COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 515, 30 August 1902, Page 3

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the County Council was held yesterday. Present : Tho Chairman (Mr Hutchinson), and Crs Mossman, Graham, Tombleson, and Cooper. MANGATU ROAD. In regard to the proposed deviation, Cr Cooper said that he iiatl worked hard for it so as to convenience tho settlers, and had given one of his best stock paddocks for uso of drovers. However, slanderous statements had been made insinuating that he was simply working for a road to ill's own door. Therefore, he would now strongly oppose it, and do all ho could against it. After discussion, it was agreed to let tho settlors know the position. FINANCIAL. Tho Clerk reported that tho interest on the overdraft had been paid on August 1; tbo Bank manager had found fault with

the) account) being so much overdrawn, but the Government advanced £4OO, which got over tho difficulty. DRAINAGE. Mr R. H, Imago, Matawhero, requested tbo Council to compel tho occupier of the Royal Oak Hotel to abate an alleged nuisanco caused by a drain carrying dirty water into tho County drain. Cl- Mossman asked if the Inspector of Nuisance? could not act in tho matter. The Clerk said tho Council had not an inspector. It was resolved that the Engineer attend to the matter. HUANUI ROAD. Mr E. Boland requested that slips bo cleared off the Lowden Hill road. Reported on by the Engineer, OUTLET DRAIN. Mr E. Quinn, of the Bridge Hotel, Matawhero, drew attention to the state of the road drains outside of his premises. Ho would give half the cost of cutting a suggested outlet.

The Engineer said the whole of the water in the vicinity came down past the saleyards, and setttled in front of Mr Quinn’s premises. The cost for an outlet would total £3l 16s, but Mr Quinn’s offer only embraced tho cutting of the drain, half of £3 10s. Cr Mossman supported tho work. Cr Cooper said the drain was the Council’s and they should keep it open. Cr Mossman proposed, and Cr Cooper seconded, that the request be granted, provided that the applicant pay half the cost.

Cr Tombleson said it would be unfair to do it for one man because he applied first.

The Engineer said Mr Aislabie’s place was in a similaKposition, and Mr Quinn really wanted to drain his place. Cr Cooper : If we have drains we must keep them open. It was decided to leave the matter over until tho Engineer had reported on Mr Image’s letter. RAILWAY. Mr H. Baxter, acting-stationmaster at Gisborne, wrote stating that he had forwarded the Council’s request for stop-piog-places at butter factory, College and King’s road to the General Manager of Railways. The Clork said Government had plans for a station at Makauri, and were in treaty for a section of land. SHARP WORK. The Roads Department informed the Council that claims far moneys expended by local bodies on the drawing up of plans and specifications, advertising, travelling expenses of engineer, etc., could not bo admitted. Cr Cooper : They look after their own travelling allowance sharply. Cr Graham : But call it by another name. The Clerk said no charge had been made previously, although in some cases the grant had boon exceeded. BOUNDARIES. The Wairoa County Council thanked the Council for tracing showing tho position of tho Cook County on the Wairoa-Gisborne road, stating that the engineer had been instructed to put that portion of the road in order, but if the Cook Council did not repair their portion traffic must ceaso on that line of road. _ The Chairman said tho Wairoa Council only agreed to put their portion in order. SUBSIDIES. The following particulars of payment of balaneo of subsidy for 1901-1902 were submitted : Kaiti road district £132 3s, Whataupoko £154 6s 4d, Arai £250, Aroha £94 2s Bd, Hangaroa £7O 16s 3d, Ngatapa £264 16s 6d, Ormond £lO4 19s lOd, Patutahi £250, Pouawa £250, Poverty Bay £220 17s 2d, Taruheru £123 9s 7d, Titirangi £4l 4s lOd, Waikohu £250, Waipaoa £lB3 8s lid, outlying £340 2s . Bd. GENERAL, The Land and Income Tax Department notified that £lB3 14s 9d, subsidy due for 1901-1902, was payable to the Council. Tho Government Insurance Department asked for information as to an accident to John Barrington, asking if the £4 claimed was in full satisfaction of the accident. As to tho Tauwhareparae and Arikihi roads Cr Cooper said a maintenance man was required on these long stretches, and ho moved to that effect. Cr Mossman raised the question of funds. Cr Cooper moved that the work be taken in hand in October ; at the suggestion of Cr Tombleson he agreed to leave the question over till next meeting,

TIIK COUN’TY ROADS. Mr G. W. Sampson, Chief Postmaster, urged on the Council’s attention the necessity of improving the country roads, and referring to the great difficulty in carrying out mail contracts. General discussion ensued as to roads and finances, and it was decided to reply pointing out the difficulties. CEMETERY. A letter was received from the Borough solicitor as to the new cemetery at Awapuni, and asking for a record in writing of the arrangement that the County Council would pay one-third of the cost of the maintenance. Councillors doubted whether any arrangement had been come to between the two Councils. It was decided to ascertain if the Borough Council had any record on the matter. GOVERNMENT VOTES. The Department A Roads notified that £‘loo was authorised to be expended on construction and improvement of the Murewai-Mahia road, £l5O for the Uawa Bridge, and £235 for Gisborne-Wairoa road. The Clerk said previous agreements had lapsed on June 30. but the new authorities were for similar amounts. Cr Cooper : Are they good '? The Clerk : The authorities are, but the agreements are not. In reply to Cr Mossman the Clerk stated that the money could he obtained for the Waivoa road at once. Cr Mossman: Wo are usually so harassed that we cannot get time to do the work. The Engineer said the Council were not obliged now to employ co-operative labor. Cr Mossman : That is a good thing. CLOSING OF IIOAO. A copy of an Order-in-Council consenting to closing a road through section 2, block XIII, Uawa survey district, was received. ENGINEER'S REPOP.T.

