HARBOR BOARD

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 74, 30 March 1901, Page 3

HARBOR BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Cook County Council was held at the office, Peel Street, yesterday, the following members being present: Messrs Macfarlane (Chairman), Tombleson, King, Graham, Hutchinson, Cooper, Mossinan, and Jex-Blake. MAUAETAIIA ROAD. Air Edward Coop, of Tarewa, wrote asking the Council to hand over to the AVairoa County Council for expenditure on that part of the Maraetaha road in the AVairoa County any moneys they might have in hand from grazing run No 40. The clerk said that there was the sum of .Cl 8s 6d available, and it was agreed to forward that amount. DARWIN ROAD. Mr AV. H. Scoats wrote stating that he noticed the Kaiti Hoad Board proposed to stop a portion of the old line of the Darwin road, and that objections (if any) were to be sent to the Council. He had the following objections to the stoppage of the line. First, it was the road which only a very short time since the Council proposed to make to the only ford in the jiver, and which in the event of any accident to the bridges would be the only place bv which cattle or sheep could be crossed over; secondly, it was the road used by hundreds of young people to the river for bathing purposes and for landing from boats etc., thirdly, the settlers in the district had in the deviation they now used a very rotten place which might at any time slip away, and they would have no other means of getting out if the old road was closed. Consideration deferred until further steps were taken in the matter.

WAri'AOA RIVER TOAD. Mr Henry E. Tiileri, of Mangatu, AVhcturnu, wrote in reference to the sum of £BB voted for work on the AVaipaoa river road. As they were aware £SO of this had been voted for over two years, and the odd £3B for over throe months. Ho had written in November last regarding the same matter, and was asked to wait until the new engineer arrived, when it would be the first piece of work for him to attend to. The new engineer had now been working for the Council for two months, but had done nothing to the road. The engineer stated that this was the first intimation he had received of the matter. Cr Cooper said that the money could be expended at the present time, and they should certainly proceed with the work. The Council should keep to their promise. The matter was deferred until the consideration of other works.

DRAINAGE. Mr Charles Gray of Waioleka wrote, calling the attention of the Council to the side drains on the Whataupoko Ormond road running through his property. It was necessary for the proper maintenance of the road that the drains should ho cleared out, the outlet drains also required to be cleared. Consideration was deferred. fu regard to another request from I’atululii, Cr Cooper said that it appeared to him that these drains were becoming a very big question. Ho thought that they could do away with many miles of drains. THE PAKAUAE I'UNT. Mr.T. It. Shaw wrote regarding the improvements suggested by the Engineer for the i’akarao punt. A draw rope and new rope for two lots of tackle would be required before the winter set in. ft was also necessary to get a good strong boat, as the present one was unfit for use. The work to de done required a much smaller but stronger boat, the last being a mere shell, and very rotten at that. In purchasing tho boat the Council were probably taken in by the fact that it was an old boat painted" new. The matter required immediate attention, as although tho crossing was very good at present, there was no telling how long it would last.—The Council decided to supply tho material for the punt, and also a new boat. INLAND WAIAPU TRACK. Mr S. King Spencer, writing from AVairoa on March 18th, stated that lie finished clearing tho slips off the portion of the inland AVaiapu track loading from the Tauwhareparo Bond on January 24, and would he glad of the .CIO granted for the same. Ho also asked that the Engineer should examine the said road with a view to calling tendors to have it widened with the £4O granted for that purpose. — Consideration deferred. A ROAD LINE. Mr ,T. C. McLean, of AVaikolui, _Tc Karnkn, wrote, stating that, in running out tho pegs of the road through liis property, ho"found that tho road had boon formed in some, parts outside the line of road. As lie wished to fence the road, lie asked tho Council to instruct the Engineer to moot him, and arrange the lines of fencing. lie was quite willing to fence the road as it was now formed, and give the full distance required for a road, but would ask the Council to indemnify him from any future survey of the road. The Engineer was instructed to moot Mr McLean. MURK WAT-MAUI A ROAD. Mr Cyril AVhitc, executor in the estate of the late Mr J. AA r . Johnson, wrote stating that at a recent meeting of tho To Arai Hoad Board, ho was deputed to wait on ttic Council about the proposed expenditure of some money on the Murewai road. He was prevented from attending tho meeting that day, hut Cr Jex-Blake understood tho position, and would explain it to the Council, Tho season was now so far advanced that no adequate return for expenditure could ho obtained, and ho hoped the Council would retain any monies they had for expending on the Murcwai-Mahia road until the spring, and then push on with work to completion. At present the greatest gain to the settlors would bo a few pounds spent in repairing bad holes on tho road and cleaning out side drains and water holes. AVith regal'd to the Murcwai-Mahia road, lie did not refer to the hill section.

