COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2198, 23 May 1908, Page 1

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING

Tho ordinary monthly meeting of tho Cook County Council was hold .vostorday..Present: Captain Tucker (chairman), Crs. Matthews, "White, Holden, Sherratt, MacDonald, W. D. Lysnar, F. Lysnar, E. Boland. CORRESPONDENCE.

Messrs, Evans Brothers applied for tho return of their deposit, as owiny; to instructions from the Engineer they were unable to complete their contract.

The Engineer said that as tho contract was not started in the specified time he had refused to allow the work to go on. The application was refused. Mr. C. Jackson, asked that seine gruvel be plactirfron the AVha'ltawhitirau road, Hoar the Willows. On tho motion of Cr. AV. IX Lysnar it was decided to accedo to tho request. Tho Minister for Lands (tho Hon. It. McNab) informed tho Council that ho could not accede to tho request to contributo a Land Board for Poverty Bay. It was decided to bring the mattor uudor the notice of Ministers when they visit tlio district. ‘ Mr. Andrew Graham asked that as a new dwelling for employees was being erected at the Kia Ora Dairy Factory, the condemned building be allowed to bo used until the now house was complete.—Granted. The Secretary of tho Marino Department wrote stating that tho islets suggested by tho Council to form the boundaries of a harbor at Tologa Bay coiild not be accepted, but that the boundaries would have to bo defined by posts. The clerk reported that posts were being prepared. Messrs. Clirisp and Coleman apilied to have a part of section 2.A.3. Mangapoilce, exempt from tho operation of section 116 of tho Public AVorks Act as the owner, Mr. Glassford was about to lease tho land which at present hud no frontage to a road.

The request was granted. Mr. T. A. Coleman, secretary to tho East Coast Native Trust Lands applied for consent to proclaim roads near Trig D. Ngatapa, and section 0 Tahora, also that the Council maintain these roads, and the Government roads in the district. It was decided in inform Mr. Colemail that until the roads were formed to the satisfaction of the Council they could not bo taken over.

The ' Gisborne Borough Council wrote agreeing to take 8000 yards of road motal from Patutahi at a price not to exceed 3s per yard. Also that no royalty be charged on tho metal. The Chairman said the Council must either collect royalty or break faith with tho Patutahi Bond Board. The royalty charged could'only bo the bare sum the Council had to pay to tho Bead Board. It was agreed to inform the Borough Council that a royalty must be charged, but would be reduced as far as possible. Cr. MacDonald said he" would not favor the royalty beincr reduced below 3d per yard. Tho manager of tho Bank of Now Zealand forwarded the usual application form for the Council’s overdraft and stated that the rate of interest on loans had been raised is 5i pel cent. —Received. Mr. F. J. Moore applied for a billiard room license at Tologa Bay. Granted: .-..v v y_ i DEPUTATIONS!

Cr. Boland introduced a deputation to ask for some assistance to construct a bridge over the Mangaheia river. The settlers would try to raise a portion- of tho money it tho Council would assist them. The total cost of the bridge would be about £IOOO.

The Chairman said the interest on tiie whole amount would be only £lO a year and the Council might make" ail annual amount towards tho interest instead of a lump sum.. .Cr. Boland said tho present Council might agree to that, but a future Council might- not. Ho moved that £2OO bo voted. Cr. Matthews seconded the motion.

Cr. Lysnar said the amount was a modest one and he supported the 'motion.

Mr Fraser said tho bridge would bo ! useful for general purpose, although ho would like to report upon the site. . - Cr. Boland’s motion was carried. The Engineer (Mr. Fraser) reported: as follows: Contract 184, formation Maungaliaumia road: According to instructions I have discontinued further road formation on this section, and let a contract to complete a 6ft track to Buchanan’s boundary, a distance of 296 chains. Contract ISO, formation Mangamaia road: Satisfactorily completed. Contract 180, formation on southern] end of Maungaliaumia: Completed : 105 chains.

Contract 163, formation: Waihuka Valley road: Completed to 6 miles 43 chains. With reference to this road I reported last month to the Council that I considered it inadvisable to continue work on this road during the winter months, more especially as there were not sufficient to complete the road right through. I understand, however, that it is the wish of the settlers to expend whatever balance of funds remains in carrying on the formation as far as possible. Should this be done, I consider it would be best to start at tho southern end and work towards the middle, so as to get all tho light formation done during tho winter, leaving tile central portion of heavy earthwork till further funds are provided; if this course is not followed a considerable length of road unavailable for through traffic .wi 1 j bo thrown on the Council to maintain.

