BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3869, 8 May 1928, Page 69

BRUCE COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Bruce County Council was held on Tuesday. Cr A. Renton was in the chair, and there were also present—Crs Wilson, King, Bell, Gardyne, Sheat, Lockhart, M‘Gregor, Johnston, Driver, and Clark. CORRESPONDENCE. A copy of the amendments to the motor lorry regulations was forwarded by the engineer in chief of public works, Mr F. W. Furkert.—Received. Advice was received from the district engineer (Mr F. S. Dyson) that the specifications for the gravelling of the road between the Glenore bridge and Mount Stuart, the Manuka section, and the section of the main highway between Crichton railway crossing and the Balclutha borough boundary were satisfactory, and that as soon as authority was received tenders could be called for the work.—Received. Mr William Smith (Clarendon) wrote requesting that the ditches on each side of the swamp adjoining his property should be cleared at the council’s expense. —Ci’ Driver said that Mr Smith "had had the farm only a short time, and was doing his best to improve it. He suggested that the matter be left in the hands of the inspector and himself to attend to.—Agreed to. A request -was received from Mr L. Lunan (Tokoiti) that the council metal about four chains of the road leading to his property.—lt was agreed that the matter be left in the hands of the members for the riding to attend to. Mr A. Higgs (Raurekau) forwarded a request that the Government be applied to for a grant to metal the road between Akatore School and Richards’s. —It was agreed that a grant of £250 for the purpose be applied for. A letter was received from Messrs J. S. M'Neill and W. H. Elliot requesting that the road between their respective properties should be graded.—Cr M’Gregor said that if a crusher was sent to the vicinity there was_ plenty of metal on the spot. Mr M‘Neill was prepared to spread gravel if this was considered more suitable by the council. —It was decided that the inspector and the member for the riding go into the matter. GENERAL. The Clerk of the Waipa County Council forwarded the following resolutions recently passed by his council, and requested that the Bruce Council should support them: — (1) “That this council emphatically protests against the action of the Government in passing regulations of a nature which restrict the powers of county councils to make by-laws fixing the speed limit of motor vehicles for the purpose of preserving the roads.” (2) “ That representations be made by the county councils to the Minister of Public Works though members of Parliament to have enacted an amendment to the Public Works Act enabling local authorities to make by-laws restricting the speed of motor vehicles for the purpose of preserving the surface of all roads and main highways situated in the counties notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other Act or statutory power.”—The County Clerk (Mr L. W. Potter) pointed out that by the new regulations the council was deprived of the power of restricting the speed of the service buses and lorries running over the county roads:—lt was decided to support the Waipa County’s motion. The Secretary ’of the New Zealand Counties’ Association wrote intimating that a conference of delegates would be held in Wellington on July 17, and requested that the names of delegates and remits from the Bruce County should be forwarded before May 31.—Cr Driver said that it was usual for the chairman and clerk of the council to attend the conference, and moved that, as the new chairman for the year would not be appointed until the following meeting, whoever was elected, with the clerk, should represent the county.—The motion was seconded by Cr Sheat and carried. CLYDEVALE PUNT.

The Clerk qf the Clutha County Council wrote advising that his council at its last meeting proposed to increase the Clydevale puntman’s wages to £3 10s a week and also granted him an allowance of 5s a week. The writer asked for the Bruce County’s approval of this course. —Mr Wilson said that some months ago he had, at the meeting of the Clutha County Council, suggested that the hours during which the punt was running should be extended. At the time the council would not agree to the proposal, but now it proposed raising, the puntman’s wages and giving him a house allowance. With the present hours, residents on the Greenfield side of the river were distinctly at a disadvantage, and, unless the puntman was prepared. to work longer hours in the summer time, he was against the increase granted by the Clutha Council. Indeed, what was really wanted was a bridge, which would do away with all difficulties. Further, passengers had frequently to wait some time before the puntman was. ready to start.—Cr Wilson then moved—That the council object to the increase unless the puritman is prepared to work longer hours during the summer, and also to the house allowance.” —The motion was seconded by Cr King and carried. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. The Inspector (Mr J. H. Bateman) reported as follows on the work done in the various ridings during the month:— Balmoral No. 1 riding.—The county lorry has been employed for 14 days carting maintenance gravel on to the Greenfield-Newton road. This work is completed in the meantime, and I am glad .to have the lorry'back again at Milton, . Balmoral, No. 2 Riding.—Potholes have, been filled in on the Hillend-Mounf Stuart road. . ’ ! * Crichton Riding.—Three men and one team havh !£ been employed during the. month putting down maintenance- metal on Lovell’s.Flat-Hillend road. ■ Kaitarigata Riding.—Three culverts’ have been put in on the Wangaloa Coast road, .and-241J yards of gravel, hav,e been

carted free by settlers for the road between Summerhill and .Picnic Gully. Inch Clutha Riding.—-The following tenders were received for carting grave] from the hopper at Stirling on to Rendall s road, and the lowest has been recommended for acceptance:—W. Crowe Cs 9d per yard; D. Milne, 3s; T. T. Rendall (including spreading), 2s lOd; M. Josh, 2s 2d; Gravel Supply Company. " 9d. One tender at 3s 6d had'no dep and was not considered. Waihola Riding.—Four new beams have been put in to strengthen Sawmill road bridge and the decking repaired, borne free labour was given towards this work.—A double culvert of 18in pipes on the cross road near Milburn has been replaced by one culvert of 30in pipes. —A rocky point on the Clarendon-Berwick road has been iv idened, and the stone used for metalhn.g a low portion of road at Yorston’s bridge. Mount Stuart Riding.—Maintenance gravel has been spread on Crichton Coal road, Strawberry Bank road, and Findlay s road; also surface work done on various roads. Toko Riding.—Five chains of metalling have been done on Gudgeon street, Tokoiti. This metal was carted with the county tip dray. The dray is not a success, being too high on the wheels for loading and too cumbersome to handle when empty. A culvert of 18in concrete PJR? 8 laS been P'lt * n ou Wiseley’s road, Milburn A portion of Circle Hill and rort Hill roads has been graded. The cleaning of Southbridge main drain is almost completed, but at present there is too much water to allow work to conMAIN HIGHWAYS. Dunedin to Invercargill.— Specifications have been approved for gravelling between Rotten Valley and Stony Creek, also between Stony Creek-Hillend road and Balclutha. This work cannot proceed until authority is received from the Main Highways Board. Clarksville to Springvale.—Six hundred yards of gravel have been spread between Glenore and Mount .Stuart, and specifications approved for gravelling Manuka Gorge. Sixteen men have been emploved on the main highways, and have worked a total of 181 days during the month. Referring to the clause relating to the Rotten Valley and Stony Creek section of the main highway, the Chairman said that it appeared to him that they should not have to wait for the authority of the Highways Board. Ratepayers were complaining about the state of the road, and the council, which had everything ready to go on with the repairs to the road, was hindered by the fact that authority to proceed with the work had not yet been received from the Highways Board. Cr King said that the road in its present state was a disgrace. The engineer had had everything in readiness to proceed with the gravelling for some time. The council was being blamed for the state of the road when, in reality, i?- lay with the Highways Board, which was dilatory in giving the necessary authority. The report was adopted. FINANCE. Accounts amounting to £1589 5s 6d were passed for payment. RANGER’S REPORT. The Ranger reported that no stock had been impounded during the month.