BOROUGH COUNCIL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1938, 21 November 1906, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL

Tbo foitnighliy meeting of tbo Borough Ooncoil was hold lasi nighs, (boro bung present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr J Townley), and Crs Millsr, Lysuur, Wobo Bright, Bees, Whinrby and Harding. Tbo Australian Muluol P, evident Bcoiaty wrote ro Gisborne waterworks loan, stating £20,000 would bo available us required in January next, asking shat debentures bo forwarded with exohango. The Town Cl-uk suid tho exobauge would ba attended to in due oourso, Mr B. Hay, engineer Gisborno waterworks. reported :—" Siace nry visit to Gisborno I bavo been to Wanganui to inspect tba pipe-making. Tbo oonlraotors have now throe machines in operation employed in mnnufaoluring tbo fifitoninob pipes, and I had saveta! of them tested with satisfactory results. Tho operations of covetir g tho p'pes with h'-asisD, i-rgelhor with the dipping and costing, ate also being enritd cut in a systematic and workmanlike manner, and I was very pleased with tbo genoral progress of the work. About n mi!o and a half of loinoh pipes wire ready for ship ment.” Ho had advised tho contractors as to the oompl-iot rn valves on street 0 . At the rrquest cf Or Bright, tbo resolu lions passed by tho Council were read, also the minutes in reference thereto. Messrs Nolan and Skeet, on behalf of S. Williams, owner of land at Eoebuck road, claimed £IOOO as compensation for all loss arising out of tho taking of certain land for tho construction of certain public works. On tho motion of Or Lysnar the | letter was referred to the finance committee to seo if any satisfactory arrangement could be made. Mr A. Kirk, secretary of tho Poverty Bay Rowing Club, wrote sayiDg that the Club had gone to the assistance of settlers during the recent ilood. The Club had lent a pair of oars, which had been returned broken. The Club enclosed an account for £2 for the oars, asking the Council to consider same. The Council decided that the account bo paid. The Public Trustee advised re investment of the moneys subscribed to tho Nicolas Fund. The letter stated that the interest paid would be per cent. The Mayor said he had visited the family with the Town Clerk and found Mrs Neilson in charge of the children. Airs Neilson said she was remaining with children as she had been there twenty years. Everything was alright. There were certain accounts, however, that had not been paid, and the bills had boon handed to the Council. It was proposed to pay these accounts 6-,nd hand the balance over to the Public Trustee. Cr Bright asked the Mayor what tho Council had to do with these accounts. Tho Mayor stated that the Council had formed themselves into a committee to raise and administer tho fund on behalf of the children, and had looked after it up to the present time. Cr Bright said it seemed to him that the Council were adopting tho position of trustee. The Mayor: Nothing of the sort. We . will pay these accounts, and then hand the balance of money over to trustees. The children aro all agreeable. Cr Rees: Tho Council are volunteers only and have no legal status. It was agreed that the accounts be paid and that Mrs Neilson be recipient of tho income on behalf of tho children. “"Tho Under Secretary of the Public Works Department wrote with reference to agreement on Waihirere No. 2 block, asking for further proposals. Discussion took place on the acquiring of this block; the Mayor stating he would be very sorry to see it go and thought that as the block could be had at a small cost, the Council should keep it. He believed that a small water supply could bo got, and when Gisborne grew it would be a splendid holiday and health resort in tho future. He would move that the whole of the block be retained by the Council. Cr Harding also thought the block should be kept. Ho would second the motion. Cr Lysnar wanted to kaow what earthly good the upper portion was to the townspeople ; very few people used is. If she CouDoil bad surplus money to spend the Oouocil should Sake she Kaiti hill rather than go right out to Waihirsro, whioh was rotten ground at the upper portion. Councillor : We have beard that many

times from you. ... Or Lysnar: It is true, nevertheless. I he said if they took about a y%fiain above tho falls it would be sufficient. The Council should urge tho oommis- ’ eioDers to lake the portion deoided upon, and let the rest go baok to the natives. ' Cr Whinray agreed with the Mayor, and thought tho Council should aoquire this ground. The Council had never looked tar enough ahead, Years ago he had urged tho securing of land at Waikanae. If tho Waihirero sits could be obtained at a reasonable rate, they should take it over, . Cr Miller hoped tbe Council would not do anything of tbe kind. Tbo portion suggested to be taken was alright, but it would bo most ridiculous to thmk ot taking tho bleak portion. Tbe Council should proteot quarry interests. C; Bright thought tbe Council should see that they could get at tbe quarry stone end allow tho Soenio Department to take 160 acres, and the balaooe should be handed tack to the naliyes, Ho also emphasised tho necessity of taking over a portion of Kaiti hill, as tbe land was getting more valuable every day. The Mayor asked where had they reserves The town woold grow, and he thought the Counoil would be failing in their duty if they did not tako tho plaoe. The Counc ! had been negleotful in the past, and they should not lose this opportunity, Tbe motion wa3 pat to tbe vote, Ors Miller, Lj-snar, Bright and Bees votirg rgrinst it, whilo the Mayor. Ora Whinrsy, Harding, Sheridan and Webb voted for tbe motion, which was carried. Cr Miller thought Bn important mailer like this, involving so much money, should bf.ve been dealt wfih by notico of motion, Seme further disoussron ensued, Or Miller stating that hi intended to give Dotico of motion to isioind iho resolution.

