COOK COUNTY COUNCIL

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 700, 20 December 1902, Page 3

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL

The ordinary meeetirjg of tho Cook County Council was held yesterday, the following members being present: Captain Tucker (in the chair), Messrs Richardson, JDobbie, Matthews, Cyril White, Clayton, urid Murphy. Leave of absence was granted to Cr Gray. CORRESPONDENCE.

Mr T. A. Coleman, auditor, wrote for warding statements of tho Council’s accounts for the half year ending 30th September last, duly audited and certified. The defaulters lists which were enclosed showed arrears outstanding at date on general rates X 202 Os Bd, and on special rates X'G 13s 7d. Arrears of native rates outstanding amount to Xl5O 7s t)d. The auditor recommended that all arrears ho sued for forthwith. A MISUNDERSTANDING.

Cr Cluyton took exception to the minuted on the grounds that it was understood that at the adjourned meeting that only formal matters and the election of Hospital Trustees would he considered. The Chairman said that lie did not understand that no fresh business couid be taken. Tbo Council had to deal with matters that came in at any meeting. Cr Richardson said that had he known the question of tiro Toututu stock track was to como up he would certainly have been in attendunco. Cr Clayton said that he also would have attended the meeting if uny fresh business was to bo dealt with. Ho strongly objected to the removal of the maintenance men which had been done at the adjourned meeting. Cr Whito endorsed Cr . Clayton’s rcmaiks in regard to the removal of the maintenance men. This had been done at tho adjourned meeting and ho strongly objected to it. He considered that the maintenance men should not have been taken off tho roads at this timo of the year. Cr Clayton referred to the removal of , tho men us un injustice to settlers in the hack blocks. It was also unfair to the i men themselves. 1 Tho Chairman said that tho mon had 1

not boon discharged. Cr Whito said that the Nuhoka road required a maintonanco man on it for some timo to come. Cr Richardson said that mon had boon taken off tho Motu road. It was a mistaken policy as if any slight dumago occurred after rain the road could not be repaired and traffic was impeded. Cr Clayton gavo notice to movo that tho maintenance men be replaced. Tho Chairman said the mattor could not bo discussed before tbo next meeting. MANGATU CONTRACT. Mr E. Devory wroto asking for a remission of the fino imposed by tho Council in connection with tho Mangatu contract. Ho had been greatly hindered on account of the wot woathor, and had lost ovor X7O by the contract. Tho Engineer thought that the Council’s previous decision should bo adhered to as Mr Dovory had had every opportunity to complete his contract. It was decided to reply that tho Council regretted being unable to accede to tho request. POUTUTU STOCK TRACK.

Mr E. B. Thomson, Motu, wrote expressing regret that tho Council had como to such a busty decision regarding tho

Poututu stock track. Tho Motu settlers had received no assurance from the previous Council that tho work would be carried to completion. As the work stood it was of no uso, the settlors having the worst river crossing to negotiate. The settlors also thought that the claim for compensation for land taken was boyond all reason and thoy wished the matter referred to arbitration. The Chairman said that tho Council could not refer tho matter to arbitration. It could be taken to the Supreme Court but tho cost would bo too much. Cr Clayton said that there was no doubt that tho claim was an onormous one and could have boon greatly reduced. Tho cluim was for land taken at Poututu, Mr Richardson said that tho matter was of utmost importance to the settlors. Thoy would not bo able to get to town when tho rivers were in llood. The Chairman said that Councillor Richardson’s boat course was to give a notice of motion rescinding the previous resolution. Mr Foster had represented to the Council that it was detrimental to his interests, Cr Clayton said that it was a pity that Mr Foster had waited so long before taking the course ho had done. Cr Richardson said that Mr Hutchinson had given permission to use the road on his side. On the motion of tho Chairman it was decided to reply to Mr Thomson, stating that tho extraordinary amount of com pensation claimed by Mr Foster.prociuded tho Council from proceeding, and tho Council could not compel arbitration, tho claim being one which would have to be fought in tne Supremo Court. Mr Foster exhibited no inclination to reduce his claim or to arbitrate. WORKS COMMITTEE.

l’ho Works Committee recommended that the sum of £'6 bo paid from Mr St.

Lodger's land fund for the purpose of re pairing tho Kaikoura road. That extension ot time be grautod to Mr O’Shea in connection with his Huauui contract, such extension to extend from December lotn fur a period of eleven weeks. In regard to Mr Stephenson’s offer re road machine tho Committee recommended that tho Council • ad no recoinuieudatiun to make. Mr Stephenson had ottered to knock off work at the end of tne munth lor £'2s or stop work in three mouth» from dato of starting without any consideration, It was dccidod that tho soeoud otter tnado by Mr Stephenson bo accopted, and that for tho concluding portion of the three months the road ma chine should bo employed on tho GisborneWairoa road. Mr Currie's tenders for dog collars, viz., £176 for ttio County and £25 for the Borough wero uoceptod. MARAETAHA BRIDGES. The Committee recommended that the Government bo asked for sufficient money to erect three bridges across tho Marac taha stream. Tne Chairman: I am sure that there will bo no uissoiiteut voice to that. Or White explained tdo need for the bridges, remarking, " I think it is only right the Government should erect these bridges, seeing that they have rnado a mud road up to Nuhaka, so that peoplemay get through to the Springs” iieeummondatiou of Committee agreed to.

