COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1033, 7 February 1882, Page 2

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

A meeting of tho above Council was held at tho Council Chambers on Friday, the 3rd instant. Present: Crs. Johnston (in the chair), Common, Ferris, Gannon, Milner. Westrup, Weston, and Chambers. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. A. P. Combs, by direction of the Gisborne Borough Council, forwarded the following resolution for the Council’s consideration:—“That the Borough Council by letter respectfully represent to the Cook County Council the advisability of taking such steps as will lead to the expenditure of the various sums voted by Parliament to be spent in and about this district in order to preclude the lapsing of such votes on the 31st March next, thankfully received. The Hospital. Messrs Brown, Somervell, McKay, and Dr. Pollen waited upon the Council, and urged that a sum of £5O be voted by tha Council for the purpose of erecting a fever ward at the 11 ostai. It was pointed out by the deputation that if the Council would grant the sum asked the Government would give a like amount. Cr. Gannon said that the building which is now used as a fever ward was not suitable for that purpose. A lengthy discussion took place upon the subject and terminated by the Council voting a sum of £75 for a permanent building for infectious diseases. Engineer's Report. The Engineer reported that for the past ten days, Mr Humphries and party have been steadily at work, testing the Patutahi Quarry, and are likely to be engaged for a fortinight longer. The smaller specimen (marked No. 1) of blue limestone was obtained six feet from the face, and the same distance from the surface. No. 2 specimen was obtained 75 feet back from the face, and two feet from the surface, Councillors Westrup and Weston visited the site, and expressed themselves as satisfied with the proposed carrying out of the test. At next meeting (by which time 1 expect the test wilt be completed) 1 will lay a full report before you. Section 1 of the GisborneAVairoa road has been commenced, and section 2 will bo started next week. I propose calling for tenders by next meeting for the formation of about 12 miles more of the road. Several compliants having been made to mere the inefficient working of the ferry at Pakirikiri, viz., that there is no punt, and on some occasions no boats for ferrying travellers, I wish to bring the matter before your notice, also, that the ferryman receives a subsidy from your Council of £2O per annum. Mr Oxenham has intimated to the Borough Council (by letter) that he is willing to sign the new specification and bonds for delivery of metal from Ormond, provided the clauses re constructing at his expense wherever the County Engineer may direct be modified ; also that the clause re stoppage of engine for two hours daily to be reconsidered. I would ask your consent to consider the matter. In the event of the new contract being entered into with Mr Oxenham, I presume the pre-1 sent contract would bo cancelled. I Before doing so it would be advisable! to see if tho tenders (which will be I opened before the rising of the Council) I for delivering sand or gravil along the I main road be less than the price which! Mr Oxenham is receiving in his pre- 1 sent contract, we can compel him to de- 1 liver gravel up to 12,000 cubic yards. I This should, in my opinion, be con- I sidered before cancelling tho present I contract. 1 would recommend that side drains I be cut(and -the earth deposited in the I centre of the road) on the Gisborne- 1 Wairoa Road a distance of 50 chains 9 (more or less along sections 30, 31, 32, I 33, and 31, ; also that tho present side I drain be extended a distance of 30 I chains to bye-road corner of section I 60. The Engineer was instructed to call I for tenders for repairs to the Mangatu I Road at a cost not to exceed £2OO. Cr. Ferris moved and Cr. Gannon I seconded, “ That the Government be I urgued to look into the question of I Native titles in this district.” Carried. I Tenders. Mr Malone’s tender for supplying I sand on the main road, Makaraka, at I Is Sd for the first mile, and 2s 5d for I the second mile, was accepted. Mr Stephenson’s tender for similar! work at Waerenga-hika at Is 8d for I first mile and 2s 2d for second mile, I was accepted. And for filling in the I

main road, McCullogh and Whitters tender at 5s 6d per chain was aceopted.-j Cr. Milner moved that a sum of i £75 bo expended on repairing the I East Coast road. Carried. The following notices of motion were carried:—(l). That in the opinion of this Council it is absolutely necessary in the interests of this district that the Waste Lands of the County should bo under local control. (2). That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable that the Crown and Native lands within the County should be rated. (3). That in the opinion of this Council it would be advantageous if there were only one valuating body within tho County, such body to be the County Council. Notices of Motion. Cr. Gannon to move, “That the sittings of the Council take place on Thursdays instead of Fridays also, “ That a solicitor be appointed for the Council.” Cr. Chambers to move, “That a return be laid on tho table at next ordinary meeting of all County moneys expended (exclusive of special Government grants) in the Gisborne and Arai Ridings for the four years ending 31st December, 1881; such return to show tho amount expended within the Gisborne Riding on the GisborneOrmond road from Read’s gate to Kaiteratahi; from Waipaoa Bridge to Makaraka; and secondly, on other roads than these within the Gisborne Hiding. Also, within the Arai such return to show separate returns for amounts expended in the portions of the Arai Riding laying north and south of the Gisborne-Wairoa road from Waipaaa bridge to Te Reinga.