COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3148, 18 February 1911, Page 11

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Cook County ‘'Council was held yesterday Present : The Hon. C’apt. Tucker, .{chairman), Crs. F. J. Lysnar, T. JexBlake, A. F. Matthews, T. Fraser, junr., E. B. Boland, and B. Sherratt. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was read from Fitzpatrick and Co., contractors, for construction of road works in the Whataupoko riding, pointing out that owing to an error in taking out quantities, a mistake had been made in- the price quoted for the work. The price was £1 7s per chain, but should have been £2 15si per chain, and he asked for the consideration of the Council. Some discussion followed, councillors laying stress in the necessity for not establishing a precedent which would grow'typerhaps alarming proportions. Cr if Matthews drew attention to the necejsity of hastening on the work in ordjr to put the road leading to the Mafigapapa School in good order before thf winter. He moved that the applicants no on with the work, and that j/ie Council grant- him a further £45. / Cr. Lysnar seconded the motion. / Further discusion followed, and evenJrtually Cr. White moved as an amendment that the present contractor beallowed an opportunity- of withdrawing, and if he does so that fresh tenders be called for the work. The amendment was carried, Crs Lysnar, Matthews, and Fraser voting against. Advice was received from the State Guaranteed Advances Board that the £l5O Bridge loan had been finally approved, and debentures forwarded.—Received. The Under-Secretary to the Public Works Department wrote in reference to the metalling of the Arai settlement roads, and the C-oimcil’s offer to provide the necessary subsidy up to £2OOO. All that- was now necessary was for the Council to 1 submit proposals for carrying out the work inpthe usual way. The Engineer was instructed to forward specifications to ’Wellington. Mr It. H. McMillen, Whenanui, wrote asking for a. payment of £lO, which he had paid for urgent road works. On the motion of Cr. Sherratt, it was decide to pay the amount and that the Engineer he instructed to spend a further sum to make the work more effective. The Minister for Public Works wrote, stating that attention was being given to the Council’s request for half cost of the Waimoko Bridge.—Received. Messrs Nolan and Sheet wrote, asking for compensation on account of land taken from Mr. T. 8. Williams for the purposes of the amount. —The Clerk stated that a voucher had been made out for t-lie amount, £25. Several other letters of minor importance were read and considered. A petition was received from grazingrun holders, asking that- a loan of £2500 be raised for the purpose of forming a dray road from the Hangaroa River to Run 62. It was decided that the Council should take steps to levy a special rate of | of Id in the £ on the properties concerned. On the suggestion, of Cr. Lysnar, it was also resolved to ask the Government for a pound for pound subsidy towards the cost of the road, which would tend to open up Waikaremoana. A letter on the subject was also sent to the Tourist Department. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The Engineer (Mr. Do G. Fraser), reported as follows: Contract 324, metalling Arai Valley 7 : Government grant £220 ; this contract will be completed in a few day r s. Contract 312, carting material for Mar tin’s Bridge: All work in connection with this bridge has been complete ed, excepting the superstructure. Orders have been forwarded to supply the necessary pieces, which on arrival will be erected. Contract 310 :• Metalling Mangatuna cutting: Practically completed. Contract 309, extension of contract for ' widening, etc., Patutahi drain: Completed. Contract 308, Riverside Road works, Whataupoko: This work is progressing very slowly, and I have notified the contractor to employ extra hands. Contract 306, metalling GisborneWairoa Road: Progressing ilyContract 304, metalling Holywood’s Gisborne-Hangaroa: Between 400 and 500 .yards of boulders have been -carted out and are now being knapped. Contract 303, metalling and repairs Willow Settlement Roads: Practically completed. Contract 302, metalling Patutahi to Gentle Annie Completed. Contract 278, metalling Ivopua HillMaraetaha : Good progress is being made and -the work should be completed in a fortnight. Contract 300, metallinglvarawaßoad: 16 chains metalled. , Contract 297, Quarrying and breaking stone Gentle Annie: ’ About 220 yards stacked.

Contract 296, Breaking stone Te Arai Road south of the Reay: Completed, and will be carted out- for repairs shortly. Contract 292, road machines: _ These are still at" work at- Lowden Hills and Tiniroto; on eompetion of the Lowden Mill's work the machines will be hired to one -of the contractors at-Tologa. Contract 291 : The majority of the depot metal Putatahi ■ stone has been delivered.

Contract 290, Waimata to Waiapu Inland : A contract has been let to extend the formation on this road for 11 chains of rock formation.

