COUNTY GOUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2113, 22 June 1907, Page 1

COUNTY GOUNCIL.

An adjourned mooting of tlio Coot County Council was held yesterday 'Present, the Hon. Captain Tucker (Chairman), and Messrs, W. D. Lys nnr, Boland, Matthews, and V. Lysiiur.' HEALTH MATTERS/

Mr. R. ThohvnlL, Hoalth Officer, re ported: A: complaint, was made /in the ollico of an offensive piggery at Milkauri. I 1 lmvo vjewed the promises and instructed the occupier "what win., required to abate the,’nuisance) Sub sequoutly 1 received a letter from s the chairman of tlio Makauri School Committee relative to the. same. Atteli--tum, lias been given and the nuisance abated to satisfaction. - A caso of diphtheria -was reported from Pathtain, which I'have investigated, Init I found / nothing of an insanitary nature about the premises. Anothercase, of diphtheria was reported from Pututahi, this being the third ease

in..the same dwelling, the last case subsequent' to the house being fumigated. I may point out here ill fumigating, wooden houses the majority. 1 visitotd - are so old and dilapidated that effectual fumigation is almost impossible owing to there being so much ail- space, the gas being thereby allowed to escape. Acting under instructions from the District Health' Officer I visited the Te Karalia hotel to arrange with the proprietor to make certain alterations to the drain leading" from -the septic tank. This tank -was put in without the authority of the Health Officer and proper sanitary precaution was not provided for. A complaint was made in the office of an insanitary drain ip the township of Patutahi. I have inspected the premises and found nothing of a very insanitary nature, and the cause of complaint lias been attended to. Tlie Ormond district is

apparently clear of any infectious disoase at present, no cases being reported from there since your last meeting.—Adopted.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. In connection with road formation, AVaihuka Valley, the Engineer (Mr. Do G. Eraser) reported very i fair progress on the contract. Some 136 chains’ was practically completed, and, with the exception of about 30 chains at the far end, more or less work had been done throughout tlie distance under construction. Mr. Eraser -added: —-“A deputation’ of settlers lately waited on the Hon. iJames Carroll with the view of obtaining some assistance towards completing the whole- length of road. It was stated at this meeting' that on account, of a mistake in the Engineer’s estimate insufficient funds were borrowed. I am- desirous of pointing out to the Council that this was incorrect/ Tlio ireal: cause of the monies being insufficient'was' that the settlers interested extended the proposed road (on which the estimate was based) from 5% miles to 8 miles 48 chains, and the compensation for land taken, fencing, etc., was higher than anticipated.” The report on other works stated: Contract 174: Metal repairs, Tatapouri and Makarori.—Completed. Contract 175: Formation arid bridging Te Karaka.- —Slow progress is being made with this work owing to- /continuous wet t weather. *-• "■ Qri© bridge is completed, and the' fillingin, some 12 or 15 chains of formation, nearly finished, and second bridge partially erected, . ~r Contract 176: Metalling and for-mation-Ngatapa.—This work is practically finished; I have had very great trouble with the contractors, who were quite inexperienced as regards formation-work, and have had repeatedly to be sent back oh the road. .

Contract 178: Bridges and formation Marigatuna and Paramata. —The whole of this work has been satisfactorily completed with exception of bridge approaches near north boundary • this latter work I propose to leave over till the spring. Contract 179 : Metal depots Gentle Annie.—Some 400 yards of metal have been broken and stacked, and will bo carted on to the road when practicable. Contract 180 : Formation Maungahaumia. —Left over till, the spring. Contract 1S1: Formation and metalling Mangatu:—This work also I j have been compelled to leave till fine weather. | Contract 182: College road is in' similar position. ; • Contract 185: Formation Whare-. kopae-Tahora.—Work is still being ' pushed on, on this contract, but portions of the road are in such a condition that it is quite impossible to, complete the formation, and timber! for culverts and bridges is not yet On tho site. ' ' ■ ■ Contract. 187: Metalling Monk-house-street, Tolaga.—Completed. . Contract .191: - Lifting .and breakr ing boulders, Tolaga Flat. —Completed. The contractor is .now engaged in carting extra. stone for covering the portions repaired. Contract 194 : Formation Aroha.— Good progress has been, made, and the first two sections oiit of five completed. ' ’ . Contract 196: Metalling near Walkohu bridge.—Fair progress has been made, but owing to wet weather contaiit interruptions have occurred in the progress of the work. Tho Engineer, referring to the Waihuka road, said lie had given a rough estimate for 5i miles at £2500.. Afterwards tlio extensions were made and. the settlers seemed to saddle the blame on him. . The Chairman: Oh, you can stand, all this and more. (Laughter.) There is no need to go further into that. f

WHAREKOPAE ROAD. Messsrs. Abberton and McDermott, who hold tlio No 185 ' Wharekopao road contract, applied for an extension of time till spring in order to complete. It was impossible, they stated, to get tlio timber carted for the bridges and culverts with the roads in such a state. The early commencement of the wet weather had put them back with the carting. It was impossible to work the horses until the spring. They intended in the meantime to proceed with thp : rock and .heavy earthwork. A letter, signed by Messrs E. and A. Ivcson, C'lias. Leggett, R. G. .lellie, A. C. Williams, T.' G. Williams, Thos. McGregor, and Renner, drew attention to the very muddy niid had state of the dray road pow being formed from . Mr. Maygton’sV LTnder the present circumstances they considered it desirable fof tbe contractors (No. 185 contract) to discontinue the contract for the. earth'work. “Tlio road at present where i>a . formed is in. subh' a bad state that -.ifearth- from the - cuttings is thrown on the top of the mud blie ropd will’ continue, far into the spring and sum-: nier months, impassable for traffic of any kind.'.’ They agreed that tlio contractors could continue with the rock work. , - The Engineer, in reply to Cr. Matthews. said the contractors had shown duo diligence in their work. It' was agreed to grant an extension of time to September 21. On Cr. Lysnar’s suggestion ii proviso was added that this did not.prejudice the Council’s right to levy a penalty atthe end of the contract,-if so decided.

