COOK COUNTY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20071, 18 October 1939, Page 3

COOK COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL W AIM AT A BRIDGE NGATAPA CREEK DAMAGE HIGHWAY WATERCOURSE The Cook County Council met today, there being present Crs. W. G. Sherratt, chairman, S. T. Gray, D. P. Tombleson. F. S. Bowen, H. G. Smith, E. II Baker, M. T. B. Hall, C. Tietjen, J. E. Benson, J. T. Gordon, and M. L. Holden. The district engineer, Mr. O. G. Thornton, advised tliat there would be no objection to the proposed transfer of a subsidy of £2OO, £1 for £l, on the estimates for Waimbko road, to Seymour's, towards Newman's section on the same road. Bridge Replacement Seven Waimata Valley ratepayers wrote urging a 'start with the replacement of Martin's bridge, which was washed away 18 months ago. Settlers were sudering considerable Inconvenience. The county engineer, Mr. K. F. Jones, said that it; was impossible now to secure steel from England. Special efforts were being made to obtain steel from Australia. The bridge was one with a 12ft span. It was decided to wait on the district engineer regarding the type of bridge to be sanctioned by the Public Works Department. Creek Flooding Mr. T. W. Sewell, Patutahi, wrote complaining of damage to his property bv tiie clearing of the willows by the council from Ngatapa Creek without securing permission from the property-owner. The job was not done properly, tiie writer alleged, the stumps being left in the crock, acting as a groin in the centre and causing the water to eat into the banks on either side and raising the bed of the creek. During the past two seasons he had lost 10 head of .stock valued at £2OO, and was forced to fence off the creek and lay water on to all paddocks. He consider'd that he was entitled to some form of compensation. The chairman said that the council disclaimed any liability, for the Public Works Department did the work. * It was • decided to reply accordingly. G’r ?ck Over Highway Messrs. D. J. Barry, Limited, wrote drawing attention to blocked drains at Kaitaratahi, flooding the hotel paddocks. The county engineer said that the problem was one of whether a creek running across a State highway was the responsibility of the council. The Main Highways Board claimed that the council should attend to sucli water courses, but Mr. Jones said he took the view that,the board was responsible. Tiie matter was referred to the drainage committee for a report. Transport Licenses The No. 1 Transport Licensing Authority wrote, in reply to the council's representations on behalf of the J. T. Construction Company, that it did not feel justified in granting temporary permits because there were sufficient licensed services available, the object of the Transport Act being to ensure a measure of protection to those operators who were licensed. It was agreed that Crs. Baker, Hall, and Benson should wait _on the Transpoi t Licensing Authority nt its next Gisborne sitting.