Cr Graham thought that tenders should be called for the work. The Chairman said that there was some trouble with regard to the allocation of the money, as the peoplo at the other end wanted it-spent there. lie wanted to get the contracts let before March 31st so as to get the Government involved. The Government would then have to sec them through. All their grants had been signed by the Minister for Lands. If they spent any money at all they would have to see them through, the same as they did over the Mangatuna bridge. The Engineer said that Bayley’s portion could be laid off in whatever lengths the Council chose. That would take .£3OO. Cr Graham said that ho did not think the amount was intended for metalling. — It was decided to call for applications for the work.

HIKUWAI RIVER ROAD. Mr William o’Rvan, Clerk of the Waiapu County Council, wrote, enclosing a letter received from Messrs Hale and Rangiuia, of Mangatuna, drawing attention to the necessity for opening up the road on the west side of the Hikuwai river from the Mangatokcrau northward to the Cook County boundary. The Waiapu County Council directed him to urge the necessity for opening this road. The main difficulty at present was the want of a bridge across the Mangatokcrau stream. They hoped the work would be undertaken at an early _ date. Messrs Hale and Rangiuia in their letter asked that the passing of travelling stock through Mangatuna should be discontinued. —It was decided to reply that the Council could not do anything with the bridge, but the Engineer would be sent to survey the road. WAIMATA ROAD. The clerk of the Waimata Road Board wrote stating that at the meeting of.thc Board that day the sum of .£2OO was voted to the Council, being a grant for metalling and repairing the Waimata County Road, which grant will make £6OO available for expenditure by your Council, also that the grant was made conditional on the Council being willing to consult the Road Board before deciding as to the manner of expending the £600.—-It was decided to accept the grant and to expend the amount for the purpose stated. Richardson’s hill. Messrs William E. Akroyd, M. H, Strachan, Howard Kemvay, and B. Crreaves, residents of Waimata, peti-

tioned the Council to repair a slip on Richardson’s Hill, so that the road would be safe for traffic during the coming winter. The road in its present condition was unsafe.—lt was decided to do the work. b MAINTENANCE OF BRIDGES. ° The Gisborne Borough Council applied ’ for payment of the sum of .£25 6s, being 11-28 share of cost of maintenance of the Turanganui and Taruheru bridges to 20th inst.—The account was passed for 3 payment. : DESTRUCTION OF COUNTY DRAINS. [ The secretary of the AVaikahu Road Board called attention to the fact that the cause of destruction to the County drains j at that place was due to cattle and horses ( at large on the road treading in the same. The County ranger had neglected to visit that part of the district.—lt was decided to instruct the ranger to make periodical visits to the district. ALLEGED NUISANCE. Mr Henry AVilkinson, of Awapuni, complained to the Council of a nuisance at that place, arising from the keeping of pigs near his house. He had been to the police authorities, and they referred him to the County Council. The Clerk said that the Poverty Bay Road Board was the Board of Health for the district, and the letter was referred to that body. ROAD DEVIATIONS. Ml- 11. G. Price, for the District Surveyor, wrote regarding road deviations in Okahuatiu No. 1 block. The Council’s . late Engineer, Captain AVintor, surveyed a road deviation in 1893 in the Okahuatiu i No* 1 block, containing 6a 2r 36p, this he i understood being made at the request of AVilkinson Bros., the owners, on account < of tho old road slipping, and was to be I an exchange of land. This had never c been done. Tho now road should have been taken, and the old road closed by i consent under the Public AVorks Act. J This should bo done now to avoid any 1 complications in the future that may arise a through not taking and closing tho road in the proper manner.—lt was decided to o take action in the manner suggested. b GATES ACROSS ROADS. S The Motu Settlers’Association drew the £ | Council’s attention to the great number of gates that were placed across the road to

