COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 37, 11 January 1884, Page 2

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tux usual meeting of the above Council took place in the County offices last night. Present—W. K. Chambers (in the chair), and Councillors Gannon, Weston, Ferns, ana Johnston, , _ The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. OUTGOING COnRESPOXDEXCX. The following outgoing correspondence was then read To the Chairman of the Tc Aral Road Board rt plans. .... , .. The Clerk said that a duplicate of the plans would be forwarded at once. To the Telephone rc printing contract; to the Borough Council re Harbor Board; to the Harbor Board re Kaiti Block deed; to Mr. Kirk re the ferry; to the Chairman of the Te Aral Road Board re tracings; to the Chairman of the Patutahi Road Board; to Mr. Crail re closing of roads on property; to Patutahi Road Board re claim for drain. The Chairman said the Board had to pay half the expense of cutting the drain. Cr. Johnson did not think there would ba any difficulty about that. No doubt the payment would be made. The letters and minutes referring to the subject were then read, and Cr. Johnson could not see why the application should not be made. He moved, “ That the Board be asked M half the actual expense.” T. Cr. Weston seconded the motion. The Chairman would be sorry to see the motion carried, as it was infra dig, for the Council to go writing begging letters for such a small sum. Cr. Gannon agreed with the Chairman’s remarks. Cr. Johnson said he was representing the district, but he was not going to favor that district at the expense of the County. The Chairman said that Cr. Johnson was out of order, and was speaking from a personal feeling. Cr. Johnson said such was not the case. The estimate was made too low, and the the Road Board, he was sure, would pay the balance of the half of the actual cost . In the interest of the County he wished the matter put. To the Government printer, re cost of advertisements;. to the Chairman of the Patutahi Road Board re deviations of road; to Mr. Colebrooke; to Government printer, re notices; to A. Graham, re alteration of direction of road through section 61; to Harbor Board, re re-construction of Harbor Board; to the Chairman of the Patutahi Road Board, re deviation of road through section 61, Block 9; to Mr. Malone; to Wi Peri and owners of the Makauri Block, re formation of road through portion of Block; to Mr. Devey, re Patutahi Ferry; to Mr. Christian, re Pakirikiri Ferry. INCOMING CORRESPONDENCE. The Clerk read the following incoming correspondence which had been received: — Gisborne, Jan. Bth, 1884. To the Chairman and Members of the Cook County Council. Sir and Gentlemen, — Having become ihe purchaser of the Pakirikiri Ferry, I beg most respectfully that you will draw the attention of the Engineer to the present state of the approaches on the Pakiri-

Mrlsida. AtaelliM«>»i. two tiers ol *»»■ cine, could be placed, renoei ins landing and embarkation safe, and rendering the risk of being dirtied almost nil. I may mention that the punt is almost unworkable, drawing as it does 18 inches of water. It is too heavy to be worked by hand, by aid of the rope stretched asms, the current being far too strong for it. I enclose you an account, which I trust will be accepted, as I think I am fairly entitled to the amount mentioned, which, in fact, does not repay me, as 1 have been put to considerable loss.—l am <Sc.. J. C. Christian. The claim of Mr. Christian was £26 os. Oh the Engineer being asked to report on the subject, he said he had inspected the place and Mr. Christian's complaint was quite cornet. The faecines wanted relaying, and cov. erieg with' sand: . There were two chains wanting fascinlng. A hone ctruid walk lately over the present fascines. The cost of necessary repairs would be about £2O. Cr. Johnson wished to ask the Engineer whether the faaeines on the other side we.e sound ebough to carry a horse, tin hing answered in the affirmative, he said, then Captain Winter was most fortu. Hats. The punt had not been handed over in a workable condition. The con. tractor had been .most unsuccessful in carry.ng out his work. It was hard lor Christian andforallthe public that the ferry should not bo in working order, He felt confident the punt would never answer there. Cr. Gannon wished to know the conditions of sale, and whether the Engineer had not passed the ferry before it was handed over. The conditions of sale having been read, Cr. Gannon said the most unfortunate part t>! the thing was that the Council had to pay for seventy-five days which had been entirely lost. - . , Cr. Ferris called attention to the fact that it was only the punt and not the approaches which had been handed over in working order. The contract only referred to the punt, In answer to Cr, Ferris, the Engineer said a considerable amount had already been spent on the approaches. Cr Johnson said passengers had to swim before they could get on the punt. He propoied, " Tut th* Punt and the approaches be put in working order, according to the specific cations of contract, at the expense of the voundV Or. Gannon said Cr. Johnson was entirely out of order. The question before the connciUdra was whether Mr. Christian's claim should be entertained. Cr. Johnson quoted the letter under consideration as showing that he was entirely in Cr. Gannon said they had the Engineer's opinion, Cr Johnson I “ Excuse me, sir, I am addressing the ehair; I wish my motion put to

