COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 406, 3 May 1902, Page 3

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Chairman said that notice should be given to some of the resdents, as the Council had power to havetbe trees cut that were damaging the road—lt was decided that this should be doce.

REBATE OF RATE!. Mr W. A. Spurred, of Wharekopae, wrote asking for a refund of his rates paid on section 1, block 10, Ngttapa S.D., as he said no other settlers ir the district referred to had paid ther rates, and some had not oven receivsd their demands. The Clerk stated that the writer was in error, as rates had been paid by his neighbors.—Communication received.

VALUATION CHARGIS. The Valuer-General acknowledged the receipt of the circulars with reference to the charges made for the revision of rolls, and replied that the Council were not in possession of the facts of the matter. The charges, which were not for revision of the rolls only, but for the revaluation of the districts, issuing of assessment notices, etc., were as follows : Waimata Road Board, £3 4s; Arai Road Board, £2 Os lOd ; Poverty Bay Road Board, 12s; Haiti Road Board, £2 19s 2d ; Patutahi Road Board, £2 ; while against Waikohu. Hangaroa, and Waipaoa Road Boards no charge was made.—Received.

COUNTY REQUIREMENTS. The Department of Roads wroto stating that the time allowed for the preparation of the estimates of the requirements for the Cook district had been extended to May 24th, 1902. As the necessary forms had not been forwarded, it was ordered that they be written for.

' HEALTH INSPECTOR. Tho Arai Road Board replied to the Council’s circular with refereneo to the appointment of an Inspector of Health, that the Board considered the present system satisfactory, as the smaller areas were bettor under control. The Patutahi Road Board replied to the same effect. The Chairman stated that the matter had been dealt with, Dr Finch having been asked to come up. TE ARAI ROAD BOARD.

The Arai Road Board wrote re Karawa

bridge loan. Seeing the amount of interest the Board had already paid, and considering that the bridge in question was on a county road, the Board was of opinion they should be released from further payment. The Clerk stated they would have to pay *£9 for 13 years to come.

Cr Jex-Biake said it now being a county road the Council should see their way to meet the. Road Board. He proposed that if the arrears wore paid up by the Board, they should be relieved of further liability. —This was agreed to. PATUTAHI QUARRY ROAD.

The Treasury wrote with reference to

the £2OO further 10 per cent, loan to metal the road to the Patutahi quarry reserve, and stating that no fresh application form was necessary, but that the special order must' be published in the New Zealand Gazette.—lt was resolved that the ordor be confirmed.

MR PERYER’S CONTRACT.

Mr Peryer wrote, stating that he had not departed from the specifications of his contract.

The Engineer explained that the contractor had wanted to do his spreading before he had finished his formation. 4.'“ As the contract was only a small ono, it was decided to lot tho matter pass, provided the contractor did his work to tlje Engineer’s satisfaction. ' i .,

engineer’s REPORT. j The County Engineer reported as Follows :

Contract 24, metalJiDg Waimata road : The broken weather has delayed this contract considerably. It should, however, be completed during tho next week. The fine river shingle carted to tho south side of the hill has been spread, and a considerable improvement effected. The north side of the hill is in a very bad condition, owing to the late heavy rains, which have washed the road clean to the substratum of large stones, rendering it rough and dangerous to wheel traffic. As before suggested, the road for a distance of 25 chains should be picked up and the metal broken. This could best be done in the spring. Contract 80, olearing Patutahi diain : Completed. Contract 31b, cleating drains, Sw ithmore road and outlets: This work has been done in an excellent manner.

