COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1589, 20 October 1905, Page 3

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tho monthly mooting of tho Cook 1 County Council was hold yesterday morning. Prosont: Tho Chairman (Captain Tucker), Ora Matthows, Harding, Wkito, Clayton, and Richardson. Mr A. M. Newman wrote ro inaanitary state of roadsido drains noar tho Ormond school; ho boliovod his boy took dipthoria through tho drain opposite tho school. Another monaoo to hoalth was tho drain from Ormond Bohool to tho outfall drain by tho Road Board offioo, tho fall in wkioh was also blooked by a solid oulvort. With such & good fall to tho Mahuoga oroek, thero ought not to bo a drop of wator stagnating in tho main road through Ormond. Attention of Health Inspector had been drawn to tho matter. Tho Pahiatun County Counoil forwarded resolutions in favor of on improvement in tho system of granting subsidies to local bodies. Tho Oounoil approved of tho system being put on a more satisfactory Mr A. Mills, Ruakljuri, complained that the portion of the County road the Bottlers used was much oul of repair, ana required a few pounds to put .it in order for tho wool season. Ho hoped the Counoil would expend the rates reooived from his locaaty on it; whilo there was suoh a terrible track up the rivor bo oould not consent to have the fourths expended on the main roads. Cr Olay ton understood the Waltoa Oounoil had been given the fourths to oxpend, provided they were spent in the Ruakitnri Valley. It was only fair thoy should be spent there. Dooided to grant Mr Mills authority to oxpend £lO in improvement of the road, the arrangement with tho Wairoa Counoil to be looked up, and Mr Mills to be informed of tho terms of tho same. In response to a reguest from tho chairman of the Matawhero Sohool Committee, Mr G. Brocklobank, it was deoidod to have the drain in front of the sohoo cleaned out.

Tho Borough Counoili in notifying contracts for 3000 yards of Patutahi metal, asked that tho stone would bo turned out with expedition, Or Clayton said yards put on at the quarry consolidated into 2 yards on reaohiag town, and the Borough Council only paid for the latter amount. It was deoided to obarge for the metal as delivered at the quarry. Or Clayton also pointed out that the oarting of the metal did considerable damage to roads, and Or Matthews said they should have gone in for a light railway. In granting the request of tho Borough Council to open up roads for the water* works scheme the stipulation wbb made that the Borough Cpuncil should not obstruct traffio, and should take responsibil- j isy in case of any aocideat arising from any pit or portion of their work, The Treasury acknowledged the application for a seoond portion of the loan of £6OOO (£1500) for re-building Waipaoa road bridge, whioh had been submitted for the Colonial Treasurer’s provisional approval. It was presumed that the amount I required for the bridge was £2700, £ISOO of which was already available, and £BOO I for the bridge north of Tolago. The Clerk I considered that his letter was quite dear. Mr L. Tulloeh, Murowai, wrote Btating that he was in great need of a road into his place that he could use. Held over in 1 view of the ferry petition. In regard to a letter from Mr Kempthorno as to obtaining _ metal for road repairs he wa3 authorised to have done, [ the Chairman said he had advised Mr Kompthorne to obtain permission to get the metal from Heni’s laud adjoining the river, and she ought to have no objection, as the road would benefit her. On the motion of Or Mat6hews, it was resolved, 11 That this Counoil urge upon tho Government bi' make' available for electrical railways the great power stored at Lake Waikaremoana.” The proposal | was warmly supported, and a oopy is to be sent to Government.

Or Clayton spoke of the bad slate of the rqad toTiniroto; he asked that the road machine be put on there, and the Engineer explained that arrangements were already being made with that objeot. Mr A. H. Wallis wrote asking what was to be done with the nBW piece of road through Mangaheia which had been handed over by the East Coast Native Trust Land Board. It was deoided to ask the Waiapu County if they would grant a third of the cost, £IOO, as it was understood the East Coast Trust Board would grant a third and the Cook Council the other.

Me DeG. Fraser, County Engineer, reported : “Contraot 130, ereotion of Maraetaha bridge: The oontraotor has obtained moot of the ironbark for piers, and is making a start with formation of approaches. “ Contraot 127, ereotion of oonorete wings and abutments for Wharekopae bridge: Good progress is being made with this work, and the whole of the oonorete will be in place within a fortnight. The formation of approaches has also been completed. . ' ■ « Contraot 132, formation and metalling, Cook street, Tolago : At the time of my inspection last week the work was practically completed. “ Contract 134, ereotion of stock bridge, Poututu pack track: The oontraotor has most of his timber, and the work is now in hand. Metal repairs have been effected on ihe Wainui road, whioh was badly out up, and also on the Kaitaratahi Karaka road it was found neoessary to have shingle jarted. . , 11 A survey has beeo made 01 land required for the approaoh to the proposed Mangatu bridge, also I have laid off and surveyed a road through Paremata-Tolago listriot, according to instructions, the plans of whioh surveys erenow in hand. ' -With reference to the proposed devialion of road at the Puatae rocks, I am at present laying off a lino from near Mr Hinton’s homestead past Rototahi and Doming out on the beach near Mr Loisel’s 3heepyards. This will be about three miles in length, after whioh I propose trying a line from the top of the Puatae hill and coming out at the same point as ihe*first survey. A close estimate of cost will be furnished to the Council on completion of the cross-sections, etc. "Tenders for a number of metalling oontracts will be called for during the coming month, and tenders will close tomorrow for the erection of the new bridge over the Waipaoa. \ ii With reference to an application from Mr McNeil, of Takapau, that the Counoil should share the' expenses of opening up road drains and outlets at Paremata, extending over some 110 chains, I beg to report that having inspected the ground with Mr MoNeil, I found that only about 14 chains of road drains should be beneficial to the county road, and 15 chains of outlet drains. I should therefore recommend that providing the drains are opened ud with their outlets in certain localities to be specified the Council subsidise the work to the extent of 416 65.” On petition of 63 ratepayers of To Am Road Board district, it was resolved to take steps to have the district merged into the county. . , A largely-signed petition was received in favor of a punt beiDg plaoed near the mouth of the Waipaoa river, cogent reaarms being adduced in support. The question arose as to how the punt was to bo maintained, and after disoussion the Engineer was instructed to report on the subiect and also to inquire from the petitioners, headed by Mr H. H. Wall, as to who would bo responsible for the maintenance of the approaches and repair of the ount. Cr Harding said it would be found that the maintenance, etc., would devolve on the Counoil, and the Chairman said the Council would not be able to go so far. Amendments wore made in the wheel j tyre by-law, whioh was passed with other i orders in regard to the Manga_ maia loan aod the taking of the road f?om the Royal Oak Hotel, Matawhero, tb Paiparo, as a county road, wftfioocsaid he had receivod no word from the Government that they would c w £ for the Matawhero bridge,nor bad bo got any word of a vote of £250 heme granted ioc this work. was decided to wire to the Government pointing out the urgent necessity for the bridgs, a letter to follow the HeSdr F Bull interviewed the Board, asking for support in the way of metal for Tyndal road. Cr Matthews supported the cause of the b tiers, and it was decided to crant £1 lor £1 subsidy up to £lO for expenditure on the road. I» was stated the Kaiti Board was left in a very low state by I amalgamation.