With reference to the supply of metal from tlie Patutahi quarry, it will not ho possible to complete all the metalling contracts at present in .hand 1 this season as the quantity required largely exceeds' the output from the crusher. I have, at the request of Cr. Boland, explored for the best possible line of , road from near Rbtotahi to Loisel’s woolshed from Tologa Bay. The suggested line starts practically near Hinton’s gate, which is the watershed of creeks branching to Pakarae River, the line leaving the Puatacdeviation at this point follows a spur in a north-wester-ly direction for about 40 chains, thence along a valley for perhaps 140 chains; then ascending broken ground for about 40 chains,, to the head of a precipitous gorge, which it follows on the east side for 60 chains, descending to the flat at Loisel’s woolshed, a distance of 160 chains, and thence follows the old surveyed road to Tologa about 200 1 chains; or a total distance from Hinton’s of about 8 miles. The grades and character of the ground, etc., are as follows: —From Hinton’s gate, 40 chains light siding grade, 1-115; along valley through Barker’s and Loisel’s, 140 chains level and light siding; ascent to head of .gorge 40 chains broken ground... grade 1-14; down east side of gorge; 60 chains heavy sandstone cutting, intersected with ravines, general cross-section of ground 35 to 50 degrees, liable to heavy slips where not on the solid sandstone, .grade 1 in 12; flat to Loisel’s woolshed, 160' chains to pine, with old surveyed 'road,

■ligt siding and drains; along old roadline to start of formed road, 50 chains; from this point to the township the road is formed for 150 chains. ■ Two bridges will be required across a large swamp, and a large number of small bridges and culverts. No metal is apparent along proposed route. - The distance to Tologa would be shortened by about 14 miles. I estimate the total cost of forming a 2 chain road, with bridges and culverts, at £3500; land to be taken £l6o'; fencing, £700; total £4360.

Re Gray’s Drain: With reference to your instructions that I should report as to the best means of lessening the d-amage to the County road at Gray’s drain, the position at present is: A watercourse on the north side of the road at times of flood deposits large quantities of rubble, -silt, etc,, over the road and lands adjoining; the storm water not being sufficiently confined to one channel overflows through Witters’, and before it can be run off through Gray’s drain to the Taruheru flows down the road ditches towards Holden’s and Bruce’s, and overflowing the lands adjoining. The watercourse some few chains north of the road has a- welldefined channel protected in party by poplars, etc-; from thence however no distinct course originally existed, the flood waters spreading out and carrying rubble, etc., over the flats. A drain was subsequently cut leading across the road and into the Taruheru stream. On occasions of heavy -flood this drain becomes blocked to' a large extent with rubble from above, causing the damage before-mentioned. -In my opinion, with a view of protecting the road, and also the properties adjoining, I consider, a great portion of the damage could he lessened by: (I) Bringing up the fall avilable (about '6 feet) from the outlet at Taruheru evenly, to, say, four chains into 'Witters’ paddock, to. where the well-defined 1 watercourse exists. (2) By widening the whole of Gray’s drain, say, 5 feet in the bottom, and forming a dyke with the material through Witters. (3) Blocking the road drains at bridge near Holden’s first- cross drain (this drain would be better also widened) and not- allow flood water to proceed on towards Bruce’s., (4) Remove the small bridge at Gray’s drain on the road, and substitute a ston© crossing, protecting) the approach- to same by fascine work. (5) Pipe culverts along north side of road (Witters’ property) should be removed, and small! bridges properly anchored substituted. Estimated cost of above as follows: Nos. 1 and 2 £BO. No. 3 £ls, No. 4 £6O, new stock bridge over drain Gray’s paddock £B, total £163. The stone crossing alluded to would be some two feet lower than the bottom of watercourse at the road bridge. It ■would, however, be absolutely necessary that Gray’s and Witters’ drain be kept properly cleaned by periodically removing rubble, etc, along its course. The proportional share that private individuals and the County should contribute could he settled by arrangement. A long discussion ensued on the reading the report which was eventually adopted. A petition was received 1 from a number of Lavenham residents asking that 60 chains of the road through the property be metalled. Cr. Sherratt said that the von would be practically for the benefit of one individual, and be thought the expense would hardly be warranted. The Enginer estimated the cost at £IBO, and it was decided to bear the matter in mind when framing the estimates.

A number of accounts -were authorised for payment, and 1 the meeting terminated.