COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9641, 16 January 1903, Page 2

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

» The monthly meeting of the above wan held at 11 a.m. 10-day. Pre«mt : Captain Tucker (Chairman), mid Crs Gray, Matthews, Clayton, ltichii.rd.son, Dobbie ami Murphy WORKS Co.\? M ITTEK. The Works Committee after con. idering correspondence, made the following recommendations : From W. Macnamara, stating that bush fires prevented his employment of horses on Mahia road, and asking for extension of time m which to complete th-J : work. — Recommended that his request be. . granted.— Adopted. J J Mr FiUputrick offered to supply a ', paddock for the Wairoa roadman's horse j for £1 a year. As the Council has not undertaken to supply a paddock lor the , roadman, no recommendation is made. — j The Council decided to ask for further: particulars. j From Mr Whitaker, of 24 C, North Gin- j jorne, stilting a culvert overflowed on his land. The Engineer was directed to examine the culvert. — Agreed to. From Mangatu settlers wanting the lvmainder of the work on that road done by contact instead of day labor. — 'Recommended that the request be granted, tenders to close on Saturday, January 24th.— Adopted. Grant of £200 for Wairoa road deviation, llecommended that inquiry bemade, to ascertain for what particular work this grant is intended, and if for Aiiii deviation that it be surveyed. — Adopted. The Department of Roads notified the authorisation of the expenditure of the following votes : — Gisborne-Wairoa road (deviation), £200, for metalling, widening and improvement of the road ; Whata-tutu-Mangatu No. 1 (£1 for £1), £300, construction of the. road ; Uawa bridge (£ for £1), £400, bridge construction ; Motu, £190 6s Id, metalling and widening road ; Gisborne via Tolaga. Buy-Hick's Bay, £86, metalling ; Muriwai-Mahia, £100, construction of the road. In reply to a question, the Clerk stated that none of the votes were m line with the last of the grants for works urgently required forwarded by the Council to the Department. Some of the grants authorised by the Department this time were not included m the last list forwarded by the Council. The Engineer, m reply to the Chairman, stated tliat m no ca*se would the grants lessen the Council's expenditure on the roads. WAIMOKO BRIDGE. The Secretary to the Treasury wrote stating that the Colonial Treasurer had provisionally approved the Cook County Council's application for a loan of £60 for completion of Waimokp bridge, on condition that the Council took all the steps necessary to comply, with the provisions of the Local Bodies Loans Act. 1901. The Treasury notified that the special order making the special rates for the loan of £60 for completing the Waimoko bridge was gazetted on page 2712 of the New Zealand Gazette. 1902. POUND FEES. Mr A. Parsons, poundkeeper, reported that 139 head of horse-s and cuttle and 18 head of sheep were impounded during the past month, the fees totalling £3 4s. As requested by the Council, he forwarded a statement of the fees received by him from June to part of Januaa-v, totalling £15 12s. B DEPARTMENTAL BUSINESS. The Treasury requested the payment on February Ist of £768 19s 6d interest for the half-year ended Jamwry 31st, 1903. on £34,222 0s 9d, inscribed under the LocnJ Bodies Loans Act, 1901. The Valuation Department notified that £11 13s 6d, cost of reviving the valuation l-olls for the year ended Mmrch 31, 1902, was now due. A circular was received from the Land mid Income Tax Department, asking with regard to the subsidy to the Council for a cqpy of the resolution imposing the rate, and how much it was estimated would be collected before July Ist, 1903. The Department of Land and Survey informed the Council that a copy of the proclamation taking land .for drain, Turangnnui survey district, had been deposited with the District Land Registrar at Gisborne. PATUTAHI QUARRY. The Patutahi Road Board wrote under dsite January 14th, re a copy of the minute made by the County Council and received by the Board on November 3rd last, relative to a settlement of the dispute between the Council and the Boaad regarding the Patutahi quarry. The reply to the minute had been held over on account of the expiry of oilice'of the late Council, and also with the desire of not pressing work unduly on the Council at first. The Board saw no reason to depart from the terms of' the minute presented to the lute. Council, and neither did the Board think the Council would after consideration ask them to do so. The Board had offered to give the Council all the security asked from them by the deputation consisting of Messrs Tom.bleson, Graham, and Mossman, and then thought the matter settled. The minute m question requested