the Motu from Karaka upwards, and to ask that directions be given for their removal. They were a source of great

inconvenience to travellers, and especially so to those who were driving. Now that the dray road was so far up, the amount of wheeled traffic had considerably increased, and was likely to do so every year. The gates leading through Lome, AVaikolm, and Poututu stations had boon in existence for a number of years, and there could bo no possible excuse for thcr continuance. The owners of these places could well afford to erect the necessary fencing, and since tho struggling scttlersof tho Motu were willing to fence and do without gates, much more should the property owners lower down be compelled to at once remove the obstructions they had so long maintained across tho road. The Association also asked for information liow the thirds from properties in the Motu district were being expended.—lt was decided to have the gates removed. • AN APPOINTMENT. Mr John Coleman wrote, stating that, owing to pressure of business, ho found it inconvenient to continue the duties of auditor to the Council. Ilis brother, Mr T. A. Coleman, was willing to undertake the duties, and had practically performed tho work of tho last audit. —The appointment of Air T. A. Coleman was agreed to by the Council. A SECOND SURFACEMAN. The Alotu Settlers’ Association asked the Council to put on a second surfaceman on the Poututu-Motu dray road. Tho distance from the lower boundary to the end of the portion taken over by the Council was over twenty miles—much too groat for one man to effectively look after.—Tho request was acceded to. METAL REQUIRED. Alossrs Hall, Harding, Kcmpthornc, and AV. A. Hood applied to the Council to metal 35 chains of road near Kcmpthornc's. They were willing to subscribe the sum of £l2, a third of the cost, and the Ngatapa Road Board would also contribute a third. Air AV. A. Hood waited upon the Council in support of the application, and stated that the whole expenditure would not exceed £36. — Granted. PATUTAIII MAIN DRAIN. Air AV. Kirkpatrick drew attention to the state of tho Patutahi main drain, which was in a fearful state, being overgrown with rubbish. There was no water in the drain, and it could bo cleaned out straight away.—The Engineer was instructed to visit the locality and report. MANGATU NO. 1 BLOCK. Atcssrs J. Partridge, AV. L. Rocs (for AVi Pore and Commissioner of Crown Lands trustees), H. C. Jackson, IP. Higarty, AVilliam Cooper and Tulloch Bros., owners of

freehold and leasehold lands in the Mangatu No. 1 Block (80,226 acres), applied for a loan under “The Loans to Local Bodios Act ” for the sum of .£'2500, the

money to bo expended on similar linos ns in the case of the Tnhora special district. —Acceded to. TAIIOKA SPECIAL DISTRICT. Messrs W. L. Eccs (for the Trustees of Tnhora No. 21, 11. C. Jackson (Receiver), A. J. Steele and Morico and Trafford wrote in regard to Tnhora special rating district and loan of 414000. They agreed to accept the conditions imposed by the Council, and had lodged a plan showing the proposed rating district. The description of the work proposed to be constructed was the formation of a roadway twelve feet wide from the Waikura road line, or from the end of the present formation, thence along the Hangaroa Valley on to and through the Ti Tnhora Block. The means of crossing the Hangaroa River, whether by wire, rope, or by the construction of bridges, was to be loft to the discretion of the County Engincr.

ORMOND IIOAD. Messrs E. Ling, C. Wilson, and Buka tc Aratapu, ratepayers residing on the Ormond road, called attention to the bad state of the ditch in front of their properties. The drain was choked up with grass, water-cross, and silt. They asked to have the matter attended to without delay. — Referred to Engineer. MINISTER OF LANDS VISIT.

