COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1368, 13 October 1883, Page 3

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tri usual monthly meeting of the above took place on Thursday night last. Present: Cre Chambers (Chairman), Johnston, Clarke, Westrupp, Weston, Allanach, and Gannon. Cr Johnston stated that he understood from reading one of the papers that the Aiayor had agreed to take up the rails of the tramway, but not to stack them. He would ask if that was so. He wis under the impression that the Borough had to take up the rails and stack them also. The Chairman said he understood that they were to be stacked. The Engineer said that he had given his certificate on that condition, and lie supposed they would be stacked.

OUTGOING COBBBSFOSDBNCE. The following correspondence was read i— To the Colonial Secretary re By-laws ; to the Minister of Public Works j to Mr Grey, re repairs of Waimata Road ; to Mr Graham, giving rotice of the Counoil’s intention of con* etructing a certain road, affecting some of his property ; to Mr Geo, Scott, relative to the Council’s intention of constructing a drain through a portion of his property; to Mr Hodges, serving him with a notice to discontinue slaughtering Cattle a? heretofore, without a license ; to Mr Arthur, acknowledging receipt of statement for dog collars; to the Minister of Public Works, re debentures; to Mr Sheriff, acknowledging receipt of Lis letter j to Mr Tutenburg ; to His Worship the Mayor, acknowledging receipt of letter, re tramway; to Graham, Pitt, and Bennett, authorising the sale of Pakirikiri tolls; to the Government Printer, Wellington, re advertisement | to Mr Stagpole, drawing his attention to section 10 of the Licensing Act, whereby he is required to advertise Licensing advertisements in only one paper, vis., the contracting one.

Incoming Cobbespondence. The following correspondence was read and discussed:— From G. L. Greenwood, Clerk of the Patutahi Licensing Bench, asking for £5 5s per annum, and also £2 per annum extra, as travelling expenses, as recommended by the Committee. The Chairman said the Council were compelled to pay the amounts. Cr Gannon said if the Council were compelled to pay what the Licensing Committees authorised, then he would protest against it. Cr Westrupp said it was only a recommendation of the Licensing Committee. The Chairman thought it ought to be granted, as they had already done it in other cases, but £5 would be sufficient. The Clerk said that Mr Greenwood had, on previous occasions, received £2 12s and £2 10s for travelling expenses. The Borough had to pay for one Licensing Committee, and from that he, (Mr Greenwood), got £5 5 s per annum, After further discussion the recommendation of the Licensing Committee that Mr Greenwood be allowed £5 os and £2 extra L fr travelling expenses was acceded to. From C. J. Hazelden, Acting Under-Secre-tary, re the bound* ics of theLicmiing Districts.

Cr Gannon was of opinion that the letter should be submitted to the various Licensing Committees. The Clerk said that it would entail the creation of a new Licensing district, Cr Johnson proposed that the Patutahi Licensing District should be consolidated with the Arai and Waikohu districts. Seconded and carried. From the Public Works Office. From Mr J. A. Brooking re cuttings in certain places on the East Coast Road to Hicks Bay. Cr Westrupp proposed, and Cr Johnston seconded, that £2O be expended on the road. From Mr A. Reeves rp rates which he had had to pay on certain blocks of land, and wishing to know why an Assessment Court had not been held to take objections. Cr Johnson was of opinion that the Council had no power to act In the matter,

It was decided to write a letter to Mr Reeves to the effect that the Council had no power to alterfthe valuation. From the Acting-Secretary for Railways, re the Council’s application for rails for the Patutahi Quarry. The Clerk said he had received information in reply to a telegram that the rails would be 401bs to the yard. The Engineer estimated that the rails be laid from the Waipaoa Bridge to the Patutahi Quarry for £8,928 17s 6d. The Chairman said it would cost £2,088 out of the rates to buy the rails from the Government, and the question was, where they prepared to do so. Cr Clark wished to know if the price was not rather high.

The Engineer said that new rails could be obtained from home for £6 per ton. Cr Westrupp thought they were in no po ution to consider the matter. It was ultimately decided to write to the Government to thk effect that the Council w** in no position to consider the matter, and they were of opinion, that they should be allowed the rails. In reply to Mr Weston the Engineer stated there were 13 miles of rails at present in Gisborne. From H. Campbell rendering account for £8 16s, and requesting payment, for certain work done on his own account. The Chairman proposed that the Engineer ba authorized to sec the work and report if it was worth the amount claimed. Seconded and carried. Finance Committee, Cr Johnston stated that there was no quorum of the Finance Committee, which should have met that day, and therefore no meeting was held. Engineer’s Report. The Engineer stated that he had not time to write a report. In fact, there was nothing to report on. He might mention that he had heard that the rope for the Big River punt had parted, and the contractor would not replace it. He would see about it the next day. He wished to know if he could make use of the new rope up there, if the old one could not be made serviceable again. It was decided to let the Engineer use his own discretion in the matter. Tender Deposits.