the Board to part with the quarry reserve and hand it over to the Council. This the Board could not legally do, and neither would v. huge majority of the ratepayers permit it to be done. The Board considered that m asking the Council to take over the road to the quiuiy (about three miles) they were fair and I'easonable, as the whoJe of the metal from the quarry passed over this part of the road, and it could hardly be expected that the Board should keep this part of the road m repair for the enrtago of metal for the County roods. TJhe position the Board had taken up was before the Council, and the position the Board con.sicle.red reasonable and just. The Board had refrained from rushing into law, although frequently threatened, knowing that the costs would have to be paid by the County ratepayers, and their roads did not warrant such expenditure, of the County funds. A cop3 r of the minute agreed to by the Board was enclosed. The conditions were: — The County Council to control the working of the quarry until' the end of the term for which the interest is due on the special loan. A royalty of 6d per yai-d to be charged on all stone taken out of the quarry by the Council, excepting what is wanted by the Patutahi Board, which shall get its stone at cost price, taking their turn m the oi'dihary way. The whole amount of these royalties to be handed over to the Board,' less the amount required to pay the interest on the. £2200 loan, for which the County Council is liable. The Clerk stated it would be necessary for a Committee to be. set up to go into the. question, which was a serious one, and had been before the Council for a long time. He detailed the history of tlie proceedings m connection with the quarry, stating that the present Board had revoked, the acts of the former Bound, taking advantage of a technicality m the Council's title to the quarry. Or Matthews : They are repudiating, it seems. The Clerk stated that the Council would have to pay the interest on the loan, and' they would then have to collect the rate on the twenty ratepayers m tire special district m which the loan was raised. The Chairman considered the question should be considered by a full meeting of the Council. Crs Clayton and Matthews thought the facts m connection with the matter should be collected by a Committee of those Councillors conversant with the position, and then the Council could deal with it. It was decided to defer consideration of the matter, and on the motion of Cr Matthews, seconded by Cr Dobbie, Crs Clayton, Dobbie, White, and the Chairman were appointed to meet at 3 p.m. tomorrow and go into the question, Mr DeLantour, the Council's solicitor, to be requested to be m attendance. AN OVERDRAWN ACCOUNT. Mr T. Elliott, foreman Karaka-Mungatu road, forwarded vouchers for accounts of £8 2s and £7 2s 9d, stating that they were part of an account overdrawn on the Karaka-Mangutu No. 1 road from the last Government grant foi- that road. Now that there was another grant authorised, the writer thought the amounts should be paid from it, as the Road Department refused to pay from the grants for other roads. — It was decided to refer the accounts to the Department asking that the matter be dealt with promptly, and stating that the Council have no objection to pay the accounts out of the grant if justified. FINANCIAL. The statement of accounts up to January 16, 1903, was as follows :— Overdraft Dec. 22, 1902, £7317. 14s 4d. Collected general rales £874. 19s lid, ditto arrears £7 15s lid, Native rates £1 17s 6d, special rates £116 3s Bd, dog registration £10 hawkers' licenses £2, Charitable Aid £40 19s 2d, land fund £205, total £1258 16s 2d, leaving the overdraft at £6058 18s 2d. Required to-day's works -£744 4s 9d interest required £768 19s 6d, total £1513 4s 3d, bringing the overdraft to £7572 2s £193 3s d 4d nCeS ' £8 ° 5 l0a " P*}™ 6ll * 5 ' ' ENGINEER'S REPORT. Mr DeGennes Fraser, County Engineer, reported: — ■6 • ' Contract 41, Huanui : All formation bas been satisfactorily completed, except the fillings at the culverts, which; trill have to stand over until the Government work adjoining is sufficiently advanced to allow the culvert timber to be carted iii. lam having tins timber brought up from Tolaga to the junction at Tawhareparae. ■ Contract 42, % on same road, is well advanced, and will probably be completed by the end of the month, some 220 ohains being finished. Contract 43, erection of suspeusion bridge, Waimoko : The puriri timber for anchors, etc., has been cut, and ironwork and ropes taken ou to site. ■ Contract 45, metalling* Wairoa-Gisborne road: Some 60 to 80 yards have been broken for the portion- near Craill's, and tlie contractor proposes to start stripping and quarrymg for Mathew,s'' section next week.

