COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2610, 18 September 1909, Page 7

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The usual monthly meeting of the Cook County Council was held yesterday. Present: Hon. Captain Tucker (chairman), Messrs. T. Holden, R. Sherratt, A. F. Matthews, E. Boland, and H. White. CORRESPONDENCE The District Land Officer, Mr. G. H. Bullard, wrote enquiring if the Council was prepared to purchase ' section 30, block 5, Turanga.nui, Aral settlement?, travelling stock reserve, for £IOO 10s (including £l3 10s for fencing. The clerk explained that the section was for a stock reserve, and the Engineer said that the Government had expressed their willingness to vest the section in the Council, if the Council would fence. —On the motion of Cr. Matthews the letter was referred to the Te Arai Settlers’ Association. The Assistant Under-Secretary lor Public Works Department wrote acknowledging the Council’s willingness to pay £lO per acre for the Papatu quarry, together with 20s per chain for fencing, and £25 towards the cost of survey, stating that the undertaking given, was hardly sufficient, as, although it was f>robable that the compensation for the and would not amount to more than the sum mentioned, if the case were to go before a Compensation Court it was possible a larger amount might bo awarded. Under these circumstances the necessary steps could not be taken unless the Council would first of all undertake to pay all compensation and incidental expenses connected with the survey and taking of the land, as mentioned in the previous letter. If the Council was willing to accept this responsibility without imposing definite limits the matter ■would be submitted to the Minister for approval. Cr. White suggested sending the letter to the Member for the district. The Chairman said that a Minister had said at the Council table that the Government felt that it was incumbent on them to give the Council a quarry in place of the one which had been taken away from them. It was eventually decided to forward copies of the letter to the Hon. Jas. Carroll, and to the secretary of the Arai Settlers’ Association.

The Clerk read several telegrams received from the Hon. D. Buddo, respecting the representation of the incorporated areas recently taken over from Waikohu raising some difficulty respecting the legality of the method proposed to be adopted in the matter of by-elections. He was of opinion an election in two districts would be necessary, and they would be justified in adding to the Council. Cr. White suggested that there was really no necessity for an election. Cr. Matthews moved to reply, stating that the Council does not consider it desirable to hold elections except for one seat in the Tologa and Arai Ridings, but that in view of expected changes the matter should stand over in the meantime.

Cr. Matthews objected to any increase of the councillors, or to any election at the present stage, and Cr. Holden concurred. Cr. Sherratt said that an election should be held. The Council had decided that question already. The motion was lost, and on the motion of the Chairman it was decided to reply to the Government stating that the Council did not consider it necessary to hold any election for two members on account of an accretion.

Mr. T. R. Lees, chairman Te Arai Settlers’ Association wrote requesting that ample allowance should be made when framing the Council’s estimates for the following imperative works in the Arai: Metalling Arai Valley road and proposed deviation through Pakowhai to Muriwai. The Association felt that even if £SOOO were set aside to be spent in the Arai riding in the forthcoming season no injustice would be done to the rest of the County. Or. Matthews expressed the hope that if any sums of money were allotted. it should be divided over -he three bodies in the district. Cr. White held that the Arai disdistrict had been sadly neglected. Ever since he had been there, over £2OOO per year had been taken out of his riding for other parts of the district. It was further pointed out that nistead of promising £ for £ subsidy, the Council had decided to favorably consider any such application from the Settlers’ Association. In the same connection; a, letter was read from Mr Williams, dealing with the amounts hitherto spent in tho riding and those available this year. Mr Williams, who was present explained that with the exception of last year nothing had been done in the district. They did not want to complain of their treatment in the past, but wished for a large proportion of the expenditure in the future. Or. White said that Aral only wanted fair treatment. > The Chairman said that the first amounts to be allotted were for works of general utility over the whole country. and then they found there was nothing left for subdivision. Mr Boland advocated the keeping of proper riding accounts. Cr. Shcrratt said that the engineers claims had to be satisfied first and the Council could not say what _ amount could be given to the Arai- or any other riding until it was known what was available. Eventually it was decided, on the motion of Or. Matthews, that the two letters be held over until the consideration of the engineer’s estimate. . The Town Clerk wrote asking payment from the Council of a third of the cost of entertaining the Acting-

