COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1341, 11 August 1883, Page 2

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual meeting of the above Council was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday evening last. Present: E. K. Chambers Esq; (in tbs chair), Crs. Allanach, Gannon, Vveeton, Ferris, Johnson, Clarke, and Westnip. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed. The following correspondence was read Library Committee, In answer to the communication fr«m th* above Committee, re the strong room, Or. Gannon moved, and Cr, Johnson seconded, that the sum of £5O be expended in building a strong room, and that the Library take the same over at a valuation at the expiration of lease. Cr. Johnson wished to know whether the present contractor would allow another eon* tractor to build the same, Mr. Finneran explained that the Council would have to wait until the present Work was finished, Ou the above motion being put it was carried. Cr. Johnson proposed, and Cr. Ferris seconded, that the Library Committee bo instructed that the Council agree to erect a strong room, which is not to exceed £55.— Carried. Rivers Bill. I Through some informality the above Hill had again to be advertised and exhibited fof three weeks in the R.M. Office. Cr. Gannon stated that the Bill had Feed advertised, and had been on view in the R.M. Court more than three weeks now, that the Bill could be forwarded at once. Mr. Warren was instructed to forward the necessary papers on Saturday next. Waikohu Road Board. The appointment of Mr. Orr as a member of the above Road Board has been declared null and void, on account of his name not appearing on the County roll. Pakirikiri Ferry. The Chairman said it appeared that the Council subsidised a number of these ferries, and yet they were not in work half the time. Cr. Johnson moved, and Cr. Weston seconded, that Mr. De very’s offer that Mn Brown should work the above ferry be accepted.—Carried. The Engineer was instructed to inform ferry holders that the ferries must be kept in working order, otherwise subsidies would be immediately stopped. Hospital Donation. The Chairman wished the Council to give £5O to this institution, Cr. Gannon remarked that the Borough Council had only given £25. Cr. Johnson said he hud on a former occasion asked for a return of the number of County patients admitted, but he had not seen one yet. It was explained that the motion had not been carried, only given £25, that the County vote a like Cr Gannon moved that as the Borough had sum. Cr. Johnson seconded. The Chairman wished to call the attention of the Council to the fact that the County Council had no responsibility now re burying paupers. He therefore proposed as an amendment, “That £5O be voted.” Cr Weston seconded the amendment. Cr Gannon objected to the £5O considering the present state of finances. i The Chairman said that the County Coun J cil would shortly be in possession of ample* funds. r r Cr Ferris would support the grant of £5O, and he was sorry the Borough had not thought fit to give more than £25. A long discussion here again arose abdui the burial of paupers. On the amendment being put, it was ear* i ried by the Chairman's casting vote. Waimata Road. A communication was read from Mr Barker re the above road.

i Ci Gannon said the road was In a depiora* [ ble state. He would move that the sum of. l £2O be spent in cutting a drain. 4 Cr Ferris seconded the motion, which wall carried. 1 County Council Sial. A communication was here read from the 1 Colonial Secretary, pointing out that the County Council seal was not in accordance with section 10 of the Counties Act, 1876. ! The seal of the Council ought to have “ the | Chairman, Councillors and inhabitants of the County of Cook ” instead of “ The County of I Cook.” On account of this informality the j debentures had been returned. Mr Warren , explained that he had taken measures to have the seal altered) at a cost of £B. Tufakoa road, j A communication was read from Mr, J, Taylor, complaining about the state of the road between Tuparoa and the Oil Springs block. The Engineer explained that the complaint wap well grounded. The Oil Springs Co. could not get anything up except by pack. The road was in a disgraceful state. Cr Ferris endorsed this, and said that the Natives refused to let anything be done on that portion which belonged to them, and which had not passed through the Lands Court. It was directed that Mr Barnard be asked to push on the work, and asked to state J what obstacles existed, and that the Council would, in the event of the difficulty being purely Native obstruction, communicate with Government on the subject. Kaiteratahi Land. A letter from H. Campbell was read re the spread of briar scrub on the above land. Cr. Johnson moved, and Cr. Clarke seconded, that the communication be acknow* lodged, and Mr. Campbell informed that Government had been communicated with on this subject some years ago, but without effect. —Carried. Te Arai Bridge. Mr. C. Evan? asked for £9 6s 6d, for expenses incurred in saving the |bove bridge at the late rising of the river. Cr. Weston moved, and Cr. Ferris seconded, that the amount be paid, but in future detailed accounts be furnished. Cr. Westrup asked that particulars be furnished of the present account.