Mr W. Morgan, President of the Chamber of Commerce, wrote stating that at a recent meeting it was decided to interview the Hon. the Minister of Lands when he visits Gisborne, in order to bring under his notice the requirements of the district. It was suggested that one strong deputation, consisting of delegates from the Chamber and the County and Borough Councils, would have greater effect than sundry small ones, aud a sub-committee was appointed to give effect to the same. —lt was decided to co-operate with the Chamber of Commerce as suggested. REQUEST FOR BRIDGES. Mr Kenway, representing a number of Waimata settlers, interviewed the Council with regard to the construction oi two bridges on the Waimata road, one over the crossing by his house and one by the store. The settlers intended asking the Government to contribute the sum of £2 for £1 raised by themselves, and they wished the Council to allow the Engineer to make an estiniate of the cost of the works. Messrs Bellerby, Strachan and others would have been present, but were unable to got in. Mr Kenway also asked that the Engineer should include in bis estimate a small bridge over the creeknear his crossing.—lt was decided that the Engineer should supply an estimate. finance. The Treasurer reported that the overdraft that day, including accounts of £lO4l 7s, amounted to £6448 2s 9d. During the month £2243 10s 9d had been collected from various sources, including subsidies £1750, general rates £202 6s lid, special rates £66 19s 3d, slaughter licenses £3l os, hotel licenses £3, dog tax £56 6s 3d, Tolago-Arakihi grant £IOO 0s 2d, interest on rates £7 7s Bd, Patutahi quarry rent £24 2s 6d, interest fixed deposit £2 2s. FLAG STATION AT MAKAURI. On the motion of Cr Tombleson it was decided to write torilie Minister of Public Works asking to have a flag station at Makauri. Cr Tombleson pointed out that there was a large number of children attending the school and many others who would be benefited.

Continued from third page.

SUNDRY WORKS. Cr Mossman drew attention to a small drain in the Patutahi township which required to be put in order. The cost would not be more than £2.—The Engineer was requested to inspect the locality. Crs Jex-Blake and Tombleson also referred to small drainage works which required to be looked after, and the Engineer was asked to see to them. engineer’s report. Mr Do G. Fraser, County Engineer, reported:— Contract 1, forming and metalling Patutahi Quarry road : According to instructions, the execution of this contract has been postponed. Contract 2, formation and metalling, Tolago-Hick’s Bay: This contract let only a week ago; no work yet done. Contract 3, formation and metalling, etc., Arakihi road Portion of the formation on the flat has been executed, and metal is being collected and stacked for measurement. Contract 5, metalling Tolago Hill: Slow progress has been made, owing to unfavorable weather. Contract 8, formation and metalling Wainui road: Although this contract was let a considerable time ago, no progress has yet been made with the work. Contract 10, metalling GisborneWairoa road, near Craill’s : Slow progress has been made, the wet weather having delayed the contractor. On my last inspection (22nd inst), a small quantity of broken stono had been stacked for spreading. , , With reference to the work of carting

maintenance metal, little or no progress has been made with the work, with the exception of Messrs O’Grady and Partington’s contracts, and 'in most instances the contracts have not yet been signed. It is of the utmost importance that this

