BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 712, 7 January 1903, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Council met last night, there being present: The Mayor (Mr Townley), and Crs Harding, Hepburn, Lysnar, Kennedy, Jones, and Whinruy. A special meeting was first held to deal with tho subject of abattoirs, and to confirm tho resolution authorising tbe raising of a loan. The Mayor moved that tho order be confirmed. It was, he said, necessary to take Home stops, and thoso proposed seemed the easiest. All boroughs, some oven with a smaller population, had established abattoirs. In England, also, the private slaughterhouses, although equipped with all sanitary arrangements, were being supplanted by public abattoirs. Thoy were very necessary in such a warm country as tiffs. Ho then read a letter from tho Chief Veterinarian.

Tbe Chief Veterinarian wrote: —I shall be glad to bo informed without delay whether there is any probability of your Council erecting an abattoir to serve the town and district of Gisborne within a reasonable time, and if so, by what date it is anticipated that the abattoirs will bo ready for use. 1 must request an early reply as I have received from one of my officers reports upon various slaughterhouses in Gisborne which are of such an unsatisfactory nature as to render it absolutely necessary for certain —in somo cases very extensive improvements to bo ,

made to somo of tho slaughterhouses unless tho abattoirs will bo completed before long. Failing a reply from your Council within reasonable time there will bo no option for this Department but to assume the abattoir is not being proceeded with, and to insist upon the butchers making tbo necossary improvements to their slaughtering premisos without further delay.—Note: “Special resolution ” means a resolution passed at a special meeting of tho City or Borough Council or Town Board respectively, arid of which meeting public notice shall be given by advertisement at least soven days prior to dato of meeting. Continuing, the Mayor said tbe letter showed that the Department saw the necessity for an improved system. Thoy had the land now, and could start operations straight away. Cr Kennedy seconded tho motion, expressing his pleasure that though tho subjeot had dragged on for so long, the Council were at last agrood. They would soon agree that this was one of the best things done to mark their term of office.

Cr Lysnar said since tbo matter had been before the Council ho had made enquiries as to tho effect on the cost of meat. Ho found that new regulations had boon brought in at Napier, considerably reducing the cost of inspection, which had weighed considerably with him. Ho estimated that thoy would get £928 from the abattoirs, and Mr Crabb informed him that tho cost would bo about £IO9O. With the concession now allowed by tho Government ho would no longer be against it. Thoy should chargo slightly higher than Napier. The butchers would be put to about onefarthing per lb extra in the cost. Continuing, Cr Lysnar said Council should say whether they should not earmark something of the loan for roads. Mr Gilruth had led him to believe the Government would also grant money for tho roads ; thon why not state it clearly ? Cr Harding: If the money is not wanted tho rate will not be struck. Cr Lysnar : I go so far as to say that it should all come from tho abattoirs. The Mayor explained that it was mainly for security. Cr Whiuray said the abattoirs were an absolute necessity. The motion was carried unanimously, the Mayor saying that they should at once take steps to obtain the money. HALF-HOLIDAY. MrTregear, Ctiief luspectorof Factories wrote : It is required by Sections 9 and 10 of “ Tho Shop and Shop Assistants Act, 1894,” that all City and Borough Councils and Town Boards shall notify the Minister of Labor during January of the days appointed iu their respective districts for tho half holiday for shops. Please see that the half-holiday for your district is duly appointed by special resolution, and that notification is made during January accordingly. On tho motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr Jones, it was resolved to hold a special meeting to decide upon the halfholiday for the year.

REPORTS. Tho nightwatchman reported that there had been no fires during his hours of duty for the fortnight.

Mr J. R. Little, Sanitary Inspector, reported as follows : —“ I have the honor to report to your Council that since last meeting, I have been inspecting in different parts of the Borough, and find most of the places in a satisfactory condition of cleanliness. Health report : I have to report since your last meeting one case of typhoid fever, which is being treated at tho hospital, and three cases of scarlet fever have been reported in the Borough. I might hero remark that the lattor disease seems to be spreading more this year than last, and I am of opinion that it should not be so, if people who have infectious diseases on their premises would only take the necessary steps for isolation. I am sure that there are many people in Gisborne and suburbs who are not aware of tho fact that after they have have been notified by a medical praotitioner that an infectious disease exists in their house, they are under a heavy penalty if they do not want to comply with the existing regulations under the Public Health Act, section 32, 1900, and Amendment Act, section 4, 1902.”

