COOK COUNTY COUNOIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2556, 17 July 1909, Page 3

COOK COUNTY COUNOIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. ' The monthly meeting of the Cook •County Council was held yesterday in the Council Chambers. Present! Hon. Capt. Tucker (chairman), and Grs. White, Holder, and E. Boland. CORRESPONDENCE. The Whabatane County Council wrote demanding tho sum of £4B 7s lid, being the Council's proportion of the expenses incurred at last licensing poll. —lt was resolved that the amount be paid. The Super intend ant of Electric Lines wrote pointing out that the deficiency on the working of the Kaitaratalii telephone office for the year was £2 5s. — Received. Mr James Berry, on behalf of the Tiniroto Farmers’ Association, wrote asking for the assistance of tho Council towards getting a suitable paddock at Waerenga-o-kuri for travelling stock. The Secretary of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board wroteallowing the Council the use of the vVaerenga-o-kuri school site for a reserve, provided they would fence off 2 acres, and keep the fences in repair.—lt was decided to reply to Mr Berry, stating that the land would be available, provided it was fenced, at a rental of 2s 6d for a term of 3 years. Mr T. R. Tees, chairman of the Te Arai Settlers’ Association, wrote regarding the erection of a public pound at Te Arai. He stated that a section of 3 acres had been obtained from the Government, and if the Council would cross-fence the section, the pound would be erected, xveceived. ;M r T. Jex-Blake wrote, on behalf of a meeting of settlers of the Te Arai riding, requesting the aid of the Council towards haying 13 acres of Papatu H.ll acquired as a quarry reserve. In the same connection the Undersecretary for Lands wrote, stating that the Government could not undertake acquisition of quarry sites unlessthe Chief Engineer for Roads recommends the taking of a site for formation and metalling nurposes.—Cr. \\ Into said that if large sums of money were going to be spent on the road it would be advisable to acquire the quarry. The Chairman, thought that they should point out to the Government the scarcity of metal, and intimate that the longer the taking of it is delayed, so much will the inconvenience and expense be increased. The Engineer said that the metal at present being put on the road, which was being obtained from the Te Arai settlement, was absolutely rubbish. He thought the land oould be acquired for £lO per acre. Cr. White said that there was a good outcrop of stone, and indications of an excellent supply of good metal. It was finally decided to bring under the notice of the Government the inferior quality of the stone ot present being put on the Te Arai road, which was hardly worth the expense of putting it on, also to strongly recommend the acquisition of 13 acres immediately for Government and local purposes. A number of country residents wrote protesting to the Council against the Borough Council’s carting stone from Wailierere quarry to the railway, on account of the great injury to the road during the winter months. ' > Cr. Holden said that the road was in a terrible condition. In reply to the Chairman, the Clerk said that'it would take about 9 weeks to enforce a resolution to stop heavy traffic. A resolution had been passed a month before, stopping heavy traffic on al roads, and it would be in force in about a month. ' Cr. White:.Yes. at the end of the wet month, August. ' It was finally decided to reply to the petitioners, stating that the Council had already taken steps to have all roads closed to heavy traffic. Mrs Elizabeth Cox wrote, stating that she held the Council responsible for damage done, and being done to section 9, block 266, Darwin road, Kaiti, owing to the unnecessary quantity of surface water that was being diverted on the property.—The Engineer said that the drain complained of was the natural outlet of the water, and that little or no damage had been done to the property. It was decided to reply stating that the Council had not done anything, to prevent the water from flowing in its natural course. The Chief Postmaster (Mr W. H. Renner) Avrote. regarding the Council’s complaint of trie drainage to ballot boxes between Wharerata and Hangaroa. He stated that he had given instructions to prevent a repitition of the occurrence. —Received. Mr Thos. Long, Matokitoki, wrote, offering to supply the Council with Waihirere spawls at 6s a yard for 100yds and 5s 6d yard for 200yds.—The Engineer said the Patutahi spawls could be obtained just as cheaply Avhen required. Also the road on which the spawls Avould have to be carted was the road that Avas the subject of the ■ settlers’ protest.', The Town Clerk (Mr R. D. B. Robinson) wrote stating that the Borough Council Avcre quite agreeable that teh paddocks at the Gentle Annie quarry •should remain available for -county stock free, if the County maintain the fences. Ho also suggested Mr W. Sheratt as valuer in connection with the fencing.—On the motion of Cr. 'White, seconded by Or. Holden, it Av-as unanimously decided to accept Mr Sheratt as valuer. Cr. White suggested that the Borough Council should be asked to request the Government to vest 10 acres in the County Council as a stock paddock. The ;Under-Secretary of Public Works acknowledged the sum of £915, being the Council’s contribution towards cost the cost of erecting the Wai'kohu B r id ge.—Received. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. The Sanitary Inspector (Mr R. Thelwall) reported as follows:—"During the month five cases of scarlet fever, four in one dwelling at Waingake, and one at Mangapapa. On paying a suprise visit to Sutherland’s piggery, at the AAvapuni, I found him to be feeding raAV offal to pigs. I have reported the matter to the Stock Department and I understand a prosecution is to follow, pending instructions from the Head Office. —The report was received and adopted. ' ENGINEER’S REPORT. The Engineer (De G. Fraser) reported as follows: Contract 256.—Metal repairs, freezing Avorks road and part of OrmondWhataupoko road: Completed. I am also having repairs effected from the steel bridge to the borough boundary. Contract 258.—-Wainui road through sandhills: Shell is noAV being delivered for blinding along this road; the progress of the Avork is necessarily sloav, as the material is not always available from the beach. Contract 230.—Erection of bridge, Mangaheia: The contract has been de-

la>ed through shortage of timber. 1 expect to have tlm work completed in about ton days, except the metalling of approaches, which will' have to remain over till the spring. Bad weather during the last fortnight and flooded river has caused numerous slips and Avashouts on the road. A portion of the East Coast road north of Tologa, which Avas originally made at too low a level, is under Avater, and covered with silt to a depth of several feet/ after any unusual flood. I should strongly recommend that the work of re-grading and widening this road for a distance of about 20 chains be undertaken next sprins: the road at present is dangerous for traffic. With reference to your instruction that inquiries should he made for a suitable pound 'site, in the neighborhood of Manutuke. I beg to report that a Government reserve of three acres for stock and purposes might be available if the Council made an application to have the land A r ested in it for public purposes and undertook to keep the fences, etc., in order. I attach, herewith plan of section, which is about half a-mile from Daulton’s store. I have also communicated with Mr Wilson, Avho would be willing to undertake the duties of poundkeeper, if tho Council should decide upon erecting a pound. I have intej’vieAved the Land Office with reference to necessary road deviations when the Department subdivide portion of the Ngatapa estate. It was decided that the Council ask the Government to vest the three acre reserve in the County, and that the Council fence same.—The report was adopted. STATEMENT OF ACCOSTS. Overdraft, June 19, £13097 4s 2d. Colected:—General rate £254 14s lOd, Special rate £3B 16s 2d, Charitable Aid rate £23 15s Bd, interest £ls Is 7d, Hotel Licenses £97, Loan Interest £B4 15s sd, Grants £4OO, sale of timber £8 14s 2d, total £922 17s 10. Required to-day £1034 Bs, required August Ist £2035 17s Bd. Overdraft, August Ist, £15,244 12s, Advances against Grants £1565. Accounts amounting I to £1034 Ss were passed for payment.