work should be pushed on at once, as there is practically no metal in the depots, the roads- arc in a deplorable condition, and the winter fast approaching. The contractor for metalling the Quarry road has been notified to discontinue work, and it is to be hoped that the weather will be sufficiently favorable to enable the contractors for depot metal to get out the allotted quantity. The road at the Quarry has been terribly cut up, but it is a question of either doing further damage to a short length of this road or being without any maintenance metal for repairs in and around Matawhero and Makaraka. Eoad formation contracts have been laid off at Murewai and near H. Bayly s Mahia-Gisborne road, and plans and specifications are being prepared for approval of the Survey Department. A quarry pointed out to me by Mr White some sixty chains from the Murewai school site was inspected, and trial shots are being put in, to further test the quality of the stone. Extra surface labor for the winter months is urgently required on the Wairoa-Tiniroto-Gisborne road. The Gis-borne-Nuhaka road and the GisborneTolago road: For the want of further attention, these roads are being rapidly washed away and destroyed. Hardly any of the roads have sufficient water-tables or culverts, and where surface labor is now employed the length of the sections render it impossible for the roadmen to execute satisfactory work. Any watertables cut should be deep and welldefined. At present they fail to carry surface water, and are blocked after the first shower of rain. With reference to the Government grant for the GisborneMahia road, I would request the Council to fix the proportionate amounts to be expended at Murewai and the Mahia bridle track. . Be drains Swarthmore towards WairoaPatutahi junction ; I have examined the side drains from large culvert to Swarthmore, a distance of 93 chains (186 chains of drains). Beyond a certain amount of weeds and grass overhanging the ditches, thcro is little obstruction to the flow of water, and as regards the county road, no backing-up or overflow of water is to be anticipated. A drain from Swarthmore towards Hardy’s ford has lately been cleared out, and to obtain a free outlet for this the county drains should be further cleared and deepened. The work would cost about sixpence per chain. I would request instructions as to carting maintenance gravel from the depots.

REPORTS ON BRIDGES. The Engineer reported : The Te Arai Bridge was examined by me on February 26th. Although the decking is much worn and will shortly have to be renewed, the immediate cause of weakness is as follows : First, want of horizontal bracing on the beam spans ; second, extra stringers required. At present the decking of the beam space is liable to be broken by any heavy loads, and I would suggest that two extra stringers be fixed in the five beam spans and horizontal bracing inserted. The approximate cost would be about £32. The decking can m the meantime be patched as occasion requires. With reference to the Kaitoratahi Bridge, the approximate cost of sheathing same would be £B7. On the Waimata road, near Rogers’ house, a small bridge is completely rotten as regards the decking and studs, and could be replaced with a foot x 2ft culvert and filling. A small sill bridge a short distance this side also requires repairs effected under one sill, which has been scoured and undermined. The report was adopted. THE LOAN PROPOSALS.

The notice of motion with regard to a loan of £20,000 for expenditure on the roads in the country was moved by the Chairman, Mr Macfarlane, who said : It is with considerable diffidence that I undertake to move the motion standing in my name proposing to borrow £20,000 for road-making and repairs, but the state of our finance is such that we cannot go on as we are doing at present without exceeding our legal limit, and in spite of anything we can do with the funds at our disposal we will be compelled to neglect our roads, and you all know that the old saying about 1! a stitch in time ” applies to road repairs more than anything else. If you should pass the resolution, it will be necessary for you to specify carefully the works upon which it is proposed to expend the money before going to the ratepayers for their sanction to the loan. 'When the question of borrowing was last before the Council it was then proposed to get the money under the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, and it was found that the Act provided for new works only. I now propose that the loan shall be raised privately, and thus get over this difficulty; and I think it can be got at 4 per cent.; and I further intend to alter my motion to £25,000 instead of £20,000. The interest on this sum at 4 per cent, would mean £IOOO a year, but as the overdraft would be paid off, a reduction of, say, £2OO can be made for interest thereon, and a further saving of £SOO will be gained by making our main roads properly. The average cost of maintenance of these roads for the last three years has been, as shown in the list I have made out. This would leave £250 to be found out of rates, and as it would be spread over the whole county, would never be felt. It will, however, be necessary to explain to ratepayers that for the purpose of security of loan a rate will have to be struck sufficient to cover the interest. I have prepared an analysis of the County accounts extending back to 1895, from which you will be able to glean information as to how the account has gradually gone back, and other information of interest. I regret I have not been able to give the mileage of new roads made by the Council and Government during the same time, but it is very considerable, and most .of those roads are hill cuttings, and costly to keep open, and I do not see how in our present financial state it is possible for us to keep them from absolute ruin. I find that the average cost of maintenance of the main roads for the last three years has been £2467, and you know how they are going back on us. Principal among the new roads requiring atttention are Mahia-Karaka and Motu-Arakihi roads. These roads require surface-men on at once, or they will not be fit for wheel traffic this winter. The Coast road, too, from Pakarae to Puatae cannot be kept open for wheel traffic this winter. We have advertised for offers under the cooperative system, and for tenders for contract for works on this road for nearly two months.past, and have not had a single offer to do the work. Another work that requires attending to is the painting of the bridges throughout the country. They require painting badly, but the cost is beyond use. This is very regrettable, as the depreciation will be out of all proportion to the cost. You

