THE COOK COUNTY.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1057, 26 November 1903, Page 3

THE COOK COUNTY.

CAPTAIN TUCKER AGAIN ELECTED

CHAIRMAN.

A SATISFACTORY YEAR,

' Tho statutory mooting of the Cook County Council for ttio olocfcion of Chairman and officers arid other business was hold at noon yesterday, when there was a full attendance of members. Jflioc fco vacating the chair, the Chairman, Captain Tuckor, thanked the Council for tho invariable courtesy with which they had treated him. lie expressed satis* faction at tho manner in which the business of tho Council hud always noon conducted by members. They had orators amongst them, but these orators bad boon more conspicuous (or their work than for their eloquence. (Laugbtcr.J They had kindly retrained from exhibiting the forensic powers with which they were gifted, and on that account were to bo thankod. Ho had had no difficulty in presiding over tho deliberations of tbo Council; they had never had a breezo, and everything had worked smoothly. They had alwuys said what they thought, and had never givon offence nor taken offence. Continuing, Captain Tuckor said, 11 1 do think that I may fairly congratulate the Council at the ?nd of the year on its position. It may not bo satisfactory to somo members, but I may yav that if is to me. Ihe dobt which was our legacy lias certainly not boon increased ; it has decreased slightly, and tho maintenance of tbo roads and other works have been kept up. More than that, wo have added to our stock oi metal, timber and implements whicn are now a great doal better than when we came into oilice. I think that if in the onsuing your tho Couocil can do as well as thoy have done in tho past year wo shall bo more than satisfied. Wo have not aoiiievod any brilliant or startling success, yet wo ruuy congratulate ourselves on having kept tbo roads in a good state and fulfilled other functions for which the Council was intended.”

(Jr Gray proposed that Captain Tuckor bo elected Chairman. He had been most successful in the past year. Cr Siierratt seconded the nomination, aiVd tho motion being put by tho Clerk, Captain Tuckor was declared elected, In returning thanks Captain Tucker said that ho bad endeavored to do his duty, aud was pleased to know that his efforts had boon appreciated. Although tho mission to Wellington was not suecoaful as it might have booo, yot under tho circumstances, they had done as much as it was possible for thorn to do. Tne Government seemed to ho drawing in tho strings in regard to public expenditure, und if was very difficult to obtain money for any purpose! at all. The local grants seemed to have boon greatly curtailed. Although thoy did not obtain florid promises, yot it may bo possible that somo of the grants made last year and unexponded might this year bo made available. 11 Especially in rogtrd to the Tolago Bay loan do I feol much displeased,” remarked Captain Tuoker, 11 tho loan for tho bridge was a matter that had gone so far that tne Government ware pledged to provide it. I feel a great doal of regret that for somo reason or other it hue beeu overlooked or dropped out.” Cr Cluy.ton : What amount out of that applied fotjijiave wo got ? The Clerk : I cannot make it more than £450 ; that is all tho money out of all that wo huvo applied for. / Cr Clayton : They aro exceptionally generous. Cr Matthovvs : It is a startling amount.

Cr Clayton : I was in hopes that thoro would bo more than that amount for my riding aiono. On the motion of Cr Clayton, tho present officors were reinstated at existing salaries.

Cr Matthews urged that tho Engineer should rccoivo a slight advanco. For the amount of travelling that ho had to do and tho heavy exporisoa that ho was under, his present salary was quite inadequate. Mr Fraser was paid JGBSO a-year, but inoro than a hundred of that amount went in travelling expenses. Mr Matthews sugges4od that the Engineer Bhould receive an increase of £25. Cr Gray said that as tho resolution had been carried fixing tho appointments for tho yoar, tho subject could not bo discussed. Or Harding : Unless tho Council aro unanimous. A motion that tho subject bo ro opened was lost, aud Cc Matthows guvo notice of motion iu tho direction indicated.