Contract 51, road formation, Mahia road : The contractor had taken his horses and plant on to the ground, but owing to difficulty m obtaining water, is asking the Council for permission to let the contract stand over till later m the season. Crmtntct S3, carting shingle for Makoloii : A small quantity (some 40 yards) has been taken out, and the balance will have to stand over until a further quantity is. washed up. The work of carting melal and boulders to the various depot is proceeding satisfactorily. Contract 55, carting pit metal for Wha-baupoko-OrYnond road, has been started. Contract 56, metalling Tolaga-Gisborne road near Kennedy's : Some 50yds have been brought out to the depot. Considerable difficulty has been experienced ul obtaining suitable stone for this road. i On. the Ma.nga.tu, the present road party will be discharged, and the balance of clearing for a cart track let by contract, to Martin's. Tenders for this work have been willed to close on Saturday week. I propose also to immediately call for tenders for metalling portions of the cutting, from the Maori . pa upwards. Very good work is being done by tlie road machine on the Gisborne-Thuroto road, several miles having been completed, and a considerable length ploughed ready for rounding up. On the section from Tiniroto to Te Reinga eight bridges require more or less repairs, which I have now under way; also on Gentle Annie Hill one bridge, No. 118, is unsafe for heavy traffic, and immediaite repairs will be effected. On the Wha.taupoko road one small bridge has to be renewed, and minor repairs are required at several culverts. The continuous dry weather and high winds have had a bad effect on. the metalled roads, this, combined with the traffic, rendering the roads rough and uneven. , On the Hangaroa-Tiniroto rood slow progress has been made owing to most of the hands being off during the holidays; 1050 yds of earth and rubble havfbeen shifted at an average cost of about 6d. „ . . . With reference to hedge clippings benuj f. left on the Matawhero road, the owners ,• of sections have been repeatedly spoken and written to to remove them, but without effect. I should recommend that pro- lr cesdings be taken without further delay. Tn connection with hedge clippings, it was decided to take proceedings, as recommended. The Finance Committee reported on the financial position of the County as follows : — Estimate of receipts from Januarv6th to September Ist (overdraft £7572) Atstanding rates £3000, dog tax £161^ bsidies £2300, hotels £340, Tolaga ferry £115, Native land rates £250. refund of advances £80, ditto £36, total £6282. Offices expenses £736, charitable aid £540, hire, of horses for road machine £266, 5300 yards metal £604, carting to depots £848, to Kaiti and Whataupoko £425, carting from depots to roads £600, repairs of bridges £100, 12 maintenance men £1000, contingencies, slips, etc., £200, main road contract £86, timber orderul £200, subsidies to Boards £1333, interest on overdraft £300, outlet drains £30, total £7262; subsidies to town bridges £200, works urgently required not pro-/* vided for, new bridges £50, painting £100. On resuming at 2 p.m. Cr Harding took his seat. POUTUTU STOCK TRACK. Or Richardson's notice of motion to rescind the resolution passed at the November meeting, offering Mr Poster Is damages and promising to re-vest the land m its former owners, was then considered. =$ Cr Richardson introduced a deputation of Motu settlers m connection with, the stock track. The deputation consisted of Messrs Wright, Peddle, Henderson, Whiter and Goldsmith. Mr Wright, as spokesman, stated that this track was not only heeded for stock, but was necessaiv for the existence of the settlers. They, were thinking of getting a telephone to their district, but what was the good of it if they could not get a dovtor whwi needed through want of a road. When he bought his place lie thought the track question was settled. Mr Peddle pointed out that by this track a large number of stock from the Motu would come to Gisborjie, which would otherwise drift away to the • Bay of Plenty. As for Mr Foster's claim tha'fc he would be cut off from the. water, there was nothing m it, and Mr Foster would . benefit, by getting his land fenced. Mr Peddle dwelt on the difficulties experienced by settlers having to cross the river so frequently. ' Mr Goldsmith said there, liad been, several narrow escapes from serious accidents when tlie rivers were m flood, a.nd he urged on the Council the necessity of making tlie track. The Chairman explained that so far as the Council was concerned tlie track would have been made-, but Mr Foster considered the damage to him so much that m face of the magnitude of his claim the Council could not go on. Cr Clayton, asked that