COUNTY COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1409, 21 March 1905, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Cook County Council was hold yesterday. There were prosent : Capt. Tucker (Chairman), Ors Gray, Sherratt, Richardson, Matthews, Murphy and Clayton.

CLAIM FOR DAMAGES,

Mr E. P. Roberts, Ta Arai, wrote claiming the sum of £ls for damage to horse and harness, caused through several planks in the Te Arai bridge giving way. His son, who was driving, had mat with a serious accident. It was decided to reply that the Council did not acknowledge liability. STOCK TRACK.

Mr D. N. McMillan wired from Morere, on March 13' i, re Waiapu inland road and Gisborne-Rotorua stock track, stating that the Inspector at Gisborne had been instructed to push on with tho former. He would write re stock immediately on his return to Napier.—ReoeivedTHE RAILWAY.

The Hon. J. Carroll wired that Sir Joseph Ward had intimated his intention of - being present at the opening of the Karaka railway. The Hon, Hall Jones was also likely to be present. The 81st of March was an inconvenient time, a later date being more suitable.—Received. TIMBER INDU3TRY.

Mr W. L. Rees, Gisborne, wrote stating that ho was about to commence cutting timber near Te Karaka, situated on both sides of the Waihora creek. He approached the Council to assist in providing means of transit to Te Karaka railway station. The Chairman said this was a big question, and if considered it would interfere with their time for routine work considerably. He proposed that a committee bo eet up to look into the matter,

Cr Gray did not boo that the question would oooupy much time. Ho did not think it wsb a praotioal sohomo for tho Counoil to taka up. Or Clayton said tho question was /Whether tho sohomo would pay tho Counoil in regard to getting down shiDglo at a I cheaper rate than at present. . The Chairman said the answer would I probably bo that thoy could not obtain sufficient money for present and contemplated works. Or Matthews said tho quostion was too big to bo dismissed in a hurry. Tho work would oertainly bring a lot of people to the distnot and would do muob good. It was dooidod to defer consideration of the question until next Monday at 11 a.m., the Eoginoor to givo information on the subjeot. ' CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION.

Mr T. Hamilton wrote claiming compensation for land takon for a road in Block 14, Mangatu, and Block 2, Waiboku survey distriot. Tho olaim was for £154 10s, made up as follows : Use of land lost, £ls ; feuoing, £2O; well and windmill, £SO ; loss of river frontage, £SO ; olaim for land taken, £l9 10s. It was decided to reply that tho olaim was excessive. WAIHUKA LOAN. '

Messrs Nolan and Skeot wrote objeotiDg to the inclusion of Mossra W. H. OlaytoD, F. W. Peddle, and F. Hall’s properties known as lot three, Motu, in the area of land proposed to bo included for the Waihnka loan. TOLAGO’S PROGRESS.

Mr M. Mullooly, Tolago Bay, wrote asking the Counoil to remove Mr John Maddook’s shop, whioh, he stated, wbb situated in the centre of tho road.

The Engineer was authorised to remove the building when he oonsiderod it necessary. ■* DUES TO BOROGGH.

The Borough Couneil wrote stating that

I tho abattoirs would be completed by the I end of the month, and desiring the CounI cil in accordance with agreement to repair I the Awapnni road from the borough bounI dary to tbe Matawhero road. The Borough Council also wrote demanding the sum of £157 6s 9d, being the 9-28th, tho Conooil’s share of maintenance of Turnnganui and Taruboru bridges from November, 1904, to March, 1905. Cr Matthews objeotod to the amount being paid. The Borough Counoil was practioally building now bridges, and no authority had been asked of the Council. Tho Chairman said thero was much in Cr Matthew’s contention. It was not maintenance work. Had tho Borough Council approached tho County Council the answer would be that now the bridges were in tbe borough they Bbould be maintained by the Borough Couneil. Cr Matthews moved that tbe payment be deferred for further consideration.

Cr Clayton seoondod tho . motion, whioh was carried. ,

Cr Matthews complained of the ,slow manner in which the footway -along the Toruheru bridge had been carried out. If they were to pay he thought their Engineer should have had the supervision of he work.

