COUNTY COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2036, 26 September 1908, Page 1

COUNTY COUNCIL.

ORDINARY MEETING.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Cook County Council was held yesterday. Present: The Hon. Captain Tucker (Chairman), Crs. Boland, Holden, Matthews, MacDonald, \\. D. Lysnar and Sherratt. Mr A. Wintlo applied lor a liccnso for a billiard room at Tologa Bay. Tho application was granted. The Tologa Buy Rowing Club asked permission to erect a shed on tho nvor foroshoro. Permission to erect the shed "*is granted to tho Club. . Mr P. McLoughlJii and other residents of Kaiti drew the Council s attention to the condition ol Huxley and Tyndall roads. The Engineer said he was reporting on the state of tho road. Kir H. E. Burgess informed tho Council 1 that a mooting of Rakauroa settlors it was decided to ask the Council to tuko over a piece of road formed about a yoar ago to connect tho Waikolm station with tho Ngatapn dray road. Cr. MacDonald said tho road ran through Mr Hutchinson’s grazing and was fenced, and compensation would have to bo paid. Ho moved that the road bivacquired, and tho motion Tho Patutahi Road Board asked tho Council for a grant of A/0 towards keeping Brcnton s Road, Patutahi, in repair. . . . Cr. Sherratt said the road joined the AVairoa road with tho A alley, •and was greatly used for carting stone. Ho thought a grant of £4O should ho made. The Engineer thought some contribution should be made. A "rant of £4O was made. The Tiniroto Farmers’ Union asked that the sheep yards at the Gentle Annie be repaired, and that the reserve at AVaerenga-o-kuri reserve he for stock purpose. ' Tho Engineer reported that the matter was receiving attention, and it was decided to ask permission- of the Education' Board to uso the reserve for the purpose. It was decided to grant £lo towards repairing the AVaimata-Arakilu road. REPORTS.

The Clerk reported that the overdraft- on August 22nd 'was £17,198 7s lid and the receipts since that date £243 8 S 9d; -accounts to be passed £2799 5s 9d, making the overdraft on September 26th £16,754 4s lid. Three (applications were received for the position of caretaker to the Council’s new buildings, and Mr C. \. Mooro received the appointment at £1 10s per week and rent free. The special order for a loan of £3OO for the Pouawa bridge was confirmed. It was decided to telegraph to the Government asking them if a grant of £3OO would be made towards the work, making contribution as follows: The settlers £3OO, the Council £3OO, and the Government £3OO towards the cost.

ENGINEER’S REPORT

Contract 212, erection of bridge, Mangapupa: Good progress is being made. The bridge is practically complete, and the .formation of approaches well in hand. Contract 22G, breaking stone, Motu -road: About 900 yards broken, and the contractor is proceeding with the second portion of his contract. ■ Contract 227, Darwin road: This work, which was left over during the winter months, will be taken in hand again in a few weeks. Contract 228, breaking boulders, Tologa Hill: Nearly complete. Contract 231, bridle track formation, Maungaliaumia: Will bo completed in about four weeks. Contract 232, Waihuka V alley road, southern end: Good progress has been made, and will be completed before next meeting. Contract 235, knapping stone, Waercnga-o-kuri: The contractor lias broken some 400 yards out of 800 yards required. Contract 230, formation and metalling, Wainui sandhills: The contractor is employed carting out and breaking the necessary stone, and will start the formation in a few days. Contract 197, erection of four bridges, AVaimata : All these bridges have been satisfactorily erected, and the earthwork, etc., at approaches will be finished in a few days. The work has been thoroughly well done and pushed on with all expedition. I attach herewith an estimate of quarry ou Arai-Tokonui road; also, estimated cost of repairs and maintenance on all County roads for the year October 1908 to (September 1909. , I would respectfully draw the attention of the Council to. the excessive damage done to the Wainui, Huxley, and Tyndall roads by the carting of bricks, coal, shingle, and machinery to and from the brickyards during the winter months. The settlers bitterly complain that tlieir access on Huxley road has been practically closed to them by carting of excessive weights, and I think some substantial contribution should' be made by these industries towards the road maintenance on the Wainui. The repairs on .about 12 chains of road have cost the Council nearly £9O, which distance absorbed all maintenance meta-l that I had in stock for branch roads. The Huxley and Tyndall roads were out l up to such an extent that they became impassable for wheel traffic, and as the carting on this road was not one-tentli of what it will be when the brickyards are in full swing, it is necessary that some •provision should be made for settlers in that district, who are already paying special rates for a loan for formation of their roads. To metal this road as far as the town boundary in such a way as to resist the traffic likely to come on it, would run into a very large amount, as well as a considerable cost for maintenance, and I would respectfully. suggest to the Council for consideration whether it would not he more economical to lay down either..a wooden tram (or old iron rails), using horse-power to bring the bricks as far as DeLautour road. This could he laid without ballasting, unci the horse travelling along the metalled road, while the tram could be off the lino of traffic. I would therefore propose that I be authorised to interview the companies, with the view of seeing what arrangements could ho made to mutually put the matter on a more satisfactory footing, so far as the County roads are concerned; beyond that the matter remains with the Borough Council to make its own arrangements. Cr. MacDonald moved that the Engineer he instructed" to let a contract to coninlete the Waihuka Valley road. He expected the Government would grant £50(7 for the work. Cr. Lysnar said lie. would oppose any further expenditure of County money on the road unless a grant was received from the Government.

