COOK COUNTY COUNCIL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2161, 17 August 1907, Page 1

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL

i The monthly meeting of the Cook County Council was hold yesterday. Present, Hon. Captain Tucker (Chairman) ; Councillors Matthews, McDonald, W. D. Lysnar, Shorratt. Councillers F. Lysnar and White wore granted loave of absence. TE KABABA MATTEBS. Mr. L. C. Allen, Chairman of the public meting held at l'e Karaka on Saturday last, submitted the following resolution passed at tho meeting: —“That this meeting would respectfully request tho Government to take immediate steps to form a protective work along the Karaka cliff cutting road so as to protect tho railway lino and general road from the encroachment of the Waipaoa river, which is now in clangor, by suoh continuous encroachment, of being washed away. Tho Cook County Council is now spending about £I2OO for a deviation at this point, the greater portion of which is to cover the cost of two bridges so as to avoid tho road erasing the railway tunnel at this point, and to suit the requirements of tho Government Bailway Department.” The Chairman added: “We trust that you will seo your way clear to givo this matter your favourable consideration, and cause something to be done, as there is a real ganger of the railway ..tunnel, as well as the public road being washed away by the river, unless some speedy action is taken. As the County Council is already sptenf|!ngf a consider ablfi .sum of money in order to try and improve the road and suit the requirements of tho Railway Department, it is unreasonable to expect it to expend any more money, especially so as' there is, at the present time, a movement on foot to deviate the public road from this place by erecting two big bridges across the Waipaoa river.” Cr. Lysnar said the Government should bear the cost. The Council had been put to considerable expenditure. The tunnel would be endangered before the road, • and in their own interests should do tho work. He moved that tho Government be asked to take immediate steps to protect tho road and tunnel by protective work along the river. Tho Engineer said five or six chains of protective work would be necessary. Cr. McDonald socondod, and Cr. Matt-hows supported the motion, which was carried. It was decided to send the resolution to the Minister for Public Works, and tho Hon. J. Carroll. A letter from Messrs Partington and Perzor to the Engineer, re their Karaka contract was read. They : were

unable to make satisfactory progress owing to the constant rainy weather, and the work was too costly in the circumstances. They asked for permission to suspend work until the fine weather.

The Engineer stated that during the absence of the Chairman he had granted the request, the members for the riding being agreeable. Tho Council agreed that the work be suspended until the Engineer gives the contractors notice to re-commence. COMPENSATION.

A document was received from the Native Land Court' regarding compensation for 2 roods if! perches of the Mangarara block, the piece having been resumed as an approach to Tolaga bridge. The Court assessod the value at £74, with costs of hearing £lO. A cheque for £B4 was passed by tko Council. RANGER. A. Parsons, County ranger, Ormond, reported having empounded 31 horses and cattle during the month. FLAX, CUTTING. Messrs. F. J. Oatbridge and Thos. F, Long, Gisborne, applied for permission to cut. flax on the Coast road along the 'Wainui beach, between Okitu Factory and Tatapouri, also on the back rciaa from Scott’s Kaitargtahi to Piihd: i Cr. ’ Matthews said if the Council had any control, flax cutting should not be'.allowed. The soil was sandy and it would only kill the vegetation. Cr. Lysnar moved that the request bo declined.

The'Chairman: They want something for nothing evidently. Request declined. PAKARAE BRIDGE SITE.

. Cr. Lysnar presented a petition, I signed by 54 ratepayers, asking the 1 Council to erect the Pakarao bridge 1 on the lower site near the’ sea. and I stating reasons.. ' ' ' Cr. Kenway said that he had been | rung up by Mr. Martin and Mr, 1 Fitzgerald of Tolaga Bay, who wished to supplement the signatures. Not i ope refusal had been met with, the peoplo being practically unanimous in favor of the lower site. He moved tliat the Council fix Upon the lower site for the bridge, which met with I the approval of the Engineer. Cr. McDonald seconded tlie motion, I which was unanimously carried. AN ORMOND ROAD. The Ormond Roard Board (Mr. J. I McLeod, secretary) asked the Council to consider its decision with refor--1 once to the assistance in maintain-: I ing the road through the AVaimario block to the Waipaoa river. The I only heavy traffic on this road it was stated, was due to the cartage each I year of screened metal for "the CounI oil’s main road.

Tho Engineer said the carting was I done in tho summer. There would I not be much to repair. I Tho Chairman moved to the effect I that any injury to the road by tho I Council’s traffic be remedied. This was only fair and just. Seconded by Cr. Matthews and carried. I | HANGAROA BRIDGES. . I The Department of Roads notified its willingness to arrange with the I Council on the same terms as with the I Hangaroa Road Board, for the erecI tion of two bridges on the Hangaroa I road. The Department would erect I the bridges as soon as tho Council I paid the £6OO to the public account. I The Chairman: It is pretty stiff I asking us to jiay before the work is I commenced.

