COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1091, 24 June 1882, Page 2

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

This Council held its ordinary fortnightly meeting on Thursday night last, at 7 p.m. Present—Crs. J. Woodbine Johnson (Chairman), Weston, Clarke, Chambers, Westrup, and Gannon. Minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed.—Answers to Government circular were read. The Chairman said that a hurried meeting called for the purpose of considering repairs necessary by flood damage was, by reason of a quorum not being present, not strictly legal, but he would ask if, under the circumstances, the Council would agree to the action taken. Agreed nm. con. Outgoing Correspondence.— Letter to Mr Barnard, surveyor, enclosing schedule of works on Wairoa road. To Clerk of Licensing Court, enclosing schedule of proceedings and costs. To Minister of Public Works, enclosing a statement of damages done by recent floods, and asking for a grant in aid ; especially referring to Arai bridge, main road, and Waipaou bridge, and giving general account of damage done. Shewing also County Councils inability to meet such an unprecedented and sudden demand on their funds—Arai bridge, £1100; Main road, £800; Waipaoa bridge, £l7O ; and other items forming a total of £2,095. A similar statement was sent to the Hon. Randall Johnson. To Mr Brown, enclosing cheque. Incoming Corrbspondencb.—From Mr Barker reporting loss of Taruheru bridge, and requesting the Council to undertake replacement of the work, he (Mr Barker) undertaking to clear the creek from obstructions such as logs, drift stuff, etc., along his boundary.— Cr. Chambers suggested subsidising the Road Board to a moderate extent, say £l5. He was unaware whether or not there was a recognised road here.—Cr. Westrup seconded.— After some discussion, Cr. Weston moved as an amendment, and Cr. Clarke seconded, that the Engineer be instructed to visit the scene and report on the circumstances, and the immediate necessities thereof.—Cr. Gannon opposed the amendment; a sum having been already voted for these purposes. The bridge, if erected again, should bo on the line of road. —Cr. Westrup followed. The money already voted might be utilised, leaving a surplus for clearing the Taruheru creek higher up. —The Chairman thought, under the circumstances, it would be wise to obtain a report as to locality and probable cost of bridge, and to what extent the Highway Boards wore prepared to assist.—The Engineer recommended a report" —Cr. Chambers withdrew his motion ; the amendment therefore became a substantive motion. The amendment was carried.—From the Colonial Secretary re subdivision of native lands, replying to Council’s letter thereon.— Cr. Gannon hoped the matter would not be allowed to pass by in silence. He would ask for an expression of the Council’s opinion relative to the Bill, as necessary to general interests. The Government should be written to in termi expressive of their opinion with a view to the passage of Mr McDonald’s Bill entitled, “ Native Land Court Act, 1880, Amendment.”— Cr. Chambers said he had been down to Wellington in reference to native land matters, and found himself badly supplied with material to work upon. In conversation with Mr Bryce, he had found that gentleman favorable to views of the Native Land Act. He was advised, however, not to ask for too much. The idea

was that facilities for subdivision of native lands was absolutely necessary. He had bad a Bill drafted which the Council would consider. He thought it met the case, but some, among them lawyers, thought otherwise.—Cr* Weston proposed) and Cr. Clarke seconded* that a Committee, composed of Crs. Gannon* Chambers, Johnson) and Clark, be formed to consider this matter, and report in the morn* iug. Curried ncm. con.— Letter from Mr Brunt re his portion of the Wairoa road contract, asking for extension of time, owing to impossibility of getting the necessary timber during the present impassable state of the road. —Proposed by Cr. Clarke, seconded by Cr. Weston, that the letter be acknowledged* aud the question of time considered when the contract is completed. Carried.—From Sur-veyor-General, asking for report of Council’s work in aid of which Government expenditure has been granted. This information has been already supplied.—From J. Price, asking for re-consideration of deduction made from his Patutahi drain and Wairoa road contract payments, and that the penalty be not enforced in consideration of adverse circumstances.— The Engineer said the work done was in excess of the contract specification. It was thoroughly well done, however.—Cr. Clarke said the fault lay in Mr Price not starting his contract early enough. When the contract time was up he only bad two or three days’ work complete.—The Engineer said that had Mr Price confined himself to his contract he could have completed it. The Council would reap the benefit of the work done.—Cr. Gannon said this being another instance of the laxity of contract affairs, he would uphold the itfliction of the penalty, but would bain favor of paying for the extra work done.—-There being no seconder, the Chairman put a question as to whether any concession should be made to Mr Price in the matter. Ngalived.—• From Mr T. J. Allen re penalty in Mangat H and other contracts, applying for re-considera-tion of his case, in consequence of the difficulty of obtaining labour, and the general hardship of his case. Refused nem. con. Road Board Vouchers.