COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 224, 28 September 1901, Page 3

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly meeting of the Cook County Council was held yesterday. Present: Messrs J. Maefar'-.ue (Chairman), -JexBlake, Hutehinst.:. Graham, King, Tomblesou, and Mos.' ’an. COBRE3PO. ”NCE.

The Survey Depart— "it notified the Council that it would be —cess ary to take the roads through Mu 'gatuna and Mangaheia under the Public \\ orks Act, as the time for taking them under the Native Land Act had lapsed.—The Chairman said that there was no urgency fortha matter. He suggested that the Engineer when in the district should make the necessary surveys preparatory to taking the land under the Public Works Act. — Agreed to. Messrs G. W. Tiffen, H. E. Tiffen, F. A. Tiffen, and Henry Campbell wrote objecting to the proposed Mangatu loan, and asking to have their properties eliminated. It was decided to hold a special meeting on October 18th to consider the question, and to ask the objectors to attend.

The Motu Settlers’ Association requested the Council to put in hand the work of foiling the bush on the side of the road through the Mangatawei Bush, Motu Poad, also that the Council form that portion of the Karaka-Motu road, opposite the Poututu station homestead, about 20 chains.—lt was decided to get the Engineer to lay off the work on the Poututu section, and also report on the bush.

Mr F. Harris, of Gisborne, forwarded a copy of the map of the Borough and suburbs, which ho offered to the Council at 30s. The Chairman said that if the districts amalgamated with the Borough the map would he of, no use to the Council. —Another member said that the sum mentioned would repair a chain of bad road somewhere. — Members generally admired the map, but did not think that it was of much use to them.

Mr J. Henderson wrote notifying the Council that Messrs Buckley and Sharkey had only quarried 350 yards of stone on his contract at Waimata Hill.—Received.

Mr A. C. Steele wrote asking for permission to expend the sum of .£lO 4s 4d, fourths now in hand, upon the road giving access to his section.—Mr J. M. Morice made a similar request.—lt was agreed that the amount should be spent under the supervision of the Engineer. The Treasury Department stated that .£2OO for continuing the metalling of the Waimata main road would bo paid to the Council’s credit in a few days. The Public Works Department acknowledged the receipt of the resolution passed at the public meeting of settlers relative to the prosecution of the Gisborne-Karaka railway. PATUTAHI QUARRY. Mr J. Burnett informed the Council that there was plenty of 6-in stone ready, and they could start carting at any time.—Cr Jex-Blake said that the Borough Council should not bo allowed to have the metal as cheap as they obtained it the previous year.—Cr Mossman spoke of the damage done to the road through the carting of the metal into town. The road was really in a disgraceful state. Cr Jox-Blako thought the Council should put a fairly heavy royalty on the metal. He did not see why the Council should lose money over tho Borough Council. The Clerk said tho quarry was held by the Council for tho benefit of the local bodies. Cr Jex-Blake said that if they could charge sixpence a yard they could charge a larger sum. Cr Mossman said that residents were afraid that, seeing the Borough Council wore calling for tenders for metal, that they would rob tho roads. Cr Jex-Blake urged that existing contracts should be completed before the Borough Council commenced to take metal. The Council would be in tho position of not having metal to repair tho damage done by carting into the Borough. The Clerk said that the Council could not prevent any local body going into tho quarry and quarrying their own stone. That ho believed was tho true position. Tho quarry was vested in the Council for the benefit of all local bodies.

Cr J. Tombleson said the chief difficulty was ill regard to the damage done to the roads. Ho suggested the advisability of putting down a tramway, or providing other moans of haulage. The Chairman said that tliq Patutahi quarry was the only one that was likely to be opened in the district for some years.

On tlie motion of Cr Jex-Blake, seconded by Cr Mossman, the following resolution was adopted : “ That this Council, observing that tho Borough Council is advertising for the cartage of 1000 yards of metal, informs them that tho Council cannot undertake to supply this quantity of metal until sufficient is quarried for its own immediate requirements.”

