WAIKOHU COUNTY COUNCIL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2478, 17 April 1909, Page 3

WAIKOHU COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING, The monthly meeting of the Waikolm County Council was held at Te Ivaraka yesterday. There were present Crs. W. D. S. McDonald, M.P. (chairman), A. M. Lewis, E. M. Hutchinson, H. Telford, H. E. Tiffen, and M. Campbell. CORRESPONDENCE. In reference to the adjustment of accounts between the two Counties Messrs R’ees Bros, and Bright, solicitors to.the Council, wrote as follows: “We have received from the clerk of the Cook County Council a copy of the scheme of appointments of assets and liabilities as. proposed by that body. This suggested appointment is based on the conditions of the Cook County finances as existing at the time of the constitution of the Waikolm County. Upon such basis Mr Warren’s figures may be, and probably are, substantially correct. Any annual agreement between the two counties must be made not later than April 23rd, r and once made, the agreement is final and binding. We cannot advi.se that any agreement be entered into, but contend that the inquiry directed to be held upon failure to agree cannot put your Council’in a worse position than that contained in the proposal emanated from the Cook County, excepting that your Council .might be ordered to bear the costs of the enquiry. If the riding accounts can be re-opened and the various .items adjusted in accordance with tire legal position in force for past years, your Council will benefit very considerably. We are not prepared at present to advise definitely that these accounts can be re-opened. If it is decided that they cannot be, it would, by making full enquiry now, entail much unnecessary expense. As the question is one of great importance, we would prefer to obtain a considered opinion of loading counsel on the subject, and would suggest Mr P. O. Skerrett, K.C., of Wellington. If you will advise this course we will take the matter before Mr feerrett, or other counsel if preferred, with as little delay as possible.” The Chairman moved that Mr SkoTrett’s opinion be obtained, as Councillors they must look after the interests of the ratepayers. Mr Hutchinson said ho was strongly in favor of a commission being ret up to go into the. accounts. Cr. Tiffen seconded the Chairman s motion, which was carried. Mr H. C. Jackson wrote thanking the Council for approving of the loan of £2600 for Mangamaia road, and asking for favorable consideration for a further loan of £2OOO for the purpose continuing the formation winch the first loan asked for. Mr Jackson waited on the Council and explained that under present conditions it was impossible t-o get fat stock out. The question of boundaries did not a fleet the application. Cr. Hutchinson said a similar application had been .pending for two years. Tahora settlers understood their loan could not be obtained until the boundaries were settled. The Chairman said the loans would not exhaust the money available for loans. . Mr Jackson’s request was granted. Mr Vincent Pyke, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, notified that tlic mrthorities of the banL had sanctioned jin overdraft limit in the meantime oi £6OOO. , The form necessary to guarantee the overdraft was signed by the Council. The Overseer (Mr. Mooney) reported on the work done during the month. It was decided to call for fresh tenders for repairing the road about V batatutu,. as the first tenders were too high. No tenders were accepted for the depots, Councilors considering tnis unnecessary in view of the small amount of heavy traffic on the roads. Twenty-five pounds was granted id repairs to the Whaitiri Road. The question of the tram wav that is being laid down was raised by Cr Lewis, and the Chairman said that permission would only be granted to lay the tram line on condition the travelling public were adequately protected from dam,#G . "liie license to lay the tram lines was granted. The following monthly statement was laid on thei table:—Overdraft, March 31st, 1909, £266 4s Id: cash m hand, £939 5s Id, credit balance £677 -s. Collected: General rate, 1908, £768 9s Bd, charitable aid rate £63 5s 6d; total, £836 15s 2d; grand total, £1509 lbs 2d. Outstanding rates March 31st, 1909, £7578 7s sd; collected to April 15, £836 15s 2d; outstanding. £8741 2s 3d. Mr P. J. Sefton, Clerk of tlio late Waikolm Road Board, submitted the balance-sheet of the. Board at October 30, 1908. It showed the receipts in general account amount to £543 16s lid, and expenditure to ‘£4Bl 12s 9d, leaving a balance of £64 4s 2d. In the Kanaekanaia bridge loan account there was a balance shown of £383 3s 2d. The statement of assets and liabilities was as follows: Assets —Balance m bank general account, £67 4s 2d ; loan account, £392 7s 2d ; office building and effects, £3O; total, £489 Hs 4d. Liabilities —Unpresented cheques, £l4 4s. The statement of public debt to October 30, 190 S, was: Bruce’s road loan under Loans to Local Bodies Act, 188 b, at 41 per cent.. £l2l 3s 8d ; Kanaekanaia bridge loan under Local Bodies Loans Act, 1901. at 4 per cent., £o000; total, £6121 3s Bd. ' A statement- of accounts of die Koad Board acting for Waikolm County from October 10, 1908, to March 31, HOJ showed .a credit balance of £1 lus lOd in the general account ,aud a balance of £314 Os 7d in the Kanaekanaia bridge loan account. The amount or asseat over liabilities was £339 15s Id. A special order was made adopting the bye-laws. , ~, . Mr A. F. Matthews submitted a report on a drainage scheme for le Ivaraka. at ah estimated cost of £/U4 14s He advised that tenders be called for clearing all the drains before the winter set in. Mr. Matthews’ report was adopted, and ho was instructed to dram the more central portion, of the t-qwn. Mr. George Warren was appointed county clerk at a salary of £2OO ayoai. The Council instructed Mrs. Evmson to remove her house from the oft the roadway within three months. -hr The Council then adjourned. ••' .