Cook County Council.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 46, 23 February 1901, Page 3

Cook County Council.

MONTHLY MEETING

Tiru Cook County Council mot for the transaction of ordinary business yesterday, when the followmg members wore present : Messrs Graham, Jex-Blrkc, Cooper, Mossman and Toinbleson. In the absence of the Cluv-men (Mr MaefarktneJ, Mr Graham was voted to the chair.

NT.W I,'O.Ui mSTFUCT,

The Til l 'ids and Survey Department wrote forwarding approved tracings and descriptions of Hangaroa, I’ahutalii and Arolia road districts. Through delay in foi warding the plans of the new district, the Clerk explained that the Hoad Board had suffered in the matter of subsidy, and he was instructed to lay the limiter before the Government.

SITU Foil UEMKTItIiY

The Borough Council wrote stating that, as it was necessary that a site for a new cemetery should be secured, they considered the two Councils should go : uto the matter jointly. They asked that a sub committee of the Council be appointed to confer with the Borough Council lo collect all possible information on the subject. Thu Council appointed the Chairman and Ur Cooper lo confer with the Borough Council on the subject.

(IlllDH-I'OST WANTKO,

Tho Wairoa Council wrote snggost’ng that the Council erect a guide-post at '.L’u Rcinga, at the junction of tlio roads, sliowiiig tho tiishorno-Wiiiroa and the Hiuikitiiri branch roads, as travellers frequently get astray on that part of the road.

The Engineer was instructed to put in the liuger-posl as suggested.

VaI.UATIoN 1 1 U l' AI:TM H NT.

The Valuation Department wrote, requesting information on tho approximate date on which the Council intended levying a rate for the coming financial year. The .Department hoped that the information',would enable them to arrange the work’ of amending the rolls up to March .‘list, A request was also made for a copy of the valuation roll now in hand for correction. The Clerk said lie hail forwarded the information requested.

GOVSSKXMKXT VOTKS,

The Lands and Survey Department wrote that the sum of ,C 10() was available for the llangaroa-Tiiv-010 road. The Council agreed to undertake tho supervision of the expeudTure of the money. The Treasury wrote, stating that the sum of .£350 ns had been remitted to the credit of the Council for grants previously made, which had been expended.—Deceived,

•\VAIKOIIU HOAD BOARD,

Tho AVaikohu Load Hoard wrote requesting the Council to attend to the ma'n road dram at To Karuka as soon as possible. The Engineer was mst; acted to have the drain deepened to its original dcptli by tho maintenance man.

XKW KOAI>,

The District Surveyor "itimatcd that a further length of 3.1 miles of GisborncOpotiki m:V 1 road had been completed for heavy trallie, and was now bemg handed over to tho Council for future mamtennnec. Tho Clerk stated last year the laud fund received from tho district fell short .£3O.

G rSBORXF.-XUIIAKA ROAD,

A letter was received from tlio Survey Department staring that the slips on the G isborne-Nuhaka road had been cleared, anil-the road was now in good order from Harriett's to Moverc. It" would be the duty of the Council to in future mainte'n the Yoad, as the Department would not be able to expend any further sums of money on the road. Deceived.

LOAN'S TO LOCAL BODIES ACT. Tlie owners of freehold and leasehold lands : 1 llangaroa and Tahova district applied to the Council for a loan of .£4OOO under the Loans to Local Bodies Act. to be expended in road-making between the llangaroa township arid Ivovanga stream on To Tahora block, including a wire rope and cage at the crossing of"thc Ilangaroa river at ran Xo. 29, and for the construction of further roads in Tahora so far ns assets will extend. Messrs 11. C. Jackson and A. C. Steele waited on tho Council in reference to the above letter, and pointed out the proposed road to the Council, which was the" only means of access to the Tahora block. ' Mr Steele explained that the County Engineer’s time would not be taken up in surveying the road, as that had already been done, and stated that it was the unanimous opinion of the settlers that the loan should be raised. The whole of the Tehora block would be included in the loan. Mr Jackson explained that they would not care to expend the whole of the .£4OOO on the construction of the road, but it was i (tended to rota’ i a certain portion of the road for maintenance. Tho Tahora was a large area, which it had been impossible to °makc productive on account of the want of roads. The incoming tenants were quite willing to take up the land with tho liability of interest payable on loans so long as the property, which was gbod sheep country, was properly roaded r -,d accessible. Councillors were of opinion that they should give every assistance in tho matter, as settlement ‘ should bo advanced as. quickly as possible on these back blocks. . The Clerk said that the Council had already applied to the Government for

oans under the Act up to nearly the .£6OOO limit, so that the full amount of the loan could not be applied for. Mr Jackson said that they could in that case reduce the application to .£2OOO this year. It was also intended to apply for a loan of £2500 to expend on roads in the Mangatu block next year. The Clerk pointed out that the Council could next year apply for £12,000, but if that amount were granted they could not apply for anything for another two years. It was decided to apply for £4OOO, to be spread over two years, on Tahora block and runs 29 and 30, and that the land funds from these runs (Messrs Steele’s and Morrice’s) be utilised towards paying interest on their proportion of the loan. The Council agreed to carry out suggestions made between the owners of runs 29 and 30, and the Tahora owners, as to the proportion- of interest to be paid on the loan.

In reference to the Mangatu proposed loan, Mr Jackson said he would like the assistance of the County Clerk in corncompiling particulars before coming before the Council with the proposal to borrow.

Cr Cooper, before Mr Jackson retired, said he understood there was a vote of £SOO passed for the Mangatu roading, provided the trustees found pound for pound, and he would like to know whether the trustees were prepared to take the matter up. Mr Jackson said they could not do so unless they got the loan of the £2OOO mentioned, when they would have the funds; and, again, they would have to get the sanction of the settlers on the. block before anything definite could bo done.

