COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 464, 5 July 1902, Page 3

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

ADJOURNED MONTHLY MEETING

The adjourned meeting of the Cook County Council was held yesterday, and was attended b,y Crs Tumbieson, Mossinan, Cooper, Graham, and Je.x-Biake. Cr Graham was voted to the chair.

c o n a k s eo -s n i:\ck. A communication was received from tho Department of Roads stating that the Minister of Lands proposed to place at the disposal of tho Conned the following votes for works in the district : Muriwai-Mahia, X’lOO ; Uawa bridge, (XI for .Cl), Xl5O ; Gisborne-Wairoa, X'ZZy. The Cleric said ho had wired to the Dc partmcnl asking if tho agreements were signed, so that the work might be proceeded with. He had received no reply, and ho thought that the rates had lapsed on tiic 3Ulh day of June. Tho Chairman : It will not do for the Engineer to go on laying out work. Until we get the reply from Wellington wc cannot do anything with the grants. Cr -Mossinan : It is a bit of red tape sending it to us now. They waited until it is beyond our doing anything, and tiicn they send the papers. What is the use of their sending them at all when they know it is no use. I think we should ask if the money is forthcoming.—The Clerk said he had already sent down tho papers and they should receive their signed agreements baek on Wednesday morning. Tiic Council would then sec if they were worth anything.

WAIItOA KOAO. In reply to the Cook Council’s communication declining to sanction the expenditure of X 5 on the Kaiteratahi section of tho Gisborno-Wairoa road, the Wairoa County Council wrote asking if the Council would join.in getting the boundary lino between the two counties defined, so that there may ho no doubt about the portions of the road in question which were in each county. The Engineer said that the Wairoa Council seemed to think that they wero maintaining a part of the Cook road. He had prepared a tracing for the information of their Engineer. It was decided to forward the tracing for tho information of tho Wairoa Council. A WAT It It SUI'I'LY.

On the motion of Or Jex-Bluko, tho Cook County Counuii decided to take land at Makaraka under the Public Works Act for tho purpose of a public water supply. M.UNTKN'ANCK Of ROADS. There was considerable discussion upon the question of tho present maintenance of the roads, Cr Cooper stating that tho roads were getting beyond repair, and it was necessary to ro instate the mnintonanco men. Questioned in regard to tho finances, the Clerk said that tho Council were at present £3OO below their limit. They really wanted .£7OO for interest at the end of next month. They would have £SBO 8s 5d Government advances, and another £2OO for special rates coming in, which would give £2OO for next month’s payments. Tho earliest date on which they would get any now rato would be August 24. Wages for July would have to bo paid without any rates. Cr Cooper thought tho Council could arrango with tho maintonanco men to wait for their money. Cr Mossman said the maintenance men being taken off tho Wairoa road was a serious question. It was not the maintenance of the road so much now as the holes which were being made. If tho maintonanco men were not reinstated the coach would have to stop. Cr Jex-Blake was convinced they could not re instate tho maintenance men. Tho metalled roads required first attention. He was not going to bo put into a position of responsibility. Cr Cooper thought Councillors should take a little responsibility. If they did uot maintain the roads it would moan a loss of thousands of pounds Ho moved that tho Engineer bo instructed to reinstate tho men, and added that wherever tho responsibility was, ho wa3 willing to tako his shave. Cr Tomblcson : What is tho responsibility 2 Cr Coopor : No mattor what it is, I will take my share. In reply to Councillors, tho Clerk said that any liability over tho legal limit to tho overdraft would havo to ho met by the Councillors present who voted for the liability. Those who voted against it were not responsible or liable. Cr Coopor said he was willing to take his share of a guarantee of £IOOO sooner than have tho roads broken up. Cr Mossman : Hoar, hear. Cr Cooper: I know that the Whataupolso and Haiti roads will cost a great deal more than they would if put in order a short time ago. Cr Mossman asked if the Council were liable for accidents, and was assured by Cr Cooper that the Council was liable. Cr Jox-Blako favored keeping tho metalled roads in order, Good clay roads were, he said, luxury in the back districts at this time of the year. The Clerk stated, in answer to the Chairman, that tho liability in reinstating the surface men for two months, till the rates came in, would bo £250. Cr Cooper : I will take that liability myself and reinstate those men, Cr Mossman: Hear, hear. Cr Cooper : Unless the roads are put in order there will be very little ratos to spend next year. Cr Mossman : Wo have got the money and the men, and tho roads should bo put in order. Cr Tombloson : Where is the money ? Cr Mossman (pointing to Cr Cooper) : Here is tho guarantee. Cr Tombloson : What is tho good of talking like that'? Cr Cooper : What is tho good ? I guarantee the liability. You should resign, gentlemen. You are no longer any use here. I adviso you to resign. Cr Tombleson : You can advise until you are black in the face. Cr Cooper (to tho Engineer): Don’t you think it necessary to put tho men on in order to save the roads ? The Engineer repliod that if only one | work was to be done the metalled roads should bo attended to. Cr Cooper ; That is not my question. Don’t you think that to save our roads these men should be reinstated ? Tho Engineer : I do. Cr Mossman seconded Cr Cooper’s motion. An 'amendment by Cr Tombleson that the Council only attend to metalling whore absolutely necessary, was lost. After discussion tho motion was put, Crs Mossman and Coopor voting for, and Crs 3 ex-Blake and Tombleson against. Tho Chairman : As thoro is only a month or two to wait, I will vote iu favor of the motion. It was decided that tho maintenance mon should bo reinstated, and tho Engineer was instructed to attend to tho I metalled roads whore absolutely necessary.

