COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1220, 8 December 1882, Page 2

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Cook County Council met last evening. There were present—Mr W. K. Chambers (in the chair), Crs. Johnson, Ferris, Westrupp, Gannon, Weston. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. inward correspondence. The inward correspondence was read. The clerk stated that the Manager of the Bank of New Zealand had informed him that it would be of no use for the Council to give cheques. A long discussion ensued upon the letter which had been sent to the Government relative to the losses which had been sustained during the flood. A letter was read from C. M. Crombie, the Deputy Commissioner for Crown lands, relative to the Rating Act. Cr. Ferris said the valuation was now nearly completed, and would add about £3OOO to the funds of the Council.

A letter was read from H. Brownlow, who had taken over Brunt’s contract No. 4, Gisborne, Wairoa road, and asking that no money should be paid over to Brunt as he, Brownlow, had a lien on it. On the motion of Cr. Weston, seconded by Cr. Johnson, it was decided to inform Mr Brownlow that his letter was informal. A letter was read from R. Crail, of Patutahi, asking that a drain should be cut through his property, He would either pay one-third of the cost or do the work himself for fourpence halfpenny per cubic yard. The Engineer explained that the land was situated on the Gisborne-Wairoa Road, and that a drain there will be absolutely necessary before winter.

The letter was ordered to be acknowledged, and Mr Craill informed that funds would not at present permit of the work. An application was received from M. D. Stagpoole for remuneration for his services as Clerk to the Tologa Bay Licensing District. The application was endorsed and recommended by the Licensing Committee. It was agreed that Mr Stagpoole should receive £5 for one year only. A letter was read from C. A. Hazeldean, Acting Under-Secretary to the Department of Justice, relative to the Returning Officer for Licensing Districts being appointed by local bodies. outward correspondence, The outward correspondence as directed at last meeting was read and approved of. petition. A petition from Mr P. Barrie relative to the Waipaoa River bank protection at Ormond, and stating that the Hon Mr Rolleston had promised pound for pound. The only thing was that the Government desired plans before the money was voted. After some discussion Mr S. C. Caulton, who was presented, said that he had collected some £7O, and as the Council had promised £5O, the supplement by the Government would do the work. After some warm discussion, it was proposed by Cr. Johnson, and seconded by Cr. Westrup, that the Engineer be instructed to prepare plans to be forwarded to the Government. The question of suing for unpaid rates was next discussed, and as it was stated that not more than ten summonses could be taken out in a week it was decided to write to the Court asking that the Council might be permitted to take out a larger number. engineer’s report. Council Chambers, Gisborne, 7th December, 1872. To the Chairman of the County Council, Sir, —I have the honor to submit the following report for your information and guidance :— It is very necessary that immediate steps be taken to protect the main road at the foot of the Kaitaratahi Hill. Six feet more of the road was wa.shed away during the late rains. I would ask your Council to consider the advisability, or otherwise, of establishing a Ferry at Kaitaratahi, across the Waipaoa river. Mr Peters, landlord of the hotel, informs me that he will be willing to take charge of a ferry, provided your Council erect all necessary appliances and provide a boat. I would recommend that the bolts and rods in the Waipaoa Bridge be tightened up, and other small repairs be attended to. A portion of the Wairoa road (on the flat), having been fenced in, it will be necssary to clear about fifteen chains of some flax, in order to open it for traffic. I would also recommend that about fifteen chains of drain be cut through flax swamp. The several contracts on hand have been greatly retarded during the late rains, but are now being pushed on more satisfactorily. The timber for bridges on the Waikohu and Wairoa roads having arrived, the work is being proceeded with.—l am, &e., Geo. J. Winter, County Engineer. Cr. Ferris urged that Mr Peter’s should be assisted in the matter of the ferry, as stated in the Report. Crs. Johnson and Westrup were opposed to the work at present. The Chairman suggested that there should should be an adjournment for 10 minutes, as there was no quorum. On resuming, the question of the ferry was resumed, and eventually Cr. Johnson moved, and Cr. Westrup seconded, that the question be deferred. An amendment was proposed by Cr. Ferris, and seconded by Cr. Gannon, that a ferry boat be supplied. The amendment was lost, the Chairman voting against it. On the question of removing the flax on the Gisborne-Wairoa road, it was resolved to let it stand over until the Council were in funds. With these two exceptions the report was adopted. PAYMENTS. £2ll 9s 4d was the amount passed for payment. An account from the Poverty Bay Standard for £4 15s 9d, for special advertisements, was presented. Cr. Johnson objected to the amount being passed, as he was of opinion that business transactions should be settled at the expiration of three months. In this view he was supported by Crs. Ferris and Westrup. Cr. Gannon said it was the first time such an action had been taken by the Council, and it looked bad, because the idea would get abroad that it was in consequence of certain “ hot” articles which had appeared in connection with the affairs of the Council.

