COOK COUNTRY COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1513, 22 July 1905, Page 2

COOK COUNTRY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Cook County Council was held yesterday. Present : Capt. Tucker (in the chair), Crß White. Matthews, Murphy, Gray, Clayton, and Harding. FINANCE. The statement of finance showed the overdraft to he £7538-12s 3d, whilst the ' payments that day amounted to £904 2s. The sum of £929 Ss '6d would be required on August Ist for interest, bringing the overdraft up to £9462 2s 9d. TOLAGO BAY RIDING. The Tolago Bay Farmers’ Union wrote

urging that portion of the Hunui district should be included in the Tolago Bay rid. tog. '•••• ••' 'iW The Clerk pointed that it was neeessa. V to have a petition from two-thirds of the ratepayers interested, and this could be done through the Waikohu Road Board. —lt was decided to reply to that effect. A COAST ROAD. The Tolago Bay Farmers’ Union asked the Council to widen a small ridge so as give through . communioatiop between Hauiti and Arakihi to the main Coast road. Consideration was deferred pending tho dedication of the road by the East Coast Trust Board. MOTU ROADS.

The Motu Farmers’ Union wrote asking for assistance in regard to metalling roads in that district. The Chairman said the Council had included metalling Motu roads in the GoVernmeni grants already applied for. WAIPAOA BRIDGE.

Tho Borough Council wrote offering 420 a year for ten yearn towards the strengthening of the Waipaoa bridge. The Chairman thought the Borough Council .had previously offered 4200 in cash towards the work, and he thought this was to be preferred to 420 a year for ten years. Cr Clayton said the Council had power to tax loads passing over their roads. It was often done in cases of excessive traffic. Ho did not suggest that it should be donß in the case of the Borough Council. ’ Cr Harding said the Borough Council would meet the County Council in any fair way. If thoy taxed the loads of metal the Borough Council would retaliate by taxing wool waggons. The Chairman thought they should acknowledge the letter with thanks, statiog the County Council would prefer the 4200 in cash. Cr Harding suggested that a deputation from the Council should wait on the Borough Council and submit their proposals. In this way the best results would be obtained. It was decided to ask for 4200 in cash as a contribution; also that a Committee of the Council should, wait. upon the Borough Council at their next meeting to discuss the matter. RAILWAY MATTERS. The Public Works’ Department wrote acknowledging the letter from the Council in regard to an increased vote. The Department were unable to acooie to the request of the Council for a supply of light rails as they had none available.—Received. Mr Burgess, of Rakarau, wrote on be- V balf of a number of settlers, asking that the Council should asoist in having the ; proposed line of railway determined, so that it would not clash with the read which it was proposed to mako. It was decided to urge upon tho De- , pertment tbs necessity of at once determining the line of railway.

EAST COAST ROAD. The Waiapu Council wrote expressing their willingness to co-operate with the Council iu endeavoring to h«ive the Coast road in the vicinity of the Puatae rocke improved. Or Harding said the Puatae rooks had always been a source of great trouble and oxpense and something ought to be done by the Government to improve it.—Received.

The Hon. J. Carroll wrote stating that he was making Gvery effort for the favorable consideration of a grant when the estimates were under review.

TELEPHONE FACILITIES. She Council strongly endorsed the levies

of the Gisborne trench of the Farmers Union in regard to’the necessity for iw■^^rsarSisraiS COt Cr MetthewsTaWhe hid had to give up his telephone owing to bring unable to got DtODer attention. It was much quicker to ' i deliver one’s own message than to wait tor the telephone. Cr Clayton said the delays that constantly occurred were most annoyiug. Or Murphy seldom used his telephone. Ho loft written messages at the bureaus • offices, and they were sent when the hue was cioar. Or Harding urged that an all-night _ oorvico should bo adopted in towo. k Members generally expressed tbo hope that the Department would see its way to effect a speedy improvement in the telephone system of tbo distriot. ,

THE WILLOW CROSSING. The Secretary of tbo Rakanroa braooh of tho New Zealand Farmers' Union wrote asking tho Couooil to approach tho Pablio Works Department with a view of having the railway bridge over tho Wailcohu at iho “ Willow Crossing ” built os a traffic as well as a railway bridga. Members recognised the necessity of a traffic bridge, and agreed to accede to the . request made. • * WAIKAREMOANA STOCK TRACKTho Roads Department wrote stating that a vo«o for the abovo would receive consideration in the preparation of the estimates for tho coming year. DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS.

The Hon. J. Carroll wrote acknowledging the schedule of grants required to carry ont necessary works in the district. Ho would not fail, from time to time, to impress the importance of the several matters upon the attention of tho Hon. Minister for Public Works. MANGAMAIA ROAD. It was decided to assist tho. settlers interested in tho abovo road in obtaining a Government grant for the some. MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.

. The Motu branch of the Farmers’ Union eyrote accepting the Couooil’s offer of a paddock at Poututu ; also drawing attention to the unsatisfactory state of thß main read at Motu. It was decided to reply that the latter was included in the list of Government grants applied for. .4 A letter from Mr C. Noenan, of Ormond, In regard to several drams in that place was referred to the Engineer, to act at bis discretion. Tho sum of i£3 was voted to Mr Neennn for a water trough at Ormond. An offer from Mr O. Matthews of £2 for the right to oat firewood on Gentle Annie hill was declined.

