COUNTY COUNCIL

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 653, 29 August 1891, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCIL

The above body met yesterday afternoon. Present : Ors Clark (Chairman), Hepburn, Murphy, Orr, Wethered and Grey, In regard to the communication received at a previous meeting from Messrs Druce and Campbell, re opening a new road to their homesteads, it was resolved to reply that the Council would not expend any money on such works until the main road has been completed. The Clerk of tbe Waiapu County Council wrote asking that particulars be furnished re the item £4116s sd, also stating that the last communication received by them would be fully replied to later on. Members generally considered that the Waiapu people had bad too much latitude, but it was agreed not to take any steps at present for tbe recovery of the amount due. The following circular was received from tbe Patea County Council:—This Council noticing with alarm the proposals of the Government in tbe direction of amendment of the Counties Act, providing for one man one vote in local elections, and also the very unfair proposals contained in the Land Bill, has decided to request the eo operation of other counties in the matter, as well as bringing the matter before the notice of the member for the district. I shall be glad therefore if you will take immediate steps (if you acquiesce in our objections) to bring the matter before the notice of your members, and endeavor to protest further in the manner which may seem to you moat desirable. —Received.

Mr W. Stephenson, Matawhero, wrote asking for an extension of time on his contract for gravelling approaches to the Kaiteratahi Bridge. Mr Stephenson concluded hie letter thus, “ If you could give me another job to get me out of the debt that I have got into over this work I will ever pray, for I have prayed a lot over the job.”

It was agreed to adhere to the ordinary rule, and consider the application for the extension of time when the contract was completed. R. Knox wrote stating that he had completed his contract for the delivering and breaking of 700 cubic yards of metal, and asked that the penalty for not having finished tbe work by contract time be not enforced. Ho had been delayed by wet weather, and had to go to Napier purposely to get breakers, as he had great d’fticulty to get men to do the work; two breakers had also to be imported from Auckland. The Chairman said his impression was that they should not allow Mr Knox any time for the carting of the gravel, but he thought the Council could allow the contractor overtime for breaking. Matter left ovei till payments came up. Mr J. F. Gibson wrote in regard to tho Junt at Fakarae. Ha said the punt had not >een used for fully ten months ; that it was in a bad state of repair, and always leaked. A new rope would also be necessary for winding the punt across. If the Council saw fit to do what was needed, he would look after the punt, but thought he should be entitled to some remuneration. Cr Murphy said to his knowledge the punt had leaked since It was last repaired. The Engineer said the punt was perfectly watertight when Mr Burns completed the work. He did not think the punt had ever been pumped out since it had been repaired, in fact It had never been looked after. He asked Mr Gibson to pump it out, but It was not done, and he could not see whether the punt was leaking or not. No doubt the seams had opened up through the punt lying at different angles on the beach, The Ranger reported that he had seized 37 head of cattle, and received £1 In fees. The Engineer reported that the contractors, Messrs Weir and Sellars, have completed their contract for the Kaiteratahi bridge in a satisfactory manner, and it can now be opened for traffl' 1 , Mr Malone is making good progress with his contract at To'oga Bay. Several of the bridges between Waihau and Te Relnga require re decking, and as Mr Dette is sawing totara timber in that locality he offers to supply any timber that may be required at 22s 6d per hundred feet. Nine culverts ou the Wairoa road were replaced with stone in lieu of timber. It was decided to accept the offer of Mr Dette for supplying timber for the bridges on the Wairoa road,

Accounts were passed as follows Sundry labors £3 3s, A. R. Muir £4 18s, C. Dette £23 Bs, office expenses £8 15s, M. McLeod £4 10s, T. Morrison £7 6s, Weir and Sellars £1074 0«, R. Knox £lOl Os sd. D. Malone £75. Gregg and Co. £75 3s Gd, B. Brooking £3 15s, salaries £45 IGs Bd, transfers £5OO, subsidies to Road Boards £4llos.

In regard to Mr Koox’s contract, Cr Orr proposed, and Or Hopburn seconded, that a penalty of be enforced,—Carried Cr Murphy, referring to a letter from the Education Board read at the last meeting, said the Council should send a similar reply to that forwarded to Messrs Druce and Campbell.—Agreed to. Tbe Clerk mentioned the overdraft now amounted to £2495 6s Bd. The Chairman drew attention to the numlist of trees that were overhanging the main .roads, destroying roads which had cost such an amount of money to make and keep in repair. It was decided to give formal notice to property owners to have the trees cut down, otherwise the Council would take legal proceedings to have the work carried out.