COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1560, 16 September 1905, Page 3

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly mooting of tho Cook County Couooil was hold yesterday. Pcosant :—Captain Tuokor (obairman). Crs. Kiohardson, Gray, Matthows, Harding, and White. .. . Mr J. 0. E. Prioo wroto asking for an I allowance for keeping tho pipos open on [tho County road at To Karaka.—Engineer to report. . _ , , , Tho Chief Engineer of Roads asked whether in tho event of tho Borough Connoi! still dsolining to agroo to tho County being relieved of responsibility as to Borough bridges they wou'd desire that , the matter should bo inquired into by Commission.—Agreed that in the event of tho Borough Oounoil not oi. Jeding.ito tho request, tho Council doos require a Com’ mission. Messrs Hugh Maokay, Alfred Moore, and P. T. Keuway, settlers on Kiore road, wrots stating they understood nono of their rates wore spent on tho road last year, and the Counoil had decided that no

further rate money should bo spent on th road. They would be glad to hear if thi report be oorreot. The Engineer eaid thi road was not a through road. The Ohair man eaid that was the view the Oounoi took of it. The Clerk said the minute o September, 1903, was that the Counoil ro fused to dear cortain slips as the roadf were for the benefit of tbo Kiore Company. Or Gray said there were lots ol roads in that direction that the Council could not pretend to do anything with. Their first duty wa3 to keep the main road in repair. Reply that when the matter wae under consideration two years ago it was deoided not to spend money on the road, but should they hereafter be in a k position to spend money on this rood they would do so. An order of the Native Land Court fixing compensation for land takon forTolago bridge, 8 roods 9 perohes, at £3O, to be paid to Bawiri Karaha. Mr A. R. Watson, Chairman of the Woimala branch „of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, wrote stating that at the last meeting of the branch the question of the urgency of bridging the rivers and completing the metalling on the Gisborne-Waimata-Wigan main road was discussed by a large number of ratepayers present. It was deoided to make efforts to have these very noOßcsary works carried out, and with this in view it would be of the greatest assistance if the Counoil would instruot its engineer to furnish a rough estimate of the oost of the works so that they shonld have an idea of what amount they would have to borrow. They could then take the necessary steps to form themselves into a speeial district to raise loaD.—Engineer to report. Messrs A. D. Graham, A. Kompthorne, and J. E. Foster wrote calling attention to the bad condition of the road from Scott’s corner to the Westmere bridge, a distance of about 76 ohains.—To be considered when estimates are being framed.—The Chairman eaid they could be sure moneys entrusted to Mr Kemptborne would be moat economically and satisfactorily expended. He proposed that £2O be Bpent on the Westmere road.—Cr Riohardson seconded. —Carried.—Or Gray proposed that £2O be granted for the road between BepoDgaere and Westmere.—Agreed to. i Mr Cbas. E. Bridge, secretary of the | Motu branch of the Farmers' Union, wrote calling attention to the bad state of the main road in the vicinity of Motu township. Mr Richardson said there was a good deal of traffic about the township. The Chairman wondered whether the settlers would submit to a small special rate. Mr Biohardson said there were so many rates. They were paying special rates for the Kaitaratahi bridge, Earaka cutting, and Waikohu bridge, and Motu stock track.—Deferred until estimates are framed. Mr H. W. Landon, Whakarau, wrote asking 8s per day on his section of road, 17 miles in length.—Granted. The Engineer (Mr DeG. Fraser) reported:— " Contract 134, erection of stock bridge, Foutntu-Motn road : The contractor has ordered timber, and expeots to get to work in a few weeks. “ Contract 132, metalliDg and formation, Cook street, Tolago: Will be completed in a few days. "Contraot 131, erection of bridges, Wharekopaa and Mangatu : On the former bridge the contractors for the emotion of piers are at work. The detail shop plana for steel work have been reoeived from New York, and I expect to hear shortly of the shipment of material. •• Contraot 130, erection of Maraetaha bridge and formation of approaohes: The contractor will start the necessary earthwork about the first of next month. ■ "Contract 123, bridle traok formation and cutting of bridge timeer: This work is being executed from balance of Government grant for Hangaroa, and will be completed shortly. - "Contraot 121, road formation and metalliDg, Wainui: The formation has just been started, and most of tho neoessary stone staoked aod broken. Owing to the state of the metalled portions of the Wainui road, I have been compelled to engage drays to repair the worst ruts, " I have also been requested by some of the carters to ask the Counoil to use its inflaenoo with the Titirangi Road Board to have a short piece of road formed to the beach near Phelps’, as tho present track has been fenced off, being on private property. The carters are willing to give four days’ work with a team. It would be to the advantage of the Counoil to have access to the beaoh at this point, but on examining the ground I find that the grade down the road line is too steep Jot carting heavy loads, and to make a side catting between the baok line of fenoes and the beach would not, in my opinion, remain open from drift sand, and would also be liable to uudermiue existing fence