Mr Do G. Fraser, County Engineer, reported :—Contract 37 : Road formation, Mangatu—This contract is not being pushed on energetically. The time for completion expired on 11th inst., and there are still some 50 to 60 chains on which no work has yet been done ; at tho time of my visit only two men were employed and the following day throe men. I understand from the tallyman that on an average not more than two to three hands have been employed. I should recommend tho Council, taking into consideration tho broken weather we have had, to fix a date for completion, after which to impose tho penalty clause. Contract 83 : On same road. This con-

tract is also behindhand, and should be finished within a fortnight. Contract 39 : On satno road. Very fair progress has been made, about 80 out of 117 chains having been done in the rough, and a largo number of hands being employed. Considerable slips may be expected on portions of this road, and it will be necessary to provide for maintenance after completion.

Contract 41 : Road formation, Huanui. Twenty-two chains of this contract have been opened up, of which nine chains are nearly complete. Contract 42 : Road formation, Huanui. —The contractor after doing two or three days’ work has thrown up this contract. And with your anproval I have handed over the work to Mr J. O’Shea, at an advance of I4d on the previous contract, he being then ext lowest tenderer. Contract 44 : Cutting puriri timber and squaring same for Waimoko bridge.— With regard to this contract I would wish to make some explanation. When inspecting the site for the bridge, an offer was made by Messrs Douglas and Andrew (with a view of lessening the cost) to allow any requisite timber for the anchors, etc., to be cut from their sections, which would have reduced the cost some L4O. Tenders were called for the work, and it was specified that the puriri might be cut from either section where most convenient. On the contractor starting work, he informs me that Mr Douglas declined to allow more than half the quantity to be cut from his section, and that under these circumstances he could not take up the contract. lam perfectly satisfied that nothing was said to mo about halving the quantity, and it is to bo regretted that, if this was tho reason of the contract not being fulfilled, moro latitude was not allowed by tho property holders, as even had the whole of tho timber been cut from tho one section it would not have made a greater difference in value than £3 2s, taking a fair royalty as 2s per hundred.

Metal by rail : With regard to obtaining Kaiteratahi metal for repairs, by rail to the different sidings, I interviewed the traffic manager, who supplied me with the following particulars. At the present date the department cannot undertake delivery of gravel as the line has not been handed over to the “ constructed railways ” as far as Kaiteratahi. When this portion is completed, and should the Department consider it advisable the . following rates would be charged : Filling into trucks (approximately) 7d per ton, haulage for first 12 miles ll;Jd per ton, for each two miles extra Id per ton ; a truck would hold about 4 tons, or say 3'2 yards. The metal would only be delivered at sidings, and would have to be removed within say 8 hours. The Department would only undertake the haulage at odd times when slack of other freight. Mangatu Hoad: About 30 chains of heavy side cutting on the portion of this road which was done by the Lands Department will require to be widened, and I should recommend that a contract be let immediately for the work, This portion of the road is only about 10ft wide, and would be dangerous for traffic. It should be widened to 14ft. As regards deviating the road to give access to Messrs Tullock Bros., Barton, Hegarty, and Martyn, I beg to report that I went over the lines with Messrs Tullock and Hegarty. I should not, however, recommend that the original line bo closed, but that the following work be done : From Mr Cooper’s homestead to beyond Mr

Hegarty’s the river bed should be utilized

as much as possible by clearing off the timber, etc., and making small cuttings down to the crossing, for a distance of five miles, this could bo done for comparatively small cost. As far as tko road has been surveyed beyond that point, and as far as Mr Martyn’s, about 90 chains, the ground is quite unfit for a dray road, as it would bo very steep, and certain to slip immediately formation by side cutting was attempted. I therefore recommend that a stock track only be made for the present to give access to Mr Martyn. The best way to carry out tbe above work would be by putting on a party under a competent ganger, who would under instructions make use of all available river beach, and pick the best crossings of the Mangatu stream; after this work has been completed the balance of the money should bo used in metalling the worst portions of the road, now under contract, and also that previously formed by the Government.

Owing to bad weather during the month considerable slips have occurred on the various roads, and from want of funds I have not put on extra hands beyond the surfacemen engaged. In the Tolago district several bridges will require attention, and 1 would ask authority to havo the work put in hand as soon as possible. With reference to a grant of for

the Murewai-Mahia road, I would ask the Council to decide where the money is to be expended.

With reference to the Tawhareparae and Arihiki roads, it would be advisable to have a party on to open same for dray traffic. The work would take several months to complete, and as no timber for the culverts at Hunanui can be taken in until the road is cleared a delay will occur in completing these contracts. After the Tawhareparae road has been opened up similar work on Arihiki and Kiore would have to be taken in hand to open tbe roads for wool-carting, etc. These roads, having had no maintenance labor, are in a shocking condition, and are rapidly deteriorating and being washed away. It was decided to allow a month for the

Mangatu contract (Devery’s) to be finished, the penalty then to be imposed. The Engineer was authorised to arrange with the Natives to cut timber for the bridge near Messrs Andrews and Douglas' section.