Or, MacDonald said .no County monoy had been expended on tho road, Iho money had been either thirds or Governmont grants. Tho Prime -Minister had promised to make the grant. ‘ Cr. Lysnar said ho would not object to the work being in hand when tho grant was authorised. Cr. Matthews supported tho motion. The Council had promised the money. Or. Boland seconded Cr. MacDonald’s motion. If the grant did not come to hand tho Council should find the money. At tho suggestion of tho Chairman the matter was deferred until next meeting. In discussing the report on the di-repair of Huxley ami L.vndall roads the Chairman said ho thought the brick companies were liable for the repairs for tho Council could not bo expected to keep the roads in repair for tho sake of the brick companies. Cr. Lysnar suggested that the brick companies should bo asked if they were willing to contribute towards the cost of tlie work. Tile Chairman suggested that the opinion of the County Solicitor should ho obtained as to whether the brick companies ore lie I for the damage. Cr MattheWi.iheld that it was the duty of tho Council to supply fair roads whero .industries were established. Instead of helping tho industry obstacles were being placed ill the way. He thought it would be hotter if tho brick companies were consulted oil the matter. Cr. AVliito. .said that if the brick companies wished to lay down trams he did not refuse sanction.

The Engineer said the roads would cost, £ISOO to repair. It was decided to write to the brick companies informing them that the Council would hold them liable for the damage done to the roads by carting excessive weights. On tho motion of Cr. Lysnar the Clerk was instructed to apply to the Government for authority to apply the grant of £4OO for tho AVainui road, the engineer to call tenders as soon as the authority was received. TE ARAI QUARRY. The Engineer reported as follows: Re Quarry off Arai A r alloy Road. — Will reference to above, on which I had instructions to roiiort, having made a careful inspection of the ground I found that l tho best access to the quarry face would be by leiiving the Arai Valley road at section la, following the surveyed road between sections la and 10 as far as the Arai river; this could be crossed by a ford and cutting; thence following level ground through section 95 and crossing a narrow deep creek about 80 chains from the Papatu shepherds’ hut; at this point a side cutting would have to be constructed —some 30 oliains in length to the quarry face —as per sketch plan herewith, a total distance of about two miles. The cost of forming and bridging would be as follows: Small culverts, etc., on surveyed road, £2O; cuttings to ford, £SO; trimming, etc., say, 60 chains level formation, £3O; bridge at deep creek, £SO; side cutting to quarry face, £9O; total, £240. Should it be found (as is probable) that the river ford cuts up badly with heavy carting, it would be better to have a rough bridge erected over Arai river, at a cost of about £3OO. It will be seen from above estimates that to justify so largo an expenditure, -a contract of considerable magnitude would have to bo let, say, £3OOO to £3500. The stone at the quarry face is of good quality (limestone), and would make an excellent road. The cost of quarrying, spawling, knapping, and delivery on tho Arai road by horse-pow-er would bo 11s Od per yard, distributing along road 3s; total, 14s Cd. Tho present mean cost to deliver Patutahi stono by horse-power would be 15s 3d per yard; and if tramway proposals are carried 12s per yard. The matter therefore resolves itself into this, that for a. cost of £240 access can be obtained to Arai quarry, and that afterwards to cart stone out and deliver along the road under present circumstances would be 14s Od per yard, and Patutahi stone 15s 3d per yard. My estimates are based on work at the quarry face, where stone ig practically inexhaustible. The isolated boulders of limestone lying about tho valley at different points have not been considered. I have also worked on tlio assumption that royalty will not be charged.” The Chairman said that the result of the report was that good stone could bo obtained for an