COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14354, 20 July 1917, Page 3

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Council was held to-day. Present : Crs. F. J. Lysnar (chairman), Ci •■" Matthews, J. Tombleson, F. S. Bowen, T. Jex-Blake, <!. K. Jones, T. Holden, and G. Reynolds. .LeaVe of; absence was granted Cr. Parker. . ' The chairman " moved that members for the riding, Crs. Witters and Jones, together with himself, be appointed to go into matters connected with the Matawhero pqund.— -Agreed to.— -The chairman stated that the' late ir-ound-keeper, Mr Law, had resigned. Quotations for. the insurance of motor car were received. — To insure against lire for £200,- premiurfi V&5 perarihum. The Mangaipapa Towri Board ' wrote disclaiming any liability m respect to damage to coiuity roads by the cartage *of metal. — Received. T*he Department of Internal Affairs submitted copy of Gazette calling for objections to the proposed Te Hapara merging.- — Decided not to object. '• The District Health Officer forwarded copy of Inspector York's report re Wae-renga-a-hika hotel, stating that owing to the hotel being m an area often flooded, the drains (for waste water only)' are' often out' of order, especially during wet seasons. Dr Watt recommended construction of concrete cistern, capable of holding a -week's drainage, to be provided .with suitable pump, so that liquid could be pumped, up and carted on to the land.— lnspector Ferris reported that the owner had been notified. — Received. Archdeacon Williams, chairman Patutahi Town Board, wrote suggesting the Board should pay its proportion (estimated at eleven thousandths) of interest and sinking fund of all loans over the whol. country, also same proportion of county's share of salary of sanitary inspector, the Board to receive hotel license fee, and to be responsible for maintenance of all roads m town district, having^ use of county plant on same terms as respective ridings. The annual payments totalled £1284 4s, proportion payable by the Board being £14 2s 6d. -In addition to the above the Board was also liable for its. share of local loans. The Board asked that for undertaking the- above responsibilities it should- be regarded as independent, the town district to be free of county rates; In the event of the Council agreeing they suggested the Board should collect the" rates for the current year and pay the County proportion due to May 17, adjustment of the Board's share m county assets to be held over. In a subsequent letter the writer states that the Lavenham loan being over the riding only their proportion would' be increased to.* £lß 14s 9d. — The chairman stated the above was the result of a conference with the chairman of the Patutalii Road Board, and the county clerk. . The matter would be reduced to a formal agreement. No agreement, however, had been made regarding the use of the Council's plant or boundary roads.—Referred to the chairman, Crs. Matthews and Jex-Blake to go into the whole question and submit an agreement for the' Council's approval. John S. Harrison, Ngatapa, wrote complaining of the work being done tn front of his section ,and threatening to take proceedings.— Received. Mr G. H. L., Tancred, Ngatapa, applied for permission to erect a motor shed on a vacant piece of land near the Ngatapa school.— --The chairman stated the township was all m the bog. — Referred to overseer. Mr H. Kenway, manager Kiore Sheepfarming Co., wrote as to the urgent necessity of carrying out repairs to roads m Tolaga riding, to enable farmers to .tart carting at the earliest date. Owing to bad weather last season a considerable portion of the clips m the back country hadi to be left stored m the sheds, entailing heavier carting this year.— --The Overseer said they were doing their utmost to open the roads. All they required was fine weather and there would be no difficulty. — To be advised that Council was doing all m its power. Messrs Grant and Cook, J. Mouat, F. C. Hay, and G. J. Winter,, authorised surveyors, wrote requesting the Council to alter the by-law relating to frontage of sections, viz., 50ft, pointing out that it was not m confbrmity with the "Land Act which fixed the frontage of 40ft as a minimum.