Cr Jones said that it devolved upon tho Inspector to see that the regulations wore carried out.

Or Kennedy said tho Inspector was quite right in his report. There should be no relaxation of stringency in such j; matters; as it was not fair to those who took evory precaution to have their o: children endangored becauso othor people a , did not take the proper precaution. g Or Whinray urged that a period of jj isolation should be insisted upon. Cr Jones said the Inspector should bo 0 instructed to take immediate action if ho S( found that precautions provided for were neglected. e Alter further discussion the subject n dropped, the Mayor stating that the Inspector would understand from the discussion that he must insist on precautions being observed. Mr W. Morgan, Road Overseer, reported as follows :—“ I have the honor to report I to your Council on tho following works : l The time having been broken by holidays i since your last mooting, no new work of 1 importance has been taken in hand. The ! time has principally been taken up with * repairs and a general cloan up of tho 1 town, which has made a good deal of work, thero being about 45 loads of dirt taken off tbo streets,, principally ‘ from Gladstone road during the past fort- f night. Being instructed by your Council ' some time ago to visit tho shingle bed now being worked by tho Railway Department to report on the same concerning suitability of gravel for your Council's requirements, there being no possible chance at that time to have shingle delivered by tho department, and work being plentiful, I delayed going up to the gravel pit. Hav- , mg an opportunity on New Year’s Day, I visited tho beds. From a general observation, I should say thero is gravel onough in the locality for tho requirements of this district for some tirno, if tho bods aro worked carefully and the gravel not wasted. The quality of the gravel is not i tha best, for many reasons, obtainable in , the district, but it would answer the press1, ing requirements of your Council at least in , the side streets, where there is no hope of getting a high price metal, though the binding quality of this metal is not so great in dry weather as that of Kaiti, it having a greater percentage of sand stone, while Kaiti has a greater percentage of papa, which gives it a good face in dry weather but cannot resist the wet. This 1 gravel would be much the cheapest and I, easiest worked, there being no breaking, o but care should be taken as to quality. It 8 would be an injustice to a district, situated 8 as this is, for tho Government to take the 3 travel away up into the country, when e other large deposits of gravel are to bo 6 found just close by their line ; the same method could be adopted in ballasting as with the present line. I think your Counoil should press its requirements on the Government. , . , 1 In regard to the gravel it was stated » that no definite reply had yet been rej ceived from the Department as to whether they could have tho metal. y

SANITATION. The question of sealed pans for sanitary purposes was brought up by tbe Mayor. Ho had obtained a sample of pan made locally, and said he estimated the service could be instituted for £7OO. Such a system could ho installed gradually within twelvo months. In reply to Cr Hepburn the Mayor said the cost would be to the public as far aB the pans were concerned. The public would obtain the size mentioned, instead of the old stylo of boxes, he believed that 500 people would adopt the system at once. There was nothing whatever to prevent the Council at once adopting the system. Even when the drainago system was started it would take a long tiino to got every house connected. Tho lids, of which about a hundred would bo required, should be supplied by tbe Council. All the Councillors warmly supported tho proposal, Crs Whiuray and Lysnar urging that it should be put in force at once. Cr Jones, while supporting the proposal, omunerated details that should be sottlod before the system could bo installed. Tbo Mayor said that all that would need be done at present was to have the nev, pans, which could bo used as at present until they thought fit to obtain a van. On tho motion of tho Mayor it was un animously agreed to change the system to that of sealed pans.

A LITTLE ACCOUNT. It was resolved, after discussion, to pay an account for fixing survoy standards in the town, but strong objection was taken to the tone of the letter from the Department.

WATER SUPPLY. The Mayor gave notice to move : “ That the Council borrow from tho bank in anticipation of the raising of the £75,000 for Borough improvements, tire sum of, say, £BOOO at current rates of interest, to bo secured by pledging the rents received from borough reserves for the purpose of providing for the payment of tho purchase of the Waihirero watershed and immediately making a commencement of the waterworks scheme as decided upon.” THE NIGHT WATCHMAN. Mr Morell, nightwatchman, wrofco stating that as he had not had a holiday for 51- years he did nt>< think he should bo called on to pay for a substitute for tho three weeks the Council had agreed to allow him. It appeared that tho reply to Mr Morell had convoyed a wrong impression, the responsibility of having a suitable substitute was cast on Mr Morell, the Council paying the salary.