-—Carried. Cr. Gannon moved that the payment be held over until the detailed account be furnished. Cr. Allanach seconded this. Cr. Weston moved, and Cr. Westrup ■ seconded, as an amendment, that the money be at once paid. On the amendment being put it was lost. The original motion of Cr. Gannon wai then carried. Public Works. A communication was received from the Under-Secretary Public Works, stating that the Ministers certificate for £lO,OOO grant had been forwarded to the Treasurer. The money would be paid nn the certificate of Mr. Barnard, Inspector of Surveys, as the works progress. Cr. Gannon thought that as they had got the money, some of the works should be gone on with. Cr. Ferris said he thought the money should be held over for one month at least. The Chairman said the money could be held over for any time. The only way to tain the metal, which had to be through a sea of mud, was on a tram,

thought the subject fenuired gfe*t consider. Atlon, Cr, Gannon said the difficulty waa how were they to get the metal from the Petutahi Quarry, it was impossible with the present amount of money. But there was many Other works which should be gone on with Ml Once. He would move that tenders be called for at once; and that the Council meet in a month’s time to open the same. The tenders to be called for K>' -ratahi Quarry tram to Unihunga bridge.- 'arried. It was decided to ask the Government whether the money would lapse, providing they were to defer the outlay for some tilr.e. Cr. Westrup moved that with a view of (listening the opening of the Patutahi Quarry, a deputation ot the County Council interview the Borough Council at its next meeting, urging it to guarantee an annual eum of money to be expended in obtaining metal from the above quarry, of te invite the ratepayers to sanction a loan, say of £lO,OOO, for the purpose of metalling the roans within the Borough. Crs. Gannon, Ferris, Weston, Allanach and Westrup, to form the deputation. Fsbky i>r>s«, A letter was neat read from Dr. Scott, asking to be exempted from tatty dues I whilst on duty. He was informed that ha wm not exempt. Rivkb Bank Protection. Mr, D, A. McLeod offered to protect the river bank at Kaiterotahi Hill, at a remuneration of £l6O if successiii;. and £.30 if not. I The Engineer recommended that the Council drive nine piles in t>ne row 40ft out and 12 piles at 60ft out, at a cost of about £3O, and to plant willow trees inside these. Cr, Johnson moved, and Cr. Westrup seconded, tbit. Mr. McLeod’s proposition be not entertained. Cr. Gannon said Iv*. thought the matter should be held over until it was seen whether the Rivers Bill passed, and if so it would be a matter for the Road Board. Cr. Westrup wished the work done at once. The Chairman wished to see the Engineer's plan adopted, Cr* Jonnson’s motion was carried. Eni-iNeer ! !? Report! Council Chambers, Gisborntq 9th August, 1883, To the Chairman, Cook County Council. Sir,—l have the honor to submit the following report for your information and guidance. East Coast Road. Since last meeting I have inspected the Coast road as far as Waiapu, and find that it is in fair jrepair, with the exception of a few places. These; where most necessary, ate being attended to. There ere several portions of the road between here and Toldga Bay that require attention. 1 would ask authority to employ two men on day labor for three weeks in executing necessary repairs. Your Council having voted a •um to be expended on this line of road, I would recommend that the works be undertaken early in the summer ; also, that a portion of the money be applied in opening Up an inland track fromTologa Bay to Tokomaru. The bridge on Tologa flat has been completed at a cost of £37 Os 4d. Day Labour. Day labour has been employed during the past month in laying fascines, &0., on the Bipiwhakau Road, and repairs to main road j also, in making sundry repairs on Mungatu Road, Mangatu Road. I would recoommeud that twelve chains of fascines be laid on a portion of the Mungatu Road, beyond Scott's Bush, it being almost impassable, Drain*. The south side drain of main road ; which empties into the Mahunga Creek, at thb Bridge, is cutting away the banks and adjoining property. I would recommend that a small shoot be constructed to carry off the water. Pakiriktrx Pvnt, I was unable to prepare the plans for this pant in time for tenders to close this evening. I have consequently extended the time until noon cn Saturday, the 18th inst. Road in front of the Education Reserve, Tologa Bay. I have inspected that portion of the Coast Road, and pegged off the necessary works, which consist in widening and deepening 42J chains of outlet drain ; cutting 27 chains j of side drains, and forming and metalling 27 chains. Although the stone available for metal is of an inferior nature, I would recommend it being used in preference to fascining, ths cost of the former will considerably exceed the latter, but will mak« a more permanent work.