RATE OF INTEREST. Mr VindeDt Pyke wrote stating that the rate of interest on the Council’s overdraft for the current half-year would be 5 per cent up to 31st December and 5k per oenfc from that date.

It was decided to reply that the Council objected to tbe iuereased rate of interest from 31st Deoember, and also to ask the Bank of New Zealand if it is prepared to keep on the overdraft at, 5 per cent. ,

OTHER CORRESPONDENCE. Mr Spence, Tiniroto, wrote asking the Council, if possible, to close to all wheel traffic the road leading to section 41, Known as Beny’s road, from the end of April to the 30th of September.

It was decided to reply that heavy traffic was already stopped on the road except to wide tyres. Messrs Bonny and Co. and W. Peryer forwarded tenders for supply of gravel. It was decided to reply that the Counoil had not called for any tenders.

Mr E. M. Hutchinson wrote in reference to the proposed road through Waihuka property. As tho proposal was to come up for conformation on the 20th of Maroh he asked the Council to go no further in the matter but to refer it back to the proposers for further'consideration. Now that the railway was to run up tho Waihuka Valley, the road would be soaroely ever used.

Messrs M. Mullooly, Rutene Kuhukuhu, and Arapeta Rangiuia, on behalf of all the other claimants, wrote to tho Council for compensation for land taken for a road to the approach to the bridge on tho south side of Uawa river, Paremata block, No. 2. The claim was for ,6500.—The Council decided to reply that it would not pay this amount, and that the matter would have to come before tho Native Land Court. TOLAGO BRIDGE. '

Mr W. E. Holder, secretary of the Tolago Bay Bridge Committee, wrote re the openiug of the bridge. If the Counoil considered that the work would be far enough advanced to allow the opening ceremony to bo performed on Easter Monday, the 24th April, he would suggest that that day be adopted, as the 24th May ran too far into the winter monthß. Gisborne people could come up on Sunday, and Monday being a holiday not much time would be lost. This date was adopted, and it was decided to ask Mrs Holder to perform the ceremony of cutting the ribbon.

WIDTH OF TYRES, A deputation from the carters and the Farmers' Union waited upon the Counoil to ask a modification of the county by-law in regard to the extra width for tyres. Mr W. D. Lysnat;, who represented the Farmers’ Union with Mr G. Barron, stated the desires of the deputation, which were that by-law No. 6, in regard to width of tyres, be done away with and the traffic regulated by tonnage, i.e. ? one ton for a two-wheeled vehicle, and 1£ tons for a four-wheeled vehicle. The Union and the carters were in sympathy with the Counoil’s endeavor to keep the roads in better order in the winter time, but it was believed that the increased width of tyreß would not bo successful in doing this.

Mr Gallaghi r also spoke upon tho unsuitability of wide tyrea and thoir clanger on clay roads. He stated that tho Fanners’ Union was prepared to institute a kind of Scotland Yard surveillance to prevent these measures being exceeded, and assist tbe'Counoil in the work of seeing that the vehicles did not carry overweight. The Chairman notified the deputation that their wishes would receive due consideration. The deputation then withdrew. Cr Gray said that whut the deputation asked was a continuation of the existing state of things. He asked that they give the by Jaw a fair trial. The by-law wae introduced to cope wi'h tho'heavy traffin which they had failed to control in past years. Cr Murphy said the.reason they had put on the wide tyro was to stop carting an tho roads in winter. Or Sherratt thought they would bo making a very groat mistaka if they rescinded tho by-law. Cr Biohordsm vvaß also in favor of keeping to the. by-law. Cr Harding thought they had made a mistake in passing the by-law in the first place. The Chairman moved that their reply to the deputation be that os tho by-law had not yet come into force, and as there was no evidence before tho Council to show that it would be oppressive, and that it had been framed only after great deliberation, the Council did not think it advisublo to make any alteration at prosent.