lines. <* Bad wash-outs have oeourred on the Gisborne-Wairoa, Waimata, Ponawa, and other roads, which will be repaired as the weather improves. I beg to submit a flohedule of estimated oost of repairs on the oounty roads from October Ist, 1905, to September 80th, 1906. In the Tolago district I have not been able to give exact details, as the work to be done will be exeouted under oontraot, and it has been necessary therefore to measure and peg off work oxtending over a distance of some 60 miles. Mr Jaokson is now employed marking oS the work, and I Bhall get his report in a few days. Having, according to instructions, prepared oomplete plans and specifications for a bridge at Matawhero, and ordered the necessary steel work, I Would ask the Odunoil whether I should proceed to call tenders for ereotion, as it would be advisable to take advantage of the coming summer for constructing piers and driving piles-" , The Engineer said he thought a riding track could be made to the beaoh near Cooper's, Wainui, but it waa too Steep to make a road for vehioleß. Or Harding urged tbat they should get to work with the new bridge at Matawhero, taking advantage of the summer weather. The Chairman -aid they would like to know if the Government wore going to assist them. Or Harding moved, and Or Matthews seconded, that the En-1 gin Der be instructed to oall for tenders for | ereotion. The Chairman said he thought the Government should materially assist. Or Harding said he did not think there would bo any doubt but that they would meet them with generosity. The Clerk said it was a question of finding £SOOO, and they had only £I6OO available that day. Or Matthews said there was one big factor they must not lose sight of —the eleotion in view. Or Grey said if they did not get help, it would absorb all their money. Tho Chairman aaid the position oould be considered before accepting tender*. Or Matthews said he looked upon the present bridge bb unsafe. The motion was carried. The Engineer’s schedule of metailing works required was considered. Or Biohardson protested againßt the amount allocated for the Waimata road, whioh had last year £6OO more than was available. Or White said, this road was to be the main stook road for the coast. Or Eiobardson said his district was in oredit, and he did not see why Waikohu people should be made to pay for their ro»d. Or White: You have not been called on to pay anything for the railway yet, The estimate was passed. The eohednle was passed with minor amendments. The total amount was £6919; liabilities already authorised £Bll 17s. The Chairman said there was being expended, or to be expended, the following items io Ibe tospectiYQ lidiogaWbatau-

I poko riding £292, Waimata JOllB6, Patutahi £458. To Aral £770, Waikohu £1742, Gisborno £1254, Tologo £1278, HaDgaroa £BOS. I Tbo Engineer said provision would probably have to bo made for the Wbotuupoko and Kalti Road Boards. Ho had I not provided for them. Mr A. Komptborno waited on tho ConnI oil regarding tho bad state of tho Pukopapa I road. Ho askod for a voto of £2O to bo placed In his hands for disposal during tho year. Ho aßkod for 80 or 40 yards of gravel on tho Wostmoro road, whiok ho [ was willing to look aftor. Tho Chairman I iutimatod to Mr Kompthorno tho decision I previously oorno to, and said tho Oounoil J would further considor tho matter. j Or Harding said Orßiohardson doservod remuneration for his supervision of works I in Motu district. I

on pago 4