The question of raising the price was considered, and it was decided to inform the Borough Council that, owing to the damage done to the roods by carting, the royalty on the metal would be Is 6d petyard. A PRIVATE ROAD. The executors of the late Mr Woodbine Johnson wrote expressing their willingness to allow tiie Council to use the road running through the Mnraetaha block for a limited time, provided the Council fenced the upper portion of it, so as to prevent stock straying on to the road. Cr Jex-Blako said that trouble chiefly rose through travellers leaving the gates open,' There was about 30 to 40 chains of fencing to do. Cr Graham said that the Council would require to use the road until the bridges were erected, and that would probably be some years. Cr Mossman urged that the fencing should bo done. Cr Tombleson questioned whether the Council had the right to spend money in erecting a fence on a private road. Cr Graham said the fence would become the property of the owners of the land. The estimated cost of the fencing was stated by the Chairman to be £4O, and it was agreed to put the work in hand at once. ORMOXD ROAD. Mr Charles Gray, of Waiohika, wrote complaining of the state of the outlet drain on the Whataupoko-Ormond road. It was decided to reply stating that the work was being proceeded with, in conjunction with the Ormond Domain Board.

CHEAP MONEY. The Invercargill Borough Council forwarded a circular with reference to requesting the Government to introduce legislation to allow money being borrowed

at a rate not exceeding B.} per cent, per annum. Cr Grahaui said that it was a pity they did not go further and lend settlers money at the same rate. Cr JexBiake said that it would be better for the Government to find money at the rate stated than to grant small subsidies. The communication was received. KAUAKA STOCK I'ADDOCK. Mr J. Barrington, of Karaka, asked foi information with regard to the stock paddock at that place. He had obtained permission from Captain Winter to use the paddock, and had improved it by removing briars, etc., but a person in the district had placed a padlock on it and threatened to impound his horses ii ho put them in there. The Chairman said that the Council hud not yet completed negotiations with regard to the sections. The Clerk said that the Council had secured the sections, and was in a position to allow Mr Barrington to use the paddock. It was decided to grant the request made by Mr Barrington, on condition that he removed his horses when the paddock was required by any travelling stock, Mr Barrington to keep the key of the paddock. MISCELLANEOUS. Mr W. S. Short, for the Chief Enginee l ' for Hoads, Wellington, wrote, stating that the petition in regard to the deviation of the Wairoa-Gisborne road bad been received, and the request would be considered. Mr B. Greaves asked permission to erect a two-roomed cottage on the road reserve known as Mo. S, Waimata Valley. It was agreed to ask the Engineer to report upon the site. The Gisborne Borough Council forwarded an account tor .282 Is 6d, Council’s share of costs of maintenance of bridges. Mr H. C. Jackson, Receiver for the Whangara Block, on behalf of the natives concerned, complained of a deviation which caused great inconvenience to the owners of the block. It was decided to allow the matter to stand over for a month so that Mr Jackson might attend and explain the matter to the Council. The Chairman of the Hangaroa lioad Board forwarded a resolution of the Board that the County Council should be requested to include a grant for the Han-garoa-Tiniroto deviation in their list of requirements. A potition was received from ratepayers in the Himnui Loan District consenting to a special rate of 2-8 d in the £ for raising a loan of T2OOO for the purpose of constructing a waggon road. The matter was dealt with at a special meeting held in the afternoon. The petition was granted, and it was decided to take steps to raise the loan. It was decided to hold the next ordinary meeting of the Council on October 18th. HOAD TO WAIi'AOA IUVKK. Mr Walter Hutchinson wrote drawing the attention of the Council to the agreement made with Mr Tiffen some years ago ro the leasing from him of ground for a road to the Waipaoa river from Grant’s cutting. Five pounds per annum was the amount, and there was now three years overdue, making fifteen pounds, without interest; also with regard to the stock track from Poutntu, apart from the value of the land taken, which was not very great, thcro was the danger that ho would some day be called upon to fence, that was if the track was ever converted into a i road. This would mean cutting oil the water during the summer months from at least 8000 acres. He was willing to meet the Council and arrange amount ol' compensation. The Chairman said that the Council had little or no use for the land referred to. Ho did not think that it was required. It was decided to ask Mr Hutchinson to meet the Council at the next meeting to discuss the matter. (JO • OPE RATI Vl« W 011 K. For co-operative work on tiic HangaroaTiniroto road thcro were six applications, from the following: T. O’Connor and party, Dempsey and party, Ellis and party, Crowley and party, B. McCarthy and party, and Coleman and party. A ballot was taken, Messrs Crowley and party being the successful applicants. K.NCUNKEIi’s REPORT.