ths meeting.” The Chairman said he should like the Engineer to give his opinion as to the epecifiaaiiims of cont Act: Cr. Gannon said he had read them, and was as capable of understanding them as the Engineer. The Engineer could not give a legal opinion. At the request of the Chairman, the Engineer explained the circumstances relating to the construction of the punt, and the handing of the same over. The approaches had nothing to do with the contract. Cr; Johnson then put a number of questions id the Engineer. Cr. Weston moved " That the two chains be fascined, and that Mr. Christian be paid for ten days’ detention.” Cr. Johnson wished his anotion to be put prior to this one. Cr. Gannon said the question was the 75 days, and not the 10 days. Cr. Ferris said he failed to see that the Council was liable at all. Any traveller going over the ferry could have complained tt not in efficient order, and the ferryman would have been liable to a fine of £5. If the ferryman did not keep the ferry in proper working order fie was liable. He (the ■peaker) should oppose any claim made on the Council. Cr. Johnson said he had not said he was going to support all the claim, for he could assure them he was not. He would move. Cr. Gannon moved, " That the opinion of the County Solicitor be taken as to whether the Council is liable of not.” He hoped the motion would be seconded. The Chairman seconded pro forma, and said that if Mr. Christian was not a good hnsinses man the Council was not to suffer. He had bought the punt and must suffer. There was nothing before the Council, and the question ought to have been disposed of in a quarter of an hour. Cr. Johnson thought the Council was capable of formingan opinion without referring to a solicitor. The method of dealing with the matter would only put the publio to much annoyance. Cr. Ferris also objected to the delay. On the amendment being put it was lost. Cr. Ferris then proposed, as a further amendment, “ This Council is of opinion that it is not liable for the claim made by Mr. Christian's letter of Jan. Bth.” Cr. Weston seconded the motion.

Cr. Gannon said if the Council had agreed to hand ths punt over in working order they Should do so, Cr. Johnson said hs had more motions to make on thia question. The Council was not io put the punt in the middle of the river and say, " There is your punt," When there was no approach, how could the punt be in working order, The Chairman ruled the speaker out of order. Cr. Johnson was surprised that a man of Cr, Gannon's business habits should have

voted money for a thing he knew nothing about. He himself was not afraid of accept, ing his responsibilities. The Chairman then put Cr. Ferris' amendment which was carried. Cr, Johnson than moved " That the Par. Hrikiri terry be removed to the old site, in order that it may be of use to the public." The Chairman said Cr. Johnson must give notice of his motion. The following letter was then read from Mr. 8. Stevenson:— Makaraka, Deo. 24, 1888. To the Chrirman and Members of the Cook County Council. Gentlemen,—Having spent over £l5 in obtaining a water supply r which through an accident has proved fruitless, I beg to ask your assistance in obtaining a water supply as it ia a public benefit.—l am <te., S. Stevxsbon. Cr. Weston thought the Council should entertain the matter for the sake of the dumb beasts. Cr. Johnson said the well was sunk by publio subscription, with the understanding that the public should have the use of the water. Mr. Stevenson desired a benefit from the well, and if he had left the thing alone he might be still in enjoyment of the water. He had not been contented with blowing the tank up, but had further experimented, and burst the pipe for some distance down. Cr. Weston moved, and the Chairman seconded, " That the half of the expense be borne by the Council, providing it does not amount to more than £10.”

