Page 1 Advertisements Column 4

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2004, 13 February 1907, Page 1

COUNTY COUNCIL, A mooting of the Cook County Council was hold yesterday morning at the nfliees of the Council. Pro sont The Hon. Captain .Tucker -in the elmir’i.. Councillors A. If. Ain i thews, \V. D. K. Mnc<h mild, Howard Konway, J. A. Harding, Boland and A. AVh'Uo. The minutes of the previous meeting were reail and continued, after a correction suggested by Cr. McDonald had heon made in one of the paragraphs. The Clerk voad the outward pondencoj which ,vas eenlirennd. Waiomoko Itoad. Archibald Douglas, in a letter to the Chairman on behalf of those who had signed a petition to the Council for assistance in tho formation of the AVaiomoko road, asked that the matter he reconsidered, believing that this would result in tho Council granting some measure of assistance. Tho Chairman said that they wore asked to spend money on a road now in use, but not a country road. That was the position. Tho Engineer said it was a survey road, and fenced on one side, but it was very steep. , Cr. Boland explained the case to the Council, and supported the application of tho petitioners. The petitioners offered £lO towards doing the road. In reply to questions, the Engineer said that tlio road would cost double that amount. Cr. Matthews suggested that the Council have a report upon the matter before doing anything. He moved that. The Chairman: It is already reported on. Cr. Harding said lie thought the Council should grant £4O towards the work. Cr. Kenway agreed with Cr. Harder. Boland said that nothing had been spent on the road tor the benefit of the settlers. The Chairman said ho was not satisfied that the road was a public one, and he must he satisfied of that before he would vote a penny. Even if it were a public road, then ho thought it was a public road where it ought not to he. The Engineer produced a plan of the locality, which was examined h.v the Chairman, who then said: I am partly right, and partly wrong. .Tho better road was down by tho river. Under the circumstances I feel very indisposed to put one penny on the road. I am afraid they will not he satisfied with the road when it is made. . , Cr. Matthews said the road was one that could never be made into a good road. It was better to spend £250 and make a good road. He moved that the Engineer be instructed to prepare plans for the making of a good road, and that the Council spend £250 on it, leaving the settlers to find the rest or the money. The Council ought to do something, because there was great need for a fiaul at that particular PS Cr’. AVhite seconded Air. Matthews’ motion. , ~ , Cr. Kenway thought it would be rash to expend £250 on a new road. He strongly objected to the expenditure unless the settlers came forward and said they were prepared to go in for a loan. .. Cr. Lysnar said the proposal, if carried, would not be fair to the settlers in other localities. The Chairman said that to some extent he agreed with both parties. FLo was an interested party, but be thought the line of road the settlers asked money for was the worst. He would rather put bis hand in bis pocket and pay towards a good line of Cr. Lysnar saidjhe would treat all ttlers alike. / . , Cr. ICenway said if Cr. Harding s otion was' withdrawn, lie would ove that the Council give £4O toijrds making the present line of ad'. J " , , Cr. Matthews said they had no ght to spend money on a road lien they knew that the money mid he absolutely lost. Me moved iat the Council give £IOO towards e cost of a proper road on conditm that the settlers found the rest the money. Cr. AVhite seconded Cr. Matthews otion. The Chairman said the cost would •obably be £3OO. If they gave £IOO ov would bo shot at. , , , Cr. AVhite: I think we should help 5111. Hie Chairman: Sq 4° I*

Cv. Kenway said that was a more reasonable proposal. He was in favor of that. The Chairman put the amendment moved by Cr. Matthews, and it was carried, ' Crs. Harding, McDonald, and Boland voted against it, “An Expensive Item.” Mr R. V. Black, of Araltihi, wrote stating that the four gateways on his run we re all on dry situations, so that the Council would see that metajlipg, according to the Council’s bi-dei-;' »rj>s a somewhat unnecessary and decidedly expensive item, as Jie would have to do carting fully six miles uphill. Messrs. AY. McNeil and Thos. Caldwell wrote that the boundary gato between their sections had been metalled. The other gate would be shifted when the Council’s permission was given, and it would then be metalled as requirefl. The Chairman said this matte?, had been several times before the Council, and he did not see how the Council could alter their resolutions. He proposed that the letter he referred to the Engineer. He could quite understand that different gateways required different treatment.. Ci;. AVJiite thought that, the people who had gates 'would keep them in repair for their own sakes. Cr. Matthews moved that the Council reply to Mr. Black that their resolution would he carried out. The Engineer, in reply to questions, said that no _ discretionary power had been left with him. He had written to Mr. Black to say that he had no power fcq make any difference In any ease. This resolution was seconded and carried. Cr. ICenway moved that discretion he given to the Engineer to arrange with the owners of gates whether they he made to open both ways or one way. Tiffs was secondedCr. Ha filing suggested that the Engineer have discretion also in regard to the metalling. Cr. Kenway did not propose to make any alteration in his resolution.

Cr. Kemvay’s motion was now put, and carried, The Cuttings on Oarwpn TJqafl. Mr. E. Cox, Gisborne, wrote, suggesting that now would lie a good time to clear the drains on the several cuttings on Harwell road. Owing to the soft nature of the metal put on these cuttings they became very bad in wot weather. The Chairman: I think we had bettor let this matter stand until we hear the Engineer's report. Mr. L. Tullocli wrote, stating that he had deepened tile drain from the sea up to his property. He was in a sad plight with regard to a road to Te Kuri, and he asked the Council to get on with the road before winter set in. On the motion of the Chairman this matter was deferred until the Council heard the Engineer’s report. “Thirds” and “Fourths.’L_ The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote to the Clerk of the Council, stating that he returned the scheme for the expenditure of “thirds” and “fourths,” amounting to £263 9s lOd, duly approved of by the Land Board. Payment by the Receiver of Land, ltevenuc would follow in due course. Itoad "Work.

Chairman Cook County Council. 4tli Fob., 1907. Sir,—Your favor of 31st January to hand to-clav, hjijl contents noted for which I thank you. 1 am aware that Mr. Fraser lias great difficulty in getting men in these out of way places, and, of course, unless you get the right kind of men under proper supervision, money is wasted. The settlers and storekeepers are continually losing money by supplying these roadmen with provisions, etc. So that often men are available up this way, but have no means of making a start to work without provisions, tent, and tools, and no one to guarantee them any credit. To my mind the only satisfactory way to get the roads opened up after floods, etc., is to fit a man who has a small plant, say, two or four horses, plough, and scoop, to take the necessary men and see the work through, and be responsible for goods and stores. Mr. Fraser started -Malmm -w.ijJl-.hJs,-jaJnjlt -QJld—meiy-iJH.