COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 22, 15 December 1883, Page 3

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the above was held on Friday morning, on account of there being no quorum the previous evening. Present—VV. A. Chambers (Chairman), Crs Gannon, Ferns, Weston, Johnston. The minutes of the former meeting wore read and confirmed, also the outgoing correspondence. Mr Campbell here arrived and laid a complaint about the Mungatu road, which he said was in a disgraceful state. The persons about there would not allow them to go through their paddocks. He thought if the Council would write to them they would allow their paddocks to be opened to travel on. The settlers about there are all complaining, and the road is really in a dreadful state in some places, and they were made too narrow. The Chairman said they were not responsible for that, as the Government laid off the roads. This was allowed to stand over for discussion. INCOMING CORRESPONDENCE. From Mr Geo. Scott re the drain on Ruangarehu ; telegram from W. Best, notifying that the Bank of New Zealand at Wellington bad instructed the Gisborne manage*. r to credit 1.800 to the County fund account ; from the Harbor Board quoting a resolution that they had passed as follows:—“That a letter be written tc County Council asking them to write to the Government to protect the interests of the local bodies here as embodied in a lease of the Kaiti foreshore, dated 31st July, 1875, conveying to them for ever the right of all metal stone, etc., on land specified on such lease,” and asking the Council to bring the subject before notice of Government. A copy of the lease was also forwarded with the letter ; from R. Montmallin, stating that he had no objection to a road running through his land to the Oil Springs, and requesting permission tc erect three gatvs until he could get a fence ; from J. Robereton, Waiapu, giving notice that he objected to pay rates for land to which he had no title or legal hold, and requesting the Council to urge Government to comply with the wishes of the Natives there to survey their lands and get them through the Native Lands Court ; from Mr Kirk, stating that he had not yet got the board with the scale of tolls on, and he could not enforce them, and that the Council should not charge him rent till the ferry was got in fair working order ; from H. Williams, resigning his position as poundkeeper at Tologa Bay ; from A. Graham, stating that, as agents for the Assess nent Court, no obstruction would be made to the County’s using the present line of roadway for two years ; from C. Evans re the employment of labor, eta., in keeping clear the Arai bridge, which amounted to L 8 10s ; from A. Reeves, Tologa Bay, re the proposed pound there, informing the Council that the present one was sufficient, and that another one would be of no use, From A. Campbell, drawing attention to the very bad state of the road between Mungatakapua and Kaiteratahi. From the Property Tax Commissioner, noting that the County Rolls had been posted for the Council.

With regard to the letter from the Harbor Board re the Kaiti foreshore Or Johnson proposed, and Cr Ferris seconded, a letter be written to Government, saying that the County Council were likely to want the stone at Kaiti.

The Engineer stated that the ferry at Tologa Bay was in good working order, and had been.

It was decided to write to him Informing him that he would not be charged any rent. It was decided to call for applications for a poundkeeper at Tologa Bay, since Mr. Williams had tendered his resignation, and to ackgowledge Mr. Campbell’s and Mr. Reeve’s letters.

The Council agreed to remit £lO of the penalty that was enforced on Messrs. D. and A. McLeod, in their contract on the Gisborne-Wairoa Road. PETITION. Cr Ferris presented a petition from fiftynine ratepayers, who requested that a certain grant of land should be given to Mr D- P. McLeod in preserving the river-banks at Ormond, as a remuneration for so doing. He was prepared to support the petition for several reasons. They (the Council) would be put to considerable expense in preserving a certain road in the township, which would in time be washed away. This portion of land would be given to him on the understanding that he always preserved that bank of the river* What he had done answered very well. He would, therefore, propose that the petition be received, and a letter be written to the Waste Land’s Board requesting it to be granted, on the completion of the work, and to the satisfaction of the County Engineer. Cr. Johnston would like the Engineer to report on the work first.

