COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 430, 31 May 1902, Page 3

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Cook County Council was held yesterday, when the following members were present : Messrs Macfarlane, Hutchinson, Mossman, Graham, King, Tombleson, and Cooper.

ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. Mr J. Macfarlane tendered his resignation as Chairman of the Council on account of his projected absence from the colony, and the fact that he did not intend to seek re-election. He moved that Cr Hutchinson be appointed to the position. Mr Macfarlane said that he had sat with Cr Hutchinson for some time, and he was sure that he would satisfactorily fulfil the position. Cr King seconded the proposition, which was unanimously carried. Cr Hutchinson briefly returned thanks, acknowledging the honor conferred upon him.

EOAD DRAINS. Mr Robert Scott, of “ Tho Willows,” wrote complaining of the state of tho drains on the road in front of his property. The drains were blocked up with all sorts of rubbish. He offer to clean the drain on one side at his own expense, an! on tho other at ninepence a chain, there being about 70 chains in all. The Chairman said that Mr Scott had been at work on his side of the road for a week.

The Engineer to report. WAIOMOKO ROAD. Messrs Nolan and Skeot, on behalf of Mrs Charles Seymour, wrote objecting to the proposed deviation of the Waiomoko road, which would entail serious inconvenience and loss. In addition to tho necessity of fencing, tho deviation would cut off the whole of the water frontage and a very largo portion of the property. Cr King said tho Council wished to get the road in tho best position, and where it would cost tho Council the least amount. Ho did not think it was necessary to fence. Tho proposed road was a shorter and better road. The Council had borrowed money for a bridge, and that bridge would be useless without this deviation. Cr Mossman thought tho Council should go on with the matter. Cr King was of the same opinion ; he was sure that Mrs Seymour would be resonable in the matter. It was decided on the motion of Cr Macfarlane, that tho deviation should be proceeded with.

VHATAUPOKO DRAINS. Mr A. T. Hookey asked the Council to clean tho drain opposite his residence in Ormond road, 'Wliataupoko. Nothing had been done to tho drain during tho four years ho had resided there, and it was at present completely choked up. The overflow from tanks went into the drain, but owing to the state of the latter the water did not get away, thereby causing an unpleasant smell. Tho Engineer was instructed to report on the matter.

CORONATION CELEBRATIONS. A communication was received from the Town Clerk of the Borough asking the Council to voto tho sum of £SO upon Coronation celebrations. Tho writer pointed out that it was intended spending the money on a permanent memorial. Mr Macfarlane: We havo no £SO to give. Cr King: But we havo already voted that sum. The Chairman : I do not think that the money was exactly voted. The Clerk : It was taken up at tho public meeting that I had stated so, but it was not strictly oorrect. I said th at the Council would not go beyond that amount. Cr Cooper: I think that we should vote

£OO, seeing that that it is for some permanent memorial. j The Chairman proposed that the sum of £OO should be voted. Tho Council could not afford it, but, seeing that it was a case of urgency, they might vote the sum mentioned.

Cr Mossmnn : I suppose all the other local bodies are in the same hard-up state as ourselves.

Cr King : Yes ; they are all alike. After further discussion, tho motion was carried.

ENGINEER'S REI'UKT. The Engineer reported as follows : Metalling Westrnere road : Good progress has been made with this work, and the contractor expects to finish at the end of the present week. Some 20 chains of this road to junction with the main Orrnond-Karaka road will still be unmetalled.

Contracts 37, 'IS, and 39, Mangatu: y The tenders for these sections were opened on tho 17th inst., and the successful contractors have made a start with the work. Owing to the fine weather, the roads generally are in fair condition. On the South boundary, the line from Tiniroto to Wairoa County was at the time of my visit in very bad order, owing to heavy carting of building material during the previous wet weather; and on the line from Wharcrata southwards on the Morere road the formation had been badly cut up by the heavy carting. Considerable damage is also done to this road oy one special carter, who, I understand, carts at all seasons, and at night as well as in the day. On a narrow road such as this, it is consequently impossible to keep tho water-tables open, and the work done by the roadmen is practically thrown

away. ‘ Metal repairs have been cflected on the Makarori and Tatapouri hills, and one narrow point widened. Tapuue points still give considerable trouble, and, as the season is so lute,l would recommend the letting of the proposed protective works be postponed till tho spring. As regards the bridge over the Waimoko river, to give access to Messrs Andrews and Douglas’s, plans have been prepared. The cables and anchor bolts are ordered from Messrs Mills and Co., Wellington, and I am now making enquiries re the cutting of puriri for portions of the bridge and anchors. I hope to be able to call for tenders in the course of a

few weeks. Iluanui loan works : Five miles and 57 chains of th ; s work have been laid off, and plans, cross sections, and tracings prepared ready for letting ; also two miles and 27 chains of a new road-line (Inland Waiapu) have been explored for and laid off, and plans, etc., prepared, in anticipation of a grant from the Government. Copies of this work will then be forwarded for tho Department’s approval, and tenders can then bo called for the whole of the works, including the Iluanui loan, being a total distance of over eight miles. As regards tho survey of tho portion through Mr Kenway’s, I would ask information from tho Council as to whother tho necessary funds are to be provided by tho local body, or whether it would be charged against the loan. With reference to the deviated portion of the Inland Waiapu road, I think tho Department should be asked to make the survey, seeing that tho oid road is impracticable, the grades being too steep; whereas the new line is on excellent grades throughout? This course has been adopted under similar circumstances in other districts, the local body being thus relieved of considerable expense. Cr Mossmau strongly commented on the practico of carters using the roads for heavy traffic during the winter, and urged that some steps should be taken to prevent it.

