BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2158, 14 August 1907, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Gisborne Borough Council met last evening. Present, tlio Mayer (Mr. - J;-Townley)-,-Ors. Tottie, Somervell, • Williams. Mann, Miller, Whinray and Sawyer.

A COMPLAINT. Air. John Charles, Victoria township, wrote drawing attention to the disabilities he was laboring under by reason of the formation of the road (Awapuni) fronting his house. During wet weather the surface water almost surrounded his house and the front was completely isolated; die only means of ingress and egress was b,- way of the back door and through wet grass. Cr. AVhinray advocated the formation of the road. He would bring the matter up again. The Mayor said the Engineer could see wliat could he done to give immediate relief by draining the water off. On. this understanding, no motion being put, the Council proceeded with the next business. OVERDRAFT. The -local branch of the Bank of New Zealand (Mr. Vincent Tyke.

manager), notified that the Council could get up to £IO,OOO on overdraft-, subject to certain safeguards, the Bank to retain the right to reduce die limit at any time at the discretion of the manager. The Mayor: This is a mild caution not to spend too fast. Cr. Miller suggested that the Council should try to obtain the money at 5 per cent., instead of paying 5} per cent. - . ' The Mayor concurred. The Council was entitled to the best terms.

It was agreed to inquire into the matter and report at next meeting. RUSSELL STREET. Air. Ben Hird asked that the footoath in Russell street ho attended to. To fill -in the holes he suggested tli-it file grass sods he cut from the lower -ide of the path and utilised for tl.o nnrpose.

Cr. Sawyer said this was only a matter of two days’ work for " i.ns man. He could,not fathom why die overseer' or someone pise in authority did not attend to these matters. Ratepayers should not have to make complaints about such paltry matters. Instructions were given to attend to the matter. The Afayor spoke of the state of the •loiintl and it was agreed to have a lew loads of material carted there. DUTY ON IRON PIPES.

The Hon. j. Carroll asknowiedg-d tie Council’s protest against -a duty d 20 per cent, being levied on cast ron pipes, and referred the letter to die Minister for Customs. The Hon. 1. Millar-, in. his reply, remarked, ‘I lote that ‘your Council consider the effect will ;be prejudicial ~to local bodies. ;The representations that ha ve been placed before the Government, in regard to this matter will receive very

'•areful consideration.”-—Received, the Mayor remarking that all the muri>’ipal bodies took the same attitude. CLOSING ON RACE DAY. Air. AV. G. Sherratt, lion. sec. of ■he Hunt Chili race meeting, wrote isking the Council to proclaim Thursday'a holiday from 12 noon, instead ’f from the usual hour, 1 o’clock. Cr. AVhinray said it did not male much difference either way.

The Afayor: They only ask for an hour.

On Cr. Sawyer’s motion the request was granted. The Alayor: The Council will have the hour advertised. Cr. Alillar: Those who make the request should pay for the advertisement.

The Alayor: Certainly. I don t t-liink there will be any trouble about that.

RUBBISH NUISANCE. Air AV. D. Lvsnar wrote :—“ Milan S. Simson lias requested me to write your Council regarding the Council’s rubbish carts depositing objectionable matter on the sea side of the AVaikanae stream near the bridge. I am instructed that the rubbish, besides being very unsightly, is causing a nuisance and danger to public health, and I will therefore he glad if your Council will take the necessary steps to stop this objectionable prac-I tice. I am also given to understand that besides the Borough cart, others are carting rubbish to, and depositing it in the same place.: Perhaps your Council, in dealing with the question, I might also instruct- the Inspector to I see that this matter is also remedied.” I

- Cr. AVhinray said it was a most dis-reputable-spot. - ' Cr. Sawyer : It was covered over. Cr.AVhinray : It- has not been covered over for 25 years. Air Little said it was covered at different times. i .Cr. Miller said the practice should he stopped. It lyas a thoroughfare to the beach. Air. Little, inspector, said that- two loads a day were taken to this site. It saved an hour or two’s trip to the depot. j

Cr. Whinray : I don’t think it is incumbent' on the Council to cart rubbish such as tins and paper uw.ty for private individuals. Cr. Mann : What are tho people to

d ->, then ? Mi- Little, in reply to a remark, said most ol the stuff was takenirein private bouses, and not from wnt'rlouses. Cr. Sheridan said it was quite

right to remove the rubbish. The Mayor remarked oil tho observations of a couple of visitors, who condemned the state of many premi sc-.. Ho ordered the inspector to have the rubbish removed from many places. As to Cr. Whinray’s remarks, the Borough men took all tlio rubbish

