Cook County Council.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 168, 27 July 1901, Page 1

Cook County Council.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly meeting of the .look County Council was attended by Crs Graham, Tombleson, Cooper, Mossman, King, and Jex-Blake. In the absence of the Chairman (Mr Macfarlane), Cr Graham was voted to the chair. CORRESPONDENCE.

Messrs Nolan and Skeot wrote, informing the Council that a petition, asking that a portion of the Patutahi road district be constituted a new road district, to be called the Waerenga-o-kuri road district, would be presented.—The Clerk stated lie had received no petition. The exeoutor in the estate of the late Mr J. W. Johnson (Mr Cyril White) claimed a royalty of 6d a yard on stone taken from the Maraetaho quarry for metalling Murewai-Mahia road. He would not object to being paid in metal broken tojjtwo inches if convenient, and would be willing to allow 6d a yard for it broken and stacked at tbo quarry, or 8s 6d a yard if delivered at the woolshed.— Consideration was deferred. The Roceivor of Land Revenue wroto, stating that tho sum of £268 Os Id had been placed to the Council’s credit in the Bank of New Zealand, being amount of accrued 11 thirds ” and 11 fourths ” approved by the Land Board. From the Secretary to tho Treasury, Wellington, with reference to tho loan of £2OO for continuing the metalling of the Waimata main road. It had not been stated in the application that the loan was to be made undor the Local Bodies Loans Act, 1886, and a fresh form was enclosed.

Messrs Nolan and Skeet wrote on behalf of Mr Edward Murphy, drawing the Council's attention to tho state of the drain and the Wainui road opposite the property occupied by Mr Phelps.—Referred to Engineer. Mr T. J. Dickson wrote, applying to have the road drain on the south side of Wainui road from Parau road to opposite his house cleaned out. -It had been filled up with silt from the road and stone deposit. The drain bad never been cleaned out since the road was 6rst formed.—Cr King said it was only a amall matter, and ho would propose the work be done.— Agreed to. RAILWAY MATTERS.

Mr David Whyte, jun., hon. secretary of tho Wairoa Railway League, forwarded a copy of a petition to the House for railway communication between Napier and Gisborne. Cr King asked if the clerk was required to take it round for signature. The Clerk replied he would be willing if the Council required it. Cr King said the land between Gisborno and Wairoa would grow good turnips. The Chairman thought the petition should be left at the office for signature. Cr Tombleson considered the Wairoa people should be asked to back up the proposed Motu extension.

Tho Chairman said the proposed line would go through good country. Cr King said the railway would go through Wharekopae, and then through Williams’. It would come out at Tiniroto. It went on a very good grade. He had seen the pegs on the survey. It was fine dairying country, and the flats were as good as Kaiti. Cr Mossman said that fow knew the quality of land the railway would tap. That land which was not fit for dairying would do for other purposes. Cr Cooper was totally against the petition, and said they should stiok to the line they had already taken. He considered that it was only mixing matters.

Cr King: I do not look at it in that light. It is getting two lines on the way. Cr Cooper: A fine chance you havo to get two lines on the way. It was decided to advertise that the petition was at the Council’s office awaiting signatures. On the motion of Cr Tombleson it was decided to urge on the Government the more rapid completion of the GisborneMotu railway. TENDERS. The tender of Malcolm McLeod was accepted for repairs to the Waipaoa bridge. Mr Nicol was the only other tenderer. It was decided that the tender be accepted conditionally that the contractor insures his men in the Government Office under the provisions of the Workers’ Compensation Act.

The Council then adjourned. TELEPHONE EXTENSION. Cr Morrison said Cr Tombleson had brought up the question of extending telephones some time ago, and he would like to know what was done. The Clerk stated that no further answer had been received from the Department. engineers’ report. The Engineer in his report stated that the formation of the Gisborne—Mabia road, owing to bad weather, had been much delayed.. It is probable that work will be completed as far as 46 peg in a week’s time. Other works had been hindered by bad weather. Formation and metalling Murewai road: The contractor reported some 300 yards had alroady been stacked, and the quarrying was still proceeding. Waipaoa river road: The contractor expected to finish the cuttings by the end of the month. Waimata metalling: No work had been done to date, the contractor proposing to start when the weather improved. The roads generally were in bad order from continuous wet on the metalled portions. Ho had been unable to keep them in good order, owing to the limited amount of maintenance metal available, and if traffic was to be kept open another winter, fresh arrangements will have to be made to give certain sections a proper coat. As it is, he had not sufficient material to fill the holes which are constantly breaking through. Referring to Mr Scott’s application that the present pipes on the main road near Kaiteratahi be lifted and an open drain substituted, the Engineer said that the proposal was one that he could not recommend to the Council. It would cost £6O. Ho had suggested to Mr Scott that he should cut an open drain through his own land, costing from £6 to £B. Should Mr Scott decide on doing this, he was prepared to clear out and deepen the side-drains of the road for a distance of about half a mile if the Council would assist by enlarging the road, the cost of which would be about £lO. Mr Scott waited upon the Council and discussed the question, and it was decided that the Engineer should again visit the locality.