COUNTY COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 121, 1 June 1901, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Council took place yesterday. Present: Crs Macfarlane (Chairman), Tombleson, King, Graham, Hutchinson, Mossman, Jex-Blake. The Survey Office sent a memo stating that if the Council desired, the third for Mr Spencer’s ran could be spent in conjunction with the Department’s other work. The Kaiti Road Board suggested that the earth from the drain on the west side of DeLautour Road be e’venly spread on Wainui road, and that a guard-rail be fixed at that place. The Chairman said the road had been badly cut up and the place was aangerous —it had narrowed the road. —Cr Tomble-

son said that the drain should certainly be piped—The Engineer said that he had suggested that the drain be filled in, and the water carried along the Board’s own culvert, which would save a considerable amount of piping.—Cr King : That hole cannot be left there. —The Engineer said he had informed one of tho members of the Board as he was going to the meeting of the Board. Tho Chairman said they evi-

dently had not taken notice of the suggestion. The Engineer said the drain should have run from nothing, as it was at present it was made to run uphill. The Chairman said it was an extraordinary thing for the resident in that locality to have this great excavation alongside his property. On the Chairman’s suggestion, it was agreed to reply that the throo chains of drain (the “ canal ” Or King cailoJ it) muat be tilled in, and that the Board arrange with the Council’s Engineer, a 3 to the finding of an outlet. The Auckland Cycle Boads League forwarded a copy of the Cyclo Boards Bill, for which the Council’s support was asked. The Chairman said ho did not know how the League could protect the tracks from cattle. Cr King said it might do in the town, but he did not see how they could retain a good track in the country; teams would go right over it. Cr Jex-Blake said when the roads wore bad pcoplo would be using the good track. —(Laughter.) - Cr King said he did not see how it would work in the country. In reply to Cr Hutchinson, the Chairman said that it would not cost the Council anything; they would be called on to make concessions. Cr Hutchinson said' it seemed to him a good proposal. It was agreed, on Cr Tombloson’s suggestion, to defer the matter until next meeting. Mr D. Malone offored to form the road from Read's gate to Makaraka for 3s 4d per chain, and would allow t£lo to stand against rates that might bo coming due for next two years. In reply to Cr Jex-Blako the Chairman said the work would cost about £25 ; the work required doing if they could manage it, a statement which Cr King supported. Cr Graham said the trouble was they could not afford it at present. On tho motion of the Chairman the matter was deferred, tho Chairman saying that it would bo necessary for them to dispense with every man they could until tho now rates came in.

■Mr Joseph Whitaker called attention to the large quantity of water which flowed through section 74, Whataupoko, and asked the Council to attend to the drains causing the trouble. Engineer to inspect the place and report. In respect to bridge over Mangatokorau creek, the Waiapu County Council stated that the bridgo was urgently needed for crossing stock. The Waiapu County Council was prepared to construct the bridge provided the Council would grant 12300 towards the cost. No funds available.

In reply to the Council’s application for loan of .0200 for continuing the metalling of the Waimata main road; the Secretary to the Treasury asked if any portion of the road had ever been previously metalled. —The Clork said he had replied that the road had not previously been metalled at the place on which the loan would be expended. The Secretary of the Treasury informed the Council by memorandum that if the Council made application for the provisional approval of the Colonial Treasurer to the proposed loans, the necessary forms would be sent in to the Council. —The Cleric said he had complied with the request.

A letter was recoived from the Motu Settlors’ Association, drawing attention to the fact that tho recently-constructed Poututu stock track was in an unfinished state. The portion unfinished passed through the Poututu station, the manager of which had orders to stop anyone travelling through with stock. The Association urged immediate completion of the work.

The Chairman said that lie bad conferred with Mr Walter Foster as to whether he would come to an amicable arrangement, but he said that they should go on with it under tho Public Works Act. Cr King : Then go on with it at once; this is one of tho worst lines I have known, going to a man’s back yard and then stopping ; wo cannot have all this money spent there and then stop in a man’s paddock. CrJex-Blako: He is all right; he gets the benefit of it. It was agreed to tako action under the Works Act.

