Cook County Council-

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 990, 25 October 1881, Page 2

Cook County Council-

The usual meeting of the above was held on Friday evening. Present: Crs. Graham (Chairman), Chambers, Scott, Johnson, Sunderland, and Wi Pere. The business presented very few features of prominent interest. In the matter of the Tuparoa Hoad, Mr. Haig reported that the Natives were adverse to its being laid off, thinking that they would have to pay rates. Wi Pere wrote to the Natives telling them they would not have to pay rates. It was decided to fill up with gravel the space between the tramway and the Sir George Grey Hotel. At present the position of the line injured the landlord’s business. Notice of motion was given by Cr. Johnson to again subsidise the Wharepara ferry. An application was made for compensation for the loss of a horse, in consequence of it having met with an accident through a boulder lying on the road. The Council did not entertain the application. Mr. R. O. Stewart was the only applicant for the Waihau Accommodation House, and the Council decided to recommend him to the Waste Lands Board. The following report re the special loan was read and adopted : — “ The committee of ways and means appointed to ascertain the best method of providing a supply of road metal and the means to meet the requirements of the County to carry out this object, met on Saturday, 18th instant, when there were present —the Chairman, Crs. Porter and Chambers —it was resolved that the following suggestions be given to the Council: — (1.) That notice be given under Clause 140 Counties Act of the Council’s intention to borrow £7OOO for 10 years for thepurposes'of metalling County roads. (2.) That a special rate for interest and sinking fund be 1 per cent, on the rateable value of the County. (3.) That the loan be expended as follows : —£3ooo during the first year, £2OOO second year, and £2OOO third year. (4.) That the Managers of the Bank of New Zealand and Loan and Mercantile Agency Company be waived upon for the purpose of ascertaining whether either of these firms will undertake the raising of the loan. (5.) That the financial agent be asked to give an advance on account of the loan under section 154 of the Counties Act, which gives agents power to borrow a portion of ths money in anticipation of the issue of the debentures. (6.) That tenders be called for from persons willing to supply metal from Patutahi or Ormond quarries, having the use of the tramway for say seven years, with all benefits therefrom accruing by way of supply (carriage only) of metal to public bodies and for building purposes ; the Council retaining the option of taking over the line at any time by giving six months notice and paying compensation to be fixed by valuator.—Andrew Graham, Chairman.”

.The Engineer will report at next meeting on the Motu Block, and will then visit Hihiroa. Swing gates are to be erected on the Patutahi road. A vote of £l2 10s. was passed to Messrc. Allen and McLeod for the samples of stone obtained by them from Ormond and Patutahi. Their report states that the Patutahi metal is far and away the best for road making.