COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12447, 5 May 1911, Page 6

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

At the meeting of the County Council this afternoon, the following correspondence was dealt with : — Mr W. Smith wrote, asking that the drain be cleaned out from Robb's corner to the outlet beyond his gate. — The work to he done, .and the Engineer. was given discretionary power to clean out what main road drains he thought necessary. Mr G. Warren, clerk to Waikohu County Council, wrote advising that consideration of the proposed expenditure of fourths from runs 76 and 77, Xgatapa, had been deferred until next meeting. Government grants for Wai apu Inland road made to the Council had been expended at the direction of the Resident Engineer, and not by the Council. — Received. Mr John Bell, of. Bond and . He'll, Auckland, wrote asking for further particulars re his brother's contract on Waimata road, which the contractor desired to have completed at his own cost. — The Chairman explained the circumstances. He thought that when a man abandoned a contract the Engineerwas entitled to complete the wor,t out of the moneys due to the contractor. As Bell had abandoned the contract and left the district, he was only begging the question m coming back to the Council for payment, — In reply to the Chairman, the Engineer said the work was completed as economically as pos sible. — Cr Lysnar thought perhaps the writer had been misinformed. — No action was taken. Colonel Winter, C.E., forwarded a locality plan of road formation m Gisborne extension No. 14, Mangapapa. — Accepted. Mr M. Barnett, Kaiti. applied for permission to erect a hitching rail on the edge of the -footpath, Wainui road. — Granted. Mr W. S. Short, Assistant UnderSecretary for Public Wonts, wrote stating that the Council had been wrongly advised that there M-as £100 available for Mangatokerau road, the amount being only £30 (£1 for £I).— Received. Mr G. Hyde, Patutahi, wrote, intimating that he was unable to complete his contract for Mahanga drain through inability to obtain labor. — To stand over until Engineer's report was considered. Mr R. McCarthy wrote, stating that the drain on Nelson's road that he got half-payment for was not taking water from «his property, but from the public road, and he thought he was entitled to the balance. — Previous decision to be adhered to. Mr J. Burgess, Hangaroa, wrote stating that the three bridges m the Hangaroa Valley were badly m need of painting. — Referred to Public Works Department. Mr W. Baird, Waerenga-a-hika,' wrote drawing the Council's attention to the state of the drains along his property,,! haying been filled, up ' with ,silt and fhingle last winter.— Referred . to' Engineer. ' . : •Mr H. Pollen, Colonial Secretary, telegraphed, r inquiring whether' Mr A. • H. Wallis was prepared to accept appointment us assessor under the Rating-Act, and the amount of remuneration the 'Council 'would -pay. — The clerjt stated he had replied, stating Mr Wall is, would accept, "and. the 'remuneration would be £3 3f< for the day. ' A notice of transfer oftspccial loans m connection "with the adjustment off accounts with Waikohu County was received. The amount transferred to each county was £25,106, half-year's' interest thereon being £4/70 13s ffd.— Heceived.j . Mr J. W. Poynton, Secretary, .to .'the Treasury, wrote explaining that .np error had been made m crediting the Council's accounts,' as had been suggested. — The clerk said .lie was not prepaiv cd to alter his books as though he haci made. a mistake. .The Department had no right to take .interest for a loan out of capital. However, the only thing now '-was to forward the lis 9d as requested.—Agreed to. * ' The Hon. R. McKenzie, . Minister of Public- Works, telegraphed, advising that the Willows Settlement road was under consideration. — Received. Mr W. H. Jones applied for an extension of time to complete contract 3071, delayed owing to the wet weather.— r Granted. ; Mr J, Griffin, contractor, Napier, wrote inquiring the Council's intentions regarding continuance .of Patutahi quarry contract. — The Engineer stated that 3000 yards at least would be required from Patutahi.— Cr Jex-Blake said he was going to give notice' of motion that the Council obtain a portable crusher. — The Engineer suggested that Mr Griftin might be provided with a new crusher. — Crs Jex-Blake and Lysnar referred to the present crusher a* \

being absolutely no good, as it was. turning out shockingly bad metal. — The Chairman suggested that Mr Griffin should install ay new crusher, and when his contract was completed, the Council would take it over at its then worth. — Cr Lysnar : It's a waste of -money putting Patutahi metal on the roads. — The Chairman: It might be the fault of the crushing. — The Engineer said Patutahi metal was superior to Gentle Annie metal. — Eventually the matter was referred to the Engineer. — Cr Lysnar : If you are talking about getting another crusher, you ought to get. a road roller at the same time. ,