COOK COUNTY COUNCIL

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 824, 24 February 1903, Page 3

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL

Tho ordinary mooting of tho Cook County Council wus held yesterday, thero being a full attendance of members. CoiiKKSi’OMiKNOK.

Letters were reud from tho Railway Do partment giving information with regard to the cost of the carriage of metal. I( was pointed out by the Stationmaster that the shingle was -light and of indifferent

quality, containing a somewhat large

amount of sand, and would not bo suitable for roads with heavy traffic.—Tho Chairman said that tho Works’ Commit-

tee considered that the quality and cost of the gravel prevented trio Council from further considering the matter.—lt wus decided to thank tho Department for tho information supplied. Mr B. Fitzpatrick wrote explaining that

the sum of one pound per year he was claiming from tho Council was for the rent of a paddock now used by the Council at Waerenga-o-kuri.

Mr G. W. Tiffen wrote in reference to a piece of land at Waipawa where he was making a slight deviation. He offered to subsidise tho Council to tho extent of £5.

It was decided to permit .Mr Tiffen to fonco and form the road, but to restore the proper line when notified by the Engineer, tho work to bo done at his own cost.

In regard to a letter from Mr T. Fraser in reference to fencing on tho road line ihrough block F, Whurigara block, it was

decided that if tho Council compelled him to shift his fence at some future time they would bear the cost.

Dr DeLEle complained of the establishment of a fellmongery at Matawhero with tho consent of the local authority and the district Health Officor. He asked that legal proceedings should bo taken.

The Clerk pointed out that tho Poverty Bay Road Board and not the County Council was the local authority. It was decided to reply to this effect. Dr DeLisle also wrote in regard to tho appointment of a sanitary Inspector. A reply to be sont that tho Council would meet the other local bodies interested when desired by thorn. The Department of Roads wrote stating that they had no record of the Council holding an authority for Karaka-Maugatu Road, and they were unable to recommend payment.

The Clerk : That is what I call ovading the question. Cr Matthews said that Mr Ilursthouso, the head of tho .Department, would bo in Gisborne in a fow clays and it would bo as well to bring matters before him. Mr Carroll had informed him that it would be as well for tho Council to see Mr Hursthouse about any amounts that they might require. Whatever MrHursthouse recommended would receive the favorable consideration of tho Government.—Cr Clayton : I shall bo glad to show him round my district.—lt was decided that members should show Mr Hursthouse as much of tho district as possible, so that ho would be in a position to judge of its requirements.

An application from Messrs Gordon and

Law for tho transfer of their slaughter license was agrood to. Vouchers lor tho paymont of £l7Bl 4s 4d on account of Government subsidy duo to tho Council were acknowledged. An application from Mr W. Graham for tho sum of £ls towards the cost of clearing tho Muhunga drain (tho total cost to bo £6O) wus declined, it being pointed out by tho Engineer that it was not a County drain, and only a small portion of tho Inland Waiapu road was affected.

Tho Council agreed to warmly support tho resolution of tho F armors’ Union asking tho Government that the Poverty Bay district be constituted a separate land district.

The Borough Council wroto accepting with thanks tho offer of tho Council that their enginoer should superviso tho repairs to the Turanganu; bridge. In regard to the loan of £6O for tho completion of tho Waiomoko bridge, the Clerk explained that owing to a clerical orror a fresh ordor would havo to bo prepared. Tho recommendations of tho committee appointed to confer with tho Patutahi Road Board in regard to the quarry were adopted. It was decided that tho Chairman bo appointed to arrange with the Solicitor for tho drawing up of an agroomont between the two bodies mentioned.

It was decided to co-oporato with the Patutahi Board in doing repairs to a culvort at tho junction of tho Wairoa and Kirkpatrick’s roads, each body paying half cost.

Mr H. N. Lysnar, Secretary of the \Vaimata Farmers’ Union, wroto drawing attention to tho rough state of tho Waimata road.

