BOROUGH COUNCIL

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 817, 4 February 1903, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL

The ordinary meeting of the Borough Council was held last evening, when thero were present: His Worship tho Mayor and Crs Harding, Jones, Mason, Miller, Wbinray, and Kennedy. COKKKHT-ONDEi.'CK. Mr A. Brittain wrote as follows in regard to the Horsfall destructor; “ Referring to my interview with your Mayor on the above subject, and rny letters of sth and Bth December and 21st January, I have now tho honor to advise having forwarded you by post a plan of a

two-cell Horsfall destructor. This destructor will he capable of burning to a hard innocuous clinker, suitablo for roadmuking, eic., 10 cubic yards of refuse per twelve hours. Full plans for erection will be supplied. The boiler is not included,

as for such a small matter as this any ordinary colonial, Cornish, or Lancashire type you have on hand would be sufficient to produce ths steam necessary fir the blust, though you would find it a decided economy to haye a boiler that would also work your stone and clinker breaking machinery, mortar mill, concrete mixer, etc., for all of which the destructor would provide ample power.”

Tho Mayor said that Mr Brittain was keeping them well posted on the subject. It was decided to thank Mr Brittain for the information, and inform him that the question of the purchase of a destructor would bo considered lator. Water Surely,

Mr A. Brittain, representing the British Mannesman Tube Company, wrote for

data as to the size and quantity of pipes required for tho water supply. Tho letter also contained much interesting information, for which the Clerk was instructed to write, thanking him.

IHJItOUdII 11V-LAWS. Mr J. Siddclls, Sergeant of I’olico, wrote as follows :—“A complaint has been made

to mo that a numbor of business men within the Borough are in the habit of placing blinds ovor the footpaths in front of tho premises, and that in many cases such blinds aro a nuisance to pedestrians on account of being hung too low. Borough by-law No. 4 of part 4 makes it an offence to hang material across any footpath, but by-law No. 2 of samo part provides that any person can obtain permission from tho Borough Inspector to hang awnings. I fully recognise that it would be an extremely harsh measure to prevent tho business men from protecting their wares from the sun, but thero must bo some limit to the discomfort caused to persons using the footpaths. Police Offences Act, 1884, section 3, Bub-section 10, makes it an offenco to hang an awning that is not eight feet clear above any footpath. As a complaint has boon made I bring the matter before your Council, and ask whether it can see its way clear to instruct tho Borough Inspector to take steps to see that all blinds, awnings, etc., across the footpaths are raised to such heights so as not to cause inconvenience.” Councillors considered that there was good grounds for tho complaints made in regard to these blinds, and it was decided to instruct the Inspector that all such blinds should be at least eight feet from the footpath.

SEPARATE LAND BOARD. The following letter was received from the Provincial Secretary of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, Poverty Bay Executive, Mr Lissant Clayton :—“ At a meeting of the above executive, held on tho 17th instant, I was directed to forward tho Gisborne Borough Council, amongst other local bodies, the following resolution : ‘ That in the opinion of this executive the time has arrived when the Poverty Bay land district should be .constituted a separato land district with a local Land Board,’ which I have been in-

structed to forward to the Hon. the Minister for Lands. My executive de-

sires to have the co-operation and support of the Borough Council and all the other local bodies of Poverty Bay in laying the matter before the Department of Crown Lands.”

Tho Mayor said that tho matter had ofton boon urged by tho Council, and ho was sure that members would support it. It was decided to send a reply to Mr Clayton to that offect.

overseer’s report. Mr M. Morgan, Borough Overseer, reported as follows : —“ The work since last meeting has been ruled greatly by the change in tho weather. It has been necessary to clean water-channels, that the water might get away from the roads. I am now desirous of taking every opportunity for breaking stone, and patching the roads before the winter months—for tho benefit of the roads and that wo may have timo for much-needed road formations in the wet months. Asphalting has been curtailed in the weo weather. I have put in a new crossing at Read’s Quay and Harris street, the old one being much out of shape and having no foundation ; it was, in fact, completely worn out. Tho gate into the Recreation Ground has been broken down by some careless driver. I am told that another gate is to bo made to replace the one broken. Tho contractors for the rotunda are progressing with the work. Tho residents of the upper end of Palmerston road are greatly complaining of the willows on the road being too large and damaging their property, and desire it to be brought boforo your Council’s notice. For some timo past, some

little difficulty has been experienced in connection with the pumping at the fireengine shed. It has been the cause of much thought and has beon attributed to various reasons. After cleaning the well on January 16th, I found the water did not flow into tho well with any groat force for some time, though the pipes wore considerably covered in the rivor. This must mean one of two causes—that tho pipes were choked or that the fall must be tho wrong way. When the river rose to a given height, the water came in very rapidly thus showing the pipes wore not choked. A few days after, at practice, the same thing occurred. I then took the level of the pipes, and found that the fall is the wrong way. The pipes rise from the rivor to tho woll, which should be the reverse. Thus, to do away with the difficulty, the whole thing must be altered. It must be remembered that this only happened at vory low tides. There is also another thing which must not be overlooked in this matter. It is the deepening of our rivor at the wharf, which will considerably affect tho Taruheru river at low water, though not so much at high tide. Should any alteration be made the pipes must go considerably below tho level of tho lowest tide at present. Take for example tho dredging of the river below the bridge to fill in behind the presont wharf. This is all from and above low water mark, which when dredged out must make a considerable difference to the water getting up into the river. It may cause a greater scour in the river and deepen tho channel, which will also make it narrow and again take the water away from the pipes. With a supply of this kind there are always

difficulties to contend with. It prosses forward tho need of a water supply for tho town as the only source of overcoming tho difficulty permanently. The question of lopping the willows in Palmerston road wa3 left to the Overseer to deal with. In regard to the well at the Fire Brigade station the Mayor stated that the shortage of water only occurred at very low tide.

Cr Wbinray said that it was no use having excellent appliances unless thoro was an ample supply of water. Cr Jones : Tho tide might happon to bo very low just at the time a fire occurred. Cr Harding enquired as to tho cost of deepening the well and altering tho pipes. Tho Mayor said that it would cost a great deal. Cr Mason said that it was a fortunate thing that the defect in tho well bad been found at a practice, and not at a firo. The question was referred to the Public Works Committee to furnish a report.

SANITARY MATTERS. The Clerk stated that, following out the decision arrived at at the previous meeting that tenders should be called for supplying a hundred sealed tin 3 for the nightsoil service.

Cr Miller objected to the expenditure, on the score that the amount to be spent was not definitely stated. He did not think tho Gouncil should go to any great expense pending the adoptfonof the water carriage system. The Mayor explained that the Council had already agreed to the expenditure at a

previous meeting, when Cr Miller was not present. The cost would be less to the public than the present system. After further discusssion it was decided to call for tenders for a hundred pans.