.WAINUII ROAD, As the Engineer did not consider it advisable tk> proceed with the work before flic winter, the Committee recoin mended that the plans be prepared ana submitted lo the Road Department for approval during the month oi January next, and the work lie carried out before June, so as to secure payment ot the grant.—Agreed to. Cll 111 STM AS HOLIDAYS. It wso decided that the Count} Council office be closed from December 2-lth to January 3rd, lor tho Christmas and New Year holidays, PATUTAITI ROAD, It was decided, og the motion ot C” Dobbie, to instruct the .Engineer to have a quantity of metal spread cm the road between McLaughlin's and the junction of the Wairoa and PatuLabi roads, TENDERS. A tender for metalling near Kennedy's’, on the Tolaga Bay road, was received from William Jones, at 12s per yard. The Engineer said it was a high price, but 'it was a very difficult place to get metal from. The extent oi work was 300 vards, an expenditure ol £l7O. On the motion oi Cr Mufphy, seconded by Cr Richardson, the tender was accepted. A DRAY ROAD, A petition was received from a number of Wharckepae settlers asking that step:: be taken to raise a loan of if 1000 for ttie construction ot a dray road, the loan to be for a period ot 41 years and the special rale £ of a Id. in the pound. On the motion of the Chaitman a resolution sanctioning .the loan was agreed to.,

ENGIN ERTFS RE PORT. The Engineer reported that the breastwork at Tapuae had teen satisfactorily completed. The Huanui loan works were completed, with the exception of culverts, which could not be placed until the Government cooperative party had completed the sec-

(tion of road formation adjoining. Excellent work had teen (lone on this contract, On the same road, and under the same contractor, 130 chains had been opened up, 70 chains completed, and 20 chains partly finished. The supply of depot metal was being pushed on, and a considerable quantity was already in the depots. With regard to the road machine, which h i( d been working on the inland Waiapu road, the necessary work would be completed at, the end of the month, j and the Council could decide with reference to Mr .Stephenson’s oiler. 'lhe whole road (Inland Waiapu) has been trimmed up, and in places re-formed, as far ;( s Messrs Harding and Hall's

junction. The Engineer stated that he had made arrangements for the employment. of some of the surfacemen on the Government-grant contracts, and

others had preferred to obtain work temporarily nearer their own homes, before Christmas, practically all Hie .surfacemen would lie oft the pay-sheet from general revenue. It would still lie necessary to keep a road-party on the Tauwhareparae-Arikihi road, as they had become so had irom want of maintenance that each year the road was getting more narrow and canted. About the end of January would probably sec the work completed. Good progress was hieing made with the work at MangaUi. All the road contracts had been satisfactorily completed, and access could now he obtained by the river as far as I legally's. It was proposed during the next, month to proceed with the clearing towards the oil springs, and, if possible, to-

wards Martinis. With reference to an application front Messrs Greaves and Ilindrup, for a drain along their frontages to relieve them of storm-water, tiie Engineer said he had examined the locality, and considered that great benefit would result to these property-

holders if the proposed work was carried out. At the same tune, lie considered the work should be done by the settlers themselves, permission ocmg granted to them to run a scoop-drain along the road-reserve, if they wished, A crab-winch (double purchase) was required for the Council’s pile-driver. The report was adopted. CR MATTHEWS’ MOTION, In accordance with notico given, Cr Matthows moved “ That this Council instruct the Engineer to prepare an estimate of the approximate cost of constructing a light railway (to run on the roadside) from tho Patutahi Quarry to Makaraka station, also to prepare schedules of tho cost of haulage per cubic yard of broken

metal per mile, and gather and schodulo information as to the probablo amount of passenger and goods traffic.” He did not ihinlc it was necessary to address the Council at any length at this stage. Tho Committee could get information first to lay before tho Council, as it was mainly a question of funds. Cr Clayton suggested that the Engineer report on tho capacity of tho quarry as to probable quantity of stone available, as he heard there was a likelihood of the supply giving out Or Matthews agreed that it was desirable to get a report on tho quarry and all other information possible.

Cr Clayton seconded tho motion, at the same timo stating that bofore anything was decided upon the Council would have to bo thoroughly conversant with all facts. Mr Matthows said that when the information asked for was obtained he was prepared to go exhaustively into tho matter. He had collected a groat deal of information which he would place before the Council. The motion was carried, and it was decided to ask tho Enginoer to furnish a report on the quarry at tho same timo. SCHEDULE OF EXPENDITURE. On tho motion of Cr Matthews, seconded by Cr White, it was decided to aßk the Engineer to have prepared a sehodule of expenditure for the last two years, shewing tho amounts devoted to the different roads throughout the county. Cr Matthews said that he considered this information was necessary, so as to enable Councillors to get a grip on the whole position of affairs. It would probably be found that somo roads \yere suffering an injustice, whilst others were getting too much.

ALLOCATION OF FUNDS. On the motion of Cr Whito, it was decided to ask the Financial Committee to arrange for the allocation of funds, so that the Council might see what each riding was entitled to. NOTICES OF MOTION. Cr Clayton to movo, “ That the maintenance men bo immediately replaced on the roads.” Cr Whito to move, “ That a surface man bo put on the Nuhaka-Mahia road.” Cr Richardson to movo, “ That the resolution of tho Council on tho Ist Dec., whereby a promise was made to Mr Foster in the matter of a road running through a portion of tho Poututu block, bo rescinded. Tho next meeting of the Council will be held on January 16th, 1903.