COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 1043, 6 March 1880, Page 2

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Present : The Chairman, Oouncillora Scott, Sunderland, Johnson, Chambers, Porter and McKay. Minutes of last general meeting, and special meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence. Telegram from Public Works Department re proposed work on Ormond Road, suggesting that the road should be metalled with river gravel only, and County Engineer's reply to same. The Chairman explained that the Engineer had written an explanatory letter as from suggestions in the telegram it seemed as though the Government were not aware of the nature of the soil composing the line of the Ormond Road. Letter from Public Works Department, intimating determination of Government to grant £5,000 for Ormond Road, and specifying certain conditions as to mode of expenditure and endorsing agreement to be entered into by Council respecting the same. From Mr. Goldsmith of the Muriwai Hotel, asking for a refund of £30 on his license fee, with minute of Mr. J. W. Johnson appended, recommending the remission of the sum asked for. After some discussion, Cr. Sunderland moved that Mr. Goldsmith be informed that the Licensing Bench would be written to, recommending the remission asked for, as the Council had no power to remit. Agreed to. Cr. Scott referred to the resolution passed at the last meeting, and was of opinion that the Engineer in his letter re Ormond Road, had expressed his own view of the matter much more forcibly than that which had been agreed upon by the Council. He further thought that where the river gravel had been tried it had acted very satisfactorily. Letter to Minister of Public Works, enclosing Engineer's report re conservation of river bank at Ormond. Engineer's General Report. I have the honor to inform you that plans, specifications, and tenders have been called for forming and metalling portions of main road from Gisborne to Orraond, and I would strongly recommend the advisability of accepting a tender for pitching previous to putting gravel on for reasons previously given. ThY contracts in hand are progressing favorably, and drawing to completion with the exception of the contract for the Bridge over the Waikanae (Jreek. I would aab the Council to inform me what steps I shall take in reference to this contract. The contractor, as far as I am aware of, has taken no steps to start the work, and I am of opinion that he is not likely to do so. He has lost money on his late contract, and has neither money nor means to procure the material, or caunot get any one to procure it for him. One of the sureties is dead, and the other is not in a position to carry it out. I would ask authority from the Council to employ a man with a horse and dray to cart gravel to repair the road between the town boundary and Makaraka. About £500 will be required this month to meet our liabilities on contracts completed. — I have, &c, G. J. Winter, County Engineer.

Waikohu Bridge Contract. ■=* the motion of Cr. Johnson it was "-HB solved that fresh tenders be called IB the work. |H After some further discussion it ■. H| alao proposed by Cr. Porter that future the deposit money upon contr MB thould not be refunded to success/ Aa tenderers until the first progress pa fIP meut became dne. Carried. '^p. The Engineer was authorised to rvpair road between Gisborne and Makaraka. Upon the question of payment for the small bridge at Waikuirkuri, Councillor Mackay asked the Engineer whether he~ was satisfied with the work. The. Engineer, in reply, said that ho was by no means satisfied, and had reported tl^ .... matter two or three months ago to the ' Council, and thought that the sum o£^_ £3 would be further required to finish the job. Cr. Mackay said he had been asked by some of the ratepayers to look at the work, and expressed &i opinion that he had never seen such a bad piece of work for a long time. jReR. M. Skeet's claim for £62 10a ;1 being a months' salary* and £50 for dis» missal in lieu of the ttyee months' notice as required by the bye-lav*/ the • Secretary [having laid all prior memo- ; randa upon the subject before th,©— ,£ Council. Cr. Porter moved that the Council endorse the action of the former Council^.;? and Mr. Skeet be informed that the* months' salary authorised by the Council will be paid to him. Seconded, by Cr. Mackay. - '*£«« Cr. Johnson was of opinion that the j money ought not to be tendered again, but that Mr. Skeet might apply for, ■:&!?