COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2122, 22 February 1908, Page 3

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

AIOXTII’.Y AIFETING

I lie County Council met yesterday morning, i reseni :-—The illon. Captain tucker (in the chair), and Crs. I'. J. Lvsnar, A. Fordo Matthews, 11. Ken wav, AY. D. S. McDonald, 11. \\ Into, K. Sherratt. CORU KSPON DEN'GK. Air. G. Crawshaw, secretary of the llawke s Hay Education Bo ml. ailr isetl that the question of a road through the Tologa school site was considered by the Hoard, and it was resolved to decline to make the dedication asked for. Cr. .Kenway saw no objection to the road through the she. (r. Matthews said it practically destroyed the ground by cutting it in halt, and it was cutting off a portion which in the interests of tile children should not be interfered with. Cr. F. Lvsnar thought that the road would be a great benefit To the iologa settlers, and there would be no risk to the children. Cr. Matthews said lie regretted that the Council recommended the road. Cr. F. Lvsnar expressed the contrary view. Tiie Engineer said that the playground was left intact. . It- was stated that the Council could take no action. -AH. AY. C. AlcL can asked the Council to do the necessary forming and draining on Darwin-road to make it -passable during ■•the winter months. Cr. Mitthews spoke in favor of the request. In winter, people quite close to the town were practically cut oil, and it was a very important thing for them. They applied for a loan, but they could not get it-, as the amount of loan money was overdrawn. The Chairman was in favor of a loan guaranteed by the special rates. The Engineer stated, in reply to Cr. Matthews, that £36 should belli matters for the present. Cr. Matthews proposed that a sum not exceeding £35, first instalment of £IOO, be expended. This was seconded by Cr. F. Lvsiiar, and carried. Air. Fredk. Carron, 'Matawhero, on behalf of the residents in the Willows settlement, asked that some portion of the Road Board’s rate ho expended in gravelling parts of the hack roads in the settlement, as they were very had, ami required gravelling before the winter. He informed the Council that the settlers were paying a double-rate this year. The Clerk said that their rates won hi produce £417, but £7O had been paid in. The Chairman suggested the payment of the rate pro rata, the amount to he decided by the amount of road rites and the general requirements'. He proposed that the request he referred to the Engineer, with instructions to spend a sum not exceeding £2O. This was carried.

Air. AY. F. Shaw, Clerk of the Wairoa County Council, advised that a committee met Cr. F. J. Lvsnar and discussed the proposed alteration of boundary question. It was decided o recommend to tlio two Councils ho inclusion of the area already ageeil upon by the Cook Council in lie Ruakituri Valley, together with the Alangajjo'ki Block, then followng the boundary of the Nuliaka No. 2 Block, and tlie southern boundary if the Poverty Bay Land Registration District to the sea coast, :s shown in plan in duplicate. The AA’airoa Council approved of tlio al."•ation, and it was hoped that tlio J x/k Council would favorably con- ; der it.