The Council passed the £6OO for I payment. 1 A BELATED CLAIM. Mr. H. M. Bayley wrote re his I claim for £2O for road maintenance. I The Clerk said that eighteen months I ago the Council granted £lO for the I work, the amount subsequently being I increased to £ll, which was paid. The Engineer, questioned, doubted whether £2O worth of work had been done, but it was worth the £ll. The Council recognises no further claim. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The County Engineer (Mr. De G. Fraser) reported: “I have the honor Ito report as follows: Contract 196. metalling AVaikohu-Whatatutu road: Completed. This work being let too I late in the season, has had no chance I of settling before heavy traffic went I over it. Tho road is much cut up and I part of the metal lost. * "Contract 194, formation. Aroha:

The contractor expects to finish m a few weeks. Much delay has occurred ■through broken weather. “Contract 191, metal repairs, lolaga Flat: Completed. “Contract 185, Wliarekopae-T a horn : Delayed through bad weather. The contractor is employed working the rock portions of contract. ‘■ A number of contracts have been held over till the spring. “Drawings and specifications have been prepared for four bridges, Waimnta. With reference to the steel work, I have asked a local firm" to submit to the Council quotations for supplying the steel girders under certain specifications, and if these Quotations compare favorably with those from the American Company I would recommend the Council ,to obtain this material locally. “With regard to the Paknrae bridge as soon as the question of site is settled I can proceed with completion of the necessary drawings.” The Engineer was authorised to have about 150 yards of stone obtained, now that it was exposed.—Report adopted

FINANCES. The statement 1 of accounts was as follows: Overdraft July 23rd, £7,619 13s Id. Collected: General rates.£7 9s sd, special rates £176 11s Id, interest 13s 7d, insurance £7 ss, hotel licenses £2, Carr trust £2 15s, sale of property £26 11s 9d, rent of property £6 2s, tools £2 10s 6d, dog registration £39 17s 6d, total £271 15s lOd. "Required to-day £1531, Overdraft August 17th £BB7B 17s 3d. Advances £l5O.

A QUESTION OF EQUITY. The Clerk of the Wairoa County

Council wrote bringing under notice the fact that “for . years past this Council has maintained the Ruakituri Valley road entirely at its own cost, while at the same time the road is largely used by several ratepayers of your County, who have no other means of access. Under the provisions of Section 109 of the Public Works Act, 1905, your Council is liable for a portion of this outlay. The portion of the Nuhalta-Gisborne road in this County is to a certain extent in the same position, being largely used by a number of settlers who pay rates to your Council. The amount paid by this Council for the maintenance of the Ruakituri road for the past year was £BS ss, for the Nuhaka-Cisborne road over £200.; these figures may be taken as a fair average.” The Clerk stated that the Ruakituri land fund had been sent last month. This would form a part of any contribution required for that road.

The Chairman said the adjustment asked-would cut both ways. Wairoa ratepayers used the Cook County road, especially the Tiniroto and Coast roads. Cr. Lysnar said the road was absolutely necessary to the Cook County ratepayers referred to, for siefese. Cr. McDonald said if this principle held good Cook County would have a big claim on Waiapu and Opotiki. Cr. Lysnar said the Act was clear on the point. They should ask for the names of the ratepayers using the road. The Clerk pointed out that for years the only Ruakituri ratepayer he had known of using the road was Mr. Mills, £1 11s 3d per annum in rates. The £25 "received by the Council for land fund had been handed over to Wairoa Council. Most of the land comprised small grazing runs, land held under the Bush and Swamp Act and exempt' from rates from two to four years. The Chairman expressed the opinion that all the Counties were dependent to some extent on each other’s roads. As to any claim a Supreme Court judge would hold that it was “six of one and half a dozen of the other. The handing over of the land fund was all that could be expected. It was decided to ask wlia.t settlers were referred to on the roads in question. Councillors pointed out if the claim was persisted in the Cook Council could retaliate. WAIHUICA ROAD.

Mr. H. Reddick wrote on behalf of residents of Rakauroa, .asking for assistance towards completing the \\ aihiika road. To complete the, road would cost £2200, and the Conned was asked for £SOO. Or. McDonald pointed out the ratepavers had already raised a special loan but it would still take £2200 to complete the work. Of this amount the Hon. J. Carroll had undertaken that the Government would give a grant of £IOOO. If the Council granted £SOO it would still leave £7OO lor the settlers to raise as a supplementary loan. The total cost of the work Was estimated at £5200. The only assistance the settlers had received from the Council was a share ol tne hi gat ap a Road Board subsidy. The Chairman said it was a. reasonable request. He considered those Who helped themselves by special rating were entitled to assistance. ' Cr. Lysuar was willing to expend the balance available in the Waikohu riding on this road. He did not ask other ridings to bear the cost and preferred that the matter should stand down until the Council fixed the rate. The Chairman said he could not take the narrow view that one riding owed another a few pounds.' He took it that the money available should bo spent to the best advantage wherever required, irrespective of what riding that work happened to be in. Cr. McDonald was against delay, as a grant would enable the work to be continued at once. These people bad been waiting patiently since 1904. He moved that the Council make a grant of £SOO. Cr. Matthews supported the request. It was the duty of the Council to assist people who were willing to rate themselves. The work would open up some properties and increase the revenue from rates. The Chairman raised the question of whether this was a County road. Cr. McDonald said the settlers wanted to hand it over. Eventually the matter was adjourn-

ed till next meeting, as no sum over £SO can bo voted without notice of motion.

