COOK COUNTY COUNCIL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2764, 19 March 1910, Page 7

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLA: MEETING

l.ho ordinary monthly meeting of the Cook Comity Council was held yesterday. Present: Hon. Captain Tucker (chairman), Crs. H. AVhite, F. J. Lysnar, T. Holden, T. Fraser junr., E. C. Boland, T. Jex-Blake.

CORRESPONDENCE. Cr. Matthews wrote regretting his inability to attend the meeting. In reference to the proposed loan he stated that lie did not wish to commit the Whntaupo'ko riding to any specified sum without consulting the ratepayers, ti© favored the taking of the. opinion of the ratepayers by means of postcard, and said that, in Ins opinion, about £3OOO would he sufficient to meet the requirements of his riding. Mr. Edwin P. Roberts wrote, drawing attention of the Council to the very bad state of the- Te Raimi Road, at Te Ami. —It was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the. engineer to do what lie thought best to the road. The engineer intimated that lie could not recommend the use of the road grader on that particular road. The Minister of Justice acknowledged the representations of the Council regarding the accomodation at the Dishorn e Gaol for those awating medical treatment. He intimated that the matter would, receive consideration.

Tlhe secretary of the Ormond Road Board (Mr. J. McLeod) wrote, requesting the Council to have the water table deepened on Mr. Lister’s side of Repongaere Ford Road in order to find an escape for the accumulated- water at the end of Trotters Road.—The engineer said that in his opinion the matter was one which might be done by the Road Board. It was eventually decided to grant permission to Ormond Road Board to do the work. . Formal notice was received lrom Messrs Mather and Mclnnes to shift tne roadman’s wliare at AVharerata, as it wa s encroaching on their boundary which Avas being fenced. —The Engineer said that the land Avas of no value, but that lie had done the Avork. “Funny sort of settlers,” exclaimed Cr. Lysnar. “If ayo could leave a bog-hole alongside their door they would be glad to have the- roadman’s Avhare nut back. Mr. Geo. Grant drcAV attention to the need for some metal o r gravel on Grant’s Road, AVhataupoko. He intimated that the settlers would contribute £lO if the Council would do the same, and that he would see that the work was properly carried out—Un the motion of the Chairman it was decided to accede to the request. Cr. AAlnte dreAV attention to the question of some ridings receiving more than their fair share but the Chairman said that, when ‘people Avere prepared to give £ for £ it was only fair to give them a hand. In answer to Cr. Mlnte the Chairman said that lie would always support any proposal for works v. here the settlers offered a £ for £ subsidy. The Town Clerk Avrote to the effect that the Gisborne Borough Council Avas co-operating Avith the Council regarding the provision of accomodation for lmalid prisoners at the gaol. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The Engineer (Mr. iDe G. Fraser) reported as folloAVs: — . > Contract 284, metal repairs, Ring s Road: Proceeding satisfactorily; some 230 yards have been taken out and spread. . , , . Contract 283 Aviclening and pitching A him an u Road : Good progress is being made; the road has been widened and straightened, and the contractor has five or six drays carting the neoessarj stone. , . , r • : Contract 278, metal repairs, Munwai: Good progress is being made, the contractor carting out spaivls and knapping inr<- to scarcity of beach shingle, the contractor has had to discontinue a\ or.k until more stone is available, borne bu yard* have been "*ul> on tlio road. Contract- 276, bridge and formation, Pouawa Road: The bridge- is well advanced, and the approaches will ue taken in hand as soon as possible^ Contract 275, metalling Aral valley Road: This contract is progressing somewhat sloAvly. Two Avaggons and three drays are employed, and the contractor has been urged to use more expedition. Contract 273, bridge and approaches, Ngatapa : Bridge practically completed, and approach on north side. Contract 271, road formation, \\estmerc: Will be completed in a few clays. Contract 270, quarrying and spawJing stone, Gentle Annie: Completed. Metal for repairs- now being carted out and broken on the road through the gorge, AVacrenga-o-kuri. . ; Contract: 269, metal repairs, Middle Road: Completed. ~ . Contract 268, metal repairs, Abattoir Road and AAYllows Estate: Completed. Contract 267, breaking creek boulders, AATiimata : Completed, and the game ri' belli a- carted for repairs. ~ Contract- 266, delivery of river shin'de, Grey’s Hill north : Completed. As this metal has been considerably scattered bv sheep traffic. I have- had it rounded up and collected by the mad machine, which was Avorkmg ill the local itv. - - -i • i Contract 264, deepening drains and rounding road, Tologa-Bay north: A HI be completed this-week. Contract 230, Mangaheia bridge approaches: The metalling of approaches is now finished. • AAritli- reference to the Avorks unc.ei Government grants, most of the items are being put in hand. Proposals of expenditure, together with the necessary ulans and specifications have .been forwarded to the Resident Engmeci . manv weeks ago. I am, however, informed that these- particulars have to be sent to AVellington before final approval can be obtained, Avhich much cle lay the work-: I have not yet received any Avoid that the proposals for expenditure are approved or not. ■ The report was adopted. THE PROPOSED LOAN.

After the luncheon -adjournment the Council -proceeded to discuss the proposal to borrow £IOO,OOO for new works. Or. -Lysnar asked how the interest o-n the loan would he met. The Clerk said that' the rate would have to be collected, but, perhaps, it might lie deducted from the general rate. „ . In answer to Cr. Lysnar the Chairman said that in addition to the separate rate a special rate would have to be struck in each riding to provide interest on the amount' of borrowed incnev required by each riding. Cr. Lysnar held that if the rates were going to he increased there would he no hope of carrying the loan.

Th© Chairman said that the total rates could not be increased, but probably they would be less. Cr. AVhite held that if they -ivere going to borrow money they surely must have an increased rate. - He suggested that the Engineer would be the best person to say what amount Avas required by each riding. In many cases, Avhere a" riding might not want to expend money, it might he Aviso to say that money should be expended in certain Avays. The Cleric said that if £IOO,OOO wore borrowed, rates of -jj-d for interest, id management, and {j-d for maintenance. Avould be necessary. -These figures would'. of -course, lie- Varied according to the amount taken by each riding. A general discussion followed on the subject- of -maintenance, new works, also the amounts likely to be required by each riding to put its roads in order. It Avas subsequently decided that the Engineer should draw up an estimate of what amount of a sum of £.100,000 should be allocated to- each riding in order to bring their roads into a state of good repair, up to a consistent pitch of improvement. The schedule is to he prepared by next Friday and on the following Friday a special meeting of the Council will he held to- further consider the rub ject.