COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3294, 12 August 1911, Page 5

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING

The Cook County Council met yesterday,’ when there were present: The Hon Capt. Tucker (chairman), Crs. Boland, T. Holden, A. Forde Matthews, T. Jex Blake, and H. White. The Borough Council wrote stating that the matter of supplying metal to the County Council had been referred to the Engineer for a report. Mr. C. H. Cullen wrote stating it was his intention to open up the drain running through his section 9A, Te Arai settlement, on the Arai Valley Road, at an early date. He was prepared to open ud the outlet, a matter of about five chains, to a depth to suit the area affected, if the Council would take out the present culvert and put in a small bridge. If given the material in the culvert to use he would erect wings from the bridge to the fence to keep out stock. It was decided that the Council take out the culvert and replace it by a bridge, the cost not to exceed £4O. The Taylor Memorial Committee asked the Council’s co-operation regarding the raising of subscriptions.—The chairman said he thought that as the Mayor had called a meeting that would be sufficient.

The Borough Council wrote regarding the cemetery site, stating that several offers of sites had been received, and if the Council would fix a date the committee set up by the Council would endeavor to meet the County Council’s committee, and inspect the several sites offered, and come to some conclusion in the matter.—The Council decided to fix next Friday as the date of the meeting.

Messrs, de Lautour, Barker, Stock, and Matthews wrote that through an error in the proclamation gazetted on mge 204 of the “N.Z. Gazette” for the year 1888, the road down the Hamanatua stream on the eastern side of the Kaiti block did not connect with the main coast road, but stopped at the stream. The road reserve on the opposite or beach side of the stream was not legally taken up to the stream, there being a small piece in the bend of the creek which was still vested in the New Zealand Native Land Settlement Company, although on the subdivisional plan on the sale of the block it was in error shown as part of the road reserve. On behalf of the trustees of the late Wm. Cooper’s estate they would be glad if the Council would take this small piece under the Public Works Act and alter the lower part of the road coming down the stream through Kaiti SO3F, so as to connect with this piece and the main coast road. The trustees were the owners of 303 F, and were quite willing that a deviation should be made through this section, but they would like the old road closed and given them in exchange for the new piece required to be taken. It was decided to ask for a plan on a two-chain scale and an indemnity against any costs of taking the land. Mr. Geo. Grant wrote stating that on April 22nd, 1908, the Council wrote to the Gisborne Harbor Board to ascertain whether the Board would consent to the taking of about three miles of road from Lowden Hills to the County boundary, Tauwhareparae. The Board consented on June 3rd, 1908. He enclosed a sketch of the road in question, which he had surveyed, and which was a 6ft graded track. He presumed under the circumstances the Council would pay for the survey of the road, as the Board did not consider the expense should be borne by them. The road had been surveyed considerably further than the old County boundary, the lines of which were never laid off bn the ground, and the survey would probably he carried still further. As no section lines now existed where the old County boundary was supposed to be, the Council might prefer to readjust boundaries with the Waiapu County. It was decided to reply that the Council had no liability for the survey of roads, instructions for which were given by the Harbor Board. Mr. J. Griffen stated that Mr. Burnett, his manager, had advised him not to enter into a fresh agreement with the Cook County Council for the supply of Patutahi metal. He therefore asked the Council to appoint a valuator in accordance with clause 6 of their previous agreement, as he would not go to any further expense in supplying a new crusher.

The matter was left to the Engineer. The Minister for Public Works wrote stating that he was in receipt, of the Council’s letter regarding the GisborneMorere road, which stated that they favored the alternative road proposed by the Resident Engineer. The representations would have his careful consideration. The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote approving of the proposal to have the foxirths derived from S.G. runs 76 and 77, Ngatapa S.D., transferred. to the Council for the purpose of. paying interest on the loan raised to improve Murphy’s road. The letter was received. Mr. D. J. Parker wrote regarding the closing of Huxley Road, that it was unfair that for the sake of a 3ft culvert this road should be closed for over a month, and that all heavy traffic from the brickworks that should come out by this road was now and had been for the last month coming out by Tyndall Road into Owen Road, and thence by de Lautour Road, to the Wainui Road. They had thus damaged about a mile and' a half of road under the jurisdiction of the Council. Owen Road was

now in a dangerous state, and he thought it was unfair, not only to the ratepayers who used Tyndall, Owen, and De Lautour roads, hut also to the Council, who had to keep them in repair. It was decided to reply that as the road was under the control of the Borough Council, the County Council could do nothing in the matter. Mrs F. Billiams and Thos. Craill’s trustees, drew the Council’s attention to the very bad state of the County drains around their properties at present, owing to being blocked up with watercress, and also cut up by stray cattle. The surface water could not possibly get away, and some of their paddocks were not in a fit state to use for some time. The matter was referred to the Engineer. It was decided to write to Mr. Arniboldi that as he would not comply with the Impounding Act, his engagement as poundkeeper be terminated. Mr. V. S. Bolton, the ranger, was appointed poundkeeper. The State Advances Department notified the Council that the following loans had been granted, £3600, £2500, £SOO, and the debentures were signed. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The Engineer reported at length in regard to the progress of the various works in the County. In regard to the supply of depot metal and stone for metalling contracts from Patutahi quarry, he states that the position is not satisfactory. Mr. Griffin declines to accede to the request of the Council to erect new plant as suggested, x have written to him asking if he would be willing to extend his present contract for another session, if the Council desired, but so far have had no reply. Failing any satisfactory arrangements with Mr. Griffin in this direction, it would be as well, I think, to ask him to hire to the Council the old plant on the ground for a season, until the matter of the Council erecting its own crusher, etc., has been considered. We shall also require a considerable quantity of stone from Gentle Annie, and I am now in communication with the Borough Engineer on the subject. Independently of what is required on the Wairoa road (some 700 to 800 yards), the Council will probably want 2000 yards at the Big Bridge for Arai district, 1500 yards at Matawhero, and from 8000 to 10,000 yards for Whataupoko loan works. It was not possible for us to obtain the whole of this supply during the coming sea son j and it remains for the Council to decide, with reference to Wliataupoko and Kaiti, whether we should use partly Gentle Annie stone (as available) supplemented with the inferior Kaiti gravel, or let some of the metalling hang over until all necessary supplies of Gentle Annie stone are available. This latter course I should advise being adopted, at all events for the principal roads. The report was adopted.