WAIKOHU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2668, 25 November 1909, Page 7

WAIKOHU COUNTY COUNCIL.

, MONTHLY MEETING

The ordinary meeting of the Waikohu County Council was held in tlio Council Chambers, Te Karaka, yesterday. Present: Crs. W. D. S. MacDonald, M.P. (chairman), E., M. Hut-, chinson, H. E. Telford, E. lli Palmer, M. H. Campbell, and A. M. Lewis. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was received from the Cook County Council asking if the Waikohu Council would be willing to advance £l2O towards the cost of constructing a portion of the stock track called Muriphy’s road, the amount to be repaid upon the receipt of loan monies. It was agreed to advance the amount if in accordance with law. Mr. Charles Gray wrote in reference to the repairs to be made to the road into Bruce’s grazing run, and requested the Council, if possible ? not to interfere with the cliff on his (Mr. Grays) Waihora property, owing to the possibility of slips. ' x ' It was resolved to agree to Mr. Gray’s request. Mr John Piggott (hon. secretary tor the Motu Valley Settlers’ Association) wrote asking that repairs be elfected to the approach to the bridge near Mr. Burgess’ crossing, and the road between AVillow Crossing and the tunnel. The Public Works Department have been asked to effect the necessary -repairs. v . Mr. Piggott also wrote in reierence to the Waihuka stock bridge, in reply to the Council’s letter asking ii the (Settlers’' Association were prepared to hear half the cost, stating that the Association could not see their i\ay clear to do as asked. It was resolved that no further action he taken in the matter. Mr J. W. Brown wrote in reierence to the cutting to his Rakaikiteroa property, and asked if the amount of his rates could be spent on the work under the supervision of the Engineer. It was agreed that the sum ol £lO be spent on tbe work. , . .... A telegram was received inviting, representatives of the Council to attend the laying of the foundation stone of the new High School at Gisborne. Cr. MacDonald was appointed to represent the Council on the occasion. The District Engineer, Railway Department, Wellington, wrote forwarding a plan of the road on the railway reserve on the eastern side of the radwav line at Te Karaka, asking that the Council take over this roacl as a county The Engineer was instructed to go into the matter and arrange a report for next meeting.

MISCELLANEOUS. It was resolved that the advice of tho Council’s solicitors he obtained as to the advisability of sueing tor the recovery of Native rates. In response to the Council s teque. , Messrs Riddell and Shanks waited oil the Council in reference to an app - ortion from- Mr. Shanks lor a road through Mr.' Riddell’s property. After considerable discussion it avas resolved that the Engineer confer with Mr. Riddell and prepare a plan ol the road and submit the 6ame to the ncx meeting of tho C/Ouncil. . Mr. Homer forwarded an Application Clerk. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. At noon the ordinary meeting o the Council resolved itself into the annual meeting. Mr. Geo. Warren t Rmally presided, when Mr W. D. &• MacDonald was unanimously re-elected chairman for the ensuing year. ‘ Mr. MacDonald stated that owing to his unavoidable absence from the district' in connection with his larlia mentary duties he felt he had not done justice to the position. However, he Loped that lie-would be able to give niore time to the Council in future. DAY OF MEETING. It jvas resolved that the ordinary meetings of the Council be held on the third Friday in every month, at, 10 a ' m ' SALARIES, ETC. It was decided that the clerk s (Mr. Geo. Warren) salary stand as at present (£2OO per annutn), and in addition that he be granted the use of a dwelling free of rental. The Engineer’s (Mr. Charleswortli) salary was raised to £375 per annum, he having provide all instruments, etc., necessary for surveying purposes. It was agreed that the office hours be as follows:—Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to l p.m., and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m Mr John Morris was re-appointeci ranger at £5 per annum arid driving George Bell was re-appointed: poundkeeper at £25 per: annum. VARIOUS WORKS. Messrs H. Partington ~ P. McLoughlin and M. Quinn wrote asking for extension of ’time'- to--.complete-‘their contracts at Tahora, as the heavy rain which had fallen had considerably hampered the work. . • It was decided that no extension could be granted, but that upon receipt of the Engineer’s report that the work had been completed, the contractors would receive the consideration of the Council. _ , ncA At last meeting the sum of* £SO was voted for the Whatatutu-Waipiaoa road, but it had been found that that sum has not been sufficient to alter the exceedingly steep cuttings, and it was agreed to spend a further sum ol £IOO. The Engineer was instructed to obtain quotations from New Zealand firms for making six steel wheelbarrows, owing to the high price asked for the American article. .. , It was resolved that- all residents with frontages on. to footpaths in Nuhaka township be written to requesting the immediate placing of cu verts, so as to prevent drainage to the kerb lino. Cr. Lewis made reference to the low level of . the main road fronting Evin-son’-s- store, and the 'Engineert.w?s : ’rn< structed to arrange the necessary filling in and metalling of this part of the r °A d ’petition (handed in by Cr. Palmer) was received from the residents of Whatatutu township, drawing ascertain urgent repairs he. effected to main road, and asking for repairs,, etc., to be urgently proceeded with. The Engineer was instructed to pro pare specifications and call for tenders to carry out the necessary work.. Advice was received that the sum of £IO4O (loan money) was at present available, and the Engineer was -instructed to examine plans, and to call for tenders for construction of a portion of'the Mangahamia _road. ' A petition was received praying that certain urgent repairs be eeffeted to Graham’s Road, arid that culverts be placed thereon. „ The Engineer stated that Mr. Gr« - ham had agreed to pay half the cost was agreed to work the road grader for a couple of days, and to put in the necessary culverts.

TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION. ' > Cr. Lewis'' again brought the ihatter of telephone communication before tho notice of the Council; and said that ho considered that the residents of Te Kara'ka were not receiving anything like sufficient consideration. It was stated that a letter had been forwarded to the Chief Postmaster, Gisborne, asking that the matter he brought before the Postmaster-Genera], but so far no reply bad been received. The Chairman stated that he would personally interview the Chief Postmaster, at Gisborne, and failing any decision being arrived at, he would bring the matter before the PostmasterGeneral when next in Wellington. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS. ‘ A. resolution, proposed by the Chairman, and seconded by Cr. Telford, was unanimously passed thanking the Cook County Council for consideration extended to tho Waikohu Council pending the erection of offices at Te Karaka. It was resolved that' Cr. Campbell interview Mr. Lionel Saxby and endeavor to make arrangements to lease a portion of land for erection of roadmen’s cottage. Tho Motu Meat Supply Company ap- ' plied for a slaughter-house license, wh'ich was granted. An application for a transfer of slaughterhouse license from the late Mr. Dudley McKenzie to Mr. Walter McKenzie was granted. Mr. Denis Malone’s tender for forming footpaths in Karaka was accepted. FINANCE. Items of finance were reported as follows: —Credit balance 30th Sept., £1934 13s Id; receipts from all sources October and November, £lslß 18s; total, £3453 11s Id. Payments, October meeting £B9B 18s Id; November meeting, £lsOl 17s 2d; total, £2400 15s 3d. Credit balance at date, £loo2 15s lOd. The amount of outstanding general and charitable aid rates to date was stated to be £605 ss, and in this connection it was resolved to extend Mr. Ralph Warren’s appointment as rate collector for a further period of two weeks from date.