COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1125, 18 September 1880, Page 2

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

A. Special Meeting of this Council was held last evening to consider the; Finance Committee's report and schedule of works proposed to be undertaken during the coming summer. Present : The Chairman, and Crs. Scott, Reeves, McKay, Snnderland and Johnson. The estimated revenue for the-Co.niily;; for the period ending 31st March, 1881", taken in its most favorable lights — that is if the sum of £2,200 for past and present rates now due^are collected by the 31st: March next — will amount to £3,305U Against this engagements now entered into, and the permanent charges of maintaining the establishment, are £2,600, leaving inly £709 to be expended on hew wotfks. This amount would be further reduced by £320 if the Council, wishes to obtain £1,000 promised by the Government for opening "/up the Gisr borne- Waiiroa inland road, conditionally that the Council expend £500.; : -Engagements have already been made to spends £180 of this amount. The Engineer laid on the table a detailed/schedule /of works. These were considered seriatim and the works considered absolutely necessary, were ordered to be done.- These amounted to £1,734, and to m£et this a resolution was passed that the Finance. Committee wait upon the ■Manager of the Bank of New Zealand in order to o.btain an overdraft of -£1,500, which, with the £3.80 balance of estimated surplus, would enable the Council to secure an expenditure within the County (including Government conditional grants) during this summer of £3,623. . ■ . . Or. Scott thougnt that the Council should not borrow so large a sum as £1,500, .without the sanction of the j ratepayers, or without a special rate was | struck, which latter could not at present be thought of. The other Councillors considered they might as well stay at home, as attend meetings, and have no money to expend in works "absolutely necessary to preseieve what had already been done. Cr. Johnson was exceedingly earnest !in advocating the expenditure for Wairoa track, not only for the benefit of the settlers! immediately concerne'd,but also," for' the benefit of the County, by thus securing the substantial help of £1,000 promised by the Government. Of course the ratepayers must look at these proceedings seriously, for if the Council obtain the loan of £1,500,; it means that in the following year a like sum will be required, and it must be borne in mind that subsidies are a thing of the past, and good roads and comforts can only be obtained by paying for them themselves.