COUNTY COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 485, 26 July 1902, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Cook County Council was held yesterday, when the following members were present : Crs Hutchinson (Chairman), Jex-Blake, King, Graham, and Tornbleson.

patutahi quarry

In reply to Cr Jex-Blake, the Clerk said that tho Patutahi Road Board had given notice that they intended to take steps to regain possession of the Patutahi Quarry. Members thought that immediate action should be taken to retain the quarry to tho Council, and it was decided to wire to Mr C. A. DeLautour for legal advice.

CORONATION DAY.

A communication was received from Sir J. G. Ward, Acting-Premier, stating that

the Coronation celebrations would take place on August 9th. Cr King thought

that Saturday was a queer day fur crowning a King, but Cr Graham pointed out ♦hat members would have Sunday to recover from the festivities. Communication was received. veterans' home.

A circular from the Committeo ol the Veterans’Homo fund was received. The Clerk pointed out that a military ball was to be held during August, and a subscription list had also been opened at the Borough Council Chambers,

KSI’LANADK KOAD. Tho Borough Council wrote with regard to the state of the Esplanado road, asking that the County Council contribute tho sum of £SO. Cr King said tho Council had at present no funds, but they would seo what thev could do later on. The Chairman said that the financial report showed that the Council could just struggle through. Application deferred.

A RIVEIt CROSSING

Tho Ngatapa Road Board wrote drawing attention to tho stato of the road from tho Waoreuga-a-hika Hotel to the crossing, and especially to the state of tho cutting. Tho Chairman said that most of the cuttings loading to river crossings in tho district were in tho same condition. The trouble was owing to the shifting sands. The matter was referred to the Engineer. CHARITABLE AID SUHSIDY.

The Cook Hospital and Charitable Aid Board wroto asking for payment of tho subsidy duo, £IOOS, to be paid in four instalments. Tho Clerk said that tho proposed special rate would bring in a few pounds over tho amount required. The rate amounted to about one-tenth of a penny in tho pound on the capital value of the County, or 7s lOd per £IOOO. It was agreed to advertise the intention to striko tho rate.

FINANCE,

The overdraft on July 4th was £8956 0s lOd. Tho sum of £338 18s 9d had been received since that date, and payments were required at the present mooting amounting to £260 6s Gd, which would leave tho overdraft at £BBB3 8s 7d The sum of £786 19s 6d would bo required on August Ist for interest and other things, and the probablo overdraft on that day would be £9670 8s Id. As the Council would require to exceed the limit of the overdraft allowed by the Bank by a few hundred pounds, tho Chairman and Clerk were appointed to interview the manager and arrange for the same.

engineer’s report.

Tho Engineer furnished the following report:—

I have tho honor to report as regards

the contracts in Mangatu. Contracts J 59: Altogether soino 55 chains out of 117 have boon done in the rough, through fairly heavy side cutting. Contracts 38 and 37, on same road: Progress has not been so good; in the former about 50 chains ,'out of SO chains has been roughly completed, and in tho

latter about 50 chains out of IoS chains only has been done. Given line weather, however, they may possibly be completed within contract time. On the portion previously executed by co-operative labor numerous slips have occurred, and the road will require to be further widened. Tenders have been pnvited to close at this meeting for two contracts in tbe lluanui district, and also for cutting and squaring puriri tor portions of the Waitnoko bridge at upper crossing. A further length of 2 miles and 21 chains of the HuanuiTauwhareparae road was laid off by the Council, and plans and specifications prepared. This work has, however, been undertaken by the Hoads and Bridges Department out of grant money, and is now being proceeded with. To expedite the work, I have therefore handed over to the Department the working plans, etc. A requisition can afterwards be made for reimbursement of our outlay, amounting to some £'-il.

A quantity of totara timber (5000 ft.) had also been obtained for eulverting on the above work and landed at Hauit', ready to be forwarded when the roads were opened up. This timber 1 have offered to the officer in charge at cost price. The roadmen, as per instructions, have been again put on. with tlio exception of

two men who were temporarily laid up, and one who was unable to immediately go on his section of road. Some slight repairs have been executed with depot metal; and on the Tatapouri Hill the road was in so bad a condition that I was forced to have hands on, to savo it from very considerable damage. As it was, the north side of the hill was completely scoured out down the centre, and I have been compelled to use a small heap of inferior metal, which had been previously condemned. Also on portions of this road largo holes have had to bo filled in temporarily with scrub and earth, and I would request that authority be given to have, say, 50 to 00 yards of boulders carted and broken and put on the hill, to save further serious damage. Some urgent repairs have also been necessary on Arakihi and Tauwhareparae, one small bridge having been undermined on the Tolago-Takapau road. Owing to heavy rains, the lower breastwork on the Waimata (Richardson’s hill) has been somewhat undermined from the creek side, and from this and the heavy pressure of earth on the upper side, the piles and sheet planking have been in places forced out of plumb, throwing great strain on the wire ties. 1 have therefore made arrangements to have additional ties and anchor blocks put in as soon its possible. The upper breastwork is standing well, and is freely drained by the deip covered tracks cut some months ago. Tho metal on this road under the last contract is setting well, and with a little attention will make a good road. Gray’s Hill is, however, still very rough for vehicular traffic.

