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Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2037, 23 March 1907, Page 1

COUNTY COUNCIL. A mooting of the Cook County Council ivna held yesterday. Present: The Hon. Captain Tucker (in the chair), and Councillors A. F. Alattliows, Boland, J. A. Harding, AY. D. ,S. McDonald, and F. J. Lysnar. AVAIMATA BRIDGE. The clerk of the AVaimata Road Board wrote asking if the grant for for the W'aimata bridge had boon received, and, if not, that an endeavor bo made to get it before the grant lapsed. Tho Chief Engineer of Beads wrote asking what contribution the County Council would make towards the cost of the bridge, or if the settlers most a (Tooted would make some contribution. The cost of tho bridge was estimated at £1(500.

It was decided to reply that flu settlors were prepared to pav Cl foi £l. A copy of the Chief Kngincor of Bonds' letter is to be sent to the Road Boards. TELEPHONE LINES. Air. H. Ivonway drew attention, by letter, to tho fact that a person who had erected a telephone line on the AA'aimata-Ormond road was asking for exorbitant forms from another person who wished to [Hit a line of telephone through.

The Clerk stated that Air. Bruce, tho present owner of the line, said he would let anybody put up a wire for the payment of £ls. The line in the first place cost £GS. The Chairman thought the charge very reasonable. Cr. Harding thought it was not. AVhat would happen if the present owner got four other lines along his posts ? No action was taken. air. AVm. Tombleson, Patutahi. asked for permission to run a telephone wire on any portion of the County road (round by the Beach road) between the borough boundary and Patutahi. Referred to the Engineer.

GANGERS’ AV AGIOS. AV. Perston asked leave to use a draught horse on his section of road. There was great difficulty in getting men. He proposed that either he should buy the horse and charge 15s per week for working it or that the Council should buy the horse, when he would work it for 9s per day. The Engineer said he did not approve of the horse being bought by the Council.

The Chairman was against any an

nual payment. Cr. Alatthews said that if the wages of this man wore raised the other gangers would demand a similar rise. It was decided that 15s per week be paid for the horse while working. Cr. Lysnar said that they were losing their best permanent men by not granting them 9s per day. The matter of raising this man’s wages was left for the Engineer to deal with.

Cr. Alatthews gave notice of motion that the wages of all surfacemen should be raised to 9s per day. Cr. Harding said that if the wages of surfacemen were raised it would bo necessary to give a greater riso to men wanted for responsible positions.

The Engineer said that at present men who had two or more men under them received an extra shilling per day. AHSCELLANEOUS. -Notice was,, . given, that on April 18th a petition-- ■■ y asking for the abolition of the Hangaroa Road District. —Received. Air. J. D. Burgess wrote asking that as the loan for the Arolia No. 2 district was available tenders for tho work be called at an early date. —Tenders have been invited.

Mr. V. C. R. Alitford, secretary of the AVharckopae-Tahora Settlers’ Association, wrote stating that tho Association was desirous that tho County Engineer should report on the best route for the NgatapaAVharekopao road from the Ngatapa boundary. He also asked that the road be formed at once. At present the traffic from this point to the Ngatapa homestead was oil private property. The owners of the Ngatapa station had stated their willing-

ness some time previously to give enough land for a road if they were given the surveyed road which was never used.—Referred to the Engi-

Alr. J. D. Robeke, Mtiriwai, wrote that tho road to his place was again becoming bad, land should be seen to while the drains were dry. If the County would not do anything he asked leave to spend his own rates on the road. —Referred to the Engineer.

The matter of adjusting accounts in connection with one of the road gangers was left in the hands of the Clerk.

The Borough Council forwarded plans of the proposed levels in Lyttou road from Aberdeen road to Gladstone road. —Referred to the Engineer. , Messrs AV. Pilcher and J. B. Adams

wrote complaining of the bad .state of the upper end of Beere road. —A grant of £5 was mode, subject tf> jjjio supervision of the Engineer. The Borough Council wrote stat-

ig that the offer of timber to make

a 25ft culvert in Crawford road had been accepted. As the Borough Engineer said that 25 feet would not make a satisfactory job, they were

prepare;} to make the culvert for a length of 50l't if the County supplied the timber. —The timber is to be given.