* Fifty feet gave a quarter acre section a depth of 243 ft, which was out of all proportion. They suggested 40ft with a depth of 132 ft. They were aware the by-law was passed to prevent slum areas, but the Borough by-jaws v specified 2000 ft of . air \ space and their proposal would give 5280 ft. — The chairman stated that the Council's by-laws were supplied by the Health Department. — Cr Reynolds moved that no action bet aken, but meanwhile", enquiries be made of other coun_£ies/. ! *'.;,i*e buildinsr by-laws. — Carried. ' " V,,. Mr E. Law, poundkeeper, ._■ Mfjiawhero, tendered his . : Vr^igpatioj't y Ani j poundkeeper, , and -for-^rd,ed-.'^a^"cju_ip^'! re pound fees chained.—R esignation; accepted ; referred to', .special wmmi-ii.ee. The Minister of 'Internal-.Affairs"-cir-cularised the Council re free burial plots for soldiers arid the ei'ection by the Government of suitable headstones. — Consent having been received-, from the Borough Council,, the suggestion was approved arid referred to the trustees. Messrs Ellis and Co., Auckland, advised that the Union Asphalt Construction Company had been formed and submitting particulars of methods foT dealin"- with county roads. — Received. The Cook Hospital Board,, replying to the Council's protest re alleged excessive estimated -expenditure, invited tihe chairman- and councillors to meet the FiiiMice Committee of the Board. — The chairman suggested .the appointment of a sub-oommittee, stating that the Board was considering finance. — The chairman, Crs Tombleson and, .Reynolds wero appointed. The Gisborne National Efficiency Board wrote asking if the Council jveuld undertake a census of the man-

power available m the district for the conduct of agricultural and pastoral work during tbe ensuing twelve months. — The clerk said the Efficiency Board had since intimated they had changed their plan and were arranging for a simultaneous census. The trustees of the estate of t'he late Geo. Grant wrote complaining of de Lautour road drain overflowing sections owned by the estate. — To be advised that a report was being obtained. Mrs Cecile Burch, Hexbon, wrote stating she was prepared to open out the drain on her property as requested, provided that only a proper share of water came down, but at present it tapped a natural watercourse near MacLaurin's. — Cr Tombleson stated the matter required attending to. — Referred to the chairman and Crs Tombleson and Jex-Blake. The Gisborne Gas Co. wrote offering to supply Sydney tar. — The chairman stated the chairman of the Gas Company and the secretary had seen him, and he had advised them if they had something good to put it before the 'Council. — The Council decided to write stating that it would be agreeable to the company putting down an experimental piece of road on the main road at Te Hapara to demonstrate the value of the- system. Mr* A. Parsons, county ranger, reportedl the impounding of 75 head of horses and oattle. — The olerk stated that frequent • complaints had been received regarding stock grazing on the road. Tit report of the County Overseer was considered. Cr Jex-Blake moved that representations be made to the Ministo rof Public Works on the considerable damage sustained by recent floods, particularly m tlie Waingake district aiid asking for assistance.-— Carried. Tlio OVevseer's recommendations re Foster street, Tolaga Bay, were adopted. Cr. MatthewA reported having inspected the flood damage at Ngatapa m company with thb chairman and District Engineer. They conferred with the settlers, who requested liim to ask that • the autting of the- willows be held over and that the' Council should approach iie' "Public "Vybifks Department to obtain a re}iDrt* ; .oii-the best means and cost of impi'bviiig 'and clearing the creek. V.Tli.i-^Saini^y' Inspector, Mr C. H. Fer'-f. 1 ,.' ■ J-|pdrfcing "upon various inspections, stated h& had made a house to liouse inspectipft at Kaitaratahi. where the whole of tlie dwellings on the eastern; si'd;e'; were built on a swamp, and were consequently a menace to the health of the occupants. He recommended that certain premises be condemned as -unfit for human habitation. The conditions at Muriwai, with the exception of two places, were satisfactory. Listructions to abate the nuisance had been given.— The chairman reported having made a further inspection at" Kaitara'-ihi, where things ' were m a bad way. There was a great deal of wate" about. — Cr Reynolds said the country was too wet to build on. — The chairman said he did not know what they , could do except- to leave the health authorities to fight it out.