The Chairman thought that if the people concerned in the proposed transfer were agreeable to the change, the Council would be prepared to consider it. Cr. Alatthews said that one of the settlers in this country spoke to him, jhjeeting strongly to the proposal. In regard to the collection of rates, Cr. Alatthews said there was no diffi•ultv. The county in which a block of land predominated could collect the rates and'refund in proportion. Or. Kenway moved that a reply bo .sent that the Council had not under consideration the boundary from Te Reinga to the sea. The Chairman said that they had no petition from lie ratepayers.—Carried. The Chairman said that ho had heard of severance, and he was not -altogether displeased. Before taking any steps, they wished to know the views of the people. All . J. B. Morris, Tologa Bay, drew ittention to the unsafe condition of the second and fourth bridges on the old coast road from Tologa to his ivaiana section, the decking of which was in a state of rottenness. AYhen lie Engineer was last there, he got him to look at them, and he thought the bridges could be repaired for aoout £3O. Tho writer agreed to find half this if the Council would put them in repair before the winter. The Engineer said that four dr -five bridges on that road needed repairing. It was proposed to raise a loan and he wanted this work done in the meantime. Cr. Kenway moved that the request be granted.—Carried. Air. C. AA r . Hursthouse, Chief Engineer, advised, in reply to the Council’s letter of Bth inst., that the amounts available for authorisation were —Gisborne to AVairoa County boundary, £1000; Poututu to Alotu, £1 for £l, £-550; and Wailnika A 7 alley, £1 for £l, £2OO. Tho matter of issuing authorities for these amounts was receiving consideration. The other votes referred to had already been authorised, either to the Council or to the District Road Engineer. Air. H. E. Dymock, of Wanganui, wrote re claim for compensation for land taken from the Lome estate for road purposes near Full a, and he understood the Council had offered his son £2O for the land taken. If there were no further expenses, he would accept the amount. He Instructed Air. Nolan to pay the rates on his behalf. fine Chairman proposed that the £2O be paid.—Carried. Cr. AloDonald,. suggested that the occupiers of the land be given notice to’quit, as the land would be useful. Cr. F. Lvsnar suggested that i rent be charged. r l he Chairman concurred with this, ami thought that £1 nor year should be charged, and that*a month’s notice should he given. Cr. AfcDonakl explained that he did not intend them to bo sent away without notice. 11 was decided ro lot. it to the present tenants at 10s per quarter, a quarter’s notice to lie- given. As this was a road, the Chan-man proposed that this be rescinded. ** It was decided to reply that as the land would probably be required, a month’s notice to Qjut would !r.> given. . . Air. AY. -J. AlcCliskie advised, in reference to the roads through the property at Kirktown, tliit the work id been done and timber and pipes or culkerts had been laid, but with dm drought they had been unable to make a satisfactory job. and lie asked for an extension of time. It was decided to reply that the ram having fallen the Council expected linn to proceed forthwith. , T Messrs. AL.AV. Douglas and J. Andrews, AYhangarn, advised that Hood Bros., who were to nun with them re the AVaimoko-road, each to nay £lO, had applied to have their quota p.lid out of their thirds, which the writers considered unfair and contrary to tho agreement, and they protested against it. I lie Clerk stated that Hood Bros, had made their application, which was granted. Chairman thought that it depended upon the agreement between themselves. Cr. Ken way spoke m lai o.i of the implication. The Chairman a "reed that the Council should assist , but he dhl not see how. Cj - Kenway moved that payment of I ) cheque, already authorised, he delayed until Air Fraser he ooinmiinicat--o‘Vhex7^crnHarbor-Board wrote in connection with the recovery o rates due by Crown tenants lhev iccommended joint action, the Clcik said that the-trouble had not arisen m t! Alr°Hem v Trent. Chief Survcyos, informed the Council that the system of numbering town allotment" had been adopted to ensure a uniform system of registration, and he did not think any contusion need arise. The Chairman said it was very confusing to the general public.—JUC °The Clerk of the Ormond Road Board Seined of tho Alahunga drain, and asked the Council to have I i cleaned. The Board wished to