Premier on his last visit, viz., £l3. It was unanimously decided, -to pay the amount. . Mr W. Miller, inspector-m-charge of the Department of Agriculture, wrote bringing under the notice of the Council the advisability of declaring Bathurst burr a noxious weed in the county. , _ It was decided to notify the Inspector of several instances of noxious weeds growing on the roadstead, and that the Council take steps to dec . ire Bathurst burr a noxious weed. Messrs Nolan and Skeet, solid'/ a s, Instructed by Mrs Elizabeth Cox, wrote re Darwin road, dram being turned into a disused private dram through their client’s property, causing water to flow over her land, and seriously deteriorating its valiie. It -was denied that the drain was a natural watercourse, and the letter suggested that if the Darwin road dram was expended about a chain it would reach a natural watercourse, to the use of which ' there could be no objection. The letter also stated that unless the matter was rectified an action would bo instituted for substantial damages. The matter was left in the hands or -the Chairman and the Engineer, to wait on Messrs Nolan and Skeet. The Treasury notified that a loan of £SOO was available for expenditure for ■widening and metalling Darwin road.

It was decided that the Engineer proceed immediately ■with the work of widening the road. Mr. H.. J. Bundle, representing several settlers from the Willows settlement. wrote thanking the Council for its decision re Matawliero Pound, and stating that they thought the appointment of an assistant ranger would secure them from annoyance. They suggested the appointment of Mr F. Carron to the position. The matter of the erection of the pound a € Matawkero was left in the hands of the Chairman and Cr. Sherratt.

Mr \V. O. Kensington, Under-Secre-tary for Lands, replying to the Council’s protest against the proposed exchange of section 50, block 14, Hangaroa, to a Maori for Tauwharetoi 2b, No. 1, asked if the Council wished to take charge of this area of 56 J acres,' which was situated on the opposite side of the river to section 50, about 1£ miles further north, and which was said to be equally suitable for stoclcresting purposes. In the absence of Cr. Lysnar, the matter was held over until next meeting of the Council. A number of applications for the position of poundkeeper at Tologa Bay were held over until the pound was erected. STRIKING THE RATE.

The Chairman reviewed the rate that had been struck in the past, although ■increasing every year, they had been unable to satisfy everybody, and he felt that the lid rate pressed heavily on some people. He would move that they would revert to the Id rate. Then thev would not satisfy anybody, but he felt that if all the demands made on them were to be satisfied, nothing short of a 6d rate would be of any use Cr. Holden seconded the motion. Cr. White suggested deferring the question until the esrgineer’s estimates were available. Cr. Sherratt expressed his approval of the motion to reduce the rate.' The engineer’s requirements were £II,OOO, and if any riding was not satisfied with a Id rate, they could strike a separate rate. Cr. White protested against rushing into the matter, -without- knowledge. Or. Matthews supported the motion. The Chairman said that they could not hope to get through on less than a Id rate, or h© would suggest it. Cr. White moved as an amendment that the striking of a rate be deferred until the engineer’s estimates be made known. The amendment was lost, and the motion, on being put to the meeting, was carried, the Chairman, and Crs. Holden, Matthews, Sherratt voting for it, and Crs. White and Boland against it The Chairman stated that £12,000 would be raised from Id rate ? and £3OOO odd from other sources, bringing the revenue to over £15,000. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Cr. Sherratt, the Council decided to levy a rate of 1-lOth of Id for charitable aid purposes, and, in addition, l-40th of Id will be levied later on for bridge purposes. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The Engineer, Mr deG. Fraser, reported as follows: “I have the honour to report that heavy floods during the month have necessitated considerable repairs oTT nearly all the country roads. I am, however, glad to say that no serious damage has occurred to bridges; one small sill bridge in the Takapau settlement. erected some five, years ago by the Roads Department, was carried bodily away, owing to a rush of timber in the stream. This will probably necessitate a slight deviation in the road; also, on the Arakiki road a small bridge was dislodged. A paved crossing will be substituted. The bulk of the damage is through slips and a few washouts. The roads that have suffered principally are Tokonui-Arai, Wai-•na-Gisborne, Wairoa-Morere, and Maraetaha roads, and Maimata-Arakihi and Tauwhareparae slightly; in most instances wheel traffic can be resumed in a few days. About £340 will cover expenses. I beg also to lay before the Council a schedule of proposed maintenance and repairs for the ensuing 12 months. In ureparing this schedule I have included only necessary repairs and works authorised to be considered, but have not otherwise taken into account new works. I have also the honour to attach herewith a report on Mr Seymour’s apnlication for a road deviation 827, Whangara.” “With reference te Mr. Seymour’s application to nave a road surveyed and taken through B No. 1 Whangara, and his suggestion to close and exchange the existing road along the Pakarae river from the Mangakuri stream, to Horihau (A.F.G. on sketch), I beg to report that, having inspected the ground: (1) As regards closing old road, I thin!' this would be unavoidable, as the sections seeking access are at present within 115 chains of a formed road at Horihau, with an excellent ford across the Pakarae river. The line to form is through fairly heavy clay cutting for short distances, but on the whole easy of construction. (2) With regard to line of deviation proposed by Mr. Seymour (A.E.C. on sketch), the road would run through some very rotten ground in places, and the grades would be altogether too steep for a permanent road. An alternative route is, I think, practicable (A.B.C. on sketch), but longer by perhaps 20 to 30 chains, ruling grade 1 in 12. Should the Council decide to take this road, the cost of purchasing and fencing about 80 chains of road would be necessary, presuming that the old road along the river is not closed and exchanged. As regards the distances so far as they interest Mr. Selmour, particulars are as follows : —Via Panikau road: Mangakuri creek to Ridge road, 70 chains unformed; along Ridge road to Panikau junction, 130 chains unformed; Panikau junction tp Seymour’s house, 200 chains, roughly formed —400 chains. Via Horihau : Mangakuri creek to Horihau ford, 115 ohains, unformed; Horihau to Pakarae, 240 chains, formed (main East Coast road); Pakarae to Seymour’s house, 130 chains, beach available —485 chains.” , . In reference to the Whangara deviation the Chairman moved that the Engineer communicate with Mr. Seymour, and ascertain from him if he would indemnify the Council in the event of the proposed road being taken or not. The report was adopted. The Council then proceeded to discuss the Engineer’s estimates for road works, amounting in all to close on £11,300. . „ In answer tp a question by Cr. White, the Engineer said that the majority of the works in the estimate®, about £7OOO, was for maintenance purposes. Cr. White said he wanted to know the amount of rates collected in each riding, and the amount of expenditure in each.