Cr. Gannon proposed, and Mr. Ferris seconded, as an amendment, *' That a letter be written to Mr. Stevenson, stating that the Council will consider the matter when something definite is known as to the cost.” Carried.

Letter next read from Mr. D. Malone, asking for extension of time for the contract 88. He wished for two months' extension.

The Engineer said Mr. Malone was the most conscientious contractor the Council ever had. He recommended the extension of time. Mr. Malone had done his beet to push the work along. Cr. Terris proposed, “ That the extension of time be granted.” Carried. From Mr. Graham, accepting the exchange of land for road purposes on section 61, Block 9, Waimata Survey District, providing he be put to no expense. From Mr. Skinner re the timber for McLeod’s contract, stating that the timber would be ready next week. From the Borough Council as follows: — From J. Bourke, Town Clerk, to the Cook County Council: — Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th ultimo, asking this Council to recommend Government to amend the constitution of the Gisborne Harbor Board. In reply I have to inform you that at a meeting of the Council held last evening

“ That the Borough Council do not conr»ider it expedient at the present time to make the representation by the letter received fro’tn the County Council, dated 18th Dec,, 1883,”—1 have.' «c’i . j. BotBKE.' Town Clerk i To the Chair an n of the Cook County Council. Cr. Cannon said that the County Council knew that the time had not arrived for making the change, as well as the Borough Council. He never thought j that the thing should be done at once, a-' ’ ■ i require an Act cf Parliament to do that, The necessity.pl % the motion was too apparent to need disbussiohf The Borough Council was a model body and never let their meeting’s lapse for want of a quorum, A man might be a good business man and yet know nothing about shipping. The Borough Council seemed to think that it was theuCounty Council that wanted to be ra* presented oh the ...Bfrrbgr Board; But such was not the case It .was the Swci.raisers, and those interested .»M. ,tPe harbor who wished to be represented. , He should not wish to reflect on the Borough , Council, but he need only mention the new wharves, and the manner in which they were being constructed, to show thvir want of knowledge on such matters, It would not be lons before all the County would be taxed for harbor improvements: and they must have a proper rejfteeeutatioii, It was not xor him to say who would be fit-and..proper persona to be on the Harbor Board, but he. would j suggest the Mayor, the Chairman of the j County Council, and the Collector of Customs, and then there were other men who would get plenty of votes as members of the Harbor Board who would never get one vote for the Borough Council. It was right that those who had large interests in the district should be represented fin the Board. ! There was. of the Cbuniy Council passed to communicate witty th®. Government direct, but, acting on a suggestion bt.pT/ Jhr* ris, he would move that a committee qi tre whole Council meet the Borough Council to discuss the matter, He would say the last week of January, Cr. Ferris said he did not know whether he could believe anything in the newspapers, but if they were correct in theft report, it appeartdthat there had been no valid objection whatever mentioned bv the Borough Council against ths refottn; Cr» Townley alone had ■aid that the matter would efitsil expense, He had much pleasure in seconding Cr. Gahfion’s motion. The Chairman said he was suiprised that the Borough Council had treated the matter in such a " delirious " manner. Oh the motion bring put, it was carried. Telegram read from. Inspector Swindley authorising Constable Peglcy to collect the dog-tax," providing all the neces&ry expenses are paid by the County Council.” Cr. Gannon moved, " That four Registrars should be appointed for the district, and that the scale of remuneration be 2s, for the first fifty dogs, 2s. fid. for the next 100, and 3s. for all the rest. The districts to be Ormond. Tologa Bay, Awanui, and Gisborne. The Registrars to be Begley, Fitzgerald, Maguire, and another.” Carried.

