COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1012, 3 October 1903, Page 3

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

A meeting of the County Council to consider the Engineer’s estimates for the maintenance of roads for the ensuing year was held yesterday. Present : -Captain Tucker (chairman), and Crs White, Gray, Richardson, Murphy, Matthews, Sherratt, Harding, and Clayton. Tho Public Works Department, in reply to the CoDncil’s request, stated that Mr Perham had been instructed to visit Gisborne to report on any of the water power sources of the district as would justify an examination by Mr Hancock, eleotrioal export. The Clerk statod that Mr Perham was now at Te Reinga.

The Borough Council wrote applying for £295 4s lOd, ono-third share of the compensation awardod the Native owners for the sito at Awapuni acquired for the purpose of a cemetery, and being in terms of an agreement entered into by the two Councils, whereby the borough should pay two-thirds and the county one-third. Cr Murphy : Have we to pay £2O an acre for those bare sandhills ? The Clerk : That is the award. Cr Murphy said they would pay no more for good solid land. The Chairman said the conference settled tho Council were to pay a third, but it was not to be more than 30 acres, up to which the Council could pay their share. Cr Matthews asked how they would finance if those hidden things were sprung on them. The Chairman said the minutes of the conference were in tho Borough Council books. '

The Clerk stated that Crs Cooper and Maefarlane, who had not reported officially, had attended the conference jvith the Borough Council. He hod not attended, hence there wero no minutes on the County Counoil’s books of tho conference. It was thought tho Council’s share of the cemetery site cost would bo a third of £IOO, but the Native Land Court thought otherwise as to the cost of tho land. The Chairman considered the matter was one of degree of liability. There was no resolution adopting aDy report of Crs Cooper and Maefarlane. The Clerk said he had, according to instructions, represented the Council in' the Native Land Court. The Chairman was confident that the present Council had dono nothing towards taking such a liability. Cr White did not think they could repudiate the actions of the previous Council. The unfortunate thing was that Crs Maofarlane and Cooper had not reported to the Council. Now they had to pay £3OO instead of £3O. It was only like other snags the Council struck in the past, Cr Matthews : We wilPhave to take it off the estimates. The Natives say if you sink Bix feet you will get wator. The Clerk stated that tho ground had been tested to a depth of eight feet, and no water found; it was considered any drainage would go into the sea. It was decided to reply to the Borough Council asking under what agreement thoy olaimed nearly £3OO for the cemetery site.

Messrs W. and G. Barron, M. H Campbell, Guthrie-Smith Bros., and John Walker wrote stating that they would be responsible to tho County Council for the survey to the MaDgamaia road, say £SO, to be rofunded whon the loan was available. Tho Clerk said it would not be necessary for the settlers to comol down in connection with the loan.

Mr M. Morice, Wharekopae, wrote stating that the pack track on the surveyed, road from the Hangaroa river at .Mr Steele’s to his place was in bad order. Ho requested the Council to permit the expenditure of £lO, part of fourths now available.—Granted.

Mr C. W, Hursthouse, Chief Engineer, Department of Roads, wrote on September 15th, re Tolago bridgo : your wire of 10th inst., stating that your Council is anxiously waiting for tho plans of tho above-mentioned bridgo, 1 am direoted by the Hon. the Minister for Public Works to inform you that the construction of this work must wait until after tho Estimates have been passed by Parliament.”

Tho Department of Roads, under dato September 21st, forwarded a circular for cancellation of all unexpended votes authorised by the Department. The votes thus cancelled were Gisborne-Wairoa (deviation) road, £2OO, Uawa bridge, £ for £, £BSO.

Mr W. E. Holder, secretary Tolago Bay Bridge Committee, wrote stating that he had writton to Mr Carroll asking what had become of tho £IOOO grant. Ho enclosed Mr Carroll’s roply, dated September 14th, which stated the wholo public works estimates wero under consideration by the Government at the present time. Mr Carroll continued ; — ll In view of the declared intention of the Government to this session cut down as much as possible tho district votes are necessarily brought under close review, and may take a little time beforo final settlement, but in the matter of tho Tolago bridge I have always urged its claims for special treatment. As soon as we pass the public works estimates I will let you know its position.” Regarding the Wairoa road deviation, Cr Clayton thought the deputation to Wellington had got favorable promises, ond that Ministers undertook the appropriation would not be lost. The Chairman said the Minister for Publio Works promised little or nothing. He euailed when it was asked whether the

grant was for the purpose of doubling or was it intended to spend tho money. It was little use applying now when Ministers were busy with session work. Cr Clayton said it seemed the grants were only made for the purpose of withdrawal. On his motion it was resolved to ask the Government to reinstate the vote and authorise the survey. Mossrs Harris and T. Fraser waited on tho County Council yesterday in connection with a road along tho Waimoko river. They asked for a small grant to enable them to cart out their wool in the summer time. The estimated cost was £SO. Continued on page 4.