COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1050, 18 March 1882, Page 2

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Council met at 8 p.m. for transaction of business. There were present —Crs. Johnson (Chairman), Common, Weston, Westrupp, Clarke, Gannon, and Chambers. A letter from the Taranaki County Council .v- Hospital aid was read, i’he ' Council sympathised with the Taranaki | Council but. were unable to aid them. Moved by Cr. Clarke that the stand-1 ing order be suspended. Carried. 1 die account of W. king. Cr. Clarke moved that CIO (is. charged for rates be refunded. ■ Mr King stated that he had been rated for land in Makauri never in Iris possession. Mr King owned that this was to a great extent his own fault, as lie had not appealed at the proper time.

Cr. Weston moved that the amount of £lO 6s. be returned to -Mr King, less expenses incurred. Cr. Gannon seconded. Cr. Chambers moved as an amendment that the account be submitted to Mr Brassey for consideration. Motion carried. Cr. Gannon moved that the Council be prepared to expend the sum of from £lOO on the forming of eulvei-ts and bridge on the VVairnata Bead from Gisborne to Barker’s, recommending expenditure on permanent works instead of makeshifts, the amount to be supplemented equally by Government. Cr. Chambers, in seconding pro forma, preferred postponing the matter until communication could be held with the Turanganui Highway Board. Cr. Common moved as an amendment that the Council postpone the matter. Major Westrupp seconded the amendment. —-A mendinent carried. Mr Winter presented reports on the Quarry. Pavment of the accounts was then resol veil. Notices of motion : Gisborne-AVai-roa Road. Drain to beeiit. Carried. T. Martin: Application for slaughtering license at reduced fee, at per bead. Granted. Cr. Common drew attention to the state of Tologa Bay Hoad, from Tawhiti ; and was followed by Councillor Gannon, recommending repairs. Cr. Common strongly urged immediate repairs. Cr. AV inter recommended that Mr E. Pavitt be entrusted with the supervision of the repairs at a salary of 10s. per diem. Cr. Common moved that the Engineer be allowed a discretionary power to spend £lOO if required. Seconded. Cr. Gannon moved an amendment that the work be submitted to tender, on the principle of iion-departniental; expenditure. Amendment lost. Cr. Common again urged leaving the ( matter in the hands of Mr Winter. — | Motion carried. Cr. Gannon thought there was a ' bye-law prohibiting expenditure be- \ vend £5 for works of this description, except by tender. He strongly opposed delegating the duties of the Council in public expenditure to any officer. He thought the Council had not the power to delegate the power of etpemlituru j to any ;

Cr. AVestrupp thought that the I most economical way would be to en- I trust the Engineer with the expendi- ; ture; he was not likely to misappropriate it. Cr. Gannon said that the principles of expenditure should be equal. It was no use talking for an hour over an expenditure in one instance of £5 for a culvert, if in another instance the expenditure of a larger sum was entrusted to the Engineer. He strongly urged that tenders be asked for. Cr. Johnson thought Cr. Gannon misunderstood the question. Much time would be lost if Cr. Gannon's ' idea were carried out. People would not take the trouble to look after the 'tenders. Mr Winter should be au- ; thorised as an economical measure to i have the work done in small contracts. Did not know of any clause in the i Public Works Act prohibiting such i delegation. Would like to have it pointed out. Major Westrupp followed, support- ' ing Cr. Johnson's view uf the matter. Cr. Gannon proposed as an amendi merit ” That the particular parts of the road between here and Tawhiti rei quiring repair be specified." This i could not be put, and I Cr. Johnson asked Cr. Gannon for ja definite proposition. | Cr. Gannon then [imposed “ That i the matter be deferred till the next , meeting of the Council.'’ Not seconded. Lost. Cr. AVeston moved, and Cr. Gannon seconded, “ That the Engineer inspect the works, and tenders be called for." In answer to Cr. AVesirup the Engineer gave a slight sketch of his probable proceedings in connection with this work. Cr. Weston's motion was put and lost by the casting vote, Cr. Johnson giving his vote in the negative on economical grounds. The voting for the £7,000 Loan was then discussed. Cr. Gannon will undertake Waiinata ; Cr. Westrup, Makaraka ; Mr Milner, AYaiapu; Cr. Johnson and Mr Clarke, To Aral. Tologa Bay as yet undecided. Tenders were then opened for clearing Bathurst Burr on three main roads. Witherc and Walsh, £l5; not accepted. Cutting HO chains of drain on AA’airoa Road: AVittcrs and Boyd, Ils. per chain: C. AValdron, 12s. per chain; J. AVilliams 10s. 6d. per chain, accepted. Constructing wings to five brick culverts on main mad: D. Malone, £29 10s.; Osborne, Beale, and Hubble, £65; E. AYilkinson, £29 10s.; AV King, £25, accepted. NOTICES (IE MOTION. Cr Gannon re prevention of spread of rabbits. Cr. Chambers re prohibition of importation of sheep from Auckland until the district be pro- | claimed clean. The meeting then adjourned.