Mr DeG. Fraser, County Engineer, reported :—Contract 7. collecting and spreading metal, Putac Hill: No work has been done on this contract during the month, there being little or no extra shingle to be collected from the beach. I should recommend that the spreading of further metal on the hill be discontinued until the autumn, as more shingle will not sot at all on this siding during the summer months. Contract 16, formation and metalling Murewai road : The contractors have completed formation, and given notice that metalling will bo commenced this week. Contract IS : This contract is, I understand, nearly completed at Waipaoa, and will bo shortly inspected. Contract 19, metalling Waimata road : On my inspection last week some eighty yards of metal had been stacked and broken, and probably about 950 yards spawled and carted on road. With regard to further work on this road, I should recommend that Richardson's Hill be taken in hand; that the river edge bo protected with sheet piling for a distance of about 70ft, and that the foot of the batter on the road cutting ho protected with timber breastwork, the road also being widened and better trimmed down, and the whole planted with willows at the proper season. Portions ot this cutting will also have to | be metalled. Contract No. 21, repairs to Waipaoa bridge: Fast progress is being made with this work. Reference was made in my last report re putting on labor to clear slips on various roads, and I would again recommend that this work be undertaken soon. I append herewith estimated cost of maintenance and repairs on roads within the county. I have also been requested to report by the councillor for the branch road from Inland Waiapu towards McKay's. This work, having been left without repairs for a considerable period, is in very bad order, and a sum of about £'so required to put the road in order for carting, On the Gisborne-Tolago road on the Puatae Hill a considerable subsidence has taken place for some three chains, and it will be necessary to raise the road again at this point. It would bo also advisable

to execute some five chains of metalling at Wainui, where the end of the present metal joins a side cutting through loose, sandy ground. I append herewith report ro Makauri drain. lie Makauri drain : With reference to a petition from settlers to have same cleared out, etc., I beg to report that on inspection I found that the drain was more or less blocked from the Puriri bridge to the junction with the creek, a distance of about 50 chains. Below this point the creek bed ranges from A to •■} of a chain in width, and is much overgrown with cress, etc. As the clearing out cf this portion would run into a large sum, and would require to be cleaned annually, I have not dealt with this, but confined the report to the upper portion of drain proper. Owing to the steepness of the banks, a number of small slips have taken place ; the bed is much overgrown with weeds and rubbish, and in several places additional trouble is caused by cattle going down to drink, and breaking away the banks, and obstructing the watercourse. Also, a short distance below the brick culvert, a fall of about three feet is lost by the growth of large willows right in the channel. I would recommend that the following work be done :—All rubbish cleared in bed and overhanging sides, and the bottom of drain cleared to minimum width of -Ift, and the willows obstructing the water at A out out, and the bed regraded to brick culvert. Should funds permit, it- would be advisable to batter the banks 1 to 1. This would necessitate the removal of about 23 chains of wire on the eastern back, and both sides should be securely fenced from Puriri bridge to the brick culvert, requiring the removal of 28 chains of fence and the erection of 51 chains of new fence. On the motion of Cr Graham, seconded by Cr J.ex-Blake, it was decided to purchase an American road machine, costing £BO. The engineer was authorised to put on men to clear the slips where necessary. The report was adopted.