COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1298, 17 March 1883, Page 2

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Cook County Council held a general meeting at the Council Chambers last Thursday evening, the 15th March. Present — Crs. Chambers (Chairman), Clark, Ferris, Weston, Johnson, Westrup and Gannon. The minutes of last meeting (25th Feb.) were read and confirmed. In reading the outgoing correspondence the Chairman informed the Council that the Clerk had laid an information against Mr Aislabie. Mr Warren stated that, having visited Mr j Aislabie’s premises twice during the past month, he found that no notice was taken of the intimation given to cleanse his premises. Cr. Johnson did not wish to be harsh, but with the explanation given by Mr Warren, that Mr Aislabie having received notice from time to time to abate the nuisance caused by | his slaughter-house, the Council should not interfere with the action of the Inspector. Cr. Ferris proposed “That this Council sees no sufficient reason to interfere with the with the action taken by our Inspector.” Seconded by Cr. Johnson, and carried. A circular was received from the Property Tax Department inviting corrections of any known errors in the statement of values for 1883. To which a reply had been sent, giving such known information. L’pon reading the letters to the Government it was noticed that the Clerk had asked the Government to notify the manner in which the consent of the ratepayers had to be taken for the special rate in connection with the Karawa Bridge. j Cr. Johnson hoped that in future the reso- ' lutious of the Council would be carried out in j their integrity, and not altered, as in the i present instance. | A deputation of the Borough Council, coni sisting of Crs. Tucker, Ferris, and Townley, ! waited upon the Council in reference to the construction of the Turanganui Bridge, and asked the Council what assistancc*they come

give towards constructing this Bridge ? The Government had approved of the plan submitted by the Borough Council, and had granted £1,500 under the Roads Construction Act, 1882. The Chairman thought it impossible for the County to contribute so large a sum as £1,500. Cr. Tucker did not wish the Council to understand that £],500 would be required from the County Council; the Borough would I give a share. Cr. Gannon thought that the County Council would get £l,OOO from the Government for the work, if applied for next June. Cr. Tucker said a fatal objection existed in that respect. The Government had already given £l5OO, and he thought it unreasonable to suppose that the Government would give to two bodies for the same work. Cr. Westrup objected to give one penny, unless the Council borrowed it. The Council had pledged itself to open the Patutahi Quarry, and being pledged they could not help in the matter. Cr. Johnson agreed with the last speakers as to the utility of the Bridge, but we cannot promise a penny. He suggested that both bodies apply in June for the full amount, and the body that obtained least should dropout, and the other body go on with the work. For Cr. .Johnson’s motion—Crs. Johnson, Weston, Westrup, and the Chairman. Against—Crs. Ferris, Gannon and Clark. Cr. Ferris said that the County received £720 for the ratepayers, on the northern side of Turanganui river and in the place of so small a revenue the Council could not be justified in spending a large sum. Cr. Townley evplained that in going to the ratepayers of the Borough it would be necessary to state what amount the Council would be willing to contribute the Borough Council will not go to the ratepayers. Cr. Gannon thought that if the Council represented to the Government that the bridge over the Turanganui was much for the benefit of the County, as for the Borough, that a ; grant would be obtained. Cr. Ferris thought that next June the two Councils should make a joint application for this bridge, and from the amount voted for the several works in the Comity that sufficient money be set aside for the completion of this bridge. Proposed by Cr. Johnson, and seconded by Cr. Westrup. that this Council pledge itself

to endeavor to obtain] under the Road and Bridges Cointrim Jon Act fund £lOOO, if on 1 the other hand the Borough Council will un- i clertake to erect a suitable bridge, Cr. Gannon thought that the method j adopted by the Government in selecting the works to be carried out by grants, would be carried out in future, and that thus we would obtain power to recommend that £lOOO or more should be used in the construction of the Turanganui Bridge. It was proposed by Cr. Ferris, and seconded by Cr. Gannon, that this Council includes in its general schedule of application under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, a sum of say £2,500, and complete the bridge at the foot of Gladstone Road, and pledges itself to devote £lOOO out of the amount they receive if the Government will permit it. For the motion—Crs. Ferris, Gannon, and Clark. Against Crs. Johnson, Weston, Westrup, and the Chairman, From the Borough Council, asking for a refund of £4 for the burial of Joseph Goodwin. It was proposed by Cr. Chambers and seconded by Cr. Gannon, that the Council pay half the cost of Mr Goodwin’s burial. A petition w r as received from several per’ sons in the Patutahi Highway District, praying that a new Road District may be established. A contr j, petition was also presented, praying that the new proposed district he not constituted, The Chairman showed that clause 16 of the County Act required that the signature be verified, which had not been done before. also that the petition proper was prepared and signed before the Roads and Bridges Act came into force. The Dog Registrator reported that 200 dogs were registered to date. The Engineer reported that he had examined the Patutahi drain, and he thought that the Council could not afford. to do the whole necessary work during this winter, bui he had not made the estimate of the required work. Proposed by Cr. Clark, seconded by Cr. Weston, that when the drain is dried, that it be be cleaned. The amendment- proposed by Cr. Clark, seconded by Cr. Ferris, that nothing be done to the drain for the present, was carried. Cr. Johnson drew the attention of the Council to the state of the drain on the road from the cemetery, which was choked, and flooded the cemetery. It was resolved that the outlet to Makaraka be cleaned out. Payments to the amount of £lBB Gs were ordered to be paid. Cr. Ferris drew attention to the fact of Mr Walsh’s fences being down, and bis cattle breaking down the side drain of the main road. He urged that an information be laid against Mr Walsh. Cr. Gannon proposed as an amendment, that Mr Walsh be again written to, to prevent further damage. Cr. Weston seconded the amendment. The Chairman gave his casting vote for the prosecution of Mr Walsh. The Council rose at midnight.