COOK COUNTY COUNCIL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3994, 26 July 1913, Page 3

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Cook County Council was held yesterday. There were present: The Chairman (Mr H. Kenway), and Crs. Sherratt, T. Jex-Blake, C. H. Williams, J. Barns-Graham, G. Witters, G. E. Jones, D. J. Parker, T. Fraser, T. Holden, G' M. Reynolds, and E. B. Boland.

Mrs A.E. Rohh wrote complaining of a drain opposite her property at Waemarie, into which rubbish and willow leaves had been deposited.— Received.

Messrs Kirk, Burnard and Sievwright, on behalf of Mr E. Schroeder, wrote stating that his medical adviser was of opinion that he was still suffering severely from the effects of the accident sustained at the Patutahi Quarry while in the Council’s employ, and that he was entitled to compensation.—lt was decided to refer the letter to the Council’s solicitor.

Mr F. Armstrong requested permission to remove soil from the sides of Kingsley Road for the purpose of filling hollows in sections fronting that road.

The Engineer, in answer to the Chairman, said that the Council was continually receiving these requests, and he thought that a small charge should be made to cover the costs of inspection. The permission was granted, and the Engineer was empowered to fix a small charge per yard. The Secretary of the Cook Hospital and Charitable Aid Board wrote, enclosing a letter from W. E. Holder, Chairman of the Tologa Bay School Committee, drawing attention to the state of the stable yard adjacent to the school. The letter suggested that a pipe drain should be put in. There appeared to be a deadlock between the Council and the Sanitary Inspector as to the way in which the work should be done.

The matter was left to the Engineer to attend to.

The Cook Hospital and Charitable Aid Board wrote, asking if the Council understood that parts J and 2 of section No. 61 of the Public Health Act applied to the Board. The portions of the section referring to scavenging and cleaning only applied when recommended by the District Health Officer. On the motion of flic Chairman it was decided to reply that the whole of the Council’s duties under the Public Health Act wore handed over to the Board when if delegated its powers.

Mr ,T. Tv Brosnahan wrote stating that the Maungataikilni Bridge was uncrossable, and as a consequence the road was blocked.

The Chairman explained that this was a bridge the cost of which both the Cook and County Councils shared.

It was decided that Messrs Fraser and Mount, the respective engineers for Cook and Waikohu Counties, should inspect the birdgo, and submit reports to their Councils.

The Public Works Department stated that the Superintendent of the State Guaranteed Advances Board had advised that 110 application could be traced in respect of a loan for the Mangapoike bridge, and lie suggested that a fresh one should he made. The applications in respect to each of the other loans mentioned, with the exception of the Tologa Bay Inland Deviation loan of Cl 100, should be renewed and would then receive consideration. The Superintendent stated that- the exception in regard to Tologa Inland Deviation loan is necessary, as loans are now restricted to a maximum of £2OOO.

A discussion took place as to loans which had been guaranteed by the •settlers taking precedent. Cr. Barns-Graham moved, and Cr. Williams seconded, that Steele’s, Te Arai Valley, and Ngatapa loans should receive precedence. Cr Jex-Blake moved and Cr Fraser seconded, an amendent that the loans be taken according to priority of date. The amendment was carried.

On the motion of Cr Williams, seconded by Cr Jex-Blake, it was decided to make fresh applications for all loans. The Gisborne Borough Council wrote stating that they were making application to the Government for an extension of their license to erect electric lines, so as to include the surrounding suburbs, and they asked the Council for the necessary permission. The permission asked for was granted. Mr. M. Mooney wrote, asking to have the time for finishing his contract on Steele’s Road, Tahunga, extended as he found difficulty in getting the proper sizes of timber required. He had 4000 ft of timber on the ground, but was unable to use it. He reckoned to finish about the middle of November.

It was decided to grant extension of time for the contract.

