COOK COUNTY COUNCIL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1820, 28 July 1906, Page 3

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL

AI)JOU*KED MONTHLY MEETING The adjourned igonthl.y meeting of the Cook County Council was held yesterday, vyhen the following members were pre ■Vent: Capt. Tucker, in the chair, Crs F. Carmichael, A. F. Matthews, II Eernyay, V/. I). S. 3\fac(]onald and J. A. Harding.

CQBIiESPOEHENCE. Mr D. Malone wrote stating that having leased the country grader, at a sum agreed, which had run up to over a quarter the price when new, he asked to be allowed a small reduction in the price, viz. 7-t- days at 6s, £22 18s. It was decided that a scale should be prepared by the Engineer, and that the account in question be reduced in conformity with that scale. ■ The Secretary of the- Treasury telegraphed asking for a special order authorising the raising of £2500 loan for dray road through Waihuka station as required |by section 14 of the Local Bodies Act, 1001. A communication was received from the Secretary of the Treasury asking for fur. tlicr information in regard to the loan of £OSO for the purpose of constructing a road from To Aroha woolshed to Mills’ homestead in the Okahuatiu block. It was decided to reply that the road was not a private track, many settlers residing along the road. Mr J. MeCrcdic telegraphed that he would accept the sum of /30 for land which it was proposed to take at tht Karaka cutting. It was agreed to repl\ stating that the Council would fence or the intended line and pay valuation unde the Public Works Act. The district Health Officer wrote r alleged offensive trade established a Matawlicro. As Mr Bourkc had now rc turned to the colony Dr Du Lisle requeste ►“■-.that legal proceedings should be take against him for the establishment of th trade complained of. The Council decided to take proceeding as required by the Health Uilicer. ' Mr II Jioisel wrote in regal'd to an a] plication which was being made to tl Council asking that the portion of tl main road between the creek at the fo of Titirangi aiid the native church Hauiti to be put in good repair. T writer urged the importance of the wo The proposal of the Council to buy t land for £SO would not meet with the is prova} of the native owners. A petiti pi regard tq the above was received fri six ratepayers of the district. Consideration of the matter was ferred until the Council decide whet! {bey would take the new road.

Mv 0 K. Buvtnuu wrote complaining that notice had not been taken of the Council's notice in regard to gates on roads and the metalling of the road for a certain distance on either side. He had himself performed wluit was minimi from hlnit but not even the member for Tolago, who had four or live gates on the Wuinmtn road had done his part Or Kenway said that the gates on the Waimatu road would bo attended to by his brother, who was at present absent from the district. The Chairman *uid an advertisement had hecn inserted in the papers and action would be taken by the Council in due course, An application from Mr L. Tulloek in regard to making a road to To Kliri, Murewai, was referred to the Engineer for consideration. The I’rovineial Secretary of the Far liters' Union, Mr \V Lissant Clayton, drew the attention of the Council to the efforts which were being made by certain sections of the community in various partof the colony to get Parliamentary frail close extended to elections for local bodies It was pointed out that this would he ; great injustice to ratepayers if it won done, as it would imply that persons pay ing no rates would have an equal voice ii the. expenditure of the money, and probably in the raising of loans for local works. It.would in fact be representation without taxation. Mr Clayton asked the Council to join with the Farmers' Union in using all possible means to assist this proposed infringement of the rights of ratepayers. The Council heartily concurred in the recommendation from the Farmers’ Union. Mr C. E. Armstrong, Engineer of the railway, replied to a let er from the Council, stating that the carters employed on railway works were committing a breach of the County by laws. If such were the ease the Council should at once take legal proceedings. Every effort was being made by the department to protect the road, and reduce the inconvenience to traffic to a minimun It was decided to acknowledge the let ter with thanks, j

Ttie Wharekopao-Tahora Settlers’ Association forwarded a resolution passed at their lass meeting asking for the erection of a workman’s whare on the Nga'apaWharekopae road for tho aoocmmodation of the maintenance man. A lengthy dieousehn ensued, (Jr Matthews and others urging that the state of the OouDoil’s finances did not warrant them in going in for the ixpeDditure in tbedirectioo of workmen’s wharos through out the distriot. Or Kenway urged that if the request of the Wharekopao settlers were granted, then the olairns of Waimata should be considered. After oareful consideration it was decided that the expenditure a kod for should be entered into when the Council were in a position to undertake tho expi me, which was Dot to exceed £23. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The County Engineer submitted bis report. In matters arising out of the engineer’s repO:t, the Chairman said that the work beyond Tolago was (oo expensive to be node taken. It would no doubt save a few minutes on the road, but the expediency of the Council spending from £3OO to £SOO at the present time was a matter for consideration.