HARBOUR BOARD REPRESEN TATION.

The Chairman referred to the legislation for adjusting representation on the various Harbor Boards. 11l his opinion the County had never received fair representation on the Board. The proportion, basing it on contributions, should be County six members, Borough two members. At present they had equal representation, two members each. The County’s valuation was nearly four times', and its contribution over three times, as much as the Borough. Cr. Matthews thought this view hardly fair. The population was in town. The country paid more rate.*, but the town consumed far more Captain Tucker: How do they? Do they smoke more tobacco or drink I goods than the country. I Cr. McDonald and Lysnar pointed I out that in the harbor district the l country population considerable- ex-

ceodcd that of the Borough. Tho Chairman said population had a, IiL '.mia mu oqa iQiai op oy Suiqyou harbor only affected prosperity; tho ratepayers should bo lairly represented. Cr. Matthews said that he would tike to go further into the matter boloro voting. The Chairman said that in comparison with other Boards, a membership of nine was small. Representation should ho considerably extended. ‘ Cr. Lysnar favored tlu;oo members for tho ‘ Borough and five for tho County, as a fair ratio. ll© pointed out that tlio matter would bo dealt with in a general Bill; it had nothing to do with tho Outer Harbor Bill.

j The Chairman remarked that it would strengthen tlic local Bill. jHowever, he was quite willing for it to bo embodied in the Government Bill. Tho Council would not bo doing its duty if it passed this opportunity of rectifying matters. : Cr. Slierratt did not think tho County fairly represented at presont. After further discussion' it was decided to write to tho " Minister of Marine expressing tho opinion that tho County’s representation on tho Harbor Board is inadequate and should be amended iii the Government’s Harbor Amendment Bill," on the basis of representation according to revenue paid. The Council left the number of members to the Minister’s discretion, but will submit the figures of valuations and rates in the County and Borough respectively.

RATES. It was decided that the charitable aid levy shall be paid out of general rate tliis year, a practico oreviously followed. The Clerk mentioned that there was £2OO in hand on fixed deposit, in connection with the bridge loan.. It would not be necessary to strike a bridge rate this year. ROADS. No objection having been received regarding Hutchinson’s road, a memorial was signed to be sent- on to the Government for proclamation. A similar step was taken with respect to the Karaka cliff cutting. A petition was received from Ngatapa ratepayers for a loan of £4OO for constructing Murphy’s road on the Rotorua stock track. A rate of onesixth of a penny was stipulated, but oiio property having been taken out, the balance was effected. The Clerk said that if the Government granted the money at 31 per cent, the rate would be sufficient. — Loan approved. A petition was also received from Paremata settlers to raise a loan of £4OO, to construct a new road through Paremata No. 4 to connect with Tola ga Bay road. The rate was one penny and one-tenth. —Loan approved. ROAD MAINTENANCE. The Engineer reported: l ln submitting to your Council the annual schedule for road maintenance on country roads, I would respectfully point out that as regards metal required, I have only asked for tho least amount to keep the roads barely passable, where they have been previously metalled: but bearing in niind the very heavy traffic that will pass over sonie of the main roads in obtaining Patutahi metal for County and Borough requirements, I would urgently request the Council to provide as liberal an amount as possible, tq keep those metalled roads from deteriorating to such an extent that they will be’ past ordinary repairs. Attached herewith is tho schedule referred to.” The schedule was gone into in dot'ail.

The Chairman said the list was not binding on the Council. It was necessary to approve sonic estimate as a nruitlo in striking the rate. After some discussion a schedule of work was approved, tho amount for maintenance being £11,730. MISCELLANEOUS.

The Chief Engineer, Mr. Hursthouse, stated that £35 6s sd, balanco of subsidy for Waipaoa bridge, was cancelled. Tho Clerk said the Department would not allow for the tallyman’s wages (the amount struck out),

nor for plans or supervision. Mr. McKenzie requested the clearing out of the Ivohai creek. The Engineer said a few logs should be shifted. He thought it was a matter for the Ormond Domain Board. — Referred to that body. . Mr. John Colbert wrote thanking the Council for the prompt manner m which repairs were carried out at tho footwav, Huxley road, Kaiti. On Cr. Lysnar’s motion the Engineer was instructed to obtain estimates and report upon the cost of bridges over tho Pnlia- and Rangatira streams. Councillors favored steel structures.