COOK COUNTY COUNCIL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1791, 23 June 1906, Page 3

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL

ADJOURNED MONTHLY MEETING.

Tho adjourned monthly meeting of tho Cook County Council was hold yesterday, when the following members were present: Capt. Tucker (in the chair), Crs Macdonald, Ken way, Matthews, and Carmichael.

WHEEL TYRES.

A deputation consisting of Messrs A. J. Cameron (for the farmers), and Habgood and W. Barrow (for the carters), waitod upon tho Council, urging that the by-law regulating the width of tyres sh >uld be made inoperative in so far as those roads were concerned that wore excepted last year from the wheel tyre by-law, No. 7. The deputation pointed out that it was too expensive to procure tyres of the required width to comply with the by-law, that tho cost of hauling was increased by having the broad tyres, and the storekeepers had to charge more for their goods. They furthir contended that waggons with springs did the roads as much damage as those without. The season had been an exceptionally fine one, and the Council should have power to render the bylaw inoperative. The deputation having withdrawn the Council weDt into committee to discuss the subject. The Clerk said that the opinion of the Council’s solicitor was that the Council could not grant the request of the deputation without rendering abortive the whole of the by-law. Or Matthews thought the Council could do nothing in the matter until it obtained a written opinion from the solicitor.

Cr Kenway said that if the solicitor gave the opinion stated it was perfectly clear that the Council could do _no» thing. In any case he was against the request being granted. The Council had to consider the ratepayers of the district as a whole.

Replying to the Chairman as to permits issued, the Engineer said that only one permit had been issued, and this was for the purpose of carting a load of timber to Motu to repair culverts.

The Chairman said that it would be as well for the Council, in view of the legal opinion mentioned, not to grant permits, seeing that they apparently had not power to do so. Cr Matthews said the Council was absolutely helpless in regard to the request made by the deputation unless they repealed the whole by-law. Cr Kennedy moved that the application be declined.

Cr Matthews, in’ seconding the motion, expressed the opinion that the farmers on the llat had a grievance, but he did not see how the Council could possibly alter the by-law without destroying tho whole of them. Cr MacDonald thought the farmers and carters wero making more out of the matter than was necessary. He had been collecting information throughout the colony, and carters in other places were even at a greater disadvantage than in this district. The Waipawa County Council charged a wheel tax of £l2, this being a recurring tax. In other places where there were sawmills the tax had been remitted on condition that the carriers supplied metal. The expense entailed on carters in the Cook County through the by*law coming into force was considerably less than if they had a wheel tax. He did not understand why. when carters could not take more than 2} tons, they should build waggons to carry seven tons. A considerable amount of information in respect, to the draught of waggons was supplied by Cr Macdonald. Cr Kenway said that the Council should state definitely that they could not alter the by-law. Cr Matthews claimed to be an expert on the question, and he was quite satisfied that to have broad tyres with springs was a| great saving to the roads.

After further discussion it was unanimously decided to decline the request.

CR. WALL’S ABSENCE

Cr Matthews asked if he was in order in applying for extended leave for Cr Wall. He thought the three months’ leave of absence given to him would expire before the next meeting, and it would be as well to have the leave renewed. The Chairman said that a Councillor could be absent for four consecutive meetings after the expiration of his leave of absence before his seat could be declared vacant. It was possible therefore for Cr Wall to be away four months longer before his leave would expire. Cr Matthews said that under the circumstances he would defer applying for further leave until a later meeting. HAUITI-PAREMA.TA ROAD.

Cr H. Kenway presented a petition from twelve ratepayers of Tolago Bay, praying that steps be taken to open the new Hauiti-Paremata road, the

present road being almost impassable for wheel traffic. There would be a question of some compensation to natives to be considered, also the construction of a small bridge. He asked that the request be granted. The Engineer was requested to furnish an estimate of the cost of the work.

PUATAE DEVIATION.

It was decided to call for tenders for fencing the road through the late Mr W. Cooper’s Puatae property, Coast road, at a cost of £IOO. DRAINAGE.

A letter was read from Geo. J. Winter, asking to have an outlet drain at Whataupoko cleaned and two chains of the road embanked. The cost would be £5, and if the Council were not in a position to do it he was willing to do the work himself and deduct it from bis next year’s rates. Referred to Engineer to report.