Mr. H. E. Tiffcn, Tawhoti, asked that the Overseer be sent to the AVaipaoa river to lay off five or six different points with a view to having tjje y.'prlr done as money was available.—The ritiucsc was acceded to. The Borough Council wrote that

the waterworks contractor had been warned that more care must be exercised in filling in pipe trenches. — Mr. R. Hay wrote to tlie County Engineer stating that lie bad asked the contractor to do all he could to accommodate the traffic. Her thought closing the road where thcr trenches wore an excellent idea, —The Engineer said everything was now going on well.

The Chief Engineer of Roads wrote informing the Council that all authorities for expenditure issued by the Department before September 21st 1900, and under which no expenditure had taken place and no liabilities had been entered into prior to the 21st March, woidd on that date be cancelled, but could qu application, if approved, he reinstated after March 31st. —The Clerk said the notice did not affect the Council.

The Education Board wrote regarding reported encroachment of a road on the school reserve at Tolaga Bay. The original survey showed that the road in question extended only to the creek. —Received. Messrs Nolan and Skeet asked for a payment to My. J, P, Tjarrjngtqn of £3O for formation work on Mangaliamia road —The Engineer said he did not recognise the payment. Barrington was allowed to form a bridlo track, which should have been charged at 13s instead of 23s as had been done.

Mr. K. B, Bennett, Te Knraka, wrote asking that the Council take some steps to stop liis laud being

Hooded through water crossing t

road.- —Referred to the Engineer. The Borough Engineer asked for permission to run a tramway along the County road from the AVaihirere quarry to the railway.—The required permission was granted subject to the supervision of the County Engineer. The Ranger reported that since last report 121 head of cattle and horses and 11 bond of sheep had been impounded for straying on the county roads.—Received.

11 , A special order authorising the e raising of a special rale of 1-lOth of a penny for the completion of the e Alaugatu bridge was confirmed. v A special order striking a rate of t. 1-otli of a penny to provide interest t on a loan of £BOO for restoring Nga- - lapn road, for bridge and formation ■i at Arolia creek, was pased. Cr. Lysnar asked about i’areinata i road.—The Clerk informed him thal • proceedings were being blocked in AA’elliugton.—The matter was talked out and no progress was made, i The clerk of the Poverty Bay Road Board asked that the Board he reimbursed to tho amount of £32 18s for money paid for damage done by Hoods. —As tho Government had voted no money for the purpose no action was taken. Air, G. Dyinock wrote stating that tho AVaimata North road leading to his property was blocked owing to a side cutting having slipped. He asked that a new side putting he made to enable a dray to be got in. Tlie rates from the properties most interested totalled £lls per annum, but nothing bad boon done to the roads for two years. About ten chains of side cutting was required.—Dealt with in tin. Engineer’s report. The Secretary to the Treasury reported that the loan of £350 for the formation of a road from Tc Arolia woolshed to Mill’s homestead was available for expenditure.—Received. The Chief Engineer of Roads wrote informing the Ngatapa Road Board that if they wished the County to expend their grants it would be necessary to return authorities amounting to £215, to ho re-issued to 'the Co n n ty.—R ece i vod. SHINGLE PIT. The District Engineer of Railways wrote enclosing a copy of the letter sent in October, 1903. embodying tin, .conditions on which ballast eovdd he taken from the Kaitaratnlii pit.— The Engineer said it was found hotter to get shingle carted from the river to the trucks. The ballast in the pit was of very inferior quality.—The Chairman was not in favor of the railway proposal to sell five acres at £25 per acre for the use of all local bodies. The other bodies might take the cream of tho ballast. —The Engineer said that at present other people were taking the best of the metal. 1 It was decided to warn the public 1 generally to refrain from taking * shingle from tho County’s pit. Air. Alatthews said the shingle was ’ replaced quickly. Shingle had been * taken out of the pit for tho past 1 25 years, yet there was still as much * there as ever.