G. W. Title a asked permission to deviate the road at liis woolshcd. As laid off, the road ran through the middle of the only flat near tho homestead, and left the flat at a precipice. Tho Engineer thought the best thing would be to allow Mr Tiffen to put his fence back until the roadway was required. Councillors took a like view, and it was resolved that Mr Tiffen be given permission on the terms ho offered. -The Minister for Public Works intimated that he would carefully consider the suggested erection of a flag station at Makauri. Cr Graham : You are just as far on as you were before. (Laughter.) Cr King said they had had some land of his for twelve months. (Laughter). A letter was received from the Minister for Agriculture stating that tho local body in whose district a slaughterhouse was situated should receive tho application for a license for such slaughterhouse. Tho Clerk said that the applications would be there that day for tho Council’s approval; ho had asked, for instructions as to which authority the applications would go through, and each body was to have its own applications. Mr C. W. Hursthouse, Chief Engineer of Roads, asked that communications relating to construction, maintenance, control, and legislation of roads, bridges, etc., be sent direct to him, as the Lands Department had been divided, and this branch of the work had been placed in his charge. The Chairman said that it was a good departure. Cr Jex-Blake: But we would lose a good man in Mr Gold-Smith. The Chairman said ho did not think it would make any difference in that way, and the Clerk said that applications were now mostly addressed to the SurveyorGeneral. The Valuer-General forwarded district valuation rolls for the Cook County. An intimation was received from the Borough Council of their intention to immediately purchase road-making machinery, including a traction engine for haulage of metal, and requesting the County Council to undertake the work of strengthening the bridges and culverts, to enable metal to be obtained from the Patutahi Quarry. Crs King and Jex-Blake said that was a big order. Cr Graham said they should get the Engineer to report. Cr lung : It won’t take them long to cut away the Arai bridge. The Chairman: That bridge alone will probably cost a thousand. He moved that the Engineer bo instructed to report on the bridges between town and the quarry, which was agreed to. Cr King: At the same time it is not likely we are going to do it. Mr Martin, clerk of the Waimata Road Board, wrote re expenditure of £6OO. on Waimata county road, stating that Mr Tombleson, member for the riding, would place the Board’s views before the meeting. The President of the New Zealand Counties’ Association asked that copies of suggested amendments to the Local Authorities Bill bo sont to "the Secretary of the Association as soon as possible, in order that they might be classified for the Conference, to be held in Wellington during the session. A request was also made that the Council forward the name of its representative at the approaching Conference. - -

The Southland Council forwarded a series of suggestions, and stated that it would be pleased to reciprocate with this Counoil in regard to suggestions. ' The Chairman said that the suggestions seemed

to touch on all the salient points. As to the delegates he had thought of asking them to appoint Mr Warren and the Chairman as delegates. Crs Tombleson and King warmly supported the suggestion as to delegates, and on their motion the appointments ..were made. If Mr Warren was not eligible as - a delegate, it was considered he could go as an associate. It was also decided to join the Association. Mr Malcolm McLeod asked that his wages be at the rate of 12s per day, more especially for the time he was engaged in repairing the Pakarae punt. The Engineer said that the ordinary wage he understood was 10s, but that special allowance should be made where expenses were entailed such as staying at accommodation houses.

On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Cr Graham, it was resolved that the rate of wages be not increased except in special cases arranged for by the Engineer. The opinion of Mr DeLautour, solicitor, on wheel tires was read, .and allowed, to stand over until the notice of motion came on.

The Haiti Road Board wrote re stoppage and exchange of portion of Darwin road, sections 261 and 262, Kaiti. It was intended to take the necessary steps to complete the stoppage and exchange. It was added that the owner of the land taken for the road asked for no compensation. The deviation was made in the road in 1891, on consideration that the exchange be made. Cr King: We have nothing to do with it, have we? The Chairman said the Council’s sanction had to be obtained. A protest had been made, but it had been shown that the Council’s frontage to the river would not be affected. Cr Mossman : Whoso property will this become ? Cr King : Mr Matthewson’s. Mr Sceats’ letter of protest was read. The Chairman said that all the objections had been met, and ho moved that the application be agreed to. This was seconded by Cr Mossman, and carried. The Clerk said he had applications from eight slaughter-housekeepers for renewals of licenses.

It. 11. Shanks objected to a license being granted to Messrs Law and Co., Ormond, and described the place as a great nuisance.—The Clerk said that the applications had to be sent in to the Minister for approval. It was considered that the applicant should be informed of the objections, and it was agreed to let him know by the afternoon. The ranger reported that 161 head of stock bad been impounded during the five weeks.

The Engineer (Mr D. G. Fraser) submitted the following report : Contract No. 2, metalling Tolago-Hiclcs’ Bay Iload : Good progress has been made with this contract, and it will probably be completed next week. Contract No. 3, formation, metalling, etc., Hauiti-Arikihi : Reported completed ; not yet finally inspected. Contract No. 4, Tolago Flat, formation, etc. : Thi3 contract has been completed, and a short extra distance of four chains metalled. Contract No. 5, Tolago Hill : Satisfactorily completed. Contract No. 7, collecting beach shingle : The contractor reports that about 400 yards is stacked. I-—should recommend that authority be given to have somo put on the road a 3 the weather may permit. Contract 8, formation and metalling. Wainui : Completed. A further distance of about four chains should be metalled to give proper access for vehicles on to the lately metalled portion. All the above contracts are executed from Government grants. The carting of metal for depots is already complete, and arrangements will be made for spreading on the roads. Contract 12, metalling Inland Waiapu road : The contractor has completed 474 chains. Contract 14, road formation, Mahia road : About 10 chains of the heaviest formation is nearly completed, and the light formation is now under way. Owing to the continued fine weather, the roads are in fair order. I would recommend the following : On the Waikohu road there extends from the bridge northwards about a mile of metalling, over which no traffic has been, the sides being always traversed in preference. This has caused the centre of the road to become so much rounded up that very shortly it would be dangerous even to travel over. The stones on the top should be broken, and the sides ploughed, whioh would force the wheel traffic on to the metalled portion, which after a Continued on fourth page.