particulars of the claim be furnished the deputation, as he understood items were down m Mr Foster's claim', which did not exist, such as the garden. Mi' Goldsmith said they had thought . the Council had given^up the question. . ' The Chairman said the Council had endeavored to get Mr Foster to forego his claim, but found him immovable. The point Mas whether they could get Miv Foster to reduce his claim. Mr Peddle contended that the Council should, as a duty, proclaim the land us taken under (he Act The Chairman : That has been done. Mr Peddle: Well, the ratepayers should be given their road. As to the amount of compensation the Courtv will decide, that. The Chairman said that the CouueiJ would assist the settlers at any reasonable cost, but they were not prepared to go to an unreasonable expense to- obtain the track. Mr Peddle held that, the Couit would settle the amount of any damages, but the settlers must have the road. "If there is a lieavy expense every settler will pay his share," continued Mr Peddle amidst applause. "I will pay inine, and I claim a right to the track. The Chairman: You aire touching the crux now. If you fix an amount which you will contribute, so tliat the Council will nob suffer any unreasonable loss tlie • Council will support you. If you place the value, you consider right on tlie land and put it before the Council we can act on .thiit. Mr Peddle explained that m saying the settlers would contribute he Avas speaking individually, and not as representing tha Motu settlers. Other members of the deputation, held tliat no damage was sustiiined by Mr Foster by being cut off from water as alleged by him, and it was suggested that a fair valuation should be put on the land at which the Council should fight Mr Foster. One speaker held that Mr Foster was obtaining an advantage by getting his land fenced. • Mr Bridge, another member of the deputation, also attended at this stage to urge the prosecution of the track. Mr -Henderson pointed out that the stock track was held out to them as an inducement to pay rates for the Waikohu bridge, which some of them would not be v able to use. • > The Chairman said that the land to be taken was 3$ acres, and the amount of claim £270. Mr Bridge said he was one of the latest .settlers at the Motu, and liis predecessor, m selling the property told him that tljjs tftock track could always be used to get to the land. Now he found that they would be cut off from a doctor and altogether isolated for a part of the year. The Chairman enumerated the items of Mr Foster's claim (published some time ago)Mr Henderson held that some of theitems did not exist. The road did Hot cut off the stockyard or orchard, and it would be found that they woald not have to fight the matter out. . » Mr Goldsmith said the claim was exorbitant: ' Cr Richardson said the stock track was one of the most import-ant works hi their district. The settlers had to ford the river nine times, and the portion m dispute there were two. dangerous crossings.-. The' Motu settlerfi^were paying for the f Waikohu bridge loan with the object of using tlve stock track. For sonMtoears there were no new works done m tlWdLstrict, arid they had not 'been getting wteir proportion of the rates. If necessary, the settlers were prepared to raise a loan to pay for any heavy expense. He had never dreamed that the Council would abandon the road. Cr Gray: Tl>ey never abandoned it.. The question was only postponed. Cr Harding said, as the deputation would indemnify the Council for any expense over a fair charge, he thought tW Council should support them, as the road was a vital one. , Mr Peddle held that the Council should stand by the ratepayers, but the settlers were determined to have the road, even if they had to put their hands m, their pocketsj The Chairman said the claim for the land taken, about four acres, was £30; then there were items of £150 , for being cut off from water, £50 for having to erect windmills, £20 for fencing, and £20 for loss of stockyard and garden. According to. the deputation, £200 o£. this could be knocked off, as Mr FosUrwas not cut off from water. N«. Mr Peddle . proposed that the Cauticill offer Mr Foster £30 for the land and 1 arbitrate on- the other items . Cr Clayton thought that if the matter were again referred to Mr W. G, Foster (Wellington), he would be inclined to abate his claim. On the motion of Cr Matthews, the Council went into Committee on the question, and the deputation, withdrew after thanking the Council for I heir, bearing. On tlie motion , of Cr Richardson, seconded by Cr Matthews, it was resolved tliui the Council raise a special loan over » special' rating district for "the purpose of acquiring a loam required for a road two miles long, fsouj, Potitutu to the Willow Crossing,