Cr Tombloson thought the blame rested with the settlers who had their carting done at this time of tho year. On tho motion of Cr Maefarlane the proposed work on tho coast road at Tapuac Rocks was deferred until the spring. In connection with tho Iluanui loan, tho Clerk stated that he had just been informed that there was the sum of £OOO for expenditure on the Inland Waiapu Road in the hands of the Survey Department at Napier. The expenditure of this £SOO would bo necessary before the Iluanui loan could bo spoilt. The Council had applied three times to the Government for tho £OOO referred t-o, and Mr Carroll had also taken a note of it. It was only by accident that ho heard from Mr Mclntosh that the money was in the hands of the Survey Department at Napier. It was decided to make application for the money at once. The Engineer’s report was adoptod. AX ARTERIAL HIGHWAY. Tho following copy of a letter from Mr C. H. M. McCutchcon to the settlers intcrosted, was read by tho Clerk for tho information of Councillors : “ Re Wharekopao-Tahora road, I have to report to you a scheme for the carrying through of this road to its terminus at the County road in the Bay of Plenty. It is proposed (I) to constitute a special riding to ineludo Tahora No. 1, Mnyston and McOutchoon’s, James McCutclieon’s, Sproule and MeCufcsheou’s, and if wo can secure their consent, that portion of Ngatapa station between the two river crossings, for tho purpose of striking a special rato in order to borrow £750 to £IOOO, and secondly to rato Tahora so as to secure an equal sum or pro rata. The Tahora rental will, it is ascertained, absolve tho Crown tenants from any extra charges for ton years; the rest of us, however, will have an added liability. The proposal is to offer the total sum to tho Government, on condition that they (1) form the road 12ft between tho two crossings, and (2) continue the present formation through to Ohiwa harbor. Will you please signify your approval or disapproval to the County Council.” Mr McCutcheon also wrote as follows : —“ Re borrowing scheme, WharekopaeTahora road. Including holdings under names, James McCutcheon, Sproule, and McCutcheon, and Mayston and McCutchcon. What sum could be borrowed by Tahora settlers ; and secondly; assuming that block 2, Tahora (Carroll-Wi Pere Trust) is available, and for the purpose of rating is valued at 20s per acre, what sum could similarly be borrowed ? Mr Carroll suggests that the road opening up Tahora 3 (Auckland Land Board) coining southward from tho Coast (Bay of Plenty) should be made to connect with our running northward, and to this end has directed that a map showing extent of settlement at both ends should be prepared with a view of putting the scheme before the Ministers in Wellington. This is now being done at the Survey Office. Our idea is to allow ourselves at this end to be specially rated to put up say, £ISOO, over the two blocks, the Government to find what is required to put the road through. The advantages will reach beyond the local advantages, as it will open up an arterial highway between Poverty Bay and Bay of Plenty.” WAIROA COUNTY COUNCIL. Tho Wairoa- County Council asked that the decision to disallow tho expenditure of the grant of £5 for maintaining tho road from the Kaiteratahi bridge to the Ruakituri crossing on tho conditions laid down would bo reconsidered. With regard to the altering of tho boundary between the counties, it is not considered advisable to move in that direction at present. —Cr Maefarlane thought the Council should not move from tho position they had taken up, and a motion to that effect was carried.

MAINTENANCE MEN. Oa tho motion of Cr King, it was decided to dispense with the services of tho maintenance men until the Council was in funds.

CHARITABLE AID RATE. Cr King moved “ That tho Council agrees to strike a Charitable Aid rate.” He pointed out that it was impossible to go on making grants to bridges and Charitable Aid unless a special rato for the 1 atter was made. It would take nearly £1250 to meet tho Charitable Aid requisition, and they had not the money to do this, and at the same time provide for ordinary expenditure. The Council was short of funds, and almost in bankruptcy. Cr Mossman wished to know whether the Council had power to make such a rate.

The Chairman stated that the Council had that power. Tho Clerk said that the Charitable Aid requisition had been reduced, and would amount to about a thousand pouuds. Cr Tombleson pointed out that tho rates were already too heavy. The only redeemable feature that he could see was that it would bring tho true position before the ratepayers and show how much was being paid in charitable aid. Jlr Macfarlane thought the Councillors were in a great measure to blame, because being members of the Board they had not attended tho meeting. Seeing that members had neglected to attend the meeting, they could not complain of the requisition made by the Charitable Aid Board. The motion was carried.