% if he wished. He further referred to ; the bye-law where in case of the mis* conduct of an official he shall be sub* „ r pended, and thought that Mr. Skeet's ' case was one where three monthß* notice was not required, and would .-/^ object to a months' salary being , again tendered. ; Cr. Chambers would support the resolution, if Mr. Skeet was entitled to r a month's salary when dismissed, lie wa&-v entitled to it now. Upon the resolution being put, Or. v Johnson was the only dissentient, hi»* fdissent, as understood, having reference -. to the latter part of the motion. Tenders for Ormokd Road. For No. 1 section the tenders were : ; Messrs. McLeod, Wilkinson, Bol&nd, Hurry, and Williams. No. 2 section. — Messrs. Stevenson; and Williams. J No. 3 section.; — Messrs. Williams, Hyde, Whitters, and Boyd. - .'' No 4 section. — Messrs. Stevenson and .... Williams. '•&>& No 5 section. — Messrs. Berry, Hurry, Stevenson, Boland, Wilkinson, McLeod, and Brennan. Proposed by Cr. McKay that Mr.', j Hurry's tender for No. 5 section at £4.607 with soft wood sleepers for the rails, tie accepted subject to the approval of the; Government. Cr. Johnson seconded. The Engineer remarked that the,, tramway would not be heavily ballasted, ' • but that if the Council determined oa expiration of contract in shifting the line of rails, and making the work of a » permanent nature, it could be done 8$ " rci'v litflhr vxlivL tsAp«nser~~^- - — LA^ J ~ Cr. McKay said that from his own experience while pine sleepers would Jarif "i? at least two years, if the Council decided to make the tramway permanent they could substitute hard wood sleepers at the expiration of that time. Cr. Scott would remark that tb/s amounts of the tenders presented such a different complexion to the question to what it did at the last meeting, that he had no hesitation in voting . for the-) motion. M •■. Cr. Porter suggested that the Government should be informed that by allowing the use of the rails the work was being done cheaper. -•" *W The Chairman thought it should be explained to Goverment that the work will cost much less than was expected, and that a sum of £550 would be avajfc able for extending the road. ■, .I ! Motion put and carried. ' { Cr. Scott thought that the lowest tender in each section should be SMtt tb the Government, and an expression rif opinion that the Council pref erred having the road pitched as well as metalled.: . . Cr. Johnson proposed, and Cr. Sunderland carried, that a telegram be -aen^qjto Government intimating that Mr. v ' Hurrey's contract would be accepted subject to their approval. Carried. Cr. Porter suggested that aft Mr. Cartwright Brown's property was nearer ito Wakatane County than to Cook County that this Council should agree that Mr. Brown's property should be brought within the control of the Wakatane Council. Agreed to. ' Cr. Porter further suggested that the Government should be asked to hand the control of the Awanui reserve over to the Council until required by Govern- _ ment. He thought the arrangement— would be satisfactory to those living, oh the reserve, and would be a source of revenue to the Council. Agreed to. ;"■ Cr. Johnson proposed that they Surveyor-General be written to, asking^ that approaches for shipping purposes be laid off on Waipaoa River. . : Agreed to. . • Cr. Scott moved that the Council votEr £100 at once for Ormond River conservation, and that if the Government give a special grant in ad the Council recoup the same. Carried. Cr. McKay proposed that, with a View of imposing the dog tax, the Secretary be empowered to get stamped badges, and that a collector of the tax be advertised for. Agreed to. Cr. McKay also drew attention to ther* reprehensible practice indulged ia by many persons oi galloping over the Waipaoa and Arai Bridges, and sugge«U(dr that notice boards, with a caution imduKT be posted. Agreed to. Cr. Porter would draw attention tefl the state of the East Coast Road, to which if something were not done shortly would in places become impassable. A sum of £150 had been voted by the Council for the work, but nevor ©x? pended. He would ask tkafc the Engineer be sent up the Ooast to inspect, some of the land slips, and to see that the road is in proper working order. Agreed to.