have another 20 chains of the Avonuo road metalled and formed, and -asked the. Council for half the cost. The Hoard protested against the Council's refusal to pay £3 a year to Mr. Noonan for keeping the water trough, as it was largely used. Mr. Linklater would do the work, if authorised, free of charge. The Engineer said that-, as far as lie could sou, tho drain had nothing to do with tho Council. The Engineer stated, in reply- to the Chairman, that the cost of metalling would he about £SO to £6O. Cr. Kenwny was in favor of referring tlio matter to tho Engineer. It was not right to authorise moneyon a matter only before thorn live minutes. The Council owed quite enough money. Cr. Alatthews wanted some further knowledge as to what money they could anticipate. Tho Clerk replied that the £llOO advances could not bo touched until April. There would be £BOOO from rates and £2OOO subsidy. Cr. Kenwny moved that the matter bo referred to the Engineer as to the necessity of the work and the probable cost. Cr. Alatthews moved as an amendment that £3O be expended, movidod tho Road Hoard do tlio work, the formation to 'be free, with no liability on the Council. “-Carried. It was decided to acknowledge no liability in regard to the Alahunga drain. Alessrs. Clirisp and Coleman stated that Air. Slade would accept £5 in connection with his accident insurance.—Received. Air. S. Scragg, Patut-ahi, wroto that having fallen a victim for tlio second time in regard to the pipe line, he asked for compensation for damage to Tiits drav and axle, amounting to £3-Ss 6d. Cr. Sherratt said that the dray wis actually jammed. The Chairman proposed that a reply he sent declining liability. Tho Department of Justice advised that the matter of a contribution towards the cost of forming a footpath in front of tho Courthouse and Police Station at Tologa Bay was receiving consideration. The following statement of accounts for 21st- February was laid on the table: —Overdraft, IStli January, £.10.834 Is Od ; amount collected —- general rate £1526 17s 7d, special rate £7O 7s, charitable aid £1 10s Od, Native rate £8 os ltd, interest £4 F3s Id, dogs registration £6 15s, licenses £9 19s Oil, rent of cottages Ll 3 4s, subscriptions of works £46 17s Od ; total, £9145 2s od. Required. £1346 is lid; overdraft, 22nd February, £13,491 7s -id; advances, £llOO.

The Labor Department advised that the Poverty Bay outlying district must observe the sime day as the rest of the County.—Received. Air. J. Somervell stated that there had been no negligent delay in starting work on the County offices contract; the principle obstacle was tlio difficulty of obtaining bricks locally, hut now there was a fair chance of getting tlic-m shortly, and the work would go forward as quickly as possible.—Received. Alessrs. Hutchinson Bros., AYailiuka. applied for compensation, £672. for land taken.—Deferred until Ist April. REPORTS. The Ranger reported that 45 head of cattle had be’en impounded during the month. Air. R. Thelwnll reported that since last meeting three typhoid and five scarlet fever cases had been reported and treated in the usual way. Complaints were made to him personally and through the office, of a very offensive odour in the vicinity of a bacon factory and a certain creamery. He reported them to the District Health Officer on his recent visit, and accompanied him when he visited the localities, and so far as the writer knew, the matter was out of their hands. —-Received. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

Air. Do G. Fraser, County Engineer presented the following report: Contract 200, depot metal: Most of the depots have been filled avith tho quantities authorised. I shall, however, require extra stone on the main road' to the quarry : the road is badly cut up, and owing to there being, no proper coat of metal, will not stand the heavy carting to which it is subjected. Contract I9S. erection of bridge, Palcarac: No start lias yet been made with this contract beyond the carting of stone for concrete work. Contract 197, erection of bridges, AA r aimata: Concrete foundation at second bridge partly completed; iroubark for all bridges on tho ground, and approach at No 4 bridge partly completed. Contract 193, formation, Alangatuna: Completed. Contract 210, formation and metalling Riverside road: The foundation is practically complete, and the contractor intends to start metalling at once. > Contract 185, formation, Wliareko-pae-Tuhora : All tho sections are well in hand, and should be finished in the course of a feav weeks. Contract 184, Alangahaumia : About 1 mile and 37 chains completed; 86 chains yet to do. Contract 182, metalling, College road: 'Completed., Contract 181, metalling, Alangatu road : Completed. Contract 180, formation to Barron’s, Alangamaia : Practically completed. Contract 178, erect-ion of bridges, Alangatuna : Completed. Contract 171, formation, AVaimoko road : Completed.