The Clerk asked if the Council would allow tenderers to pay him the deposit money instead of handing it into the Council, as it would save him a great amount of bo jk-keeping. Cr Gannon proposed that the matter be he'd over till the next meeting. Cr Johnson would second that proposition, and would also bring the matter up at he next Finance Committee meeting. Cr Weston proposed, and Cr Westrup seconded, that the matter stand as it is. Tae amendment was put and carried. Payments.

Accounts to the amount of £4ll 15s lOd were passed for payment. Slaughteb. Licenses.

An application for transfer of s’aughter license from L. Mclntosh to R. R. Curtis was granted. An application was read from F. Hodges, Tologa Bay, for a slaughter license. Cr Allanach mentioned that he had received two letters from persons in that township, objecting to a license being granted, as the position was right in the town. Tae Chairman pointed out that if a license was given it would not lx* granted to allow

him to slaughter in the township. The application was granted, allowing him to slaughter cattle away from the township. Tenders. The following tenders were opened—B 11, Wai row Boad S. Chute (sureties, L. Mclntosh and W. Stevenson), £3O; C. Young and Jones (sureties, P. Malone and Walsh), £3l 8s ; E. O’Dwyer, (sureties, B. 0. Fryer and D. Dinan), £35 ; E. P. Cohen, (sureties, W. Currie and J. Bidgood), £4l 16s. J. Chute’s tender being ths lowest was accepted. B 12, Waimata Road—E. P, Cohen (sureties, Currie and Bidgood), £52 10«. Accepted. Roads and Bbidges Construction Act. The Chairman said that the next buiiness was the altering of their schedule under the Roads and Bridges Act. He then read the Schedule of the old and new works as follows O&d Scawuii.

Total new works June, 1883 15,562 0 0 He thought that in view of the barbarous Act allowing them only L 5,000, that it would be better to carry out their previous scheme, and not enter into anything new. To save time it would be better to decide whether they would consider both schedules at once or only one at a time. Cr Johnston said it would be better to go on with the old schedule.

The Chairman said they got the vote of the ratepayers on the old schedule. The present Act had now upset that, but still they ought to stick to the original one.* Ur Weston wished to know if any information had been received as to the Borough Council’s reply re the Turanganui bridge. Tne Chairman stated that the outside settlers simply laughed at the idea of a bridge. Cr Johnston would ask what amount they we.e goiag to apply to Government for. It was plain to him tnat they could go to the extent of £l5OOO. The most expeditious plan would be to apply for £l2OOO, they could do with_that, and get some most important works done. The Chairman would ask the Council whether they would complete the old schedule before discharging the new one. Cr Gannon moved that both be discussed together. The chairman said it would save time to take each schedule separately, item by item.

Cr Gannon said when the £lO,OOO was obtained, the understanding was that the outlying districts should benefit by the next loan, and the main object in view now ought to be to benefit then as much as possible, Cr’Johnaton again asked for what amount they were going to apply for, Cr Gannon was perhaps going; for £5OOO only. Cr Gannon i We cannot go for more. Cr Johnston took it that they could, and that they should go for £12,000 at the least, as they could not go above £15,000. If they put down Lem 2 ii tne schedule, that would come well within the amount he proposed to apply for, He agreed with Cr Gannon with regard to the outlying districts, Cr Westrupp thought it would be as well to de«ide whether they apply for £5OOO or more. The extent was apparently £15,000. He considered it would be better to make up one estimate for £15,000, just to start with. Continued on page 1, X

Ta Arai Bridge rebuilt £ 1600 Be 0 d. 0 Metal road, Rojal Oak to Read’s Gate 3553 0 0 Complete Pipiwhaka Road ... 227 0 0 Form and metal 3 milea Oweta Road 4500 0 0 Metal Ormond road Makai-aka to Tram 4204 0 0 Complete metalling to Muhunga 100 0 0 Metal road Scott’■ Flat 378 0 0 Complete six miles metal Patutahi 3477 0 0 Total balance first application 17,185 0 0 New Schedule. £ s. d. Kaiteratahi Bridge 4618 0 0 Widen to 18ft. and Drains Opotiki Road 974 0 0 One half Turanganui Bridge 2000 0 0 Widen and metal 4 miTes Wairoa Road 3306 0 0 Form and Dram 6 miles Waimata Road 1400 0 0 Form and metal 3 miles Coast Road 3264 0 0