Cr Cooper said that unless the money was shortly taken up it would revert to the Treasury. The Clerk suggested that the sanction of the tenants be obtained, so that the amount may be secured. Mr Jackson promised to give the matter immediate consideration, and the deputation withdrew.

FINANCE. After discussing the financial position of the Council, it was decided to collect all outstanding rates by legal proceedings without further notice. After payments that day the Council’s overdraft would bo about the same as it was last month.

On the motion of the Chairman, it was decided to call for tenders for filling depots. Malone’s tender for work on the Wairoa road was accepted. It was decided to expend the sum of £lO on the Panikau road, Whangara.

, THE PROPOSED LOAN. The Chairman’s notice of motion with ) regard to the Council borrowing £20,000 was deferred until next meeting. The Council decided to meet at ton o’clock on i that day to discuss the same. engineer’s report. : Mr DcGennes Fraser reported: “ I have the honor to report that the cooperative contracts on the Waimata road 1 have been completed, and a considerable f amount of slips cleared on portions of the road previously formed. The metalling of tho quarry road has steadily progressed, and some GO chains completed. The stone-crusher at present in use puts out only from 30 to 40 yards a day, which is barely sufficient to keep the quarry road and maintenance contracts going. . A very much larger amount of metal is required for the Council’s use at the depots, etc., and if the necessary supply is to be kept up other plant will bo re- ; quired, and also an extension of tho depot at the quarry. During tho month I have laid out some £I4OO worth of work, in eight contracts, the plans and specifications of which have been approved by the Chief Surveyor for letting under tho co-operative system. Tenders for above have been invited, to close to-day, also formation work at Takapau and metalling Wairoa-Gisborno road. The stock track at Poututu was inspected by mo on the 18th inst., and altheugh the contractor was intimated a month ago of certain requirements on his contract, he failed to do any further work until the day before my inspection, This is a case in which the penalty for overtime might well be enforced. It would be well in future contracts to provide a special clause to prevent the contractor bringing the Enginner on to the ground time after time, to find the work reported as finished still incomplete. The metal being put out at the quarry has not been lately in acordance with the specifications, and on closely making inquiry, I found that a considerable quantity of tho stone had not been through the crusher at all, but thrown down the shoot into the receiving truck below. This has, however, been put a stop to, and the fores man in charge promises te break any stones to requisite dimensions. All depots throughout the different ridings have been examined by mo, and tenders called for filling whoro required, In company with , Mr Matthews, I inspected the road line laid off to the Mangatu block from Whatatutu as far as the crossing of the Mangatu river, some seven or eight miles. A contour grade line has been run in an excellent manner, showing the greatest judgment and forethought, the aspect being very good, the ground sound, and the grades easy, I have, however, as yet had no instructions from the Council as to the letting of the work. The following works • are urgently needed: Repairs to small, bridge beyond Barker’s, the stringers at. 3 3 the end being completely rotten, and re--1 quiring fresh caps and studs, etc. Kaiteratnhi bridge: Decking much worn, and 1 continually breaking through; should recommend sheathing with 2in rimu heart or kauri. A small truss bridgo on the Karaka-Whatatutu road requires similar repairs. A number of minor matters i have been attended to during the month. I append herewith reports on Hall street drainage, and at Haiti. “ Report on 'Whataupoko Road Board’s application for culvert, etc. : With reference to above, I beg to report that I have taken the levels of Hall street and portion of the Ormond road from Ballance street to Sheehan street, with the following result : An outlet for the drainage of Hall street could be obtained by grading the side ditches or waterholes and deepening same from intersection of Hall street and Whittaker street to either the intersection of Ormond and Ballance streets or Ormond and Sheehan streets. The fall in the former case is 1 in 603, and in the latter case 1 in 473. Also the present culvert at each intersection would have to be formed, the cost in cither case being about £4 15s. The objections to adopting this course are : Ist. Insufficient fall for open drains; 2nd. Rather a deep dram (if carried to Sheehan street) ; 3rd. In heavy rains the water would be temporarily backed up. The best course to adopt would be that suggested by the Board, namely to put a culvert across the mam road with protected outlet to river, The cost of an 18 y. 18 moh framed culvert 66 feet long, ■ and including the necessary excavations and fillings, would be £l7 15s. I would •however point out that the expenditure is one that concerns only the Road Board, and is not absolutely necessary for the drainage of the County Road. Report re application from Mrs C. McKay, Haiti, re damage through surface water: With regard to this application, I may state that I examined the locality during heavy rains, and noticed that the complaint made that the water from roadway runs back up the culverts across the pathway into her property is well grounded. Owing to the contour of the ground, there is. a tendency for the water-table at this point to silt up, on account of the sudden change of grade in the road immediately above, where considerable scour takes place, the material being carried forward on to a fiat grade and further checked by the smallness of a lower down. If a good water-table were constructed for say 14 or 15 chains on a graded line, and the culvert (giving access to one of the properties lower down) enlarged, all cause of complaint against the Council would be removed. The cutting of the drain as suggested in Mrs McKay’s letter would not be sufficient unless the matter of the culvert was attended to, nor is it advisable as a protection to the footpath against travelling stock to make a deep excavation in a populous locality.” With regard to the works recommended by the- Engineer, it was decided to ask Mr Fraser to- supply an estimate of the cost to the next meeting. It was decided that as the Council could not get sufficient metal broken by the crusher at- the quarry, that unbroken metal should be taken out and crushed at thd'depots. The Engineer was insrueted to write to the -contractor referre'dlo in the report stating that intended to enforce the jacnalty clause in his contract, [