COOK COUNTY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 10476, 5 January 1928, Page 3

COOK COUNTY

COUNCIL MEETING

The first meeting of the Cook County Council for the year, the adjourned December one, was held yesterday wlen Mr Chas. Alattlicws presided’ over the following members : Ci’s. F. S. Bowen, E. Baker. At. T. B. Hall, G. AVitters, J. E. Benson, AI. L'. Holden.and V. Gibson. ! Regarding the- suggested construction of the Morerc deviation on the Gisblorne-AV ailcaremoana via Morore main highway, the Alinister for Public AVorks, the Hon. K. S. Williams, wrote saying. that he, personally, did not consider this work, so urgent as many others in the district and he thought the matter could well stand over ,f ; oi -the -present. The matter was for the Highways Board to.decide and it would receive their full consideration.—The Waiap;.! County Council wrote on the matter, . stating that they- could not see their way clear to support the suggestion.—Cr. Blowon stated, that the matter was of great importance to the district and should not be dropped altogether. They could leave it over in the meantime, but, prior to the next election, should ibring the matter up again.— The letters' were received. It was decided that a grant of £2O be made towards the- funds of the Ormond Cemetery trustees. Mr ,W. A r . AY ils on wrote complaining about the state of Nelson’s road beyond the Taruliervr. Cemetery. r-Or. Witters supported the tone of the letter.—lt was decided to refer the matter to the overseer for a report to the next meeting. The Opotiki Borough Council wrote enclosing their contribution of £2O towards the memorial to the late Air W. D. S. MacDonald and also thanking the Council for photograph forwarded. In, view of a decision in a recent court case it was formally moved that the'eommon seal of the County could be affixed in the presence of the chairman and secretary only,, thus doing away with the necessity for two; councillors to he present. A copy of the report of the Commission which set recently, on th° question of. the liability for Kaiti stormwater drainage was received from the Department of Internal Afr'airs. After detailing the happenings at. the hearing, the report pointed out that the Borough Council were ordered to pay the costs of the Commission, £ll '2s 6d, this being Commissioner’s fee £lO 10s and advertising 12s 6d, and also the costs of the Cook County Council, £32 11s, being tlm other party to the inquiry.—The Report was received. A letter was received from the AAOiinpu County Council on the question of the uniformity of clog registration fees and it was decided to recommend that the chairman meet the representatives of other Councils at the meetings of the District Highways Council, when he could point out that the Cook County Council had decided to charge 2s 6d for-each sheep or cattle dog and 10s per head for all other dogs, as in the past.

REPORT ON AVORKS. ,A The report on County works, which had been prepared by .the engineer, the late Air. J. J. Iveane, was its follows: Alaintenance : The usual maintenmco was carried out in all the rid ngs Several of the uiunetalled roads have been trimmed up with tractor-graders iiid the roads generally were in fair condition until December 15, when heavy rain had been experienced and a few of the roads in the southern ?nd of the County had suffered severely owing to slips, etc. The Alangapoike Road was blocked in several daces. Contractor’s men that were working on this road have been engaged to assist in clearing the slips; md tlie road t« Paparatu station is tgain available for traffic. A considerable amount- of clearing is still necessary in order to put the road in the same condition as it was before the storm. Some of the roads in the Hangaroa Riding were also affected. Repairs to road surfaces with quarrj metal and river shingle were carried out where required. A few old timber culverts, were replaced with concrete pines in the Panarae. AVaingakt and Aluriwai Ridings. Alinor repairs were effected to a number of bridges. Highways: Gisborne-Opotiki via Coast (LV to 13 miles) : In addition to the usual maintenance carried this section, a contractor lias been ■ngaged carting pit gravel from Pankau for top-dressing between Turihau Point and Pouawa. This work is nearly completed. Gisborne-Opotiki via Alotu: Afaintenance on, this road was confined to grading in of loose gravel of road. Gisborne-AA T airoa via Alorcre: Alaintenance. —A quantity of gravel has been spread on unsealed section of this road, where surface has developed pot holes. A light coat of quarry ■hips was spread on sealed section between six and nine miles, where surface was bleeding jn hot weather. Construction: Broken weather during the month has delayed the bitumen work on this road. Foundation has been completed over full 2.) miles, with the exception of about 6 chains where a bridge is being removed. Top course of metal has been spread and penetration with bitumen completed for a. distance, of 2j miles. The sealing ■oat will lie undertaken ’as soon as the weather clears.

Gisbornc-Wairoa via Ilaugaroa: The usual maintenance has lieen carried out over full length. The unmetalled section was surfaced with tractorgrader, but owing to the recent rains this; work will require to bo done again. A considerable number'of heavy slips have occurred on the bluff section near Grey’s; additional men were engaged and a car track has been cleared to Grey’s. Mr Guthrie, the overseer, estimates that it will cost £2OO to restore the road to its original condition.

Construction: A gang has been engaged completing top-course of metal and rolling on section south-of Tiniroto. This work has been delayed by the bad weather. Ormond Road via Waioliika : Laying off top course and bitumen penetration has been started on this road, about ten 'chains being completed.

_ "That this Council proceed by spo cial order to alter the boundaries o J the Hangstroa and Patiitahi riding: by taking from the Hangaroa riding and adding to the i’ntutnhi riding portions of Tangihau. and Taumata iroperties,” was the text of a motion whereof notice had boon given, moved by the chairman.

.In supporting this proposal, the mover explained that the idea, of this was to sub-divide Tangihau so that traffic could be divided between the two ridings. Ci. F. S. Bowen inquired as to what rates were concerned. The oha'rman replied that i'i was merely a riding, matter. The motion was then carried.