NATIVE KATES. 'Hie Tauranga County Council forwarded the- following resolution : —" Unit Native Lands should be placed on an equality with European lands, and rated accordingly, and that too co-opt ration of the- whole of the County Councils in New Zealand be solicited, with a few to having concerted action taken in this important matter.'' The Council decided to heartily support tile movement. A NEW l;i ».w>. A letter was received from Mr Thomas Reedy, Tnparoa. informing the Council that Mr C. 11. McCutchan had submitted a proposal to him for raising money for the construction of the WharekopaoTahora road, and asking him to communicate with the Council, and express his views. The writer entirely approved of the proposal, and would help it in any way. MISCKt.LANKOI-S. The Department of Lands wrote a~ follows: “ Some local bodies of Into have anticipated tiic expenditure of moneys appropriated by Parliament fur roads and similar purposes, by doing work to the amount of the item and subsequently claiming a refund of the money so spent, to the extent of the appropriation. Such a pr weeding is quite irregular, and in future claims for work done before an agreement or some other authority has been entered into with the Hon. the Minister of Lands cannot- be entertained.” The Clerk stated that the Government had not sent any money last year. Cr Mosstnau : When t-he.y do send any, they withdraw it again. The Council is not allowed the opportunity of spending much. From Mr James Poynter, asking permission to erect a gate on the Waiapu Inland road.—Granted. From the Secretary to the Treasury, notifying that the sum of A2OO was now available for expenditure on the metalling of a road to Quarry reserve, Patutahi. Mr C. A. Nieid, secretary Gisborne Builders' Union, forwarded copies of tho Union’s conditions, and asked the Council to attach them to any work which they had done in the building line. —Communication received. From Mr E. Grundy, Mangapapa, call ing the Council’s attention to tho blockedup state of tbe outlet-drain leading from his soction.—-Engineer to report. From the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Napier, asking the Council to forward proposals for the expenditure of 11 thirds ” and 11 fourths ’’ through the Land Otlieer, Gisborno.- —Received. From the Commissioner o£ Crown Lauds, Napier, authorising accruing 11 thirds " from sections 2 and 3, block x., Whangara district, to be used in payment of interest on a loan to bo raised for tbe purpose of building a bridge near the said sections, —Received. From tho Department of Roads, informing the Council that a proclamation had been issued by the Governor, in terms of the Council’s request, taking certain laud under the Public Jiodies*Aob, 1301, for a road through block xiii., Uawa survey district, C-uok County.—Received. From Messrs William Cooper and Henry Morse, butchers, applying for a transfer of their license to Douuld Gordon and Albert Law, of Whataupoko.— Granted. From tho Kaiti Road Board applying for a grant for forming and metalling the Esplanade, Kaiti. The estimated cost of tho work was 12150 to ,£2OO, and the Kaiti Road Board and Borough Council were willing to bear their share of the expense. Cl- Cooper said the road was impassable, and there was no question about its terrible state. The matter was deferred until the Council’s financial position was known.