Contract 163, formation, AYailmka Valley road: Good progress is being made* with the extension of this contract, and the work up to 6 miles 43 chains should be completed by next meeting. Contract 222, clearing drains: The Lavenham drain has been completed, and good progress is being made with the Patutahi outlet drain. Contract 218, metal repairs near Gray’s, Waimata road: Between 20 and 30 chains repaired. Contract 216, metalling portion of Hat, Arai road: Nearly completed. Contract 213, quarrying and kna])ping stone, Gray’s quarry : On this contract between 350 and 400 yards have been carted out to depots. Contract 209. metalling, etc:., Alotu road: 470 yards of metal have been put on the road near Bridge’s, and the contractor will shortly proceed with widening had points. Contract 208, metal repairs, etc., AVhatatutu road: Completed. Contract 207, erection of culverts, Mangatokerau: Completed. Contract 206, metalling, Gisborne-AVairoa-road, near Peach’s: Proceeding satisfactorily. Contract 203, quarrying and knapping stone, AVaercngli-o-kuri: About 60 yards have been stacked and broken. A number of new contracts have been lot sinco the last sitting of the Council. The road machine has been shifted from the Tologa district to tho H:ingaroa riding. Material for roadmen’s huts has been forwarded to Parakanapa and lower Alotu road. The roadmen at Arai and AYaipaoa request that lints he erected for tlijfegi; in tho latter case authority lias been given, but I am unable to obtain the. requisite land for a small paddock in a convenient locality; also, on tlio Alotu road, I havo a request to get a wliaro erected, and Air. Thompson is willing to lease four or five acres at 12s fid nor acre. . , Plans and specifications for work on the AVainui road havo been forwarded for annrov-il to the Roads Department, aiul on return teachers can bo called for the necessary formation and metalling. The Gisborne Borough Council bavin" co ill rile ted the formation and metalling of portion of the Abattoir road within the borough boundary, Inis requested me to bring before this Council the necessity of metalling a further length of 31 chains up to the abattoirs. This niece lies within tlio countv area, and I believe it was understood would be taken in hand by the county as soon as the 'borough road was completed. I should be "lad of instructions in the matter. ° .yttachcd herewith is a report on proposed road to avoid creek crossin" Arai-Tokonui. THE ARAI VALLEY ROAD. AVitli reference to an application made to this Council by Air. Jex Blake to have a road . acquired through Alessrs. Parker ami AAilson s sections near AVaingake, so as to

avoid two crossings of the Aral ci;eek, I bog to report that 1 have carefully inspected the locality. The lino proposed would, for a distance of about 30 chains, go through Mr. J. Parker’s land, and for a distance of about- 50 chains through At. J. Wilson’s property. Tho most practical®! route would ho about 4 to 6 chains from the river and about 100 to 150 foot up tlio hill. Tile format ion would be partly through papa rubble and partly clay silting. Two old slips would havo to be crossed, one opposite Mr. H. 'White’s woolslieil (about 2 chains of very bad ground, and would give considerable trouble), and one nearly opiiosito the accommodation house, of a bout 3 chains in length. This latter slip appears lo be fairly “settled,” and I do not anticipate much trouble from it. Tho grades throughout would he easy. Tho approximate cost to run a bridlo track for stock would be £l5O. To this won hi be added cost of land, which would have to include all between the road and the liver (probably 30 acres), and any claim for severance of river frontage, and -about one mile of fencing. Ido not recommend that this line of road should tako the place of tho existing main roail, but only as a convenience when the river was unfordablo for stock.

In rop aril to the proposed stock road dov.ution through Messrs. Parker’s ail 1 Jex Blake’s properties, it was decided to inform Air. Jox Blake that the Engineer had reported on tiie matter, and the report was at liis servo e. NOTICE OF MOTION.

Tho following notice by Cr. Matthews, < f which notice was given, was to i vivo come before tlio Council yesterday, but on account of tho amount of work to be transacted it iiil the lateness of tlio hour, it was adjourned until 2 p.m. on tho day before next meeting:—-“That a sum ot £50,000 bo borrowed for the purpose of constructing a light railway front Gisborne to the Fatutahi quarry, and from the junction of tlio Arai and Fatutahi roads to Waingako.'’