—Waikohu, £sss| Waiapu, £5 5s ; Ormond, £1 Is; Poverty Bay, £lO Is ; Patutahi, £2 2s.—Cr. Westrup proposed a subsidy of one-half expenses to Road Boards in connection with the completion of Valuation Rolls. The work was neeessary and the Road Boards were not in affluent circumstances.—Cr. Clarke seconded. Carried* —Cr. Gannon expressed his opinion that the Council should not be called upon for an expenditure in connection with the matter.—Cr* Westrup explained that the compilation of these returns were called for, and if not done by the Road Boards, would devolve on the County Council at an equal, if not greater expense.—Cr. Gannon still objected. Tenders.—ABo cutting, Kangatira crossing* G. Burgess, £l4 15s ; M. Boland (accepted), £l4 10s; D. A McLeod, £l5 ; Ara Rang** nui (informal), £9. A 79, Pipiwluikao Bush Road ; fascining : —W. Stevenson (accepted), £l2 ;D. A. McLeod, £25. ABl, wings to brick culverts, Main Road D. A McLeod, £l2; D. Malone, £7; L. Burke, £4 10. None of these tenders were accepted, the Engineer being instructed to hare the work carried out, Arai Buidgb.—ln the specifications for this work of removing the wreck of the old structure, stacking the material, and erecting a neW temporary bridge j special provision was made for drawing the piles. The tenderers in two instances seem to object to this on the ground of not having necessary appliances. McL?<kl and Hubble, £140) D. A. McLeod (declining drawing piles), £llO ; D. McKay (declining to draw piles), £l4O. A long discussion ensued regarding these tenders, and the necessity or otherwise of drawing the piles was dis* cussed. The Engineer stated that if tho piles were out a few feet below low water, the recovered portion might be utilised in the superstructure of a new bridge, although they would be useless as piles. A question also arose as to the laud on which the new structure should be erected.—-Cr. Gannon, in vietf of the contract requiring alteration as far as the drawing of the piles are concerned, moved that fresh tenders, exclusive of pile drawing, should be called for. Seconded by Mr Clark. —Cr. Westrup proposed as an amendment that one of the tenders before the Council should be accepted. Ho thought the traffic demanded immediate attention to the matter* The urgency was just as great as it was at the lust meeting, when Or. Gannon advocated despatch. Ho certainly thought a tender should be accepted.—Cr. Weston seconded this amendment.—Cr. Clarke said that the probabilities are that there would be more tenderers if the clause necessitating the drawing of the piles was omitted from the contract.-—Cr. Westrup thought after hearing the Engineer’s opinion and the discussion thereon, the only safe conclusion was to authorise the Engineer to employ day labor, and call for fresh tenders* —Cr. Gannon said he would Withdraw his motion, and Cr. Westrup’s; the tenders to b# culled for within a week.—The Chairman said that the Council stood in this position. Their property stood in danger of being a total loss* and something ought to be done at once. The object|was to have the wreck of the bridge saved and a new structure erected as cheaply and as quickly as possible.—Cr. Weston moved that the lowest tender be accepted, if the contractor would agree to cut the piles instead of drawing them.—Cr. Westrup said he would withdraw his previous motion, and in view of the pressing emergency of the case would move that the lowest tender be accepted as it stands, subject of course to right of road.—• Seconded by Mr Clarke. Carried.—Mr D. A. McLeod’s tender was therefore accepted.— The question of tolls was, on the motion of Of Westrup, postponed. TendbrB for Printing.—Tenders fot printing copies of Acts necessary for distribution among poundkeepers, were then opened i Standard Office, 20 copies of Impounding Act, £2 10s; 20 copies Highways Act, £3 15s. Herald Office, 20 copies Impounding Act, £5 1 50 copies Highways Act, £7 10s. It was agreed to accept the Standard’s offer for 20 copies of the Impounding Act, and allow the Highway Act to stand over. General rates for tho current year were then discussed.—Cr. Westrup proposed, and Or. Clarke seconded, a general rate of 5 per cent. Carried.—The Council decided that the rate shall be met in two payments. As it now happens, it is necessary that those payments should be made on Ist of August and Ist of November. Notices of Motion.—Cr. Gannon, Toll Gates : Adjourned by consent for one month. —Cr. Westrup, By-law No. 71 Tires on dray wheels. Necessity of enforcement. Cr. Westrup said he brought forward this motion with a view to road preservation. He would prefer restricting the weights to altering tires, but rood preservation demanded the enforcement of by-law No. 7, although it did not entirely meet the question, as the only by-law affecting it, and it should come into force within ten days. The character of the roads demanded this protection. The Chairman agreed that the by-law was as a whole unsatisfactory, but under the circumstances the adoption of it was necessary.—Cr. Gannon seconaed the motion, which was then carried.—Or. Weston, return of Dog Tax collection, and Slaughterhouse returns: Ordered to be laid on the table in accordance with the motion.—Cr. Westrup, amendment of by-law affectiug poundage fees, by-law No. 5. Cr. Westrup said he considered the fees quite fair if for one day only, but in event of a continuance of poundage they were too large. Under the circumstances he would request permission to adjourn the motion until next meeting, and would ask Councillors to consider the exorbitance of the chargee, Jo meet

