Reconstruction of Roads.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 21, 26 January 1901, Page 2

Reconstruction of Roads.

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL. THE COUNCIL’S RIGHT TO BORROW. At the meeting of the County Council yesterday morning the question of the Council’s right to borrow for the reconstruction of roads was raised by Cr Cooper, who ijtatcd that lie had been talking to a gentleman from the other Coast and was informed that local bodies in his districthad [borrowed money for the reconstruction of roads —the manner which the Cook County Council proposed to do. He (Cr Cooper) thought that the matter required to be looked into, as evidently someone had blundered.

The Chairman said that even if the Council wore allowed to borrow there was little chance of the poll being carried. In several directions opposition would be offered, the. ratepayers of the Waimata going so far as to say that they would give a block vote against it. There were sections throughout the district opposed to it.

Cr Hutchinson thought that even with the opposition from Waimata and other places the poll would be carried, as it required only a bare majority. He wished to sec the question re-opened. The Chairman replied that it would be a big undertaking for the Council to get the required majority. However, if members were agreeable they could go into the matter and bring it up again. Cr King was in favor of the question being again considered, and other members being of the same opinion, it was decided to re-open the question at a future meeting.

The payment of the sum of L 1996 14s lid for the monthly accounts left the County Council’s overdraft yesterday at L 8255 6s lOd. The overdraft on January Ist was L 7496 3s Bd, and the amount collected during the month was L 1237 11s 9d, made up as follows: General rates LIO2O 6s 7d, special rates L 159 13s 6d; hotels L 5, Tologa ferry L4O; dog taxLlO; timber 2s 6d; interest on rates L2 9s 2d. Recent, advances made by the Council included grants (works to be repaid about 28th inst) LB64—timber Ngatapa Board L 42 —Patutahi loan LBO, making a total of L 986, which would leave the net overdraft on February Ist at L 7269 6s lOd. The general rates due amounted to L 1982, and special rates L 460. It was decided to add ten per cent to all rates overdue on the Ist February. '