was received.—O Clark thought the council should stress the point that the Fencing Act ought to be amended in the direction of making a rabbit netting fence a sufficient fence. He moved accordingly.—The motion was carried.

A letter was received from Sir James Allen (Acting Prime Minister) relative to a deputation which waited on him and applied for a £1 for £1 subsidy on a proposed loan of £I7OO for metalling roads in the Akatore "portion of the county. It was unlikely that the metalling could be undertaken before next spring and the application had been noted for further consideration. —Received.

The Assistant Under-secretary for Internal Afiairs wrote stating that Mr O. J- M'Kenzfe. District Engineer, had been appointed to "hold an inquiry regarding the proposed constitution of the Tokomairiro River district.. —The olerk to arrange with commissioner as to date of sitting of commission. The Secretary of the Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board wrote, stating thai £60,000 would be required to be raised by lsvy and Government subsidy to carry out tho board's operations for the ensuing year. The proposed apportionment of the expenditure for Bruce County was £2259 5f lCd as compared with £1712 4s 2d last yeor, iha former figures including £97 83 2d for Alexandra ward. —Received.

Tlie Cromwell Borough Council asked the council's support In urging the Government to proceed with the Lake Hawea hydro-eleotrio scheme. —-On the motion of Cr Boyd, seconded by Cr Russell, it was resolved! that the council endorse the Cromwell Borough Council's resolution. The Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce forwarded a resolution urging the Government to assume control of tho main arterial roads in the dominion. —The Chairmen thought the council should fall in wit the Palmerston North resolution. —Or Boyd thought tlxfs was a subject for a conferenco between the local bodies and the Government. He objected to the Government assuming control of the roads. —Cr Russell tlrju-ht a better solution of the difficulty would be an Increase in the subsidy.—lt was resolved that the letter' be received.