COOK COUNTY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10412, 20 October 1927, Page 3

COOK COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL.

The' Clock County Council meeting, which was held yesterday, was presided over by tlie chairman (Mr C. Matthews). •.There were also present Cr's. W. G. Sherratt, J, B. Benson, J. O. N. Thomas G. Witters, M. T. B. Hall, J. Tomuleson, and W. C, Maclaurin.

Tlie deplorable condition of the road to Tangihau station was complained of by Mr J. It. Murphy, who pointed out that lie paid a special rate of £l4 -16 s4d on 15 chains of metalled road, three chains of which was covered, and a rate of £lB 17s 2d for the bridge, lie being the largest ratepayer in the district. He ✓contended it was infamous that a decently metalled road was not maintained to his homestead. Portions of the road were slipping away and water ran clown * the centre • for a mile and a half, the water table being fblir feet deep in places. The chairman stated that the special rate was struck in 1900 for the formation of the road out there. During the last two or three years the Council had formed and metalled two or three miles of the road lor the benefit of two ratepayers, one of iVliom was Mr Murphy. The bridge rate ho was paying was not for the construction of the structure erected a lew years ago. The engineer explained that ho had inspected the road three weeks ago and was surprised to lind it in such good condition, being quite accessible for lorry traffic. There was about three chains, however, which he was arranging to metal, whilst he also intended to grade a section of the road; The Council confirmed the undertaking of this work. On behalf of the executors of the late Mr Hy. White, Messrs Coleman and Coleman wrote requesting conlirmation of the easement granted twenty years ago to the owner of Acton to run a private water supply pipe-lino under the County road for a distance of some chants, thence to Ilia property at .1.1 ex tun, for the purpose of registration.—The concession was granted at the pleasure of the Council. A request for re-instatemont of access to his property at the mouth of the Awapuni Lagoon, which had been blocked by the recent erosion of the riwrbank adjoining his land, on account of part of the public road being damaged, was received from Air If. L. Hills, who pointed out that . provision of access through the neighbouring property would be very small and would cause no considerable, loss to anyone.—The riding inemUu' and County engineer were deputed to arrange for the provision of access. A suggestion that a further conference should he hold cm November Hi between representatives of the Cook and Waikohu Countv Councils on the question of allocation of the County boundary to permit the transfer of Tangihau station from Cook to Waikohu County, received from the* latter body, was agreed to. Advice was received from the -Minister of Finance that the Hangaroataliora No. 4 special loan of £SOOO had been exempted from the provision of the Local Government Loans Act.—The. letter was received. The construction of a timber hording along the ciVe of the drain at the Matawhero Sale yards to provide parking accommodation for clients’ '•ars, suggested by the Cook County Council, the cost of which was estimated at £7O was approved by the Poverty Bay Stockowners’ Association, on condition that the .allocation of the anticipated expenditure was modified from that suggested bv the Council, the Stockbrokers Association to provide £~O and the Conned to contribute £2O.—A committee comprising the chairman, members for the riding and the County engineer was appointed to confer with the Stockbrokers’ Association on the matter.

ENGINEER'S REPORT. Tile County engineer (M)'. .T. J. Keane) reported that the formation of the Pnrakanapa deviation lmd 1 teen satisfactorily cnnnleted and the formation of the cutting. Newman's road, was proceeding satisfactorily. On the formation and metalline: of Pare and Conner streets. '‘.Murphy's Estate.” TVainui, the* contractor would he milking a start tins week. The bridge hands had been engaged on repairs to bridges. and 'adverts in the Waimata. Mamr-noa. and Patutabi Hidings, and cn auditions to shed at Matawhero. The usual maintenance had been carried out on all the roads, and. with a. few exceptions, the roads were available for traffic. A tractor-grader had been over the Paraka.napa road to Tiniroto and the surface -was now in good condition. A grader was also working on the Haniraroa-Tah-*-ora road. Since last meeting another big flood was experienced ’ and additional slips occurred on the Haii-garoa-Tahora, Hangaroa-Waikare-i moana, Mangapoike and a number of other roads, necessitating the employment of fifteen additional inert for a few weeks. Most of the roads were again open for traffic, although there was still a fair amount of cleaning up to he done. Pour lorries had lieen engaged carting metal from Patutalii quarry and gravel from various depots, for repairs to a number of roads~m the Gisborne, Patutalii. Waimata. Tarnliefuf Whataupoko, and Mnriwai ridings. The approaeh to low level bridge at Waimata had been metalled Several drains that were blocked with silt durina; the last flood had received attention. HIGHWAYS.

Gishorne-Opotiki via Coast • Slips on Tata po-ur i Hill were dealt with, and light gravel repairs were, effected to surface on Waimta and Maka vori sections.

Gishorne-Opotiki via jY'.otu : Hides of the road were trimmed with trac-tor-grader and pot-holes on surface on road were filled in with gravel. A few si ins wore cleared on Kaiteratalii Hill. Gisborne-Wairoa via Mo re re : J Side drains were cleaned out where required and gravel surface repaired near Ivarawa. Construction: A start was made last week on improvements to a few had bends between Adair’s and Black’s. The work of preparing the foundation was now in hand, and if the weather was suitable', bitumen spraying would commence next week. j 1 Gisborne-Wairoa via Hangaroa• The usual maintenance iyna carried out on this road to Avondale, tietween Avondale and Gray’s. Work was confined to clearing of slips. South of Tiniroto, several slips and one wash-out occurred during the month • three extra men were sent out to- effect Repairs. During, the past few weeks he had been engaged preparing the various details in connection with the coining season’s programme of work, and during the next few weeks many of the more important works . will bo undertaken.. . Addi-tional-plant v as being obtained from the Public Works Department in order- to expedite tli(> carrying out of the various works. Permits were issued for buildings to ,the value ■of £3IU" and fees collected amounted to £1 5.5. Traffic licenses' -iWere issued ■_ as follows: Drivers. 9, heavy traffic, etc. .8/fees collected amounting to £4B Ss (id,