COOK COUNTY COUNCIL

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 921, 20 June 1903, Page 3

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL

Tho Cook County Council mot yesterday, there being present : Captain Tucker (Chairman;, Messrs L. Clayton, A. F. Matthews, C. Gray, Richardson and Shorratt. MrE. .1. Chrisp, solicitor for W, G. Foster, of Motu, wrote giving.notice of requiring claim to bo heard in the Compensation Court, and that Major Winter had been appointed as the claimant’s assessor. Mr John Clark was appointed arbitrator on bebalf of the Council, on the proposition of Cr Gray, seconded by Cr Richardson.

Mr T. W. Bilham, secretary to tho Patutabi Cemetery Trustees, wrote stating that tho Auditor-General had disallowed the Countv rates paid on the Cemetery resorvcß during tho first financial year on tho grounds that Cemetery reserves are I exempt by tho Act, and that he was directed by the Auditor to apply to the [ Council for a refund of the rates paid between the Ist January, 1902, and 21st December, 1902, amounting to £2 4s 7d. Tho Chairman proposed, and Cr Matthews seconded, that the amount bo refunded.

The Engineer of the Department of Roads, Napier, wrote drawing attention to the fact that the surfacemen had been withdrawn from the ;}.{ miles of GisborncOpotiki Road lying between the end of the County maintenance street (Morteson’s section) and the Motu Hotel, as the road in question was in the Cook County road district, tho Council would bo responsible for its future maintenance. Cr Richardson said tho road was completed about 12 months ago. Application was made for the road to be taken over by

the Council, but it was refused. Two miles and u half of it run through his own property. A portion of the road was metalled, and he thought the Council should take the road over. The Chairman thought they should remonstrate very strongly as they were not able to cope with the many requisitions for maintenance. Ho thought the road - should bo put in thorough repair before it was taken ovor. The chief veterinarian wrote forwarding Slaughtor-house Licenses for Messrs Nelson biros., J. Maynard and Co., McConnell and Millington,.E. Hill, G. Howarth, J. Hyland, W. E, Holder, Gordon and Law.

Mr E. Murphy wroto asking leavo of absence from tho Council for three months, as he was leaving tho colony.—Granted. The Commissioner of Crown Lands wroto returning tho schedule of “ third o ” andfourths,” tho oxpondituro of which was approved at tho meeting of tho Land Board. John Walsh, roadman, applied for an increase of salary. Councillors admitted that tho applicant was a good workman, but having recently increased his wages they could not again do so. With tho concurrence of tho roadman it was agreed to accept an offer made by Mr Lysnar to take charge of tho roadman’s wharo. Tho Colonial Secretary wrote enclosing a copy of a special ordor made by the Board, constituting the Patutabi and Haogaroa Roads, and that it had been gazetted Mr J. Macfarlano, Chairman of the East Coast Trust Board, wrote as follows : “It is tho intention of my Board to at once proceed with the sub division of PareI mata for salo and lease, and us the main road through it has never been doGi ed I have to request that you have it done in timo for us to get on with our survey. Suggesting if the Engineer’s time was not available that the survoyor should do the work on the spot and charge the cost to the Council.” The Chairman said that ho had instructed the Clerk to reply, stating that they wished to adhere to the present line of road. In regard to survey they would not send their own Engineer, but would be willing to pay cost of survey Victor S. Lardolli wrote drawing tho attention of the Council to the fact that somo portions of the Panikau Road wohld be impassablo unless something was done to it before tho winter, Settlers would be cut off' from postal communication. Tho track was also used to a considerableextent for driving stock. The Engineer stated that he had given instructions to have tho work done. Mr H. Kenway, Chairman of the Waimata Road Board, wrote asking tho Council to send men to open all water-tables and culverts from Gray’s Hill to Mr tStraclnui’s. Cr Gray, said a surfaceman was badly required in the district. The Engineer said he could, not get a suitatile man at the .wages. They would not go out, there for seven shillings a day. He might perhaps get a man for eight shillings a day. The Chairman proposed that a maintenance inan be put on at eight shillings per day. Cr Matthews .asked whether provision for the payment of maintenance men had been made in the estimates., As the Council had so little money, they required to be.careful. The Chairman said lie meant the man to be employed only during the winter. The proposition was carried. The. Charitable Aid Board applied for payment of the Council’s contribution of £790, to he paid in fourinstalments. The Clerk said that the previous year £IO4O had been paid. No oh- , jeotion had been made to the special rate of one-tenth of a penny last year. This year one-fourteenth of a penny would be sufficient. On the motion of Cr Gray, it was decided that a special rate should be struck. Cr Clayton : We have the consolation that it is less than last year. The Chairman : Most relucantly carried.—(Laughter.) A letter was received from Ihe Roads Departinent, in regard to the vote for deviation of the WairoaGisboruc road at Parakanapa. No portion of the money could be used (or metalling. Cr Clayton said that the i rouble was in regard to the survey, which they had asked should he paid by the Government. He wanted to sec the thing pushed on. They should ask the Government to do the survey, or else allow the Council to do it, and charge for it.