outlay of £240. The matter was ono for the consideration of tho Government. The settlers had been loaded for roadmaking purposes, and there was no quarry near. Tho Government should open up" the quarry for the benefit of the settlers, and the report should 1 be referred to the Department of Roads. Cr. Lysnar thought that if the site was suitable for a quarry the Council should secure it, and moved that such steps be taken. The cost would not be very great. Cr. AA’hite said lie was pleased to hour such a favorable report from the Engineer on a quarry in a district where it was greatly needed. The ,Government hacl promised to put the settlement roads in order and he intended to send a copy of tho report to AVellington because the Government had said there was no metal in the district. Now tlio Council found there was a mountain of stone close handy. A committee consisting af the Chairman, Cfs. AA’hite and Lysnar was appointed to acquire the land. PATUTAHI TRAMS. A number of settlers ill tlio AA’harekopae district asked that tlieir names be removed from tlie special roll of ratepayers in connection with tlie loan for the Patutahi tramway, as they would not bo. benefitted. The Clerk said a special Court would have to be appointed to consider objections. Cr. MacDonald said that the tramway would be of very little use to the settlers, as it would be 25 miles distant from tlieir homesteads, and they preferred that tlio AVaihuka Valley and Rakauroa Road bo formed as soon as possible. Cr. Matthews moved that the request bo acceded to, and the resolution was carried. TENDERS. The tender of Air. G. Lawrence, at £3l, was accepted for the purchase of a quarry. GENERAL. Cr. Matthews moved that the Engineer’s schedule of works for the present year be adopted. Cr. Holden seconded the motion. Cr. Lysnar did not think the work had been fairly allocated over the ridings. The AVaipaoa riding had not been well treated by an allocation of only £721. The Engineer said the list was the estimate needed for maintenance and repairs, and was not intended for new roads. Cr. Holden said if tlio Council started to cut the estimate about

there would bo no finality. The Engineer’s schedule was adop ted.

Cr. MacDonald moved that the Council dccido what roads bo declared main roads within the County, and, when that was decided, that a general loan bo raised over tlio County for tlieir maintenance. Ho said ho had delayed his motion because ho anticipated that the AVaikolm County Bill would bccomo law. Cr. Matthews said ho would move ail amendment that all County roads be main roads.

Cr. AVliito seconded tho amendment, which was carried. Tlio Clerk was instructed to take tho necessary steps to take a poll of the ratepayers oil the proposal to raise a loan for Or. Matthews’ trainway sclicmo i<> Patutahi.

Tlio Council then discuf-.sod the change of boundaries of the AVaikolm riding, as defined in tlio AVaikolm County Bill. The Chairman said that il\ the boundaries did not suit tlio Council a special Bill could bo put tlirough by next Parliament to alter tliern. As soon as tlie Bill was passed there would need to bo a. Commission appointed to deteriTiino' what amount the outer counties should pay the Cook County, because all the supplies and traffic for tho outer counties would pass over tlio Cook County roads.

Cr. MacDonald said that in regard to tho proposed now county a largo portion of AVaikolm riding was still loft in tho County of Cook. AVhen tlio Bill was first proposed there was no legal objection to tlio severance of tlio county. Later on, everything was in order for the Bill to go through the Upper House, but unfortunately some person came, to the conclusion that the boundaries needed readjustment. He (the speaker) was prepared to make any adjustment agreeable to the Cook County, but the residents of AVaikolm recognised that it was impossible for a resident of the district to come to town to attend tho Council meetings, and that the riding was too large and unweildy, and it could bo worked better in the district.

It was decided to allow the Bill to go through Parliament on the condition that the boundaries shall be adjusted after tlie Bill is passed.