Cook County Council.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 10, 2 July 1887, Page 3

Cook County Council.

Thb Couhty Council met on Thursday afternoon. Present—Crs G. .L. Sunderltiflfl (Chairman), J. W. Sunderland, King, Stubbs and Dobbie. Tax Name or the Bay ! A letter Wes read from the Harbour Board relative to the question of ehanging the name of the Bay, and a long discussion took place on the matter. The whole tenour uf the remarks made by members was evidently Igainst the proposed alteration, and it was evidently resolved that it was not advisable not desirable to change the name, and the Council wotfid not take any steps in the

matter, - -- A large amount of minor correapoiidence WM read and attended to. Mr C, Brown wrote comnlaining that be had been sued for rates, and threatening an action against the Council. The Clerk .explaited that Mr Brown had had ample time from the notioa being first served upon him to have acquainted the Council of the poeition he stood in in reference to the property on which the rates were claimed, bat ignored the matter altogether until a judgment summons had been issued The Clerk was instructed to answer fue letter and inform Mr Brown how the issue of the summons had

Occurred. . . the Te Arai Boad Board wrote intimating that they had doled a road in their district, and requesting the Coiindl to give their concent.—Consent accorded.

EXGIKXEB’S INSTRUCTIONS; The Engineer was instructed tn perform the work necessary to make an approach to the Turanganui Bridge on the Haiti side, the Borough Council to pay half the cost. The Engineer waa also instructed to see to ths cutting of IS ehaina of an outlet drain at Patutahi, aa the water ie now lying on the property of the adjoining ratepayers* ‘ ? 7 Ols F»tt Boas* „ It waa decided that if the Poverty Bay Bead Board would pay the expenses entailed ia dosing the road and opening the proposed naw road the Council would agree to their HQueet. Ekgisbbb’s Rbiobt. The above was read and adopted. The Engineer in the course of hie report referred to the bad state of the roads along the coast owing to the continued bad Weather, and sundry repairs were authorised. He advised the Council to sell the Bose Hotel, Awanui, but it waa decided to allow the matter to stand over until the next meeting of the Council. Tenders are to be called for at once for the construction of the Uangapeka new bridge on Pickett’s site. Road Boabd Finance. On behalf of the Local Board Finance Committee Mr Stubbs reported as follows In presenting the Beport of Committee on Boad Board Finance, I would wish to make a few remarks. Your Council ordered that the Beport should be presented at a special meeting to be held on the 9th June, which meeting lapsed for want of a quorum. The Beport is practically correct according to the information given in the Balance-sheets of the various Boards, and absolutely correct as far as the deductions drawn as to the great loss to the ratepayers generally of monies which should be received as subsidies. This is the more to be regretted as the present state of our road show how urgent is our need of more money. The Clerk of two of the Boad Boards appears much exercised at the Beport of your Committee, he attempts to shew that the amounts set down against his particular Boad Boards are Incorrect, another “ Inquirer ” would like people to believe that Boad Boards are far preferable to County Councils, as elementary schools to educate men "in business habits.” But these are only secondary considerations, the main point at issue no one has, or can impugn. In dismissing these frivolous objections, I would say that I cannot think it is consistent with the position of the County Council, or its members, to enter into a newspaper correspondence with the Clerks of Boad Boards, who of all people are the least able to dispassionately discuss such an important question as this, indeed some of them are not certain that the Boad Boards were not formed for their especial benefit. The Council can only have the interest of the ratepayers at heart, as their services being gratuitous the merging of the Boad Boards will certainly give additional work, Since the Beport was sent in to your Council, the Poverty Bay Boad Board has sent in their Balance-sheet. But as In adding up the receipts there is an error of £3O, and another of £llO in the assets, your Committee cannot make any use of the figures, or place any reliance on them. After discussion it was decided to leave the matter over for the present. Bundby Mattbbs.

* Ct Gannon's two motions re book canvaaeers and the Biverside Boad were again allowed to stand over owing to his absence. Payments to the amount of £370 13s 2d were authorised. The question of the special loan for the Waikohu Bridge waa left over until the Boad Board are able to ascertain the consent of the ratepayers on the subject. Tenders were received from Messrs O'Byan and W. E. Ballantyne for the plan of Cook County ; the prices being, O'Byan £6O, or if allowed to use the survey data in the Government office free of charge £l5; W. E. Ballantyne £67. Mr O Ryan’s tender was accepted subject to the permission of the Government as above being obtained. The result of the canvass for Imperial Institute subscriptions was reported to be a dead failure as only £Bl3s had been collected at a cost of £5 5s for collection.