Members understood that Mr Hursthouse when in Gisborne had stated that the Government would do the survey. The Chairman said his recollection was that Mr Hursthouse had said that he would give instructions for the road to be surveyed. This was the impression of all the members. Cr Clayton urged that the vote ■should be at once claimed, or they would have to wait a long time for it to be renewed.

The Postmaster-General wrote m' regard to Coastal facilities, stating that an office had been opened at Waimoke, in charge of the schoolmaster (Mr Fraser). Lionel G. Haxby, Whatatutu,wrote asking for permission to erect gates across the road on the Waipaoa river bed, in front of the Mangataikapua homestead, and also to put a gate across the Mangatu road. Mr Seymour wrote to the same effect. , . , The Clerk pointed out that under the Act notice of erection of gates had to be advertised. . The sum of £IOOO was received from the Treasury for the Wharekopae road, portion of loan. In regard to the Ormond footpath, Cr Matthews said that the work done there was of little use, there being no fall. The Public Works Department replied in regard to the road to the Kaiteratahi gravel-pit, stating that) no trace of plans could be found. They asked if the Council had applied at the Napier Office. The Clerk said he had not asked at the Napier Office. There was nothing on the Council’s minutes showing that the road to the river-bed had been taken.

The Chairman : Is there any resolution of the Council to take this road ? The Clerk : No. The Engineer said that Mr Joyce had suggested that the Council should make application to him to take this road, as he was cutting up ■sections in the vicinity. The Clerk thought that the best course would he for the Council to purchase the land from Mr Joyce. The Engineer said that Mr Joyce would probably expect £SO per acre The Chairman : That is a big price for land out there. Tho Engineer: We want the land. Cr Matthews: Mr Joyce’s land runs right to the bed of the river, and he practically owns most of the shingle there. After considerable discussion the Council docided to take land sufficient for a road to the river. In regard to the petition for the Mangatuna loan, Mr A. Beeves wroto withdrawing his name, as he was not satisfied with the adjustment of values. The Clerk said that Mr Fitzgerald had sent word that it would be advisable for the matter to stand over until next meeting, Agreed to. At a later stage Mr .Somerville waited upon tho Counoil, and stated that another ratepayor was prepared to sign tho petition in place of Mr Beeves, and this would give the required number of signatures. Tho petition was handed to Mr Somerville to obtain the additional signature, the Chairman remarking that the matter could be proceeded with at the next meeting.

ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The following report was received from the Engineer ; “ The work of spreading depot metal has been pushed on during the past month. Outside, of Mr T. O'Donnell’s contract, about 1000 yards has been Bpread over the various roads, and while the total amount available in the depots may be sufficient to patch the roads and keep them in order during a favorable winter, there is not sufficient to compensate for the gradual loss each year from mud and dust, and many portions of the roads require a fair coat throughout. The traffic also is largely increasing, and a more liberal allowance will have to be made if the roads are to be kept in order. The system also of waiting till the traffic consolidates the metal is also a direct loss. The clay roads, as may be expected, are now beginning to get cut up, but so far the weather being favorable no serious slips have occurred. On the Waimata road, the work of lifting end breaking boulders has been proceeded with, a totaj distance of 112 chains having been' completed, at a cost of £197, or £1 15s 2d per chain ; this also includes clearing Blips and watertables throughout the whole distance. The surface done is somewhat uneven, owing to the unequal depths of stone available for breaking, but if, as suggested, a light coat of broken metal is put over portions where depressions occur, a good even road will result. This I hope to have done next summer, A small bridge ' crossing on the KaitiWainui road, which was insecure, has been substituted by a culvert full-width across the road, as many complaints were made of danger to foot passengers. The

Kaitaratahi bridge I have had screwod up, the counters being loose and an undue strain being thrown on the trusses. The benefit of the work done on the Wairoa road is now more apparent. On my last inspection from Tiniroto to Parakanape, no water from the channels was running across the road, and if proper attention is paid to the watertables, and the culverts kept open, the road will be much easieh-to keep in order, and ought qot to go back to the deplorable condition that it was two years ago. I should recommend the read machine being put next summer on the Morere-Gisborne road, which is in bad order beyond Wharerata. With reference

to a complaint from Mr Watson, that portion of hig land at Patutahi is flooded on account of the road drain being insufficient to carry off the surface water, I may state that I have inspected the locality. The portion of iand referred to is section 49. The road drain fathers the water for a length of over 100 chaine, and also (which is the principal cause of mischief) four cross drains through private property. The drain being of considerable depth