The Chairman said that the county had every right to get a royalty for its shingle. SANITARY ENGINEER’S REPORT. The Sanitary Engineer reported that ho had visited Tolaga Bay and inspected any dwellings that lie thought necessary. Air. Alulloolv bad not carried out instructions given on last visit. The Inspector waited to sec them carried out and ■tutoasjflxai-Af- Mr-Mjtißibh- cliould not be called upon fo visit. In drawing up (I specifications of engagement the payment bad been fixed at £2 per visit. . As it would be better on some occasions to stay a day longer rather than make a second visit, he asked that in future lie be paid 10s Oil per day. He bad visited AVliatatutu, To Karnka, Ormond, and AA’aerenga-a-hika, and abated petty nuisances. A ease of scarlotina was reported from Ormond, and steps bad been taken to make the premises where it occurred more sanitary; but a case of diphtheria hail subsequently been reported from the house. A case of scarlet fever was reported from Ngakaroa, but there was nothing about the premises to account for It. Children supposed to have German measles were stopped going to school, as it

was not certain that they had not .scarlatina. A nuisance caused by a Alaori grave at AA’aeronga-a-hika had been abates]. The Chairman proposed that the Inspector be allowed 10s Gd for everyday over one day on bis visits.

Cr. Lysnnr asked that the motion he retro-active. Cr. Matthews thought it was hardly right to alter the conditions of engagement at this stage. The Chairman’s motion was carried. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The Engineer reported as follows: “Contract, Jf)2, metal repairs, AVhataupoko : Completed.—Contract 189, clearing drain, AA'hatnupoko Ormond road (Gray’s): Satisfactorily completed.—Contract 187, metalling Monkhouse street, Tolaga : The formation of the road la In hand and awaiting metal being quarried and broken at the ")»ifc. —Contract 180, de-

livery of metal into depot, Riverside road: Progressing satisfactorily.— Contract 185, road formation, AVliare-kopae-Tahora: This contract is well in hand and timber ordered for bridges and culverts. —Contract 183. formation, Maimgahamnia : This contract, for which tenders were declined by the Council, has not vel been let, hut I hope to have the work in hand during the coining month. —Contract 182, metalling College road: Some 300 yards of shingle have been delivered. The portion of road carted over lifts been considerably cut up, ami portion of the loan should ho utilised in effecting repairs.—Contract 181. metalling Mangatu: Good progress has been

made, and some 400 yards of metal delivered and spread.—Contract 180. road formation, Mniigamaia : This work has been in hand for some three weeks, and good progress is being made,—Contract 1751, quarrying anti breaking stone. Gentle Annie: The contractor has broker some 200 yards at the upper quarry, and about 150 yards have been spread on the road from former metal broken last year.—Contract 178, bridges and formation, Paramnta and Manga tuna: Delay has been caused from difficulty in getting supply of timber, hut a start will he made in the course of a lew days. — Contract 177, Mildurn, Kaiti: This contract, which has been re-let by the Council, is making good progress. Matthews street is nearly completed and drain through Steele street in hand ; the work will probably be completed in a week or ten clays.—Contract 176, re-formation and metalling, Ngntapa : Nearly complete.— Contract 175, road deviation, etc.. Te Karaka : This work also has been

hung up through scarcity of suitable timber, hut I am urging the contractor to get the work in hand. — Contract 174, metal, carting, and breaking, Tatapouri and Makarori: A considerable amount of boulders have been carted, and are now being

knapped. —O'mtrac! 173, carting, breaking, and quarrying metal, AA Tailuata: All stone has been collected,

and the portion of the road near AlcPliail’s is being metalled. I hope on the arrival of more drays to get all Hie depot metal taken out on to the road.-—AVitli regard to the portion of the upper AVaimata road, which lias been washed out in two places, I should recommend that the work be left over till the spring, when the whole length, some (JO to 80 chains, should be taken in band with

the road machine, and put in thorough order. Little good can be done at present, as the re-formation etc., should be undertaken at a seaion when line weather is likely to

follow; if done now, the load would be soft and impassable.—-Repairs are being effected on the AJolu road beyond tho selioollionsci; other portion of this road is ill fair order. —On the Tokonui road improvements have been effected at the fords, etc., and the road is in fair order throughout, though very narrow at tho site of the big slip near Shanks’. Other improvements will probably be under-