ENGINEER'S REPORT,

The Eogioeor’s roporf was planted as follows: —

Maintenance: Tho usual work in con j Dection with maintenance of tho streets within the borough h.s been oa-ried on ; the several streets on which the men have been eDgiged are shown io detail oo (he labor pay sheets. Grey Btreet Bridge : The decking of She bridge is neatiog completion, Tho approach on the sonth»western side has been fidihed as far aB possible unril tho wings ore built. Tho north-eastern approach is now in hand. Traffic will be possible in s tbe oourse of a day or two. Adair street: I met Mr Mann on the ground, and arranged .with him as to drainage. He intends to dedicate a strip of land fob drainage purposes 6ft wide from the end of Adair street to Russeli stree*, and tin drain to bo graded to my levels. Tennis Ground, Whataupoko: Tbo president of tho olub complained that the Counoil’s drains in the neighborhood ware not sufficiently deep to toko tbo water oil the ground. At the first opportunity I will take a few levels and sec what can bo done in tho matter.

Roebuok road Bridge : It is very desirable that tho pile s should be Bbeaihod with Munbz moial, and I should bo glad to be authorised to arrange a price with tho contractor for doing tbe work. Gladstone road. Tarring j There pan he

noquo'tion as to thn desirability of tarring Gladstone Ruud from R-’ad d quay to Customhouse strof-t, and from Lowe stroot to Pool stroet; and when tho materiel is availablo I should rcoommoud tho work boiug done as soon after thu water maius and services havo boon laid as possible. Oobdon stroet open oro?sirtg : Tho gr»d«

iont at this plaeo is very tin), bat wbou tho water is available n oulvert might bi put in mid regularly flushed out to proven* itJ blocking up tho kerbing. Wbou tho Council dotcruiino to put down perui irnuit koibiuß and chnunolling I strongly ri ci’UHmmd that thoy should bo coni struotcd in conoreto, ns being the best and most sanitary method, This class of obnnnolling should, however, not ho laid in any street where tho peuuancnt lovola have not been fixed. The average cost j would bo about .Co IDs per chain. iicad undal, tto.: I bad a gang at work at Weibhoro, but have withdrawn thorn in necordanos with my oondiomial latter to yjn of tba loth ins". I should ho glad if the Com o 1 would oonaider tho position at as raily a date as possib'o. Permanent lovels ; A considerable number if tho h coks for tho permanent bouoh tuaik-' have boon made, and aro now

I being plneod in a position foe lovolling. Too Engineer was instructed to gu on I prospecting at W lihiroco for metal, and his suggestion with refer.oca to obtaining I piles was adopted. Or Whinray thrught that a road roller aod sea ifier should bo ootained at onoo, The Engineer said ibis would be included in his r, port on the metal question. Tne E igiroer's report was toon adopted. Or Webb g'vo notion of motion to ask the Engi- o. r whether he was in favor of [ having ad ivo k of tho value- of dJ'25 and upwards do no by contract. Or Sheridan : It would iutorfero with tho Courcit’s stall Or Wfbb (with bent) : What aro you talkiog about Cr Sheridao? Why, tbo Groy street bridge has oost more in lubor thau tbo big Maiawhero hridga. Io passing tbo accounts Or Lysnnr brought up tho question of paying Mr Hoy’s commission. Ho considered that this commission should not bo paid till the material was used.

Other Councillors thought that Mr Hay was baiog paid in aooocdunoa with tho agreement On tho motion of tho Mayor it was do oiled to add 10 por oont to all rates not paid before tho end of next month. Ii was dcoided to o»ll tenders for I g collars.

Tbo Town Olotk (Mr It D. B. Robinson) was ie-sppo;uted Borough Valuator at tho same remuneration as last year.

Cr Harding moved that tho Engineer suggest means to take tho water cif tho Ruteno read on tho Haiti. Tb's road was in a bad state. Thera wore somo six or seven houses in tho strep*, and this ought to be doDS. At the earns time tho En-

gineer might prepare an estimate of the probablo cost of making a fjotpath in the samo street. Ho moved to this eff;0 I '.

Tbo resolution was carried. Or Harding also brought op tho question of seootiog portion of tho Haiti hill as a reoreation ground for tho people. Tho Counoil already had a c.tuplo of aores of

Ibis ground. Toe question should not bo pul oil any longer, at land was getting more valuable every day. He moved that a committee consisting of Ors Rees, Miller, and himself be appointed to report on the question. Or Lysnar called attention of the Council to the resolution standing on tho minutes, dated 19th July, with reference to Waihirere block, which would require rescinding to give effect to Council’s wish to retain the block. Notice of motion

would also be required, which he gave, to the effect that the block be 'retained. Cr Lysnar recommended the Council to obtain a large “ Box” Five Extinguisher for the use of the brigade. Those had

been proved very efficient elsewhere. A 3 gallon size would cost £i 15s, but it

would be wiser to get a 5 gallon one, at a cost of £5. This could always be sent out with the reel. In Dunedin, this had

often been an efficient means of extinguishing fires. Ho moved that one be obtained The resolution was carried. The meeting then adjourned,