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Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 893, 16 May 1903, Page 4

cun now be granted.” Cr Clayton said the Department had admitted it was an j error. It seemed perfectly scandalous. | When they sent the papers back at the Department's request for correction the vote was withdrawn by Department. He moved thut the Clerk be asked to wire to the Department, pointing out the injustice of the proceeding, as it was tnrough their error the money was not spent. Cr White seconded. The Chairman considered the .£2OO was all right, but that the wire meant that there was no further money available for a survey. It was decided to write to the Department in reference to the matter.

Mr P. Fitzpatrick wrote giving the Council a month to remove the roadman’s hut off his section at Waerenga o-kuri. The Clerk stated ho had asked the roadman to try and arrange with Mr Fitzpatrick to allow the hut to stop where it was. Cr Clayton said the previous application was for grazing of the roadmen’s horse ; there was no objection raised as to the hut. Councillors agreed that in that case the I pound asked for could bo paid. Mr A. R. Watson, Linburn, Waimata, wrote asking the Council to put the cutting leading to the river at. the crossing to his'ptopert.y in a proper state of repair be--1 fore the had weather set in. A veiy smad I expenditure would make a permanent work. Last year he had to make a cutting to get to his property at all. lioadmun to . do" the work next time ho was in the

vicinity. , The Returning Officer for Patutalu riding (Mr Bilham) notified the election of Mr R. Shcrratt for that riding. ENGINEER’S REPORT. Mr De G. Fraser, County Engineer, reported : “ Contract 51, road formation, MiniwaiMabia road : The second portion of the Government grant for this road is now being expended, which will carry the road to within about two miles of the county boundary. Plans have been prepared for lotting another 110 chains, beyond the present contract, ns scon ns wo have another grant from the Government. “Contract 58, metalling on Wainui roau: Some 400yds of stone have been delivered and 200yds broken. I propose to shortly lay off tho formation work, preparatory to spreading tho metal. “Contract 60, metalling Mnngatu road : Good progress has been mado with this work; 2179yds have been spread, and largo stones knapped. Ido not, however, anticipate that furthor work will bo done this season.

“ Contract 65, deepening anu cleaving drain, Patutahi : This work was again in spectcd by me on tho 11th inst., and had not been satisfactorily completed. Beyond further paring of tho banks and moving the debris further from tho edgo of tho drain practically nothing else had been done; the bottom had not been cleaned out as specified, and should wet weather intervene thero would bo little prospect of the work being completed this season. “ During tho month my time lias been principally taken up in survoys and levels at Waimata deviation, Mangatuna and Waiomoko. The bridgo sites at Mangatuna have been fixed, and levels taken for a distance of 52 chains—this includes about 30 chains of road deviation to avoid steep pinches on the old road-line. The plans also for above bridges are well advanced. “ On the Waimata road, since last meeting, 51 chains of road have boon lifted and broken at an average cost of Tl Us XOd per chain. The north side of Gray's Hill, Richardson's Hill, and a portion near Akroyd's arc completed, and I propose to execute similar work on several short lengths near Gray’s shcepyavds, after which the hill from tho top southwards will bo put in band. Every effort lias been made to produce a satisfactory job, and I think tho results will well justify tho expenditure. “ The Tolago-Gisborne road, north of Pakarae, and also the Tatapouri Hill, aro in a bad condition owing to the constant traffic of sheep and cattle. It will be necessary to have extra surface labor on this road for the next two or three months. The watertables have several times been thoroughly cleaned out, but owing to above causes little permanent work can be done. “ The work of spreading maintenance gravel from the depots will be pushed on during the coming month.” In regard to th 9 Patutahi drain Cr Murphy said that there was oft of water in it that day. In reply to Cr White the Engineer said that he had not been able to inspect tho drain lately, but as wet weather bad set in ho assumed it had not been completed. Cr White said that boro out tho forco of his remarks on a previous occasion. Here they had let a contract for a price they knew the work could not be done at, and tho result was that tho wet weather had set in before tho bottom of tho drain had been cleaned out.

'■ The Department of Hoads asked the Council to furnish a schedule of the amount for roads and bridges in the district for which provision was required on the estimates. Tho Chairman read the list previously given, about £20,000, and asked if there were any further works to add. Were the works enumerated all of great urgency? Crs White and Clayton said they were. Cr Murphy : What are we likely to get ? Cr Harding mentioned that Mr Hursthouse had enumerated several items they were not likely to get. The Chairman said the question was whether they would put them in order of emergency, or include the lot. Cr Murphy : Better strike out those wc are told we would not gat. The list was then gone through, and the most urgent works selected. The Chairman, in reply to Cr Murphy, said he thought they should not narrow the list down too much ; if they asked little they would get less. In any case all the works, including those omitted, were very necessary. The Council were applied to to take over an unformed new road. The Chairman said it not being a county road they had no jurisdiction. Cr Harding said tho Board could decline to take tho road over if it was not formed and metalled. It was resolved to reply that it not being a county road the Council had no jurisdiction. It was resolved to hand over to tho Wairoa Council £l4 19s sd, thirds for expenditure as requested. A petition was sent from 6S persons for the extension of the telephone line to Kaitaratahi. The Chairman thought the petitioners should go direct to the telephone authorities. The Clerk said that the authorities would only accept bonds from some local body. Cr Gray suggested that the Clerk should enquire from the authorities, and if a bond was necessary the Council might give that. It was left to tho Chairman to see what could be dene in the matter, and for the Council to give a bond up to about £25 if it were guaranteed.