BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Witness, Issue 3513, 12 July 1921, Page 13

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL

The usual monthly meeting of the Bruce County Council was held in the Council Chambers. Milton, on the sth, the chairman (Mr D. Gardyne) presiding over the following councillors: —Messrs T. Scott, T. H. Russell, 11. Driver. T. Johnson, W. Bell, A. Renton, A. W. Blair. Jasper Clark. J. Allen, and W. J. jSheat. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. The Inspector reported on the works carried out, and stated that the portion of metalling to be done at the filling across the old Lakes Canal at Kaitangata was being held over in the meantime, as tho road surface was too soft to take the metal. » —The report was adopted. FINANCE. Accounts amounting to £l7B 9s 9d were passed for payment, the expenditure for the month being £2461 19s lid. The Secretary of the South Otago Hospital Board wrote asking the council to continue its payment of levy to the board on the same basis as Last year until the esti-

mates were finally completed.—The matter was agreed to. The Clerk reported that the council’s overdraft amounted to £11,050, and after the payment of the month’s accounts would be about £13,000. This included loans from the Government and subsidies, which amounted to about £BOOO, which was due from the Government, and would reduce the overdraft to £SOOO. He had applied several times for the money but without success.—Cr Clark said it was hardly fair of the Government to hold the money up in the way it was doing. The council was paying 7 per cent, on its overdraft and had entered into an agreement with the Government for this money at 4i per cent. He moved that the clerk write to the Government, pointing out the position.—Cr Russell seconded, and said the assistance of the Bruce member (Mr J. Edie) should, be obtained in this matter. —Cr Scott said that the Government had sanctioned this expenditure and it was not a fair position for the council to be in. If the Government had notified the council earlier it would not have entered into the contracts. —-The motion was carried. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr J. S. White, for White Bros., Bishops, Hillend, wrote at length protesting against the payment of 10 per cent, penalty on rates and in retaliation he notified the councii that he would charge Is per yard for the first 100 yards, and 6d per yard in larger quantities for all metal quarried on their property. —It was decided that Crs Clark and Blair wait on Mr White and discuss the matter The Minister of Mines forwarded a copy of a letter from Mr John Gaird (Kaitangata) with reference to the action taken by the county council in closing all roads to coal carting during the winter months. —After the luncheon adjournment a letter was received from Caird Bros, offering t.o grade the road in the spring. Mid enclosing a cheque for the amount of the inspector’s estimate. If the work was done to the satisfaction of the inspector the cheque to be returned, and failing satisfaction the money to be used by the council io repair the road. —The clerk read the bylaw on this matter, and after some discussion it was resolved to hold over consideration for one month. STIRLING BRIDGE. Tho county inspector forwarded a special report on the condition of tho Stirling-Inch-Ciutha bridge.—Cr Russell moved, and Cr Sheat seconded, that Cr Renton and the inspector go into the matter of increasing the waterway under the bridge and estimate the cost, and report at the next meeting.— The motion was carried. WAR MEMORIAL DEPUTATION. A deputation from the sub-branch of the Balclutlia Returned Soldiers’ Association at Milton, comprised of Messrs A. E. Stewart and C. Giiray, waited upon the council with regard to the proposed fallen soldiers’ war memorial in Milton and soliciting a donation. Cr Clark pointed out that several of the ridings had erected memorials, and he saw a difficulty in including the whole county. Cr Renton remarked that Stirling had two memorials, and he did not see that the residents should pay for the Milton memorial. Several other councillors also spoke in the matter.—Cr Russell moved that the council give £SO, the Tokomairiro Riding to pay £25, the balance to be contributed by the other ridings in proportion to their proximity to Milton.—-Cr Driver seconded the motion, which was carried. GENERAL. The Ranger reported that during the month 16 cattle and four horses had been found wandering on the county roads. The Secretary of the Milton branch of the Royal Health Society wrote informing the council that at a recent meeting it had been decided to appeal to the Bruce County Council for an annua! donation towards the upkeep of the Plunket nurse for the district. —Received. Mr J. Somerville and 13 other ratepayers of the Waihola Riding petitioned the council to have the roads lying between Barton’s corner and the Toko Riding boundary road attended to. —It was decided to apply to the Government for a grant of £75 (£1 for £1). the work to be classed as urgent. Mr P. Williamson, secretary of the Milburn Hall trustees, made application for a quantity of metal to gravel the entrance from the main road to the hall gate.—lt was decided that a truck load of metal 1m given, the surfaceman to attend to the work. The motion was carried, Cr Russell alone dissenting. Mr G. A. Graham (Berwick) wrote requesting the council to attend to the sec-

t-ion of the road near his house, and offering to assist in carting the metal. —It was decided that the matter bs attended to in the spring, the council to provide the metal, Air Graham carrying out the carting. The county clerk was instructed to write to the Clutha County Council asking it to piooeod with the erection of the gates at the South Molyneux punt. The Chairman announced that the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. W. Nosworthy) would bo in Milton on July 15. — It was decided that a, deputation, comprised of. the Chairman, Crs .Scott and Russell, wait on the Minister and draw his attention to tho Tokomairiro bridge, the Borough Council to be invited to send representatives. It was also deci led that a deputation wait on the Minister with regard to a grant from the Government for roads in the soldie.rs’ settlement at Pukeawa. Cr Clark thought that the council should protest strongly against so much money being spent in Dunedin while the country people had to wait. Cr Blair supported tho speaker. Cr Russell did not agree with trie previous speakers. The construction work referred to was of benefit to the farmers, and he thought the council should not protest agair st this work, as when the double line to Port Chalmers wa« completed it would enable the farmes to rail their produce direct, thus eliminating (he middleman. The work was going to give employment to a large number of men. —The matter was then dropped without further discussion.