Contract 197. erection of bridges, Waimata: flood progress has been nude with this work, all piers for the first two bridges erected, and part of main pier for N. 3 bridge, driven; also lower pier of No. 4 bridge erected; the steel work has arrived in Auckland and is expected here daily, formation, of approaches is weir in hand and some 160yds of metal knapped. Contract 206, . metalling Vairoa road near Peach’s homestead: Completed; 969yds of Patutahi stone has been delivered and spread. Contract 213, formation and metalling Riverside road: Completed: the contractor is now engaged in delivering maintenance on same road. Contract 214, Quarrying and breaking stone Marataha ; 279 yards completed; this I propose to put on the road near the Maori settlement at Muriwai; some formation will, however, have to he taken in hand first, and T am delaying the work until tho coming spring. Contract 220, metalling Mangatuna: Completed.

Contract 221, formation and repairs Poll tutu deviation.: This work is well in hand. Contract 223, metalling quarry Ngatapa road: Botween 40 and 50 chains on the worst portions of the flat linvo boon metalled, and a very great improvement- effected to the road. Contract 221, formation and metalling AVainui road: This work is well in hand; all metal broken and slacked, and the formation in progress. Contract 225, metalling GisborncAAYtiroa road near Harris’: This contract lias been pushed on with the greatest energy, and although tlio Government grant was received late in tho season for metalling, tlio contract lias been carried through without serious interruption; about half a mile of road has been metalled..

Contract 226, breaking and stacking metal on Miihi road: A contract has boon let for this work and a start made.

Contract 227, formation Darwin road: Owing to wet nature of tlio ground, I have instructed the contractor to discontinue work on this road. After completing a drain on tho upper side work will he resumed in the spring. -

Contract 225, lifting and breaking bouldors, etc., Tolago Hill: Contract just let.

According to instructions I have had extra stone put on for repairs on main road from Matawhero to the Patutahi quarry; botween 400 and 500yds have been delivered to date. On the motion of Cr. MacDonald, tho Engineer was instructed to prepare plans for tlio formation of tho AA’aihuka road up to the amount of the Joan money ill hand.

Tho Engineer’s report was adopted. Cr. AV. D. Lysnar moved that tho Clerk apply to the Government for the grant of £l5O placed on tho Estimates for the AY aia p u inland road. Cr. AA’hite, pursuant to notice of motion, moved that £6OO be spent in metalling the To Arni A r alley road. Tie said there was plenty of metal in tho district that could bo used.

The motion -was carried, the Engineer to proceed with the work as necessity required. Cr. MacDonald moved that the principal roads of the County, including the AYaiapu road via the Coast, the AVairoi road via Tiniroto, and Opotiki road be declared main loads.

Cr. AA T hite moved that the AA'aimato. To Arai, and Morerc roads bo added. Cr AlacDcnald said the Premier had indicated that £200.000 would be spent on certain roads, and lie thought as Morerc was a tourist resort, some of that monev might bo spent upon the Morerc road. "The Council could add any road to the list at any time. Cr AV. D. Lysnar seconded Cr. M'acDibnaldfs motion.. The -fiwncil should not include too many roads, but should select only those that led out of the County. Seine of the roads suggested by Cr. AA'hito were not properly made, and were not ready to be called main roads. They might as well call all the roads County roads so that each portion of the County would only get-its own rates spent within, it. It was quite unfair to declare two main roads to AVairoa and two main roads to the Coast. Such would cause a lot of trouble, and would be against the intentions of the Act. Ho would o'ppose any proposal to borrow money to bo spent upon tho main roads. He would rather see a general loan over the wliolo of the County to form those roads, as well‘ as other roads, that needed forming. The Chairman suggested that the matter be deferred lor future discussion. Cr. White: Have I the right to ask a question P Cr. Lysnar: I will sit down, but you can’t speak again to your amendment. Cr. AA’hite: AVell then, if one amendment is defeated I will keep moving amendments from now till dark. The Chairman said the mover .of an amendment had a right to address tho Council, but not to reply. Cr. AAdiito: I think we should have a by-law that one member can’t address the Council for longer than ail hour and a-half.

Cr. Lysnar (smilingly): I think that a very good suggestion. The Chairman: If tlio roads suggested by Cr. AA'hite are included, it will necessitate the inclusion of others, such as the AVaiapu inland road and the AVliarekopao road. Cr. Lysnar: I am agreeable to a resolution that the Council declare that there are no main roads.

Cr. Sherratt: How aro we going to nit those roads in order?

The Chairman : By spending every copper of our rates upon them. Cr. MacDonald said he would like the debate adjourned.

As,Captain Tucker had to keen an appointment, Cr. MacDonald'was voted to the chair to sign, cheques.