COUNTY COUNCIL

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1360, 21 January 1905, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING. Tho monthly meeting of tho Cook County Council was held yooterduy, \vhou tho following members were preson : Capt. Tuoker (in tho ohair), Crs Murphy, Mat thewf, Clayton, Shorrntt, Gray, and Richardson. ROTORUA STOCK TRACK.

Mr Steele waited upon tho Council in regard to tho Rotorua stcck track, asking that a dray road bo formed for a couple of miles.

Mr J. R. Murphy wrote in regard to

tho same matter, asking tho Council to mako tho stock ttack into a dray road from McCutchion’s road to whore it turned off to his placo. Ho estimated tho cost at LSO, and offered to contribute LIS. Tho Council d-eidod to grant tho Ll 6 asked for, and also another LlO if the fatter amount w-s subsidised to tho extent of pound for p,und by the settlors interested. The Council also doeided to reprosont to I tho Govorr'ment the injustice under which tho sotßers in tho Wharokopoo district labor© 1 ’ in regard to roads. TOLAGO BAY RANGER.

J>-' f Mr W. F. Hale, of Tolsgo Bay, wrote in regard to tho appointment of a raogor for that district. He considered it was difficult to reconcile an application for the appointment of a ranger with the fact that tho applicant was on last court day convicted of allowing cattle to wandor at large upon streets. Ho contended that tho area to be ranged should bo proporly defined. CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION. Mr W. F. Halo wrote referring to a claim by Mr M. Mullocly for compensation for land taken from tho Mangarara block, which ho considered had no exist ecco exojpt in the imagination of Mr Mullooly. The subdivision of the land was I not yet far enough advanced to make it clear which section or sections were by the road taken.

An enquiry would tako piece at the next sitting of the Native Land .Court at Tolago, when it was expected that the petition would bo adjusted as a result of which Mr Mnllooly might have a claim to two perches.

It was decided to thank Mr Hales for the information given. SOLDIERS’ GRAVES. The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote in regard to .the soldiers’ gravos at Ruakatura, stating that steps woro being taken to survoy two acres of land. —Received. MARAETAHI BRIDGE.

The Roads Department wrote asking the Council to undertake the construction of the Maraotahi bridge for which they were willing to vote the sum of L 500. Agreed to. DRAINAGE WORK. Mr F. Patullo wrote in regard to drainage work thrt he had undertaken on the road in the vicinity of his property. He had bad the assuranco of tho Council that they would undertake the work at their own cost, and he was therefore entitled to a refund.

The Chairman said that works such as had'been undertaken were often done by large estates. The sum of L 6 was not much to the Rangatera station, and ho was sure that the property had beuefitod to more than that extent. Ho had often done work on public roads at his own expense in order to benefit his own proporty. Ho was not aware that tho Council had promised Mr Patullo that they would pay the amount incurred. Tho CoDncil decided to adhere to its previous decision and not recognise the claim. LAKE WAIKAREMOANA. The Public Works Department wrote re tho Council’s suggestion that the contract of Lako Waikaremoana should be vested in'the Cook and Wairoa County Councils for utilisation for tha development of oower, The Department could not acoede to the request. Lake Waikaremoana was the largest known source of power in the North Island, and in the interests of all it was considered that its control should bo retained by the Government. PATUTAHI MAIN DRAIN.

The Patutahi Road Board wrote in regard to the enlargement of tho main drain. They proposed to go in for a loaD, but wished the Council to pay half of the interest, as part of the work should rightly be done by the County Couocil. Cr Sherratt said that the district would be responsible for LSO interest, but they, wanted half that amount to oomo out of the fuods'of the Patutahi ridiog. The Chairman did not approve of the principle involved. Cr Matthews pointed out that when the proposed work was undertaken, the cost of cleaning out tho drain would not bo a quarter annually what it had bean in the past. In this way the L 25 would be Cr Sherratt proposed that the Council grant the sum of L 25 next year. Cr Matthews seconded tho motion, which was carried. The Clerk questioned whether the Government would allow a voto of L2S from the Council to be devoted towards paying the interest fon the loan ucloss tho whtjle Patutahi district was included. WAIMOKO ROAD.

Mr Fraser wroto in regard to tho Coupoil’s suggestion that the sottlers of his district [should go in for a loan for road works. All the sottlers excepting himself had access to their properties. Tho Chairman said since tho last meeting a voto of LIOO had been made towards the road in question, and a portion of the money might.be available for the work asked for by Mr Fraser.—This was agreed to. PATUTAHI QUARRY.

Mr Griffin, contractor at the Patutah 1 Quarry, wrote askiog for an extension of his lease for another year. He had recently been under considerable difficulties in regard to tho work. Tho Engineer recommended tho extension, but after some discussion it was deemed advisable to call for tenders for a two years’ contract. ROAD DEVIATION.

Tho District Surveyor wrote in conneo tion with tho road deviation at Tiniroto, askiDg that the Chairman of the County Council sign tho plans. —Received. TOLAGO TUNT. The Wbakatnno County Counoil wroto in reference to tho punt at Tolago Bay, asking if it would be for sale when tho bridge was erected; also asking for a price. Tbo Engineer was instructed to inspect the punt, and reply to tho letter. NEW ROAD DISTRICT.

Toe Chief Surveyor wrote agreeing to tho formation of tbo new road distriot at Mangatu. Tho Clerk stated that in accordance with tho recent legislation new road board districts could not be formed until April, 1906. Cr Clayton said this was in keeping with recent legislation. The Chairman said there was a dearth of finality about it. Continued on Page 4,