Or Harding thought there was ovidenoe to show that the by-law would be oppressive. Tho deputation was fairly representative, and was a very good indication of public feeling on tho matter. The bylaw should never huvo been framed, und if they did not rescind it now thoy would have to do so next year. He proposed as an amendment that tho by law bo rescinded. i Or Clayton seoonded the amendment, which upon being put to tho meeting was lost. Cr Murphy thought the public should know that the Council intended to enforce (the by-law, and that settlers be asked to make an effort to get their stores in dur ; ing the summer months. APPLICATION FOR ROAD. Mr Todd waited upon the Council, and asked their co operation in making a road giving him access to his property. If the Council would fiud the money, ho would guarantee the interest for ten years. He also asked that the Counoil pay £ for £ for the maintenance of that portion of tho road which be was at present keeping in order. The Chairman stated that the Council could not assist Mr Todd, as Government would not acoept any rate that could not legally be enforced. It was decided to make Mr Todd a grant of £5, on condition that he expended a similar amount. .' TOLAGO BRIDGE TOLLS. It was decided that after April 25th tho scale of tolls for the Tolago bridge would come into force. . It was decided, on the motion of Cr Gray, to eall for public tenders for collecting tolls for tho ensuing twelve months. MERGING THE, ROAD BOARDS. Tho requisitions Bigned by Kaiti and Whataupoko ratepayers to have the Road Boards merged 'in the County were confirmed oh the motion of the Chairman. TENDERS. ■ The following tenders were accepted :■— Contract 124, work at Motu, P. McLoughlin ; contract 123, Barnes and Faulkner. OVERDUE RATES. It was decided* that 10 per cent be placed on all overdue rates from April Ist. ENGINEER’S REPORT. Mr De G. Fraser County Engineer, reported.:—- - . ...... Contract 89, Uawa bridge contract This work has proceeded most satisfactorily and the bridge itself will bo completed in about a fortnight. On inspecting the work on the 14th inst,, six or seven 60ft spars were in position, and three land spars, leaving one 60ft span to be erected and three land spans on the southern side. The road formation, fencing, etc., was well in hand, and the - toll house, gates, etc., constrncted. The bridge can be opened for traffic by tha 24th prox. Some melalling and-a few extras can bo completed afterwards. ■ "

Contract 94a, collecting and breaking boulders, Waimata: This work is practice ally completed, and I have arranged “for . the carting out on to the road. Contract 100, carting beach sbiugle, Puatao: About 000 yards have been spread near Cooper’s woolstaed, and the work o£ repairing the hill , .will be proceeded with during the month. Contract lOli, Tolago Hill : About 230' yards of boulders have been stacked and broken, and will be shortly carted out. Contract 101, metal deposits : Tho following contractors hove completed their work ;• Messrs McLoughlin, Jones, Linklater and Co., Malonp, Scragg and Co. ; T. King, Brosnahan and Davies; others will have finished during the coming month. Contract 102, quarrying and breaking stone, Gray’s quarry: All stone has been quarried, and is now being broken. Contract 103, Tatapouri : 212 yards of metal have been spread and repairs are now being effected to the Makarori Hill. Contract 106, metal repairs, Lavenbam road : Not yet in band. Contract 107, metal repairs,Gray’s Hill: Practically completed. Contract 108, delivery of broken stone, Onihau : .This work has again boen huDg up, owing to difficulties with the natives. The contractor informs me that he hopes to make a start next week. X am, however, afraid that owing to tho delays work will not bo finished this seasoD. Contract 109, formation, Bahui road: Satisfactorily completed. Contract 112, metalling, Whatanpoko, O mood read : Proceeding satisfactorily. Contract 115, metalling, Muriwai: The approaches to the bridge havo been completed, and the portion of the road near the echool is now under way. Contract 116, metalting, Wairoa-Gis-borne road: This contract is in hand. Further repairs are badly needed on the Gentle Annie Hill, and I would ask autho rity for having 100yds broken at once, , With regard to a grant from the Govern, treat of £SOO towards erection of a bridge at Maraetaha, I have laid off and levelled the site and approaches; the latter will cost alone some £230, and I should recoinj rnejad that;a deviation be made to avoid tbe tsvo crossings of the river, if the matter can be arranged with Mr Kemp, of Marsetaha, and- the Government is willing to alter the of the grant. A saving could be effected of some £BOO if the deviation was made in place of tbe two bridges, which will eventually have to be undertaken. Plans are beiDg prepared for a bridge of two 80ft spans for Mangatm -These will be steel structures on ooncrete piers. Plan is also in band for road formation at Waimoko. i I