put into tho tins. Cr. Pottio asked why the Borough oarts took tho rubbish from warehouses, competing with private men. Cr. Whinray said the service was only intended to deal with vegetable debris, etc., from restaurants and private houses. It was not intended to cart straw and paper away for everybody. Cr. Miller said that anything msightly or insanitary should be attended to promptly. Owners should bo notified. Ho would like ft f ropo. t from the overseer or a committee of the Council. r ' Mr Little said that the spot com-, plained of was oil Captain Tucko: s property. The owner wanted to form a bank. Whenever he was asked to do so, the owner put men on to cover up tho surface. Mr Littlo was instructed to stop the Borough carts depositing nibbi.-h there. In regard to private carts, rt was understood that the inspccti r diould keep an eye on private carts, io that-, whilst- there is no definite prohibition against the denosit of rubbish, no nuisance must die caused. SHINGLE AT KAITI BEACH. “I visited the beach adjacent to Air. Nolan’s property on the Ivaiti, and have to report,” remarked the Engineer, “that there ara several thousands of yards of fairly hard sand stone available. The bulk of it consists of boulders and would have ,to oo put through the crusher.” In reply to questions, the Engineer said the cost of cartage would be about 5s or 6s per yard to the crusher Cr. Sawyer: It is sandstone. It is -lo better than Waihirere metal after all. Cr. Somervell proposed that tins source of supply should bo utilised as mricli as possible. The Mayor: Fix a fair price and let any of the carters deliver it t the crusher. They can cart it to ;nit. their convenience; it will be the best arrangement. Cr. Sawyer said that it could not i» done for 5s per yard, but it might for 6s. Owing to tho road being washed away it was difficult of access. A motion by the Mayor that 5s 6d :;er yard be paid, was carried, the locality to be pointed out by the Engineer. Mr. Gibbon mentioned that i 7 -ruck loads of gravol, the balance of Beetson’s contract, would arrive during the week. ABATTOIR ROAD.

Cr. Whinray advocated the formation of the Abattoir road, and the holes filled up. It would be an advantage to get this much work done, with a views to having the road surfaced with Kaitaratalii shingle as soon is convenient. The Mayor said that three-quarters if a mile of this road was in the county. Cr. Whinray: At any rate we can lo our portion. Cr. Millar supported. If the gravel were available he would like to ,ee the work of a permanent nature, as it was liittle use doing temporary repairs.

Cr. Sawyer : lit must be done before next winter. Referred to the Engineer for report to next meeting. FIRE BOARD.

It was agreed to write to the Government with reference to preliminary steps for forming a Fire Brigade Board in Gisborne. REPAIRS.

Cr. Sawyer mentioned that a few yards of gravel were wanted near die footbridge. The roots of trees were projecting above the surface. Cr. Whinray: Leave that street alone; it is a rustic retreat. If you commence to disturb it you will do away with its.rusticity. Cr. Mann : I am afraid you only go there on bright summer days. You have not seen it under adverse conditions.

Cr. Sawyer also mentioned a spot near Miss Judd’s on the right hand ■side of Disraeli street. There was thick slush that people had to wade, through, especially when the crowds were going to the football matches. Cr. Whinray : They should not go to football matches. (Laughter.) These matters will be attended .o. Cr. Williams complained that the roadway in front of Quinn’s stables was always in a. slushy condition Ladies complained about getting wet feet in passing. The Mayor said lie had noticed the place. Mr. Little, who said the footway was. saturated through the washing of vehicles there, was instructed to out a stop to the practice. A HAITI ROAD.

Messrs Partington and Perrier sub11'itted a tender of 5s per yard jor carting and spreading shingle oil the road past the freezing works. Only one tender was received. Cr. Sawyer held that sand wouhl suffice from the blacksmith's shop pact the monument, provided the road were widened towards the beach. The carters would he satisfied with sand provided the road was widened. r I he Mayor agreed. The part principally objected to by the company itas between the blacksmith’s shop and the sheep pens. The Engineer said formation would not be heavy, and the road was being got ready for shingle now The Mayor agreed that the ■ part mentioned by Cr. Sawyer could ! e dene with sand. The carters would I be quite satisfied with sand, and this would save the cost of five chains of I shingle, as sand would cost only Is I per yard. I Cr. Sheridan said the length of I work to be shingled could be reduced in the tender. Subject to this reduction of five chains the tender was accepted.

DRAINAGE. The Engineer recommended a pipe drain in Disraeli street to convey the surface water from the low-lying sections there into the drain ‘ cross! ig Cliilder’s road. The work would also do away with the present dip in Ch 1der’s road. The cost was estimated it £3o.—After discussion the work was authorised.

COST OF WATER SERVICE

Mr. A. Dewing, manager for Nelson Bros., Ltd., wrote:—-‘‘As you are awaro Nelson Bros., Ltd., proposed to obtain water from your Borough Jouncil supply, but having gone rul'.y into the matter we find that the cost i i us'under your by-laws, as they now stand, will be prohibitive. As we are outside the Borough, we come under ! section 29, _ page .12, “Extraordinary ! supply (minimum quantity per month ■SOOO gallons) 3s per 1000 gallons.” .Vow if we were in the Borough we mould have the advantage of section 17, page 120, by which the Council igroes with the consumer as to the rate to he charged. If the rate for “extraordinary supply” outside the Borough were struck out, from the schedule, all wo want would be -achieved. If you are unable to modify the rate as it stands I am afraid we'sliall have to abandon the idea of obtain mg the water altogether.” The Mayor said that to make full use of the water would Cnta-l a supply of'B,ooo or 10,000 gallons per day to I the firm. Councillors considered there sliouid ba .a substantial reduction. The Mayor said the Council wanted to get as much revenue as possible I'ioni the scheme. The Council wished to meet the Company as fairly as possible.

Cr. Miller: We must be caref-1 ivluit we are doing, as this will establish a precedent. Cr. Pettie drew attention to the. clause allowing the Council discretion m such cases.

In reply to Cr. Sawyer, the Mayor said that in the case of a large are extraordinary supplies would he cut off so as to ensure full pressure in town.

It was decided that the Mayor anc Town Clerk be a. committee to consult with Mr. Dewing as to an agreement.