From Mr. Christian refusing to look after the Pakirikiri Ferry any longer on account of the Council not having entertained his request. Cr. Weston did not think Mr. Christian could throw the job up like that. The Chairman proposed that legal opinion should be taken on the matter. The Chairman said he could not stay there and not make his tucker. The condition of the ferry was such that no passengers would cross. He could not stay there and look at the punt. The punt would never be any use there, as she was too heavy. There was a better landing-place by Mr. Davy’s place. Mr; Winter said he asked the ferryman whether he could work the ferry when a fresh came down, providing it was down below. The Ferryman said if a fresh oknte down and carried the punt adrift from where it was now, it would go out to sea as well as it would down below. found nuns, Mr; Warren said that Mr. Staggall had not made any return for the pound fees, He had never signed any bond. statement or aocovntk. The following statement of accounts was then read: —Liabilities, £4,324 14s. IQd, Assets, £7,890 18s. 7d. PAYMENTS.

The following accounts were then passed for payment;— I C. H. C. Webb, £lO 6s. 9d.; Large and Townley, £4 Ils.; Government Printers, £8 os. fid.; Young, £1 Bs.; Salaries, £5l 18s. 1 4d,; J. Brown, £2 ; Kairourori, £2 10a Cohen, £llos ; Boland, £BO | McLeod, £125; Engineer's sundries, £6 13s; Malone, £23 55.; : Petty cash, £5 ; Boland, £2 ; J. Bobb, £2l ; 4s. 7d. | Cross, £7lBs. 6d.; Townley, £Bl 3s. ' fid ; D, Malone, £152 16s ; Sigley, £1 2s ; Daily Tima, £llBs. Cr. Gannon moved, and Mr. Weston seconded, ” That a letter be sent to Mr, Stagpole, informing him that unless the returns be made at once the pound will be closed.”—Carried. STBSITUKB COMMITTEE. Cr. Feriis said they had looked at the tenders for the office furniture, and the commettee had decided that Mr. Townley's tender was the best. It was resolved that Mr. Townley's tender be accepted. TENBIM, The following tender for shingling the road from the town boundaries to Waenga-a-hika, and from Makaraka to the Bridge Morgan Bros., ss. peryard ; Stephenson, 4s, 9d. per yard ; Boland, ss. 6d., 4s. 9d. and 7s. 6d. per yard. Stephenson's tender being the lowest was accepted* axvKß rsorxcnojr works kaxtxhatahx, It was resolved not to open these tenders until further communication with the owners of the required land. OWETA HOAD DRAXX. It was resolved that the tenders for cutting the Oweta drain should be opened next Saturday. 6ALAIOZ6. Or. Johnson proposed and Cr. Ferris seconded, “ That the Engineer's salary re* main the same as last year, viz., £400."— Carried. Cr. Gannon said the Council knew his opinion on this point. The Engineer’s salary was out of all proportion to other salaries.

Cr. Johnson proposed, and Or. Ferris seconded, “That Mr. Warren’s salary be £250, and that he carry out the slaughterhouse inspection still.” The Chairman said Mr. Warren was a most invaluable man, and took a genuine interest in his work. Cr. Gannon said he would have proposed that £5O be taken off the Engineer, and put on to Mr. Warren. Mr. Warren was then called in, and informed that the Council was much pleased to compliment him upon the manner in which he had carried out his duties, and that his salary had been fixed at £250. VALUATION LISTS. The following day was fixed for hearing objections to the above list, viz., February 8, at 11 o’clock a.m. TENDERS TO BE CALLED. ' It was resolved, “ That tenders be called for cutting drains at Mr. Crail’s, Partutahi. The Engineer proposed, “ That tenders be called for all the drains along the main rosd in March next.”

in Marcn next. PARTUTAHI DRAIN. It was resolved to send a circular to all the road boards, asking them to co-operate with the Council in petitioning the Government for enlarging the Partutahi drain. COABT WORKS. The Engineer thought it would be better and cheaper to put a gang of men on under a good overseer. They would certainly get more work for their money, and the work would be done quicker and better. He had to go up the coast, and would see what was required. He was going up, and any person who thought about tendering could accompany him, and see what was required. The Chairman proposed that Mr. Winter should call for tenders, and appoint a general supervisor. The Council rose at one o’clock.