i f PATUTAHI TRAMWAB,- • . The Gisborne. .Borough Council! wrote upon the cpiostiou-of a tramline i from Gisborne to tbe Patutahi quarry., I “to enable metal for the. roads to be brought iii at n rate tliiit-would allow:' public works to be undertaken' in a ! more comprehensive maimer than .at! present.” • The co-operation of flip County* Council \yas asked for, and a Conference of the Councils- to consider..' the feasibility ofV the scheme was suggested. <.. . . . . . ...• Brief .discussion' evidenced, the view of Councillors that the subject was of chief interest-tp tiie Borough, It was decided to send-a reply that the County Council would willingly cooperate, aiid join in the Conioreiico, and' trusting that the Borough Council would bo prepared with ; some scheme to submit for discussion. \

• ROAD MACHINES. / l'ho American Road Machine Co. 'Offered an improved steel Cham)iion oad; machine for £BO f.0.h., AVclling- : ou. This was stated to be the oii;inal cost. Cr. Boland hold that the .road inaihino should he kept in Tolaga riding. Tlio Engineer said the machines woro nil in use, but olio- might he ,pared lor Tolaga. Ho suggested tl l'lio ridings should linvo the machines in turn. , . . -, . The Clmirmaii said the trouble in

javing a lot of machinery ;t:'oout was that it was difficult to work thorn to vantage, whilst housing had also to ho provided. ;y,"' - It being stated that ono. machine was hired to a contractor, Cr. Matthews expressed his disapproval of hiring. The Chairman said the Council had approved of this system, to utilise the machines when not in use. An offer to deliver-the machine at Tolaga will be obtained. . QUESTION OF BRIDGE VOTES; Cr. Matthews, moved to. vote £SOO towards the Pakarae bridge. ' jThe Chairman asked if it would prejudice the Council’s chance of a Government grant.

Cr. Matthews: Mr. Carroll said it would, strengthen our harids in ap proachirig the Government. Cr. Lysnar was against votes' for bridges, a luxury, whilst roads were 30 'Urgently required. He quoted that Tolaga ridiiig, would, when works were completed; be £O3O in debt With the £SOO for AVaimata bridges they would/ be £IOOO in debt before they did any road work at all. The Chairman said it was considered economy to dispense with the punt and have a bridge. Or.'Matthews said this riding wasusually £3OOO or £4OOO in credit. It was only this year Tolaga was in debt; it was being bled by the other, ridings. Cr. Boland seconded Cr. Matthews’ motion. Tolaga had' a main line of road running through it. Bridges were no luxury; they were necessary to prevent loss of life.

Cr. Matthews contended it was economy to do away with punt maintenance. Tolaga was, he argued, in ail exceptional position, and he believed with further information on the subject Cr. Lysnar would vote for the bridges. . „ i

Cr. F. Lysnar was of opinion that if Waimata was to get £SOO Tolaga should get the same treatment. ; Cr. AY. D.' Lysnar disagreed. It" would be better for Tolaga’s own sake to have a proper system adopted. Dealing with the .financial aspect he said Tolaga riding would have £2500 on the list voted, and a credit of only .£1,113, and now AYiiimata wanted to. have a cut in for £SOO. He moved that the motion bo left uneil the, accounts had. been gone into. Cr. Matthews remarked that the other Councillors had supported the grant. . The motion granting £SOO for Pakarae was carried, Cr. AA r . D. Lysnar dissenting/ ; The Chairman thought that if Cr. Lvshar had been longer at the table he would have supported the proposal. It was good business to get rid of the punt. Cr. Lysnar made a rejoinder that he did not believe, in doing business doing .business) at random. Cr. Matthews / AA T e”4?av</ not.■ bepu. doing-Kusines sat random, ’ ' Qyj -Lysnfir wanje’d?tq x 'srie‘-,.a hotter bystem of fimince.-lof. tho rldhigs. V : Cr. Boland pointed out ; that whereas the AVaimata bridge vote might bo considered a bit of a luxury, it was different with Pakarae. Cr. AA'. D. Lysnar: Then I hope yoji will vote against the .AVaimata' grant-, of £SOO when it-comes on. . ; . The Chairman said no definite graritliad been made. Cr. Lysnar: You are pledging youtselves to it. The Chairman: Agreed in so far as it was to give the settlers support. The settlers were rating themselves arid deserved some assistance. “Look ,at ( my poor riding, Gisbornp, hpw badly you treat- it,” he added. , : .-. Cr. Lysnar said it had had tlio best cut in of the lot. . ACCOUNTS.

• The Clerk submitted the following list ol' accounts to Juno 21: Overdraft,19th May, 1907, £2784 _los ..2d; collected, general rates, £27 14s 9d, special rates £2 Os 6d, charitable aid rates 5s Ad, interest 12s 6d, slaughter liee.nses £2, hotel licenses £lSl“10s, insurance £lO, billiard licenses £3 3s, sale of stone £B4 12s 6d, Gisborne Borough Council £B4 15s od. small . revenues 1.65, total. £397 10s, making tbe overdraft £2389 Os 2d. Amount required to-day,:.£4245 12s Id; overdraft, 22ird June,' £6632 12s 3d ; advances, £S9Q; grants applied for, £3OQ. ; . Comment was’ made oil the lengthy listfL. as the accounts were checked and. passed.....;.:. .... , j-