Mr W. F. Hale, Tolago, wrote in fgard to the compensation cases for land ken for bridge purposes. The Council expressed satisfaction at the work done by Mr Hale, and a hearty yote of thanks was accorded those who, without charge, gave evidence. ENGINEER’S REPORT. .'

Mr Fraser, County Engineer, reported as follows : Contract 118, road formation, Mill road, Paremata block—Satisfactorily completed. Contract 121, metalling and re formsfelon, Wainui road —The Government grant for this road ba3 been expended, and I propose to have further short lengths metalled from funds granted by the Council for that purpose. Contract 123, bridle track formation, Hangaroa—l23 chains of bridle trftefc have been formed under the contract, and arrangements made with the contractor to cat totara timber for bridges and culverts from part of the road reserve. Contract 124, road formation, Poututo —The contractor expeeis to finish in a few days, haviog been much delayed by slips and bad weather. Contract 126, formation, Waiomoko £oad —Completed. Contract 127, erection of abutments and ■wings for Wharekopae bridge—This contract was let two months ago, and no etaif has yet been made- I should recommend the contract beiDg oanceiled if satisfactory, progress is Dot made by the 31st instant.) Contract 128, formation, abattoirs road Completed. The western end of this, line has been trimmed np and made fairly passable, and the swamp made good for wheel traffic. jContract 130, erection of Maraetaba bridge—The plans of this bridge and the ap'proaohes have been approved by the Jtoads Department, and tenders will be ? called for the work as soon as the plans are returned from Napier. The very bad weather during tne past two months has rendered some of the country roads almost impassable. On the Poutnta stock track a small bridge has been washed away, and at the Lavenham bridge repairs being urgently required I obtained your permission to have the _ work' at once pot in hand. Numerous —•washouts have occurred, and it has been to employ a considerable amount of extra labor to keep traffic open. With reference to the claim of Mr Hals for road . through Mangatuna, I consider the claim of £lO (for severance and riparian rights) moderate, and should reoommend payment by the Council. Be proposed road through Paremata the eDgineor estimated that the cost would be £3iQ, but the road would require to be metalled, and the total cost, including the present formed portion, would be £OOO. Tile deviation would save a distance of 15 Chains, and would avoid a long sandy reach of 50 chains. The Conncil had, however, already two lines of road m this locality to maintain, which must be kept open. ...... In reference to river shmgle the en ginser reported that the oosi of putting Kaitaratahi shingle on the roads would be 8s B£d, which ho considered would be altogether too expensive. He was of the opinion that while this class of stone might be suitable for the Whataupoko-Ormond road and the section from Waereuga-a-hika northwards, it would not be so successful for ropaira on roads that had a pitched foundation or that had been prsvioasly repaired with P&ttztahi metal. The coat at present of metalling Whafcaupoko road was 9s 8d per yard.Waerenga a-hika-Ormond road 7s 4d, Taking the case of metal or shiDgle delivered by rail at Makaraka, the result would be better. It could be handled for 8s 9£d as compared with las for Patutahi stone. The road from Matawhero to Makaraka, with Patutahf atone, cost 10s lid, and from Makaraka to Waorenga-a-hika 15s lid. Ho thereforo recommended that before any considerable expense wa3 gone to to obtain shingle in quantity, as an experiment the Council secure, say, 200 to 300 yards of Bcreoned gravel for roads about Makaraka ( to be put on a section where heavy traffic occurs, say, between Makaraka and the railway station, and should it not be found - successful to try having the Patutahi stone deliyorad by traction engine, strengthening the two or three small bridges on the quarry road (the Matawhero bridge will be strengthened as per previous instructions). He thought the beat results would be obtained by adhering to the quarry metal at least on the Matawhero town boundary and Waereoga-a-hika sections; and, by having tbs stone a 3 at present delivered in depots, it could be put on as required in the winter months and to the best advantage. With regard to the roads on the Patutahi side of the Big river, he considered that quarry metal would be used

as heretofore. » The engineer was mstrncfeea to take the ) . nooeesary steps to huve the land for the proposed road through Paremata block taken by Governor’s warrant. Be contract 127, it was decided to call iresh tenders if satisfactory progress was not made by the 31st inst. Cr Harding said the question of whether they were going to use river shingle or metal was an important one. The Borough Council would hardly support them in strengthening the Waipaoa bridge if they did not intend to allow traction traffic. Ho would like an opinion from the engineer whether it was wise to consider the question of haulage by traction engine. He thought the two Counoils might combine, the same plant to bring in the metal for b °Cr Matthews thought the engineer’s • suggestion of testing the Kaitaratahi •screened gravel on the main ro# at Makaraka should be given effect t /•: and moved in that direction. The eh $ \er’s recommendation was agreed to. In reply to Cr Harding tbf. jf’ieor efiaied that by iicaotioa ■ - • r itil

would bo reduced by at least ono-half. Ho had not found that traction <mgmee damaged the roads ruuob. It was P r °j> ft ° lo that tho rates of oarting would be higher next year. Ho cooeidorod that haulngo by traotion engine would be more advantageous to the Borough than carting. On tho motion of tho Ohairmau it was resolved that tho Council wae of opinion that it would bo mor° economical to have its supply of metal brought in by traotion engines than by car*>* n g.