COUNTY COUNCIL.

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

COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tiie monthly meeting of the Cook County Council was held yesterday, present; Messrs Macfarlane (Chairman), Mossmun, Cooper, Hutchinson, Graham, Kingj Tombleson, and Jex Blake. Prior to .the commencement of the business the Chairman said that he would like the Council to pass the following resolution in connection with the death of Her Majesty the Queen: “That this Council has received with profound sorrow, the news of the death of our beloved Queen, and expresses its deepest sympathy with the Royal Family, in their bereavement.” Mr Macfarlane and other members made sympathetic reference to the sad event, and the resolution was adopted, the Clerk being instructed to send a copy of it to the Governor. Kakaka Gisborne Railway.

The Hon. -J. G, Ward wrote, acknowledging receipt of the letter from the Council with regard to the Gisborne Karaka Railway works. He had forwarded the same to the Minister of Public Works. The Undcr-Scerctary of the Public Works Department wrote with regard to the dis« charge of workmen from the above* mentioned railway works, stating that the matter was receiving his best consideration. There was a general smile as the omesgotp

donee was vend, Cv Cooper remarking. “ Well, there is not much satisfaction about that.” Cr King, “Well, you hate no occasion to complain! they gave you money for your road.”

lIOAD MACHINE. Messrs C. 11. Granby and Co. wrote out the advantages of the Amencan Hoad machine, which they wished the Council to purchase. In one contract of 8.1 miles of road in Southland, the saving effected paid the cost of the machine. The cost was .£9O landed in Gisborne, all charges paid.—Received.

A I.OAN UKQCIKED. Messrs ,T. H. Morice. M. J. Trafford, and A. C. Steele, of L’atutahi, requested the Council to raise a loan of .£'>oo for them, for the purpose of constructing a road from run 20 to run 00, and also to provide a wire rope for crossing the Hangaroa at run 29, and as security they were prepared to pledge the land fund accruing from runs 29 and 80, and such amount of special rate as was necessary to provide the interest for ”2 years at -1 per cent. The Council decided that they had power to raise a loan if requested. It could only be done by special rate. OAIKY INSPECTION. The Department of Agriculture wrote, stating that they would take up the work of dairy inspection, as from the Ist January, 1901. Regulations would be gazetted as soon as possible. ORMOND HOAD. The Whnlnupoko Hoad Hoard offered to complete the culvert on the main road in line of Hall street, if the Council granted the sum of .£15.-—The Chairman said that the work would have to bo done by the Council. —Cr King suggested that the Road Hoard should contribute a certain amount and the Council do the work. That ho understood was the decision arrived at when the matter was previously before the Council.—Cr Cooper said the work was a necessary one and should be done, as the people in the locality were flooded out in winter. lie did not agree to hand over to the AVliataupoko Board the sum of .£ls, being of opinion that the Council should themselves do the work and get the Hoad Hoard to pay part of tlie cost. It was decided on the motion of the Chairman that a reply bo sent to the efleet that the Council did not see its way to band over the work to the Road Board in the terms of their letter, blit would get their Engineer to report on the mutter, giving an estimate of the cost of the work.

AN ITNKXI’KN'DHI) VOTE

Mr Philip E. Kemvay, as represent l uga number of Waimata settlers, wrote with regard t0.£1500 which had been authorised by the Lands Department to be spent on tlie Waimata-Taitwhareparao mad in I'cbmary last. He pointed out that up to January 7, according to a letter he had received from the Under Secretary of Jamils that the money had not been applied for. As this matter blocked the way to the Council’s receipt of further grants the settlers would be glad if the Council would expend the above amount as soon as possible. The Clerk stilted that tie laid written a letter to the Department slitting that the Council had no knowledge of such a handsome vote having been given to the County. Members were equally in the dark as to the grant of l.i 1500 being granted for the work. It was decided to reply to Mr Kemvay to the above effect.

UOVHKNMKNT (!HANTS.

The following Govcnnuc.nl votes .wci G placed at the disposal of the Council ; —• Ilimgaroa-Tiiiirolo road, .£21)0; GisbonieWaima mail, metalling, .£IIOOO ; Wlnita-tulu-Maiigutu No. 1, .£1 for .£.l, j£soo, of which the sum of .£O2O might lie used before March i! Ist; Tologu Buy road, improvement, A‘2so, the portion which could be used before March illst being .£142, exclusive of the sum of .£SO, which has already been authorised for expenditure; Wait mi mail, .£IOO, the sum of ;£OI might be used before end of March; I'uatai Hill road, improvement, .£2OOO. the sum of .£l2O being available before March Illst. Gisborne via Tologu Buy-Hick'sßay, main road. ,£OSO ; Muriwai-Mahiu road, improvement, .£i!oo.j

MISCELLANEOUS,

The Patuliihi School Committee wrote risking the Council's permission to deepen I't County drain. The Chairman said that there would be no objection to this being done, provided the work was approved by the .Engineer.—Agreed to.

Mrs Celia K. McKay, of Kaiti, wrote asking lltc Board to construct a Sift drain along the main road, of sufficient depth to allow the water from the road to escape without flowing on to her property.—The Engineer was instructed to inspect the locality and report.

It was decided to add 10 ocr cent to all rates not paid before February Ist.

On the motion of the Chairman it was decided that the Engineer's first work should be to go up the coast and prepare the work in connection with the expenditure of the various Government grants, which work should take precedence of all others.

The liauger reported that fifty-one head of horses and cattle and one hundred and thirty-three sheep had been impounded during the past month. It was decided, at the request of Mr C. 11. McCracken, to repair the road from about a quarter of a mile on the far side of the Mangatuna bridge to near the boundary. He estimated the cost of the work at from X's to .£lO.

The Chairman, referring to the question of the AYairoa grant, stilted that they had the sum of LoOO available, which was X. 145 more than the original contract. The sum of L 1.55 had been spent out of the county funds.

On the motion of Cr Jex Blake it was decided to expend the full amount, LOOO. on this work.

Mr C. White wrote stating that seven months age he notified the Council of his intention" to close the road through the estate of the late Mr Woodbuvn-Johnson, and suggesting that a donation should be made. " He wished the Council to give effect to the terms of his letttcr. It was decided to ask Air AVhiteto allow the public to use the road until something was definitely decided on by the Council, and the Engineer and Cv Jex-Blakc were deputed to sec -Air White.

NOTICK OF MOTION'

Cr Graham had two notices of motion on the order paper. The first referred to lolls, and lie asked to have it withdrawn, ns since reading the Act he considered that it would be useless to go further. Permission to withdraw the motion was granted. Cr Graham's second resolution was in reference to the size of tires on vehicles, but after the matter had been introduced it was decided, on the motion of Cr Toinbleson to adjourn the discussion until the following meeting.

(Continued on fourth page.)