COOK COUNTY OOUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2461, 27 March 1909, Page 6

COOK COUNTY OOUNCIL.

| ■ MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Cook bounty Council was held yesterday, ’resent: The Hon. Captain Tucker chairman), Crs. A. F. Matthews, T. i-oklen, H. White, F. Lysnar, E. Bound, and B. Sherratt. FINANCE. The clerk presented the following Inancial statement:—Overdraft, Fch. ipth, £I&6J2 16s 4tl; collected since, 24048, Os-St I’d ; accounts due £3510 14stia. Overdraft, March 27th, £19,07-5-LOs 4d. CORRESPONDENCE. ; Dr. De Lisle submitted a report upon She means employed at Messrs. Nelson Bros, freezing works to prevent the pollution of the Taraheru River, and recommended that filter beds be installed to. filter all waste water. Mr. A. Dewing, manager for Messrs. Nelson Bros., wrote stating that he was prepared to carry out Dr. De Lisle’s suggestions. Tiie letters were received. The Valuer-General asked the Council to forward the name of the assessor appointed to act for the Council at the Validation Court, v • Mr. George Grant was appointed to act for the Council. The clerk of the Ormond Bead Board asked the -assistance of the Council in effecting repairs to Bruce’s road, as the heavy County traffic had worn the raefcal down. The letter suggested that a donation of £2O would be a fair proportion for the Council to give.. The sum of £5 was voted to the Board. The East Coast Railway League, Napier, asked the Council to appoint a representative on the provisional committee. A donation in aid of the funds was also asked for. Or. A. F. Matthews moved that no -action be taken as all energy should be. expended upon urging the Government to complete the construction of the Gisborne-Rotorua railway. Or. Lysnar said he thought the Council should take an interest in all movements to obtain railways that would benefit the district. The Chairman agreed with Cr. Matthews that all energy should be concentrated in the Gisborne-Rotorua line. Napier was easily reached by steamer -and there was no pressing need for railway construction between the two towns. , , , . Or. Lysnar: You are only studying the town people, not the people in the country to be opened up. j The Chairman: Well, what reply to f the most important part —the dona- | tion ? ; Or, Sherratt: The Council’s repre- : sentative might find that. Was it not {' proposed that tlie Chairman be appointj ? j Cr. Matthews: We should give our !' undivided attention to urging the | Government to complete the present ! line. There is a market waiting in the j north for the produce of Poverty Bay. , We should not divert our attention frbm the present line under construction. For that reason I move that no ' subscription be sent. Cr. "White: I don’t think there would bo any harm in asking a Napier gentleman to represent the Council on the committee. Or. Sherratt seconded Cr. Matthews’ motion. Cr. Lysnar moved that a representative be appointed and nominated Mr. Sunderland. Cr. A. F. Fcrcle Matthews’ motion was carried. The Department of Lands wrote jn- | forming the Council that section No. I 133, block 7, Patutahi Survey district, was permanently reserved for purposes of a qiiarry. The Gisborne Council had applied to have the section vested in / the borough, and their request had been granted. The sum of £l7O paid by the County for the land would be refunded. ‘•'An extraordinary position,” said b;~-t-he Chairman, “and an action by the t' Department which if done by a pri- ■ rate individual would be called a [ fraud. The Council paid out the money f for tlie land, ar.d because the title was ; not obtained the section is taken away < and vested in the Borough. However, 1 the position cannot bo helped.” Cr. Matthews: And we don’t even get interest on the £l7O we paid ten years ago. Cr. White said he did not think the matter should be let drop. The position should be explained to the Hon. James Carroll. The Chairinan: The thing has been done with a full knowledge of the facts. • Cr. Matthews Can we not refuse to give up possession and see if the Government will take action in the Supreme Court? Wo are anxious to assist the Borough to get metal, but it is,the autocratic action I object to. Cr. Sherratt thought the matter should be put before the County solicitors. The Chairman: Wc can refuse to take the money. We do not object to give the Borough a metal right on the . -land, hut we object to give Up land - for which wc have paid £l7O. The clerk was instructed to write to the Hon. James Carroll explaining the position to him. The Te Arai Settlers’ Association ; ' again asked the Council to metal the worst portion of the Te Arai road before the winter. The road had been considerably da'maged by the carrying of Borough waterworks material. The engineer said the Council had spent £650 on the road this season and the Government another £6OO Cr. White said it was quite Two years since the amount was voted. The road was the main road up to the V The' Chairman said the Council could hot make any specific promises. The grant was looked up by tne clerk, and it was found that the moncv was voted in May- last. ’ Cr. White: If the money to oonie from the Waikohu Council is nor absorbed I would like a portion set aside for this rc-ad. , The engineer said he did not think ne could do much to the road this season as the Patutahi would soon close L '°Cv' White: Will the Council vote if: £ for £ on any grant from the Governor. mont? . . ~ The Chairman: I can sec no oejection to that. , , • Cr Boland : I think there is a amotion oh the minutes that the first money is xo be spent in the Tologa riding. The Chairman Very well, I suppose that will be carried out. ; Cr. Sherratt: Suppose the Government makes a grant? r , Tim Chairman: Catch the Goum '< mont giving a grant for Te Aral. Eren J- if a- grant is made other piomues made . • -fake precedence. . . 'Or. 1 White: I will give notice to Ik move that the Council vote £ lor .x, the Government. , , T -Cr -Sherratt: .suppose * y £IOOO is given. • Vv - e The Chairman:_ V, ell, . ; y•. : kV i;i eons icier giw-S ~

Mr. W. J. Hicks asked tlie Council to repair the Paramata road, Tologa Bav. Cr. Boland said the road was in very bad condition, but Mr. Hicks had mado bridges and improved tlie road. It- was decided to voie £lO for the work.