may think my remarks pessimistic, but I assure you there is only one thing that can save us if the loan is not obtained (for the Local Authorisation Bill is passed without alteration to the schedule of Government roads), and that is a succession of dry seasons. Cr Xing seconded the motion. Members, with the exception of Cr Tombleson, favored the proposals, but thought that they should wait until the result of the measure to be brought forward by the Premier was known. The Chairman said that it would take some time to arrange for the loans, and by that time they would know whether the Bill was passed. The motion was carried.

WHEEL TAX. Cr Graham’s motion, regarding the introduction of a wheel tax in the County, was discussed, and adjourned for a month to allow each member to be supplied with a type-written cop}’ of the proposal. Cr King intimated that he would oppose the motion. LIST OF REQUIREMENTS. Members were requested to make a list of the most pressing needs in their ridings, with a view to submitting tho samo to the Minister of Lands when he visits Gis- J borne. ROAD ROLLER. A deputation from the Borough Council, consisting of the Mayor, Crs. Harding, Joyce and Lewis, waited upon the Council regarding the purchase of a road roller. The Chairman read the following report : “ The Committee appointed .to consider the question of getting a traction engine met at this Chamber on the loth inst., when there were present: Messrs Macfarlane, Tombleson aud Graham. Considerable data as to traction engines and road-making machinery had been collected by the officers of the Council, and was gone through carefully. Your Committee are of opinion that great economy would result in the use of up-to-date machinery, both for haulage, construction and repairs, and would recommend your Council, if it can finance it, to purchase a eight h.p. road locomotive, with roller attachment, four trucks (and a road grader). This plant, we estimate, would cost about £I3OO, and we understand that terms could be obtained extending over several years for payment. In addition to tho above cost, some £SOO or £6OO would be required for strengthening bridges. Thus the outlay would not be far short of £2OOO. At last meeting you also appointed a committee, consisting of Messrs Macfarlane and Cooper, to confer with a committee of tho Borough Council as to the purchase of a site for a new cemetery, and in the absence of Mr Cooper the committee as above present received the committeo of tho Borough Council and discussed tho matter. It is the duty of the local authorities to unite in this matter, both in purchase of. site and management afterwards, and the joint committees are of opinion that the site recommended by Dr Williams on tho Waikanae, near Awapuni, is the most suitable 1 offered. The cost of purchase, fencing, ’ and roading they estimate at about £6OO, ’ two-thirds of which the borough, recog--1 nising their greater responsibility, propose to contribute. This will leave £2OO to be found by your Council, and which you will have to provide for.” 3 Accompanying the report on the road 3 roller was a letter from tho Engineer to : the Waiapu Council, stating that for any 1 distance over two miles the traction en--3 gine was the cheapest for the haulage of 1 road metal, and the greater the distance the cheaper it became in comparison with ' horse cartage. At ten miles a 8 h.p. road 3 locomotive would make one and a half ' trips a day, with one set of men and five 3 yard trucks (20 yards at a load). The 3 expenses were about 2s a j'ard. ; Members of the County Council were in 3 favor of one body buying the machine and > letting it to the other. L ’ The Mayor said that the Borough Coun--1 cil would take what stono they required 3 from the Council if that was an induce--1 ment to them to purchase a road rollor. 3 The Chairman said as the County • Council owned the quarry, they should be • the body to purchase the engine. Messrs Anderson quoted a 15-ton 8 h.p. engine 3 at £7OO, without roller attachment. 3 -Cr Cooper moved that offers be obtained by the County Council, and after some discussion this was carried.