taken during the coming month.— Portions of road at Aluriwai leading to ATr Black’s station have been formed up, and the cutting near the cross roads improved.-—Afotal repairs have been effected along the OrmondWliataiipoko road, and a supply left for Aise at the different dopots.—All contracts for Patutahi stone and shingle for dopots arc practically complete.—Formation on AVaihuka Valley road is well in hand. Tho loan money in hand will not, however, bo sufficient to complete this road. The work of clearing big drain, Patutahi, is nearly completed.—l have not been able to progress with the concrete wall at Tapuae as well as anticipated, owing to the iniposibility of obtaining locally a sufficient supply of cement; this lias caused very considerable inconvenience, as lull advantage could not be taken of fine weather.”

The Chairman moved that the Engineer’s recommendations regarding the wash-outs on the AVaimata road lie adopted.—Agreed to. The Chairman said lie bad been reqnostod by Mr. Clark to take off the two men on the Tokonui road so that four men could be put on at a later date.

The Engineer said bo had been

approached by AH Clark on the matter, but had retrained from action until Air. AVliito had been consulted. The men at present were working on

lie part of the road which was imlortant to Air. AVliite.—No action

was taken. COUNTY BOUNDARIES. A CHANGE AUTHORISED A matter dealing with changing County boundaries was discussed" at the meeting of the Cook County Council held yesterday.

Seven settlers of Ruakituri Valley signed a petition asking -'Hint the Council would arrange with the AYairoa County Council to alter the County boundary to include in the AVairoa County the block of land lying between the Hangaroa and Rnakituri rivers and the Busliv Knoll road and part of the AA’aikaremoana and Gisborne road, now in the occupation of Messrs ALUs, AlacKcnzie brothers, Quin, Dolim, Kent, Dickinson, Spence, Bellerby, and Maoris] and also the road from Tc Reinga to the present boundary. Alcssrs DeLautour, Barker and Stock wrote stating that Alcssrs Silence Bros., the owners of Tanwlmretoi No. 3 A block, objected to •the proposed alteration so far as sired meat of l>o nil ditties'”they might remain in the Cook Coiinty, Air. A, Jo Bellerby, tile first signatory on the petition, supported the petition by letter. He asked that if the petition were favorably received the necessary machinery might be put in motion to enable them to borrow money and start making roads next spring. He presumed that the native land being chiefly tribal reserve and 11011-ratepaying would not affect the granting of tho request. The petitioners represented twothirds of the settlers,_and had, roughly, 17,000 acres as against -1000 acres held by other settlers, excluding about 4500 acres of ATaori laud. The natural outlet of the settlers was AA’airoa, tho cartage being only half that to Gisborne. Further, the sett, tiers wished to make a druy road, and it was better« that all tlioso paying a special rate should be in one county. The change would relieve the Cook County of the maintenance of two miles of road which the AVairoa County Council were quite willing to take over. There was no doubt that the condition of this piece of road accounted for an extra 5s on cartage to AVairoa. Air. Bellerby also asked for information regarding the raising of a special loan.

Air. G. T. Kent objected to the petition. His outlet w«a different to that of the petitioners.

Cr. Lysnar said tin; people in tlto Ruakitnri Valley would certainly have outlet to Atairoa, but on this, side of the range Gisborne was the outlet. 'Ho proposed that the petitioners' prayer he granted. None of the objectors were included in the petition. The Chairman said it was absolutely necessary to have a plan of the land affected. Further, there was, he thought, a provision that the plan should he at the County office.

Cr. hysonr said the people had got information from the clerk as to how to proceed, and when they brought down all the data they were nonsuited. In seconding the resolution, Cr. Tlarding asked the Council to take a broad view of the ease. The petitioners had in their minds a scheme to make ten miles of roads and to bridge the Uuakituri, and anything the Council did to delay the matter would keep them seriously behind in their intentions. Of course if a plan was absolutely necessary they would have to get one.

Cr. Lysnar asked that the petition be granted -conditional on the plan being supplied. Cr. Matthews said he would vote for Iho matter so long as the proper legal steps were taken. Cr. Harding said a plan was not demanded by the .Act. If the plan was wanted he would personally guarantee that it would be supplied. It was finally decided to approve the petition, on the understanding that a plan was put jn,