The main roads to Patutahi, Ormond, Karaka and To Arai are all in very fair condition. No notice has, however, been taken by property-owners of the circular from the Council, requesting them to cut tho trees and hedges overshadowing the main toad.

MANGATU LOAN.

Messrs Hcgarty, Tullock, and Martin waited upon the Council ill regard to expenditure of tho Mangatu loan money. Mr Hcgarty pointed out that if the road were taken along the route already surveyed it would bn of little use to settlers, and they asked that it should be expended upon a road which they would point out to tbo Engineer. This road ran through Mr Tulloek’s property, who offered no objection. There would also be a great saving in tbo cost of maintenance, etc. If their wishes were given effect to there would bo sufficient money to construct the road and also partly gravel and metal it. The settlers interested were unanimous in regard to the application. Councillors thought tho request was a fair one, and authorised tho deputation to make an appointment with the Engineer. In answer to the Chairman Mr Ilegarly said that if there %vas any trouble in regard to tho cost of tho first survey tho money for the same would have to be paid out of the loan.

TKNDBKS. The folllowing tondors were received : Contract -11: M. Dcnchy, JE2 18s 6d per chain ; J. O’Shea, X2 Ills Brjd (accepted); McLaughlin, X'2 19s ; W. Jones, £3. A fifth tender for fjl 19s Id, with no name given, was also received.

Contract 42: J. O’Shea, XI 15s ; W, Jones, XI Ills lOd (accepted); I’. McLaughlin, £1 19s; J. Malone, X 8 Vs; Denohy, XI 16s; McNamara, Xo Cs.

Contract 44 : H. Currie, X 44 19s (ac cepted).

MOTU KAHMBKS’ UNION

The Secretary of the Motu Farmers' Union wrote, stating that they had asked Mr Carroll, M.H.R., to try and obtain the following votes for roads in the district:

XISOO for Neill road, X 250 for Oliver road and sueh a sum for the main OrmondOpotiki road as would suffice to extend the dray formation to the bridge, about 24 miles. Tho writer pointed out that all these roads wero urgently needed in order to permit the settlers to undertake dairying, and asked tho Council to include the votes in any list of votes for tho district which they wero sending to headquarters. It was decided to acccdo to the request of the Union. The Motu Farmers’ Union also asked for the use of the Council’s road-machine, to repair and reform tho main Motu road, between Poututu and Whakarau ; also to expeud about tho sum of XlO in improving a badly-graded turn, on tho road through tho Maungatawa Bush. Tho Council approved of the expenditure of the XlO asked for.

A HAD DRAIN

Cr Tombleson drew the attention of tbo Council to a pool of water in front of the Ormond Hotel, and asked that something should be done to improve matters. The Engineer said that ho had spoken to Mr Keenan, who had promised to put in a culvert to carry the water away.

AMALGAMATION PROPOSALS.

Tho Chairman said that Mr W. DLysnar had asked him to place the following proposition before tho Council, “ That this Council would respectfully urge tho Government to accede to the request of tho petitioners for amalgamation of portions of Haiti and Whatapoko, with the Borough of Gisborne, to have a Commission set up to deal with the amalgamation question, as this Council considers the interests of the Haiti and Whataupoko ratepayers can bo better served by the Borough than as at present constituted partially through this Council.” Cr Hing tbrought tho request was a reasonable one, aud the Council should get rid of the Gisborne suburbs for all time. It would relieve tho Council of great responsibilities in tho matter of expenditure, and especially in connection with the bridges. Cr Tombleson supported a commitee being appointed for the purpose of inquiry into the matter. The Council had been charged with using tho suburbau funds for other county works, and if a Commission were appointed they would be able to see what truth there was id the statement.

The Council unanimously agreed to a Commission of enquiry being set up.

USING TUE RAILWAY

Cr Graham urged that efforts should be made to have a supply of grave! at each railway station. It would greatly benefit the roads oil the fiat. He suggested that the Council should ascertain what trucks of gravel could be delivered at Makaraka station and other places. Cr Hing approved, and it was decided to write to tho Railway Traffic Manager for prices.

Cr Tombleson wanted the train to stop at a few more places along the line. They should stop at tho roadways. Cr King said that he had sent a petition to Wellington, asking for a flag-station on the Makauri road. Cr Graham saterically remarked that the best thing the Council could do was to ask the railway authorities to stop the train wherever a man held up his hat or his hand. (Laughter.) Cr Tombleson said that Waerenga-a-hika was very badly served. If the Rev. Jennings, at the college there, wanted to bring a football team into town the boys had to travel a considerable distance up or down the line. it was decided to recommend that the train stop at three road-cros6ings—Mc-Gregor's factory, Makauri school, and tho road near the college,