KXOI Mi Eli S REPORT. The Engineer reported as follows : - Contract 38, metalling Westmere road : Work to the amount of AH 18s 9d has been done, out of tho original amount of Al 6 available. A further sum of £o given by Mr Hall was not expended, as the weather became broken and unfit for further metalling. Contract 37, road formation, Mangatu : Thirteen chains have been nearly completed, and 21 chains partly formed. Contract 33, road formation, Mangatu : Sixteen chains done in tho rough. Contract 39, road formation, Mangatu : Twenty chains formed in the rough. Owing to the discontinuance of surface labor, the clay roads are getting into very bad conditiou, and are more or less obstructed by slips. The metalled roads are also suffering considerably from want of attention, particularly on tho Tatapouri and Waimata. It would also bo of groat service if tho metal in tho depots could tie put on the roads. Tho. Patutahi, Murewai, Wainui, and Whataupoko roads are rapidly deteriorating for want of repairs. The timber for works at Tapuae inis been landed at Whangara and stacked, it not being considered advisable to let the contract until the spring. Several urgent repairs to culverts and bridges have been effected at Mangatu. Karawa bridge, leading to Fitzgerald Bros.’ property, is badly in want of new decking. The cost would be about £25, and an amount of All 14s is available from “ thirds ” and " fourths.” I would respectfully point out to tho Council that a considerable expenditure will have to bo provided for during the coming summer in the way of repairs and renewal of a number of the smaller bridges throughout the County. Many on the Wairoa-Gisborne road are much decayed throughout. At Tapuwai creek the bridge is getting unsafe, and also in various other parts of the district urgent repairs are needed. Three small bridges (for bridletrack use) at the northern end of tho county' are unsafe, and will shortly have to be replaced with proper cart bridges, at a cost of probably A3OO or .£6OO. I think therefore that a sum of £IOOO should be set aside for these most urgent works, and also tho painting of the more expensive briigos should be undertaken. I append" herewith reports, etc., on various items which I was instructed to see to:

Mr Hookey’s application,—With reference to above, Mr Hookey complains that owing to the side ditch'of the road not having been cleaned out the waste water

from his bathroom is unable to find a proper outlet. On examining the locality I find that this portion of the road drain is considerably blocked by weeds, rubbish etc, but that as tar as the road is concerned it is not required, and would be better really filled up altogether. It is for the Council to say whother the drainage from adjoining properties is to be provided for.

With regard to the instructions issued to lower the culvert at Brown’s corner. I may state that having taken levels of this locality I find that to lower the culvert ione chain in length; Would not effect the purpose of draining this portion of the road, unless the side drain on the south side of Ballance street is also deepened. I have therefore regraded towards Wi Pere street to carry off any water that may lie between the two streets. The matter complained about was trivial, there net being more than 4in, of water at any point on this road drain. With reference to Mr Grundy’s complaint of water being backed up on his section, I find that owing to the sandy nature 'of the ground, the storm water from the road partially blocks the outlet of existing culvert, and the drain tbiough Mr Walsh’s section, thus causing a considerable depth of water to lie on Mr Grundy’s property. Mr Walsh is prepared to open the drain and culvert a distance of three or four chains at half cost. I recommend that the offer be accepted.

With regard to a letter from Mr Scott stating that he is prepared to clear out one side of the road drain near his property, if the Council will undertake the other side, I consider for the good of the road that the work should he done and Mr Scott’s offer accepted. The distance is about 70 chains.

According to instruction, I have taken levels of *he line of footpath at Ormond township, from Messrs Teat and Friar’s store to the public school, with the view of future work being extended over that portion. The immediate requirements include only 91 chains of footpath from Keenan's Hotel, northwards to first cross street on this portion of the road, the maerocarpa fence encroaches some ISin on the road reserve, and the present track used by pedestrians is only 18in wide, a road ditch being on the outside. I understand any County subsidy will be assisted by a grant from the other local