Mr. A. Parsons, Ormond, asked that the bridge over Mohunga Creek be repaired. The engineer said lie was having the work done; the amount to be charged to the Ormond Road Board. Messrs. Kirk and Barnard Avrote m reference to Mr: Dow’s claim for wages, and stated that they would be prepared to meet the Council on effecting a settlement. It Avas decided to reply that the clerk would give all information. Mr. HoAvard Kenway Avrote asking that the Kiore Company’s property, known as Hauanni might remain m the County boundaries Avliile being adjusted and be added to the Tologa riding. A large number of objections Avere received from other property OAvners to being included in the neAvly-formed Waikohu County. The letters were held over until tlie boundaries Avere being finally adjusted. The Borough Council -applied for an extra 200 wards of Patutahi metal The overseer said the quarry Avould be closed down on Wednesday next. The Council regretted . that the metal could not be supplied. REPORTS. Mr. R. Tlielwei! reported that lime eases of typhoid, one.. f diptheria ind one of scarlet fever had occurred within the County ‘during the last month. Seven of the typhoid eases came from the railway camp. The report Avas received. The clerk reported that the poll taken on the question of preceding with the authorising order for tho_l‘at»tani Tramway Lean had been carried by 86 votes. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The County Engineer (Mr de G. Fraser) reported as follows: — Contract 259, quarrying and spaAvling stone, Gentle Annie: Good progress being made. The broken stone is being carted out for repairs as delivered by contractor. Contract 258, formation and metalling, Wainui sandhills: The contractor is employed carrying beach boulders and knapping same. Contract 257, formation and metalling, Darwin road: Wet Aveather- has delayed this work. About 15 chains at the north end haA'e been metalled. Contract 258, metal repairs, etc., Whaiaupo'ko: In hand. Contract 250, Quarrying, spaivling, and breaking limestone, Waeronga-o-kuri: Completed, and most of the stone spread on road. Contract 247: Stone for metal depots completed. Work from the quarry will be discontinued after the 31st inst. Contract 240: Metalling Arai-Toko-nui read: Completed. With regard to this read, the nature of the country at the southern end (being the portion lately handed over to the Council by the Roads Department) is of such a character that with the funds at my disposal I shall be unable to keep the road open during the wet Aveather. Two men are employed on this road, and most or their time is taken up attending to some five miles of road which is constantly slipping. Contract 168, Erection of bridge, Pakarae: The bridge is iioav open to traffic. Approaches not yet completed, but should be in the course of -a- week or ten days. Sheathing of concrete pier lias yet to be removed and plastering finished. A satisfactory job lias been done. A start- has been made in clearing and widening the outlet of Patutahi drain through Mr Clark’s. Tenders will be called for work in connection Avith tlie drain proper as soon as the necessary field work and plans have been completed. Be WilioAvs settlement road: With reference to above road, on which I have been instructed to report, I Avent over the line with one of the settlers on the loth inst. The road was formed throughout by the Government, and as a summer "road is in excellent order. Last year the Council expended £2O in metalling two or three bad snots, which cut up' in the winter, and there still remain three places of 10 chains, tAVo chains, and half a chain respectively which should be metalled as soon as possible. The cost (to give a light coat) AA'ould be about £36. The cause of the principle damage to this road is, however, from the shade of the trees planted along the fence line on the western side, and notice should be given to the OAvners of sections 2,3, and Bto cut down their trees to a specified height. If this were done a very great improvement would be noticeable on the road during the Avinter months. I think, on behalf of this setlement, the Council might Avell make a requisition for a Government grant. The Engineer Avas instructed to 'keep the Arai-Hukanui read open for bridle traffic during the winter; to spend about £36 in re-metalling the Willows settlement road, and to notify OAvners of land where trees shade the road to cut the trees to the specified height. The Council also decided to ask the Government for a grant _to put the Willow settlement roads in order. Cr. Matthews- moved that £250 bo spent out of the money to be received from the Waikohu County Council on re-metalling the road from Mr Parker’s gate to Mr Levin’s gate. Whataupoko. " Or. Sherrat seconded the motion. Ct. Lysnar asked if any money had been received, from the Waikohu County. The Chairman: No. But it avill be I hope. To Or. Matthews: Why name any particular source for the recovery ? Cr. Matthews: Weil, 1 will amend my motion to read the £250 be spent next spring. ■ T . The Chairman: If the Waikohu County Council pays in any money it will have to be used to reduce the overdraft. It Avas this method of finance for new works that got the Council into deep water before. The motion Avas lost. The clerk Avas instructed to make the necessary arrangements to take the poll on the Patutahi tramivay loan and the Council adjourned.