(opposite Mr Hill's, no inconvenience" is experienced, bat along the frontage of section 49 it is comparatively shallow and Ift wide in the bottom, causing the water, as stated Mr_ Watson, to overflow the adjacent land. Without doubt the drainage of portion of this road should have been carried the opposite direction, and this was apparently done at one time, but I am informed that owing to the erosion of the banks opposite Mr Morice’s property, the outlet was blocked purposely au4 the water forced eastwards. I think, Mr Watson’s complaint, that to met. *~**a the cross road if the present -''vsished. a disnear section 49 to the v. - It J tance of 15 chains, be convertsscoop drain, no further trouble need be anticipated.” The following report on the HangaroaTiniroto road was also presented : “ I have inspected the work done on the Bangaroa-Tiniroto road, and found the road in a very bad state, due principally ;o the treacherous nature of the ground, f may state that two years ago I made a •eport to the Council regarding this line, rad expressed my opinion that what is

known as the ‘ cliff cutting ’ would cause considerable trouble and expense, as the ground was not suitable for a road line, it being almost similar to the Karaka cutting. I would also respectfully refer to the report furnished to the Council by Mr Llewellyn Smith, District Surveyor, in which he estimated the cost of forming 48 chains at £ISOO, whereas a sum of £SOO only ha 9 been at my disposal for this distance (£2OO being for this cutting), and it was apparently expected that a full-width road should have been made the whole length of the cliff. In the work done lately, the benching was made from 8 feet to 14 feet in the solid. Cracks have occurred where the spoil ]oins the solid bank, giving the road an appearance of instability. It cannot bo considered that the work is completed until a greater depth of benching is done, and provision made for carrying off the rubble, eto., constantly coming across the road from three Bmall oreeks or washouts, I estimate that £250 will still be required to complete the cutting and erect the necessary timber work, and considerable slips may then be looked for for years to come. On the dato of my inspection the whole side cutting for 50 to 60 chains was more or less covered with slips, and at tho washouts for perhaps a chain on either side, papa and rubble in a semi-liquid state covered the road for a depth of Ift to IBin, and practically only a narrow bridle track is available for a great part of the distance that was formed during the past three years. The work was, as you are awaro, executed by day labor, and I have no roason to believe that the cost was at all excessive. Had further funds been available, a full-width road in the solid and timber shoots could have been erected to deal with the washouts, although, as I before stated, slips would still occur for years to come." The report was adopted. PATDTAHI QUARRY.

The Patutahi Board wrote stating that during the settlement of the dispute between the Counoil and the Board relative to the quarry, the road was cut up by traffic. The Board, with the consent of Cr Dobbie, had gob metal for the urgent repairs, at a cost of £22 for metalling and £3 4s for spreading. By doing the work at that time the Board considered that a saving was effected to tho body in whom the road was finally vested. The Engineer stated the work was done before the Council took tho road over.

The Clerk stated tho Board did the work when they thought they were going to retain the control of the road.

Cr Matthews pointed out that Cr Dobbie was a member of the Road Board too.

Cr Gray said tho work was not authorised hjy the Council, and they should not recognise the claim. He moved to that effect, tho resolution being seconded by Cr Richardson and carried, TENDERS.

The following tenders were received : Contract 58a, Wainui road, R. Kelly, formation 19s, clay 2s 6d, metal la 9d, shell 3s ; J. Malone, metalliDg Is 4d per yard, formation 14s per chain, claying Is 3d per yard, shell Is 3d per yard ; S. Dolemao, formation 18s, carting clay 2a, stone Is sd, shell 2s 6d ; Partington, formation Us 6d, clay Is Bd, metal Is 3d, shell Is lOd ; W. Jones, formation 10s 6d, carting day Is Bd, metal Is lOd, shingle 3s. The tenders totalled out as follows ; Kelly £B7 12s 6d, Malone £SB 3s 9d, Doleman £74 12s, Partington £57 15s lOd, Jones £76 19s. Partington’s tender was accepted. Contract 70, formation, Waimata ford : W. Jones, £49 10s; J. Malone (accepted), £4O.

GISBCRNE-OPOTIKI ROAD.

A letter was received from Mr McMillan, the district Road Engineer, stating the surfaceman had been withdrawn from the 3£ miles of GisborneOpotiki road, lying between the end of the county (at Mortensen’a Beotion), and the Motu Hotel. As this road was in the Cook County distriot, the Counoil would be responsible for maintenance. Cr Gray suggested the Government should be asked to metal the road first.

Cr Richardson said the road was completed 12 months ago, and it was not taken over through neglect. It had got out of repair, and the Council should pot take it over until i(j was put in good condition.

The Engiooer stated the road had not been handed over to the Counoil. Cr Riohardson said the road had been metalled in places. Stone and gravel oould be obtained,

Tho Chairman said the Council was continually asking for assistance, and yet the Government were going in the other direction. It did not look well for the success of their requisitions. The Government were) withdrawing the little assistance they had been giving the Council.

The Engineer stated that as the road was finished in sections, they were handed over to the Council, who had no choice in the matter.

Cr Richardson said he would be pleased if the Council could get the Government to metal the road. The Council had received a large amount of thirds from that district.

Cr Matthews said that a private individual had to metal a road before the Council took it over, the Government should carry their own enactments to a logical conclusion and metal the road.

Cr Richardson thought that it was advisable for the settlers to wait and see if the Government would metal the road.

Cr Clayton said the road was through a bush distriot, and would require a lot of attention.

Cr Richardson said the road would be easily kept in repair if metalled. The Chairman proposed that the Government should be asked to reconsider the withdrawal of the surface men, and if they persisted in withdrawing them that they should at least metal the road before the Counoil took it over. This was agreed to.