COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 802, 17 January 1903, Page 3

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Cook County Council took place yesterday, thcxe'being present : Captain Tucker (Chairman), and Crs Clayton, Cray, Matthews, Richardson, Murphy, and Bobbie, and Harding. The Works Committee recommended that tlie request of W. Maenamara, for extension of time to complete his Mahia road contract be granted as bush fires had prevented the employment of his horses.

An oiler from Mr Fitzpatrick, to supply, for Li a year, paddocking for the Wairoa, roadman’s horse, was referred hack for further information, as the Council had not undertaken to supply a paddock, The Engineer was instructed to examine a culvert which Mr Whitaker, of North Gisborne complained overflowed on 1o bis land. A request from Mangalu settlers to have the remainder ,of the work on that road done by contract was acceded to It was agreed to ascertain for what particular work the grant of £2OO for the Wairoa road deviation was intended, and if for the Arai deviation to have if surveyed.

The Department of Roads authorised the expenditure of the following votes

Gisborne-Wairoa road, deviation, £2OO, for metalling, widening and improvement

of the road; Whutatutu-Mangatu No. i (£1 for£l), £BOO, construction of the road

(Juwa bridge (£1 for £1), £4OO, bridge

construction ; Motu, £l9O Gs Id, metalling and vvidouing road ; Gisborno via Tolago Bay-Hick’s Bay, £BO, motalling; Muriwai Mahia, £IOO, construction of tho road.

I't was stated that the grants in no case would lessen (lie expenditure required by the Council. The Colonial Treasurer provisionally approved of a loan of £6O for the Waionioko bridge, provisionally on formalities being complied with. The poundkeeper, Mr A. Parsons, in

his report stated that during the past month he had impounded 139 head of cattle and horses and 18 head of sheep and the fees totalled £3 4s. For the

term front June to part of January, the fees totalled £lO 12s. Several Departmental claims were rendered in due form and dealt with.

Correspondence was read in regard

to the Patutahi quarry controversy, and the Clerk detailed the history of the events leading up to the present unsatisfactory position, which he considered very serious, while Cr Matthews said that 'it appeared from the position as placed before them, that the Board was repudiating. On his motion, seconded by Cr Dobbic, Crs Clayton, White, Dobbie, and the mover were appointed a committee to go into tlie whole question, with the solicitor, Mr C. A. DcLautour, in attendance.

Mr T. Elliott, foreman Earaka-Mangatu road, forwarded vouchers for accounts of £8 2s and £7 2s 9d, part of an account overdrawn on the Karaka-MaQgatu No. 1 road from tho last Government grant for that road. Now there was another grant authorised, tho writer thought tho amounts should be paid from it. It was decided to refer the accounts to the Department asking that the matter be dealt with promptly, and stating that the Council havo no objection to pay the accounts out of tho grants if justified. The statement of accounts to January 16, 1903 p showed Overdraft, Dee. 22, 1902, £7817 14s 4d. Collected general ratos £874 19s lid, ditto arrears £7 15s lid, Native rates £1 17s 6d, special rates £ll6 3s Bd, dog registration £lO, hawkers’ liconses £2, Charitable Aid £4O 19s 2d, land fund £205, total £I2SS 16s 2d, leaving the overdraft at £6058 18s 2d. Required to-day’s works £744 4s 9d, interest required £768 19s 6d, total £1513 4s 3d, bringing tho overdraft to £7572 2s od. Advances, £80; loan payments, £193 3s 4d.

Mr DeGennes Fraser, County Engineer, reported : Contract 41, Huanui; All formation has been satisfactorily completed, except the fillings at tho culverts, which will havo to stand over until the Government work adjoining is sufficiently advanced to allow the culvert timber to bo carted in. I am having this timber brought up from Tolago to the junction at Tawhareparao. Contract 42, on same road, is well advanced, and will probably be completed by the end of the month, some 220 chains being finished. Contract 43, erection of suspension bridge, Waimoko : The puriri timber for anchors, etc., has been cut, and iron-work and ropes taken on to site. Contract 45, metalling Wairoa-Gisborne road : Somo 60 to 80 yards have been broken for tho portion near Craill’s, and tho contractor proposes to start stripping and quarrying for Matthews’ soction next week. Contract 51, road formation, Mahia road : The contractor had taken his horses and plant on to tho ground, but owing to difficulty in obtaining water, is asking tho Council for permission to let the contract stand over till later in tho season.

