COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1002, 17 January 1880, Page 2

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

At a meeting of the übovu there were •present Councillors Gr.ih.ira (Chairman), Johnson, Reeved, Wi Pere, and the two newly-elected members for the Gisborne Riding, Scott and Sunderland. Correspondence. — A. large number of letters were read, the correspondence extending over the last six weeks : of which the following were the principal ones of interest r— To the Colonial Secretary requesting the appointment of Assistant Sheep Inspector.— To the Minister of Public Works with reference to the inland road from Waiapu to Hide's Bay. — To the Poundkeepers at Ocmond and the Bridge, requiring all fees to bo paid to the County Funds. — To tho Minister of Public Works urging the allocation of a portion of fie vote for roads in nafciro districts, in th-j c >nstniction of a road from tho M>itu Block to Opptiki, and advising lhat the work be done in small contracts. — From the Manager of the Bank of New Zealand, restricting the overdraft of the County to £1000, the amount agreed upon. ; Rates Remitted— Ewen Cameron, 12s, on account of acreage being discovered 15 less than when rated. — Mr C»rrington on account of the building and land for which he was rated beiug Government property and non-occu-pancy. Or. Reeves thought there would be no entt of these applications and "that the proper coarse would be for persons rated to object at the Assessment Court at the ri<*ht time, and feaVe their names struck off. Cr. Scott said that in the case of Mr Cameron, the fact of the acreage of the Taonua Block being 15 acres less was only discovered subsequent to the day for the hearing of objections. Deviation or Road. — In reply to a communication from Mr. Horace Baker, District Engineer, it was resolved that the deviation of the proposed line of road on Mr. G. Gray's run be not taken, and that tho Government line be accepted. Extßnsion of Time. — The application for tliia by Messrs. Gilmour and Sargent was granted for a fortnight from date, the penalty to be enforced if the contract is not then completed. • Slaughter Hotrsu Licknses. —To several applications made for the reduction of the license from £10 to a lesser sum the Council were of opinion that they could not acede to the requests until a special? bye-law affecting the mattter was passed. Gra.nt ofßailb* — An application of the Borough Ootm«l for the temporary use of 3 miles of mils for constructing a ,tram to the Kaiti , Beach was jbr., c Joh nson supported the a^pfioation, and' said there ought not t6 oe any objection to it, They wonld'be far better than lying in the'staok ; besides "the Borough, ib was tacitly understood, when they obtained the rails from the Government, h«H to receive a benefit from them. TmW *ere perfectly entitled to the loan of them, they had 16 miles of them when rifrlljr only 13 would be needed. He would propose that the application be granted, subject to 6 months notice being given for their return. was carried ivim, di». R.BBKOTATIOW, OF Cb. SEYMOUR, — The Council resolved to aooept the resignation, the retraction having been sent in toollate. Houhopiko Cembtery.— Councillor Johnson supported the application of the Trustees for a grant of £G0 required for fencing 14 chains, and other necessary work to this cemetery. Councillor .Soott . thought ; this 'application should be entertained. After discussion, it was agreed that £30 be voted for the purpose. . 'Refund of License Fee. — Mr. T. Goldsmith applied for £30, refund on the licens.B fee paid by him. The County Clerk was instructed to enquire from the records of the Licensing Bench if any such recommandation. to remit the amount was made. Return ing Officer por Waimata Riding. — There were two applicants for this appointment, Messrs F. J. Piesse and P. E. Richardson ; the latter agreeing to do the work at a guinea a day and the payment of expenses out of pocket. On the motion of Councillor Johnson seconded by Councillor Scott it was resolved that the appointment of Mr. C. W. Fwris be rescinded, and that Mr. P. E. Richardson be appointed to the office. Printing and Advertising. — The tender of the Herald for the above for 12 mouths was accepted by the Council. Ootjntv IjOak. — -The question of borrowing a loan, for the purpose of metalling the main ro.id from Roseland to Ornvmd was brought up by Councillor Sunderland, but it was deemed unadvisable to raise one at present as it could not possibly be had at the rate which was fixed by the Act for borrowing, viz. , 7 per cent. Our Dues — Councillor Johnson said that something should be done to get a portion of the £1,000,000 promised by the preseut Government to the Auckland Provincial District. It was tieces sary that they should make repeated applications to the Government even if they had to employ extra clerks to do it. It was resolved on the motion of Councillor Johnson that steps be taken, and application be made to the Government to grant that portion which is rightly due to this district for public, works^ and that Mr. McDonald, M.H.R., and Messrs. J. S. Macfarlane, and Randall Johnson be communicated with on the subject. River Encroachments. ■—• After considerable discussion ifc was proposed by Councillor Snndefland and seconded by Councillor Scott— "That the Engineer report as to the best and least inexpensive means to be adopted to protect the river banks at Ormond." Councillor Johnson was opposed to the expenditure of County rates for such an object, although he admitted that the work was urgently required, Special legislation on the subject would be required, and a River Board, such as waa at Hawke's Bay ostabliahed to deal with the matter. Besides the Council had really i\gxt to nothing beyond what was required for current expenditure. Councillor Reeves also said, while supporting the resolution, that it was not the duty of the Council to undertake a work which besides involving expense, might lead to actions fur damages. Tlis motion was agreed to. County Rates. — In reply to Cr.

Johnson, the County Clerk informed the Council that the rates were coming in very slowly, and that £2,100 was due for rates on the 31st December last. Cr. Johnson remarked that if it was not received by the 31st March, the Comity would lose a like amount in subsidy. Last year £900 had been lost to the Connty, and the ratepayers in their own interest ought to settle. If they viewed the matter in the proper light they would at once do so, especially jis after this year subsidies to local bodies would cease. Valuatiox Rolls. — The rolls were submitted to the Council, and ordered to be published. Payments. — A few accounts were passed for payment. Quarantine >nd Dip for Sheep. — Mr. Lewis, Chief Sheep Inspector was in attendance during the evening and desired to know what the Council would recommend with reference to this m:\Hur. Ifc was, after a somewhat lengthy discussion, moved by Cr. Scott, and seconded by Cr. Suuderland, " That application bs made to the Government to acquire from 100 to 200 acre 3 on the Waikanae for the purpose of a quarantine and erecting sheep dips. Mr. Lewis stated that he •would recommend the acceptance of the resolution by tho Government, but he feared they would not get as much as they asked for. Next Meeting. —This was fixed for Friday, February the 6th.