COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1024, 17 October 1903, Page 3

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

The- monthly meeting of the Cook County Obdncil was held yosterday morninc, when the following members were present: - Captain Tucker (chairman), Messrs Matthews, Clayton, Richardson, G “ J <StEONDENCE. Mr J. Malone wroto stating that he was unable to hire toams to continue his contract at Wharolcopae, and therefore wished to bo relieved of same. The application was granted, fresh tenders to be called. The Borough Council wrote relative to Patutahi stone, informing the Council that they would take 250 yards of 2in machine-broken mofcal at 4s 7a, ana 750 yards boulder metal at 2s 9d, and requested that tho stono be quarried as soon as possible, tho contractors being ready to commence work. —Reecivod. . The Public Works Department wrote in regard to lapsed votes, stating that it would bo necesssary to have amounts again voted bv Parliament, when application could bo made for now authority.—On the motion of the Chairman, it was decided to forward the communication to Mr Carroll. ROEBUCK ROAD BRIDGE. The Department of Roads wrote stating that tho Borough Council had written stating that it was tho Council’s intention to construct a bridgo over the Taruheru river at Roebuck road, estimated to cost £4-41, and that it was proposed under the Muni - cipal Corporations Act, 1900, to apportion the cost of tho work as follows Gisborne Borough Council *, Gisborne Harbor Board I, Cook County Council:), Whataupoko Road Board £. If the Council had any objection to urge to this proposal it would be necessary to state the same in writing, addressed to His Excellency the Governor, within two months from the 7th inst. Councillors thought tho construction of the bridgo would not be of any benefit to tho County. Cr Matthews said that a conference of tho local bodies affected Bhould have boon held before tho plans had boon forwarded to Government. He considered it would bo a cruel thing to orected abridge in such closo proximity to tho Hospital, where tho patients would bo likely to bo annoyed by the cantering of horses over tho bridge. Cr Richardson was at a loss to know how'the Council was to benefit by the conitruction of another bridge as the one llready in existence served their purposes. Cr Matthews pointed out tho construction of the bridge would be advantageous to -.ettlers in the "Wadnata districts. lhe Chairman did not think the County had any liability in this matter, and thought the Council should reply that the bridgo vas not on a County road, but joined boards, which should contribute. It was ag->ed to reply to tho Council in accordance wq, {ho opinion expressed by the Chairman.

PAKABAE PUNT,

Mr J. R. Shaw wroto complaining of the stato of the punt, which required about five hour's daily pumping to keep it afloat, for which ho was paying a man 53 a day, otherwise she would have gone under. He was aware the Council could not do anything at present, but he expected it to refund money he was out of on account of labor from pumping. The Enginoet considered it was quite unfit for further use, and should be replaced with a new one, which would cost about £l5O. The Chairman proposed that tenders be oalled for a new punt, giving the contractor tho right to use any part of the old punt approved by tho Engineer. The motion was carried. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

Mr Do G. Fraser, County Engineer reported : —“ I have the honor to repor that steps are being taken to have the different outlying roads put in order for the wool carting. Mon have been engaged for MaDgutaua, Arakihi, and Tauwhareparae roads, also Fouawa and Panikau. I propose calling tenders for depot metal, to close on the 20th proximo. Work has been laid off on the Maraetaha road, Upper Mohaka. It was found that the road as surveyed would not permit of a workable gcado being obtained, and deviations would be necessaiy insoveral places. I have represented the matter to the survey Department, pointing out tho unfairness ot saddling tho Council with tho expense o£ deviations, but have not yet had a reply. “ With reference to my instructions to prepare a schedule of the estimated cost of strengthening, etc., bridges and culverts on main road to Whatatutu, I bog herewith to attach particulars. Tenders for the following will bo laid before the Council at this meeting: (1) Formation Mangatu river road; (2) improving approaches Lavenham bridge; (3) supplying horses, ote., for road machine.” Tho Engineer reported:— 11 Herewith I beg to present an estimato of cost for strengthening all bridges and culvosts on tho main road from Gisborno to Whatatutu sufficiently to sustain traction engine traffic. I may state that the present beum span bridges are only sufficient for ordinary road traffic, but the two large truss bridges (Kaiteratahi and Waikohu) aro strong enough if the decking is increased and the end panels of each span uuderstruttod. The loads should then be limited as follows: Traction engine, 10 tons; two trucks, 20 tons ; tho latter to be connected with towing irons not less than 10ft in length. Should, however, it be desirable that engines of a greate.r weight be used, tho trusses of tho bridges will have to be strengthened or supported by auxiliary structures. Certain by-laws would have to be passed regulating tho traffic ‘of traction engines, both on roads and bridges. The estimated cost of the work was 12666 lbs, timber required 55,192 ft”

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Treasury Department wrote stating that £SOO for the construction of the Wharekopae road would be available in a few days, also .6500 for the Tolago Bay cart bridge. Mr Barton, District Coroner, forwarded the verdict arrived at at the inquest held on the body of Thomas crlover, who waß accidentally killed by the overturning of a dray while driving along one of the roads under the control of the Cook County Council. „ „ Tho Clerk stated that Or Harding had authorised several small works to be undertaken on the road in question. The Hospital Trustees wrote approving of the appointment of Mr A. F. Kennedy as one of tho Board to represent the Couuty Council. The Department of Lands, undor date of 15th September, in reference to Uawa bridge, wrote as follows : In reply to your wire of 10th inst., stating that the Council was anxiously awaiting for plans of the abovoinentioned bridge, the Minister for Public Works notified the Council that the construction of this work must wait until after the Estimates had been passed by Parliament. It was resolved to offer £2OO in settlement of the Council’s share of the cost of land taken at Awapuni for the purpose of a cemetery. The Clerk reported that the Council's overdraft was £7700. The Hanger reported impounding 84 head of stock during the month. One tender was received for working the road machine, from W. McNamara, at £1 15s per diem, and was accepted. The tenders received for road work and Lavenham bridge approaches were rejected on account of being too high. Or Clayton gave notice of motion that he would bring up at next meeting the matter of a grant of £2O for tho Waimoko road. The Council adjourned until Novembor 24th, when the election of chairman and general business will bo taken. On tho motion of Cr Gray, it was decided to have a meeting of the Finance Committee on the previous day.