The Chairman said that that question bad nothing to do with the question under consideration. The schedule before them was for the essential works for the benefit of the county >at

large. What they had- to do -was to generally approve or disapprove of the proposed expenditure. Cr. Matthews moved that the schedule be approved. It was a just and proper thing that the amounts should be allocated for the benefit of the county generally. Cr. White said that some of the ridings- were receiving a great dead more than they oaid in rates. The Charlman said that an element of discord was introduced when special mention was made of any particular riding. It was -against the law to deal with particular ridings, and Councillors approaching the matter in that spirit could only do so with distorted vision. Cr White said that the matter should not he rushed through, he wanted time to go through the' schedule and see hew the amounts were apportioned. He thought there were many roads not mentioned that should have been p-ut down in the schedule. Cr. Sherratt seconded the motion for the approval and adoption of the estimates. _ ... After considerable discussion the motion was put to the meeting, but none of the Councillors voted, and the motion apparently lapsed. Accounts amounting to £1267 12s Id were passed for payment. At the conclusion of the ordinary business a notice of motion by Cr. Matthews to levy a toll of Is per yard upon metal carted over the county roads was called on. . Cr. Matthews asked leave to withdraw his motion, and substitute the following—“ That the Borough Council bo asked to confer with the County Council in the County Chambers on next Friday week, at 2.30 p.m., to consider what sum the borough shall contribute towards the upkeep- of the PatutahiGisborne county road.” He did so because he thought the two Councils should work as amicably as -possible, and should really be one individual whole, working for the benefit of the district. It seemed to him that it was unfair that large sums of money had to he taken out of the inner ridings to provide for the maintenance of the roads leading into the town itself. The Chairman seconded the motion. He thought that the subject was receiving the attention of at least some members of tlie Borough Council. Other Councillors expressed their approval of the proposition, which, on being put to the meeting, was carried. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The Clerk (Mr. J. Warren) presented the following statement: —Overdraft August 21, £14,091 6s Id. Collected: General rate £94 6s 9d, charitable aid rate £4 16s 6d, special £3O Is Id, interest £7 Bs, sale of timbers £3 Is, Pa-tuta-hi drain £55 10s, Paremata loan £62 10s, subsidy £Bl4 5s 9d, by-laws £1 4s; total, £13,018 2s 9d. Required to-day, £1267 12s Id. Overdraft September 18, £14,285 14s lOd. Advances £I4OB. .