BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3774, 13 July 1926, Page 6

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Bruce County CounciJ was held on the 6th, and •was attended by Crs W. J. Sheat (chairman), D. MGregor, Jasper Clark, H. M. Driver, T. Johnston. D. Gardyne, J. Lockhart, A. Renton, W. Bell, Adam King, and V. Wilson. CORRESPONDENCE. Henry M. Fowler and three others wrote drawing attention to the state of the Clarendon-Circle Hill road, of which about 45 chains needed to be metalled, about 250 yards of metal being required.—Cr Driver said that last year the applicants had paid more than £1 for £1 for the work done. About 40 chains remained to be done, but it could not be done until after August. He moved that the work be gone on with when possible.—The motion was carried. The Secretary of the South Otago Hospital Board forwarded a statement of the board’s estimated receipts and expenditure, and asking the council to forward a cheque for the months of April, May, and June, to help the finance. —The letter was “received.” J. R. Marks, chairman No. 17 Main Highways Council, wrote informing the council that, on the application of the Taieri County Council, the Highways Council ha<* decided to recommend the Green Island to Taieri Mouth road for declaration as a main highway. The District Engineer, Public Works Department, wrote stating that on August 4, 1923, a sum of £3119 was authorised on a £1 for £1 subsidy for the prevention and restoration of flood damage in the Bruce County. A payment of £757 had, been gsade in December, 1923. No further pay-

raents had been made Till February and March, 1925, when sums totalling £602 5s lid had been paid to the Bruce County Council, thus leaving an unexpended balance of £514 14s Id. His head office bad advised him that, with the Minister’s approval, they had cancelled the latter amount. If the council had not completed the work for which the grant had been authorised, and, provided, of course, the council could snow clearly legitimate reasons for delay, the question of reinstatement would be considered.—The Inspector said that he had written a letter explaining the position, and his action was approved. The Clerk of the Clutha County Council wrote forwarding a copy of the Public Works Department overseer’s report on the conditioi of the Balclutha traffic bridge, stating that the matter of renewal would have to be faced very soon.—The Clerk said that the total amount required for repairs on the bridge was £6IOO. I he county would have to pay one-third of the half of this amount. —It was decided to arrange, if possible, a conference of the three bodies concerned, to be held at an early date. A Clarkson (Puhekoma) was granted permission to cross roads between Puhekoma to erect a private telephone line to the Puhekoma Post Office. A. Lee Smith wrote informing the council that he had purchased the property at Waihola which belonged to the late Mr J. F. M Frazer. He asked that the road leading to his entrance be put in condition for motor traffic. He offered to contribute a fair share of the cost.—lt was decided to go on with the work as soon as possible. J. W. Shanks (Milburn) wrote asking that tho road leading from Young’s corner to his property be put in better condition.

—lt was agreed to spend up to £lO on this road, subject to the inspector’s approval. N. Greaves, senr. (Crichton), and four others wrote complaining of the lack of attention to their outlet of roadways stretching from Crichton Hill, etc., to Mr Johnstone’s corner. The writers claimed that it was in a disgraceful condition, and asked that it be attended to.—The Chairman said that the writers had agreed to let this road stand over to the spring, and. he moved that the clerk be instructed to notify them to that effect. He added that a Government grant had been applied for tho metalled portions of this road.—The motion was carried. The Secretary of the Otago Expansion League wrote asking the council to send two delegates to a meeting to be held in Dunedin on July 13. The object of the meeting was to consider the proposed establishment of a University College of Agriculture in the North Island and to conserve tho South Island interests in regard to Lincoln College.—The chairman was appointed the council’s delegate at the conference. GENERAL. The financial statement for the month of June showed that the receipts amounted to £576 16s and the expenditure £3202 7s 2d. * The chairman and the clerk were appointed to attend the New Zealand Counties Conference. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. The inspector’s report for the month of Juno was as follows: Balmoral No. 1 Riding.—Maintenance metal and gravel have been put down on tho Waitahuna Bridge to Tuapeka Mouth road, an(Lgravel on Punt road. The grader it at work on the punt to Greenfield road taking off the high tidet and cleaning out the .water-tablet. Metalling contract!

under Government vote and loan moneys are making good progress. Balmoral No. 2 Riding.—Maintenance metal has been put down on the Riverside road, ruts have been filled with the grader on the Blackburn-Mount Stuart road, and the metal has been pulled in with the grader on a portion of Smith's track. Crichton Riding.—The high Bides have been taken off and watertables cleaned out between Tweed’s Corner and Robson’s road. Carrie’s Creek below the ford has been cleaned out, and potholes on the Lakeside road have been filled with gravel and metal. The earthwork and gravelling contract at Currie’s Creek has been completed, and the gravel portion pulled in with the grader. Maintenance metal has been put down oil portion of the Stony Creek-llillend road. Mount Stuart Riding.—The corner at the junction of Bullock and' Andrews’ roads has been widened and gravel put down. Gravel has been put down on Adams Flat road and portion of the road surfaced. Inch Clutha Riding.—Gravel has been spread on Bell’s road and Centre road. Matau Riding.—Metal has been put down on the Swamp road, Stirling Hill road, and also on the Ben liar road. Kaitangata Riding.—The new metalling on Kaitangata-Wangaloa road has been blinded with gravel. Mr Ellis has given his team (also the gravel required) free for eight days for the purpose of carting gravel on to the road at Summerhill. Glen led i Riding.—Surface work has been done on Kerr's road, and the Akatore Coast load. Waihola Riding.—Metal has been put down on the Gully road, and also on some of the township roads. About 15 chains of gravel have been put down on the Narrowdnle’s road, the spreading being done by Mr Barton free of charge. Two tons of Marram grass have been planted on the sand wall at Taieri Mouth to catch the drift sand. Clarendon Riding.—Two men have been employed for a fortnight on the road cutting at Flett’s bridge at repair work. Broom has been cut on the Waiporl River bank, and surfacing has been done on various roads. Tokomairiro Riding.—A portion of the Tokoiti road has had the side taken off and the spoil used to fill over the new culvert at D. Murray’s. Two hundred and seventyseven yards of metal have been put down at Tokoiti. The approximate cost of widening the formation on Spurm street (six chains), Dudgeon street (six chains), Clair street (seven chains), and Smith street (fifteen chains) to 33ft, making up the corner of Dudgeon and Clark streets and straightening the entrance of Smith street, Tokoiti Township, is £32. Making up the corner of Dudgeon and Clair streets as suggested when the inspection was made will be dangerous in wet weather, unless about two chains of the bend is metalled, at an extra cost of £lO. Main Highways. Dunedin to Invercargill.—Potholes have been patched on a portion of the road in Waihola Riding, 500yds of Manuka gravel have been put down between Waihola and Toko Ridings, and 53 yards of Quill’s gravel have been used for patching in Toko Riding.—Portion of the road in Crichton Riding has been repaired.—The contractor for the erection of the new bridge over Lovell’s Creelf has the work well in hand, and traffic lias been diverted past the railway station and along Ilewitson's road. Clarksville to Alexandra—The low portion of the road at Clarksville railway siding has been made up with gravel, and in Mount Stuart Riding the gravel has been graded in and metal put in some of the potholes. Thirty-one men have been employed on main highways during the month, and have .worked a total of 356 days. The report was adopted.