The EogiDcor said that the rosd would be Bhocteced by about 12 chains and a better grade wou'd be obtaiaed. Even at preseot an expenditure of two or three hundred ponnd9 would be required cn the present bridge-i. It was decided to repair aud rep'ace the bridges oo the old road when the opportunity offered. The question of the Karaka tunnel was next dealt with, the oheirman stating that in all likelihood the Government would be induoed to assist the Council. In the meantime the temporary track oould be used. Until the Counoil heard from the Government it would have to try and struggle on. The Eogineer said that with anything like rough weather the present track would be impassable. He urged the necessity of immediately carrying on the work. At present the priooiplo traffic would entirely depend Dpon the fords being negotiable. Or Maodonald asked a number of ques-

lions in regard to road matters beyond the tunnel, urging that the Council should go in for an expenditure sufficient to ope i the road for light-wheeled traffic. He press’d for ihe eum of J 615 to be voted towards the no k. Cr Matthews: Would the Council be responsible for any accidents ? I hold that the Council would be liable, seeing that it is a road we have already taken over. Cr Maodonald: But what about the rivers ? If a man is drowned at a crossing wo are Dot held to be liable. Un'ess the road is opened for light wheeled traffic the people will not be satiefied. Cr Matthews Bgain urged that the Council should guard itself in the matter of opening op roads as suggested by Or Macdonald. Cr Macdonald : You will find that the people in the country will look after thefmelves. Cr Matthews referred to cases whioh bad occurred in the Wairarapa district, where the councils had been involved ia heavy loss. The Clerk said that in the cases mentioned by Cc Matthews the road was left unattended to for upwards of three months. The Cbairmao said that onoe the road was advertised as being unsafe for traffic porsons could use it at their own risk. In answer to further questions put by councillors, the chairman said, 11 1 am not a judge of the Supreme Court cor yet of the Appeal Court, and I cannot answer the questions put to me.” The matter was finally left to the Engineer, who was instructed to do his best to open the road fur light wheeled traffic.

COUNTY FINANCE. Or Matthews introduced the question of fioatoe, pointing out ihit the position of the Coucoil was as bad as it could b-. The overdraft on July 21st was £10,433 19, 2d, and on tba Ist August £1330 18s 5d was wanted. Against this they bad the prospect of obtaining £833 for grants applied for and £750 Lr Bubsidirp, but it was hard to soy when they would get it. The Oltrk thought theie was a g od p o-peot of obtaining the money next thon’h. , The discussion continuing, it was found that that there w a a considerable amount outstanding in the way of rates. Ors Maiibewa apd Kenway nude a strong protest in regard to the on'-atandiog rates, and on the motion of Or K'-nway it was decided that tbo outstanding amounts should be at onoe sued for. PREVENTION AGAINBT FLOODS. Or Maitbews Bpcke tf the necessity ol i takin" every precaution egiirnt tbe recurrence of floods on tba fl .1, and on his motion it waß decided tbafc iho Engineer and himself should bo a committee to re port on the best means of preventing the Waiapaoa from overflooding its. bonks. The proposition was unanimously agreed to. ROAD-BOARD LOSSES. The losses sustained by the several Road Boards throughout the district were ably rep.esented by Crs Macdonald and i;. Lyenar, and after a general discussion, it was decided that the seme should bo for- . warded to the County Clerk without delay, tho latter receiving instructions to at , onco forward the same to tho Qovernl ment. SPECIAL LOANS. I ’ Several special loans for the purpose of 1 constructing and metalling roads and 3 building bridges throughout the district wore endorsed by tho Council. S WAIHUKA VALLEY ROAD. >- Or Macdonald said ho had been asked 10 hy a number of settlers to briDg before the in Council the olaims of the Waihuka Valley Road. . at The Engineer was opposed to tho devia 10 tioo suggested for several roasooa, om k. boiDg that he did not caro for the class o ho oountry. P Tho Chairman thought tho Counci on shou’d abide by the decision of tbe; >in Engineer. (jr Macdonald said tbo chief objeotic: 1c- was to go up tho hill, which tho preset) ler proposed route of road would ootail. On the motion of Or Kenway, stoondo

by Of F, Lyauar, it was deoidod that tho Counoil should reply, stating that tboy saw no roason to divert from tho plans of t'io Engined’. Or Mnodonald sußgoetod delay in tho onrrying out of tho work bo as to assure tho attondaroo of a deputation of settlors if they thought tit to attend. Tho Clork said it would bo sotno weeks before tho work was undortakon, Or Kouway was entirely opposed to dopartiDg from tho reoommondationa of tho EDgiuoor.