Contract 81, cleaving drains, Swathmore and Lougher’s : Completed. Contract 32. carting screened gravel to depots : Will probably bo completed in a few days. The work of carting from the depots on to the different sections of road is being carried out. The road deviation at Tiffen’s crossing, Karaka, has been formed 40 chains by the road mncbino, and 15 chains metalled. The machine was to be employed to the end of last month on the Mangatu road,i and then shifted to the main road, Gisborne Biding. I would respectfully bring to the notice of the Council tho bad state of the Tatapouri hill. Day labor has been employed the last month, but little permanent good can be done till the watertables are properly made. This it is impossible to do at present, on account of the flagstones along the toe of batters. 1 should recommend strongly that a contract be let to put this hill in thorough order, as at present it is getting worse every winter, and as a large amount of traffic passes along this road, there is considerable danger of accidents. The whole of the stones along the batters and water-tables should be removed and broken into the ruts, and the tables properly sunk ; also a considerable length of boulders on the outside of the road, which are lat present protruding, could be removed and broken up. A contract was let to supply 50 yards of maintenance metal on this road. I found, however, that portion near the hotel, which had been carted and broken, was not by any means suitable for metal repairs. I have therefore declined to take this quantity (26 yards) over. The contractor has made an -offer of 5s 6d to cart and spread the rejected metal on the road in continuation of the metalled portion near the hotel. This it might be advisable to accept, as it would improve this portion of the road, if carefully laid and covered over. I would ask instructions relative to maintenance men on the Nuhaka road and Mangatoitoi-Louden Hills roads; also Arikihi. At present a man has been temporarily employed on these roads ; and in the case of the Arikihi-Tauwbareparae roads, work has been discontinued hitherto during the winter, while it would certainly be advisable to keep a man employed in these districts. The settlers evidently consider that the roads should be kept entirely free from slips, and the man employed is quite unable of himself to accomplish this work as the wet weather sets in.

Plans and specifications in duplicate have been prepared for miles of the Mangatu road, and I propose to call tenders for the work in three contracts, to close on Saturday, 17th inst. Six miles also of the Haunui road have been laid off, and plans are now under way; also some 2-f miles of the Inland Waiapu road to its junction with Tauwhareparae. This latter portion it is proposed to execute out of grant (when it arrives), and should there be insufficient to complete a dray-road, a bridle-track should at least be formed on the permanent grade,

MONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly meeting of the Cook County Council was held yesterday, and was attended by Messrs Macfarlane(chairman), Tombleson, King.i Graham, Cooper, JexBlake, and Hutchmson.

GOVERNMENT VOTES. The Clerk said that the Hon. lames Carroll had asked for a list of necessary grants for works passed last year, and he had stated he would wire away and they would probably come to hand during next week. Ho had given him a list of 13600. It was pointed out that the work was to be started in six weeks, or the votes would lapse. , Cr Jex-Blake thought the Council should make a protest against these terms, as it would’ only be throwing the money away to spend it in the “winter, as the work would be imperfeotly done. ‘lt was useless spending the money at,this time of the year. i A = v ■ . The Chairman agreed with Cr JexBlske, but did not think the money would be forthcoming yet. Cr King urged that they should not allow the votes to lapse.

CORONATION FESTIVALS. The Town Clerk wrote in reference to the celebrations proposed to be held at Coronation time, and soliciting the Council’s co-operation. The Chairman said a public meeting was being called, and the niattor could then be considered.

Cr King thought they should support the movement.

Cr Graham said that as a meeting was being called, it should bo left to that. He asked what the) expense would run into. l'he Chairman said he did not know what the proceedings should be. Cr Jex-Blako thought that the Council's limit should be £SO, the same as the Borough Council. As £IOO would not go far, he tho.ught they should get the Road Boards to contribute. '- - The Council then discussed the form of the celebrations, and suggested decorating the town, fireworks, etc. The Chairman said that the Council should reply stating that any members who could assist would do so, and on Cr Cooper’s proposal the Clerk was instructed to attend the meeting. ‘ The Treasury reported that the Council’s application for a loan of £3OO for. erection of a bridge across Waiomoko river had been provisionally approved of.

ORMOND ROAD BOARD. The Ormond Domain Board forwarded ils, being balance of their subsidy for drainage work done. * WAIMATA BOARD.'

Mr H. Kenway, Chairman of the Waimata Koad Board, wrote to the Engineer, pointing out that the work now being done on the Waimata road had been stopped just near the “ Waterfall,” leaving unmetalled two or three chains of road which gets very bad. in winter ; also, that it would be advisable to conned the pro-

sent section, the town side of DeLisle’s homestead, with the existing metalled road.

The Enginncr reported having written to Mr Kenway, stating that he would have filled up the gaps if the money had been available, but that when the contract was done there it would bo overdrawn. He pointed out that tho Council were doing all that had been pointed out by the Board and arranged with their secretary. —lt was decided to apply to this effect.

MATAWHERO ROAD. Mr J. H. Aislabie wrote at the request of a number of travellers on the MakarakaMatawheroroad that the trees overhanging the road should be cut away.