Contract 53, carting shingle for Makarori: A small quantity (some 40yds) has been taken out, and the balance will have to stand over until a further quantity is washed up. The work of carting metal and boulders to the various depot is proceeding satisfactorily. Contract 55, carting,pit metal for the Whataupoko • Ormond road has been started.

Contract 56, metalling Tolago-Gisborne road near Kennedy’s: Somo 50yds have been brought out to tho depot. Considerable difficulty has beon experioncod in obtaining suitablo stone for this road. On the Maogatu, the present road party will bo discharged, and the balance of tho clearing for a cart track let by contract to Martin’s. Tenders for this work have boon called to close on Saturday week. I propose also to immediately call for tenders for metalling portions of cutting, from the Maori pa upwards. Very good work is being done by the road machine on tho Gisborne-Tiniroto road, several milos having been completed, and a considerable length ploughed ready for rounding up. On the section from Tiniroto to To Roinga eight bridges requiro tnoro or less repairs, whioh I have now under way; also on Gentle Annio Hill one bridge, No. 118, is unsafo for heavy traffic, and immediate repairs will be effected. On tho Wbataupoko road one small bridge has to be renewed, and minor repairs are required at several culverts. The continuous dry weather and high winds have had a bad effect on the I metalled roads, this, combined with the traffic, rendering tho roads rough and uneven. On tho Hangaroa-Tiniroto road slow progress has beon made owing to most of tho hands being off during tho holiday 3; 1050 yards of earth and rubblo have beon shifted at an average cost of about 6d, With reference to hedgo clippings being left on tho Matawhero road, tho owners of sections havo been ropeatodly spoken and written to to remove them, i but without effect. I should recommend that proceedings be taken without further | delay. In regard to the latter it was decided to take proceedings. The Finance Committee roportod on tho financial position of the County as ’ollows: —

Estimato of receipts from January 6th to September Ist (overdraft £7572): Outstanding rates £BOOO, dog tax £l6l, subsidies £2300, hotols £3lO, l’olago ferry £lls, Nativo land rates £2OO, rofund of advances £BO, ditto £B6, total £6282.

Offices expenses £136, charitable aid £540, hire of horses for road machine £266, 8300 yards metal j£6o4, carting to depots £B4B, to liaiti and Whataupoko jE425, carting from depots to roads £6OO, repairs to bridges .£100,12 maintenance men £IOOO, contingencies, slips, etc., £2OO, main road contract £B6, timber ordered £2OO, subsidies to Boards £1833, interest on overdraft £BOO, outlet drains £BO, total £7262 ; subsidies to town bridges £2OO, works urgently required not provided for, new bridges £SO, painting £IOO. Cr Clayton’s motion in regard to a light railway to the Patutahi quarry was discussed at length. In reply to questions the Engineer said that he could give the

Council an estimate as to the cost of the line suggested, but he could not ascertain the ciuantity of inetal obtainable at the quarry except by having boring done, which would necessitate some expense. Cr Matthews drew attention to the way in which the water from the Ormond main road flowed on to land near Fox street, and on his motion the Engineer and Chairman were instructed to report on the subject. In the course of his remarks Cr Matthews said he thought the Whataupoko Road Board would contribute £5 or £6 towards a satisfactory work reined,yin" tho defect complained of. It was 'decided that the stock yards at Waercnga-okuri and also the water trough be repaired. Cr Clayton moved the motion of which he had given notice to have the discharged maintenance men replaced. The motion was seconded by Cr Richardson. A good deal of discussion on the subject ensued, the Engineer explaining that his object in putting the men off temporarily was for economy. A proposal by Cr Matthews to leave the matter to the discretion of the Engineer was eventually adopted.