On the question being put to the meeting it was decided “ not to pay the printer.” The items in the schedule and estimate of proposed works to be carried out under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, 1882, were discussed at considerable length, but eventually, as the Act distinctly states that applications must be in before the Ist Jan., 1883, it was resolved that the Engineer be empowered to secure the services of competent surveyors in order to get plans of the most important works completed in time. The Engineer explained that in the short time allowed very little could be accomplished, and as to going through the whole of the works contained in the schedule, all the surveyors and engineers in the district could not supply correct plans of the various works mentioned by the Ist of January. It was decided that the present agreement with the Poundkeepers should be renewed for three months. At this stage, Cr. Ferris gave notice of motion that at the next meeting he would move, “That the erection of a bridge at Kaiteratahi be one of the first works undertaken.” The vesting of the Patutahi Quarry in one of the local bodies was next mentioned, and

the Chairman stated that deputations from the Borough Council and from the County Council had waited upon Mr Tole, Commissioner of Crown Lands, who stated that he would make every effort to have the quarry vested in the Cook County Cook, which was the body having control over the land. The Borough representatives acquiesced in this allotment, seeing its fairness. The Clerk of the Council was instructed to make a formal application to the Government.

The question of Dog fees for the coming year was then discussed. Cr. Johnson said it would require an expert to discover as to whether a dog was to be exempt from the tax. If sheep dogs or cattle dogs were to be exempted, why not pig dogs ? And then where was the' line to be drawn ? He would move that the fee remain at 10s per annum. This was seconded by Cr. Ferris, and earned, W. Preston’s tender for the erection of a bridge at Tologa Bay being about 85 per cent ahead of the estimated cost, it was decided that tenders should be called for the building of the bridge within a month. The same tenderer’s offer for the repairing, etc., to certain culverts, £2l 18s, was accepted. Cr. Ferris stated that a public meeting had been convened by the residents of Ormond to protest against the office of the telephonic cummunication between Ormond and Gisborne, being in Mr P. Barry’s store. Mr Barry was himself a dealer in very many things, such as grass seed, etc., and all enquiries made by settlers as to the price would of necessity be known by him as well as the replies received. He would move, “ That some person responsible to the Government should have charge of the telephone and not a private individual, and that a letter be written to the Government to that effect.

Cr. Weston and the Chairman agreed with Cr. Ferris, and it was decided that the Government be communicated with in reference to the matter.

Cr. Ferris called attention to certain articles which had appeared in the Standard, and which he stated reflected on the character of the Council and its officers. He thought at least there should be an expression of sympathy towards those who had had charges, such as bribery made against them. The speaker mentioned specially the names of the Chairman, the Engineer, Mr Winter, and concluded by moving that this Council knows nothing which could give rise to such reports. The Chairman said he regretted Mr Ferris had brought up the matter. He had read the articles in question, but had seen no accusation of bribery, but only of favoritism. Bribery, he felt convinced, was not imputed. Cr. Westrupp said he felt sorry that the articles had been written, but he also felt sorry that that Cr. Ferris had introduced the matter, The expressions however were not true.

Cr. Gannon said there was a way of answering accusations made in a newspaper, and that was through the columns of the press. The Council should not be made the arena for such controversy. Cr. Ferris replied, stating he fully endorsed the voting of the Chairman on the matter at issue, and also the action of the Engineer-

The matter then dropped. Cr, Gannon gave notice of motion as follows :—“ Having in view the financial position of the Council, I beg to move that at the second meeting of the Council, in the month of 1883, they do take into consideration the advisability of reducing the salaries of its servants, and in such other directions as it may seem tit. Cr. Westrup gave notice he would move “ That a committee shall be appointed to meet at an early date to revise the poundage fees—Bye-law No. 5. The Council rose at midnight.