existing contract* with poundkeepira, he Vo aid ILte to at'# -he exietirg by-b.’v from the Ist of December.—Cr, Clark said ho thought people ought to keep their stock at home and not let them get into the pound. He thought the by-law required no alteration. —Cr. Westrup said the charge was excessive and oppressive.—The Chairman said the bylaws were framed from by-laws of other Councils, and he did not think the charges excessive.—Cr. Westrup said there were many persons here whose cattle might be in the pound ‘-several days without their knowledge, and accumulative fees were oppressive. The charges •for food were reasonable, but the accumulative charges as expressed in section 1 of by-law 7, “were oppressive and should be done away with, —-Cr. Weston seconded.—Or. Gannon moved tos an amendment, that the matter be adjourned for three months. Hasty adjudication might be productive of litigation. Cr. Clark ■Bcconded.—On the casting vote of the Chairman the amendment was carried, HombStead System in Motu Block.—Cr. Gannon said that the lands in possession of the Government here was thorougldy useless for the purposes of the Homestead Act, which was never framed in contemplation of such land being set aside for its purposes. Large areas were required which could not possibly be granted here. Mr Bolleston had noticed the fact last session. The Homestead Act was never intended for lands such as those uf this district which did not afford a chance to agriculturists under this Act. It did very well for Auckland and the north ; here it was useless.—The Chairman said that- as a whole he agreed with Cr. Gannon. He should be very eorry to see a man settling on lands which would only afford him a bare existence. Th 6 question had arisen before, and the Waste Lands Board had granted three blocks for a trial. He condemned that laud as useless. A ■goat could not live upon it, much less a man. This was how the Motu Block had been granted Under the Homestead Act. He thought those who were willing to try it should be allowed to do it. He should like to go on with the 2000 "acres in the Motu Block as there was some very fair land there. He would suggest applying to the Waste Land Board with a view to this end. At the same time the alteration of the law might be suggested to the Government. —Cr, Gannon said that course would meet liis views.—The Chairman said that the •settlers on Waipu under the Act were doing fairly owing to their frugality.—After some discussion, in which all the Councillors took part, it was agreed that the Government be communicated with and the necessity for larger areas pointed out. Also, that that the Waste Lands Board be requested to mark out the Motu Block with a view to trial. Ague km bn t with Borough Council kb Oxbnham’e Contract.—it was agreed that the contract be signed. The Chairman called attention to the necessity for the Engineer paying a visit of inspection to the Big River punt. The punt had been kept too long out of the water, and having to swim rivers was an public inconvenience. There should be a better punt there, and ho would ask the Council to authorise Mr Winter to look into the matter. The boat service was very bad, the boat would only carry one passenger.—Cr. Westrup said he crossed there in a very bad and leaky boat, and bis feet were •covered in the water at the bottom of the boat. He had sent a man across once with a horse, ■and the boat was managed, or rather mismanaged, by a little boy, consequently they came to utter grief, and bad to let the horse go. He thought something should be dune.— The Chairman, in reply to Cr. Gannon, said the subsidy was £25. The hotel license wignally obtained on condition of the punt being kept up.—lt was agreed that Mr Wimer -look to the matter. Mb Melville Smith’s Dam.—Cr. Gannon said his prsdiet .ons hud been realised, and allhough lie was sorry to retie t on any man who bad the energy to protect liimself, be 'must say that the Council had suffered by the •construction of this dam. He regretted Lis duty, but he must perform it. He admired -Mr Mjivide Smith’s pluck, but the public pro"perty must Dot be allowed to suffer. Soucitor's 'opinion must be token as to whether anyone in protecting bis property may legally damage ‘the Council’s projierty, and what meaus ‘should be taken to remedy the matter, —Cr. Westrup said that solicitor's opinion bad been {given op the matter some time ago. In reply to Mr Smith and others, Messrs Brassey -and Fraser’s opinion had been taken as to Mr Smith’s liability for damage arising through ■hisuonstr action of the dam in question. During the time he was on the Rivers Committee the question had arisen four or five times, and ‘opinions liad been obtained which were adverse *to the Council.—After discussion, it was resolved to refer the question to Messrs Brassey Taiiu Fraser for their opinion. Mr Bowe requested transfer of bis slaughtering license at Ormond to Mr L. Mclntosh.— ’Tbe-Council having no power to grant transfer, it was decided to inform Mr Bowe to that ’effect.—Tliis was all the business.