The Engineer said he had watched the progress of Mr. McLeod’s work, and he did not think it would answer, as Mr. McLeod should divert the current from the bank of the river to the middle of it. If’Mr. McLeod did this, as he believed he intended now to do, then the bank would be thoroughly protected. At present he would not recommend the payment of any money at all, until he diverted the current to the centre of the stream. The sections he asked for were rot equivalent to the work he would have to do. Cr. Johnston seconded Cr. Ferris’ motion. Carried.

Mr Henderson’s application to the Council for them to write to the Property Tax Commissioner, ba-king up his objection to the amount he had been assessed for on his land. The Council were unanimous that they could not do anything in the matter, and the application was withdrawn. FURNITURE FOR COUNCIL. The Chairman stated that they had obtained the furniture necessary for the Council’s offices.

ENGi. KKBR’S REPORT. Sir, —I. hare the honor submit the following report for you ,p information. .ftirer -Encroachment, Eaitcralahi.—l have again to bring before i‘he notice of your Council the absolute necess/’ty of constructing a protective-work, to pres’ent the rapid encroachment of the river on t he main road at the foot of the Kateratahi Hill. When last reporting on this subject I infoi.rnod you that a portion of the side drain of the rov’d had been carried away, at the present time cover If chains of it have gone, and in a very short time a considerable portion of the road w H disappear unless some works are immediato.iy undertaken to prevent it. hundred (300) yarMs of gravel will be required to repair the maiin road from town boundary to Wuipaoa Bridgt), and 150 yards from Makaraka to Waerenga - a-hika. I would ask authority to call for tenders for th.is work.

bay Labor.— During the past month day labor has been employed on the Mungatu and Waikohu roads. The amounts expended have rather exceeded the votes, owing to the unprecedented wet weather, and the work having to be done, in some instances, twice over, also several slips having occurred other than estimated for. Gisborne- Wairoa Hoad, — Mr. Barnard having just returned from Wairoa informs me that in several places along the line of load heavy slips have occurred which require immediate attention, besides several other minor matters, that nn the whole the r ad is standing well, and in fair order. He recommended that day-labor in preference to contract be employed to exeevte the necessary repairs, which require doing as soon as possible, for in the event of heavy rain, there is exery likelihood of further damage being done unless the slips are removed and culverts cleared of debris. I would ask authority to have this work undertaken.—l am, &c., G. J. Winter, C.E. RIVER ENCROACHMENT KAITERATAHI. Tn reply to the Chairman the Engineer said he proposed to drive in four rows of piles, and fill it in with timber, such as manuka, to preserve the road from being washed away. The cost of this would be £l5O. After much discussion the Council agreed to meet on Monday week the 24th inet., for the purpose of opening tenders, to be called for for the perfornftince of this necessary work. RIVER GRAVEL. It was decided to obtain the gravel suggested by the Engineer in his report. GISBORNE WAIROA ROAD. The recommendation of the Engineer was agreed to. PAYMENTS. Accounts to the amount of £738 15 5d were passed for paymont. TENDERS. The following tenders were opened For printing and advertising. It was decided to let Mr. Warren go through the tenders, the lowest one to be accepted. 83, Scott’s Elat.—l). and A. McLeod, £277, sureties — Dickson and Oroll; R. Brownlow, £264 Is, Currie and Cooper j Oocflran, £286 13s, J. Clements • E. O. Dwyer, £290, Wallace and Duncan. Taylor and Brownlow’s tender being the lowest it was accepted. 814, Mungatu Road.—D. and A. McLeod, £53, sureties—Dickson and Croll; E. W. Cohen, £56, Currie and Bidgood; M. Boland, I £45, A. Graham and R. Moore ; T. Cuekran, ' £62 16s, J. Clements. Mr. Boland’s tender wa« accepted. 815, Mungatu Road —M. Boland, £270 ; D. and A. McLeod, £349. The former’s tender waa accepted. FURNITURE. J. Whinray, £52 15s and £54 13s 5d j J. Townley, £5B 3s 6d and £5B *Je fid. It was decided to let the acceptance of the above tenders stand over till the committee inspect the goods. The Council then adjourned till two o’clock on Monday next.