The Clerk of tho Waimnta Road Board wrote in regard to tho samo matter, and also forwarded tho following resolution : “ That tho Board mako a grant of £IOO to tho Cook County Council, such grant to bo spent in picking up and breaking the boulders on the Waimata road, conditionally that tho Council pick up and break from tho top of Gray’s Hill to tho small bridge on the north side of Barker’s first gate, and from tho blacksmith’s shop to the top of Richardson’s Hill, any other moneys available to be spent on tho hill opposite DeLisle’s, higher up. It was decided to meet tho Road Board in tho proposed expenditure. Authority was given to the Ormond Road Board to expend the sum of £5, voted by tho Council for tho formation of a footpath, tho Board themselves sponding tho sum of £lO.

The Clerk asked tho Council to appoint a representative to the Board of Governors. He had himself filled tho position for ten years, and ho wished to be relieved. Ho did not consider that ho was doing tho office justico.

Cr Clayton said that this was only Mr Warren's modesty, as everyono else was thoroughly satisfied with him. Ho hoped to seo Mr Warren reconsider his decision.

Messrs Harding, Matthews, and Gray were proposed to tho office, but they each in turn begged to be excused, for different reasons. jrinally, Cr Matthews was induced to accept the position. A deputation of Kaiti ratepayers waited upon tho Council in regard to tho condition of tho drain that crossed Wainui road, near Mr Hay’s property. Mr Hay explained that there was no outlet, and tho water camo on to his property. A committee was appointed to inspect tho locality. Messrs Kcmpthorno and W. A. Hood waited on the Council and asked for assistance to completo tho road which branched from tho bridge at Kaitaratahi down towards Mr Hood’s gato or King’s mill. Thcro woro 1-1 chains uncompleted, and tho cost would bo about 27s fid to 80s a chain. It was decided that £lO bo voted for the work, providing settlers paid tho remainin'! £lO.

The County poundkeeper, Mr Parson 3, reported that 55 head of horses and cattle had been impounded during the past month. Mr A. Reeves waited on the Council and asked them to take a portion of land under the Public Works Act to enablo him to get a road to his property. Ho was willing to pay all costs. In the course of the discussion that followed it was stated that one settler in the locality was not in favor of the proposed road, and it was decided to defer consideration until the next meeting, to enable him to mako an objection. The Chairman said he had inspected the spot at Whataupoko whore a culvert was asked for, and had decided that it wus not necessary, . Cr Matthews proposed that the drain in the vicinity be cleaned, so as to cleai away the storm water. This would not mean any heavy call on the Council s funds.—The motion was carried. On tho motion of the Chairman, it was decided that the Engineer bo instructed to call for teuders for clearing tho Patufcahi and Makauri main drains, or any other drains which he considered needed clearing, tenders to be in in a fortnight. . , It was decided to have a meeting ot the Finance Committee on Satuvday t Match 7th. . A petition was received from a number of settlors in tho Motu_ district, asking to have a Motu loan district constituted, and consenting to a special rato of i,d in the £, in order to obtain a loan of TbOO, for tho purpose of purchasing land and forming a road through the Puhatikotiko block. —Tho Council acceded to tho torins of tho petition. A similar petition was received from the sottlors of Wharekopac, asking for the Council’s consent to a special rato of ;;d in tho £ on their sections, for tho purposo of constructing a dray road from the end of the present road to tho second crossing of tho Wharekopao river. KNGINK Kit’s REPOIIT.