Mr M. L. Hogan wrote suggesting that the sanitary system at Makaraka should be given/attention to, as the population of./he township was growing. / It was decidejrto reply that on rece'pt of a petition from the residents of the district the Council would be prepared tq#consider steps to constitute a sen/rate sanitary district. The PajEutahi Road Board wrote asking Jne Council’s permission to allow ijleir ranger (Mr Scragg) to impoundfstock off the County roads in the jratutahi Roard Board district. I4T was decided to grant the request, subject to the arrangement working satisfactorily. f Mr E. R. Murphy wrote: “Kindly "forward cheque for £3s—value of my horse sold under wrong description at Tologa Bay pound in March, 1912. Mr Murphy explained that he had called throe times, hut had been unable to find the pmmdkeeper either at iii> house or the pound. It was decided to reply that Mr Murphy’s description of the. horse varied so much from that given by the poundkeeper that the Council would require further proof before taking further action in the mattei*.'' A letter was received from Mr P. McLoughlin regarding the rent for the section he had leased to the Council’s roadman at Ngatapa. He claimed £9 for two years and nine months’ rent of the three acres.

It was decided to pay the amount. Mr A. M. Newman, “Riverford,” Ormond, wrote stating tlmt. as the poplar trees by the roadside are now bare of leaves, if anv chopping was to be done, now was the time to do it. Tt was decided that the Engineer should see Mr Newman, and inform him that all trees ordered to be removed from the County roads had to lie done at the owner’s expense. Mr G. W. Willock, on behalf of the owners of land situated in Matawhero and To Hapara, wrote asking the Council to acouire certain land on this side of the Waikanae stream as a road wav. The road would give access from Gisborne to the lands immediately to tlie west of the Waikanae creek, and make the road a straight one instead of round about as at present. As the Awanuni Road beyond the Abattoirs was almost impassable for vehicles, the proposed road would open up a much shorter route to the lands further west, includ'ng the. Willows settlement. The road at present used to gain access to this land was via Matawhero township—a very long one indeed. The owners offered the necessary land required, about two and a half acres, at £llO an acre, and offered to form the road at their own expense. Cr, Witters stated that ibis land was or* tlie.town s"de of the Waikanae stream, near the park. He thought that the Council might accept dedication of the road, without calling upon the owners to go to the expense of forming and metalling the read. As the; Council would be put to considerable expense in bridguig the stream

to conneit’ with the County road on th&-other side, it could not very well • agree to pay for the ’and. The cut-; tnirr up rf the property, which the road would a.l w, w. v.ld incrca e its value materially, and if the Council accepted dedication without compelling the owners to go to any expense they- sii. uld be satisfied. The matter was referred to the Engineer. Mr H. D. Robinson and 45 others forwarded a petition asking for a footpath between Makaraka township and the llall. As the Council were at .present ■ forming the footpath part of the way, they asked that it be extended to the hall, as the road was in a had state.

The Engineer was instructed to prepare an estimate of the cost, and Cr Witters, member for the riding, was asked to ascertain whether the house-holders would be prepared to contribute towards the cost.

Mr A. H. Burgess and nine others, whosa properties fronted or were adjacent to Darwin Road, petitioned the Council to obtain a complete estimate of the cost cf a bridge over the Waimata river at a suitable site between the Island and Mrs E. Cox’s property, with a view to having such a bridge erected. It was decided to reply that the Engineer had been given instructions to prepare an estimate for the cost of a bridge not higher up than the Island, which would suit the greatest number of ratepayers. Mr F. Jones, Ngatapa. wrote, complaining that Mr Cook had ploughed up the road and erected two gates across it.

It was decided to inform Mr Cook that complaints had been received from four ratepayers respecting the gates in the road, and these must bo kept open in the meantime. The statement of accounts ns at July 25 was given as follows: Overdraft June 21, 1913. £5854. Is 9d. Collected —Rates £IBB 9s Bd, deposits £3S, dog registration £63 2s 6d, hotel licenses £157, Gisborne Borough Council interest £B4 15s sd, Gisborne Harbor Board inspection £6 6s, Government grants £386 17s 2d ; total, £925 16s 3d. Required to-day £4218 7s 10d. Overdraft July 26, 1913, £9146 13s -Id. Advances £526 ISs lOd.