—l have, Ac., Geo. Winter, County Engineer. The report waa adopted and the works agreed to. With respect to the Pakirikiri ferry, it was agreed that, in calling for tenders for the same, to include a new wire rope, and also to take over .the old one at a proper ! valuation. Report on Ormond Quarry. Sir, —1 have the honor to report for your information that on the 4th instant, in company with the County Chairman and two members of the Borough Council, 1 inspected the several outcrops of stone on the native block of land leased to Mr McKenzie, situated on the opposite side of creek to the Waihirere Quarry. I had previously requested Mr Boland to put in a few shots in any face which he thought shewed a fair prospect of containing good stone ; unfortunately only one shot had been put it. After travelling over the greater portion of the ground which has been from time to time reported as containing good road metal, we could not find any stone, except in narrow veins and layers, which was sufficiently hard for ordinary two inch metal, but the best of the stone is not equal to that found at the Patutahi Quarry reserve. In the course of our inspection we came across several large faces of stone, which looked well until tested, when it was found to be composed of various qualities, from soft sandstone to inferior limestone, and so mixed up as to make it. practically unavailable. The quantity of worthless material to be shifted by a contractor before getting any quantity of good stone, would so increase the price, as to put it out of the power of the Council to use it The stone generally is sufficiently good to use for pitching, but not to break into two inch metal. I am of opinion that all the hills in that locality are of the same formation, and that no good stone will be found in sufficient quantity and durability to warrant a quarry being opened. Several settlers in the district are still of opinion that good stone suitable for the requirements of the district, can be obtained from these hills, but that no proper test has been made in order to settle the question once for all. I would suggest that a sum not exceeding £3O, be offered as a bonus to any one who will deliver on the County Road, fifty cubic yards of 2 inch metal obtained from the hills in question, to be taken from one faco, not picked, and to be accepted by the Council as being of sufficiently good quality fortheir requirements before paying the bonus. I have, &c., » Geo. J. Winter. Payments. The following payments were then passed,

with the exception of items “temporary advances’* and “J, Clarke:”—Brownlow, £67 12s; salaries, £5l 13s Id; sundries, £7 15s fid j labor, £3 10a : ■ roads, £l7; repairing bridge, £3 .D ; W. Fellows, £5; temporary advances to petty cash. £6 6s ; Dufaur and Co, £4O Ils ; repairs, £33; McLeod, £9; S. Martin, £’? 7s ;C. Young, £8 10s; G. Humphries, 17- ; H. Tuckapoa, £1; Webb and Mogridge, 15s i J, Clark, £1 Is ;C. Edwards, £9 9s fid ;C. H. Webb, £9: Extraordinary Business. The Te Aral Road Board, Cr Johnson moved that the Council call for tenders for the To Aral Road repairs, and he hoped the Council would sp*nd some £lOO on the same. Cr Westrup seconded the motion, as the work was of great utility arid very necessary. The Engineer said £l5O Wild be sufficient to effect the repairs. The proposition of Cr Johnson was carried. Old Rail wav Hails. Cr Westrup moved, “That the Government be ftsked for some of the rails which they were now discarding, aS the Council could use them for the purpose of erecting a tramway to obtain nistal from the Ormond The Chairman stated that he had applied for the rails, and that he had been told that the Council could have rails by paying for them. , . It was decided to ask Colonel Whitmore, Mr DeLautour and Mr McDonald to move in the matter. Cr. Westrup moved that the Council meet every fortnight. Tenders, The following tenders for the formation of Scott’s Road were then opened Andrew Peters, £144 10s, (securities, Graham and Common & Co.); W. E. Cooper, £2ll (securities, Bennett & McDougall) ; D. A. McLeod, £278 2s 6d, (securities, Dixon & Croll); Krippner & McLeod, £314 10s 4d, (securities, Colebrook & Aislabie); Dwyer, £225 Is 9d. Cr. Johnson moved that the lowest tender be accepted.—Carried. In the event of this failing the next lowest tender was to be accepted. The Council stood adjourned for a fortnight, and rose at 1 o’clock.