Mr Do G. Fraser, County Engineer, reported :—“ Contract 42, road formation. Huanua: Satisfactorily completed, excepting the culverting, which is now in hand, and will probably be finished in tho course of a few days. Traffic will then bo open from the station to Tauwharcparae road. . “ Contract 43, erection of Waimoko bridge : I regret to say that this contract is not making progress. The contractor has, I understand, had difficulty in obtaining the necessary totara timber, and, I boliovo, is writing to the Council for an extension of time. “ Contract 45, metalling Wairoa road : Fair progress is being made with this contract, some five to six chains beiug completed, “ Contract 00, carting metal to depots : Nearly all tho necessary stone has been carted from Patutahi, all screen gravel has been delivered and a considerable quantity of beach boulders ready for knapping. “ Contract 51, Gisborno-Mahia road formation : The contractor has resumed work on this section, which will shortly be inspected. “ Contract 52, metalling GisborneTolago road : Some 260yds of motal have been broken, and are now being spread on the road. As no more stone is at present available I propose to expend any balance of the grant on other bad spots in this locality. “ Contract 53, carting and stacking beach shingle, Makarori : The full supply required is not at present to bo had, and the completion of the contract will have to stand over till a further supply is washed up. “ Contract 54, depots 29 and 30, Wainui road : Most of tho required quantity has been carted, but not yet measured. “ Contract 55, metalling Whataupoko road : Good progress has been made, and a coat laid for some 40 to 50 chains. As regards tho Government grants the following is tho position : —GisbornoWairoa, metalling, £235, in hand ; Muriwai-Mahia, formation, £IOO, in hand; Gisborne-Tolago, metalling, etc., £256, in hand ; Hangaroa-Tiniroto, formation, £2OO, in hand; Wainui road, metalling, £2OO, contract let; Motu road, improvements, etc., £l9O, in hand ; Whatatutu-Mangatu, £ for £, £3OO, contract let; Muriwai-Mahia, socond grant, £IOO, not yet in hand ; Gisborno-Wairoa, deviation, £2OO, locality not defined. It will thus be seen that out of tho total grant of £l7Bl work has beon laid off and lot to the amount of £l4Bl. I may state that as tho grants extend over the wholo district, much time and trouble has boon entailed in getting tho sections laid off and contracts prepared for tendering. A new bridge of email span has been erected at Whataupoko, and a bridge, No. 118, at Gentle Annie, done away with, and a culvert and embankment substituted. Eight bridges between Tiniroto and Te Reinga are receiving attention, and several more on the Waimata road will shortly be taken in hand. I would recommend that tenders be called for maintenance'gravel from Kaitarafcaki Hotel to the bridge, 400yds, as since the terminus of the line has been at this point considerable extra traffic has accrued; 400yd3 of sbingie is also required on the main road between Bruce’s and the pound, as the road shows the boulder foundation in places along this section.

I The road machine has been employed I on the Waivoa-Gisborne road during the las'; six weeks, and will bo knocked off in a few days, I understand very satisfactory work has been done, “ Many complaints are made regarding the Waimata road, particularly at Gray’s Hill, which is in a shocking condition, I have on two previous occasions reported on this section of road, recommending that the boulders bo taken up and broken both on the road and along the watertable. This lam having done for a short length on the north aide, but would bo glad of instructions regarding other portions. It would be cheaper to do as recommended than to cart extra stone to cover the present foundation. On the north side, at all events, ample stone is available to give a fair coat along the worst portions, I would advise that some £SO bo expended in this direction. “ A number of bridges at Tolago are requiring repairs, and will be taken in hand shortly. “ Work on the Hangaroa-Tiniroto road is proceeding satisfactorily, nine chains of heavy papa cutting being completed. I have had the road graded out to its junction with Eichardson’s.

“ The matter of a proposed exchange of road between the Council and Messrs Kenway, of Waimata, can better be explained verbally. “ With regard to an application for assistance from the Council to construct a culvert across the main road at Fox street, Whataupoko, on the ground that sections are inundated with water from the main road, I may state that so far as I can see any rush of water would be from the land on the eastern side of the road, and that while a culvert in the place indicated would relieve the holders of propei ty in that locality, the onus of constructing suoh culvert should not necessarily fall on the- CcHPtv Council."