COOK COUNTY COUNCIL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2332, 27 October 1908, Page 6

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL

OIIDINA'IIY AiEETING

Tlio ordinary monthly meeting of the Cook County Council) was held, m the new offices, Chikler’s Koad, yesterday. President: The Hon. _Captain lacker (Chairman), Crs. A. 1. Matthews, AV. D. Lysnar, P. Lysnar, T. Holden, AY. Shcrratt, and B. Bola The Chairman slid he wished to express Jus satisfaction with the ncm .buildings. The offices were very substantial and nicely decorated ant. he could say the builder (Mr J. bonieivell) hail fulfilled bis work in lirstc’ass manner, and the architect (Mr. P. H. Graham) had given the Council a building of m nidi they could be proud. , . The Chairman's remarks were placed upon record in the minute book. Cr. Matthews suggested that, as many Councillors had pressing business' the meeting should be adjourned, after the payments had been passed. .. Air H. Bright-, solicitor, was present on behalf of a number of set■fci©rs, who requested t licit- t/lic jMcHigcihaea bridge should be proceeded with at once. Mr Bright said his clients would guarantee all money required by the Council for the erection of the bridge, if the work was commenced at once. -i The Chairman said the Council might be disposed to grant the money as soon as the Treasury agreed to the lO Cr. Boland said he understood Messrs Fitzgerald Brothers were willino- to advance the £IOOO, which was required for the work if the Council could secure their interests. The Chairman and Cr. Boland were appointed to confer with Mr Bright on the conditions of the guarantee. Permission was also granted to Messrs Fitzgerald •'Brothers to cut manuka from the river reserve at Mangatuna. . , , , Air 4 C. iSteel attended and stated that as £SO had been-granted for the survey of the Southern Tahora stock track, he was anxious that the rend formation should be proceeded •with at once and that a sum of £IOO should be granted for the purpose The Engineer said £l5O would do useful work m time for the wool season. . Cr. Sherratt said the track was becoming a useful road and woulu shortly become one-of the most important outlet roads in the district. Air Steel said the settlers now had to pack their wool for ten miles. Cr. F. Lysnar moved that £loo be expended. Air Steel said if the money was granted the surveyor could get his road-making plant on the ground at once. The Chairman suggested that £oO should be granted, and notico of motion given to vote the balance. Cr. F. Lysnar agreed to give notice that a sum of £2OO be voted, and a. sum of £SO was granted for the work. . The Chairman said the rate of If c ‘ in the £, which had been declared, would have to be confirmed. Cr AY. D. Lysnar questioned as to whether the rate would be sufficient now that a portion of the County 3iad been cut off. The Council was going out of office, and it was a duty to leave sufficient money for the new Council to carry on. The rate could jiot- be struck over the AA aikohu County districts now that the Act had been passed ,and unless the rate was increased no new works could be undertaken by the new council. Cr Sherratt thought it would be better to adhere to the lid rate and cut down the expenditure. Cr. Matthews moved that the question be adjourned. In answer to i question, the Clerk said that if the rate was confirmed an extra rate could not be levied in any district for special purposes. Cr. .Lvsnar said it should be remembered. that £2OOO or £3OOO would have to be paid to the YYaikohu County.

Cr Matthews (to Cr. Lysnar): You proposed the lid in the £ rate. Cr Lysnar: Yes, but the Waikolui riding wi!il be separated in future. Cr. Matthews : The rate is too high. The most expensive part of the County has been cut off, and with the help of the tramway from Patutalii we will be able, to carry through. I am quite sanguine that a lfd rate would prove sufficient. The Chairman moved, and Cr. Holden seconded that the lid rate in the £ general rate, and l-9d in the £ Charitable Aid rate be confirmed. The motion was carried.

Tho Department of Hoads wrote in reference to the Council’s application that the Wai'hirere quarry should be jointly vested in the Cook County Council, the Harbor Board, and the Borough Council, stating that the Borough Council desired the exclusive vestment, and that the Department had no power to vest a quarry in three local bodies. The letter suggested that the Council might come to terms for a right to use the quarry with the Borough Council. The Chairman said he was surprised to see the letter, as the facts were not correctly stated. Cr. W. D. Lysnar said there was a mistake in the letter. Theh Chairman: I think the Borough Council should have approached the County Council before going to the Department. Cr. Lysnar: The Borough does not wish to take anything away from the County, but to acquire a quarry adjoining. The Clerk said the portion applied for was vested in the Cook County Council, but had not .been acquired. The money had been paid, but tho Hawke’s Bay Land Board had never completed the purchase. Cr. Lysnar: The records do not show any interest by the Cook County in tlie block. He did not think there should he any opposition to the Borough acquiring an adioining quarry of about 34 acres. Cr Matthews said tho site desired took in the very best portion of the quarry. He suggested that the Chairman and Cr Sherratt should meet the Mayor of Gisborne with a view to an _ amicable settlement. He did not desire to raise any opposition to tho Borough obtaining metal. The discussion, was then allowed to drop, and the Council adjourned until .Monday next.