BOROUGH OF GISBORNE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2481, 21 April 1909, Page 3

BOROUGH OF GISBORNE.

THE MAYOR’S ANNUAL REPORT.

The following /report was placed be.-! fore;the membersof the Borough Council by the Mayor at 'last night’s meeting of Hid Council:'—! o;f flw '*&en beg’ to*" iubihit ‘ a ‘report on; the ‘ Bbrouglr's administration for the ydar closing On 31st March, 1909, I will first deal with finance. The . Council .are. always more or less up to their li/mit of overdraft;. this /is a, refry had as well as a costly, .system/ and I; offer to. .suggest that ; the question Of whether ft , wotikk b;q advisable at a suitable time to raise a loan and'extiin guish the dybt should. be considered as T 'firiply .beliey'e that the amount of, in- : tefest.,pald Ci on .overdraft would more . than q}ay .bot-k interest and;sinking fund on a debenture loan, especially /so-;As r: under the..gew. .legislation the. Govern-ment-.would. )’bp ay; half the amount boN .r<mefTU...Thq total. revenue * from . all sources was £20)250 -made up as fol-

, lows: — ■ ; General' rates; . vy,. £8,435- . ;1 Spebialrates V.. 4,482 - . - ! Sale/of-water and.rates 1,964Fees.and fines, otep ..... 1,568 ~ ' Rents and.subsidy. . ... 1,126 " " Abattoirs ,i- 1,918 Miscellaneous ■/ ..... r 757

'■'• ; m,/::.;',//"^//"p// £20,250 And the expenditure was £23,500,' summarised as below : Interest and- sinking , fund on loan A: .A £4,762 : ... : Streets -';.'..' /•.' 9,591 «>/ Administration ,: r j 1,102 ; . Sanitation •.’••• ; 1,354' / ■' New, offices 7/1,769 ; Abattoirs : " P’A. 1,453 ! . ( Interest ; by erdr a ft- air'd - • Charitable Aid■ ■• • ■• • 880 Misbellaheous ‘ ' ... 923 ... Waterworks •' 1,680 i '•/, / _:• : ' £23;si4 " ’TheDr.. balance., of’<generqlf account'at the. beginning or the year was £5,262, and at the icloso it stood at £8,569, tho Council having increased its. overdraft by about £3,307. The general rate was only Is lOd - last .year in lieu of the usual 2si ‘ Although-it appears at first that:.the Council has gone to the bad over ,£3,300i : in reality this is not so, as there ryora liabilities outstanding at tho end of the previous year consider i'ably in excess of the liabilities out,standing;this year and. it'has valuable assets-In the shape of new brick offices,; ' motor . waggon and , trailer, street levels, hoppers at Patutahi, i-Hoppers and siding art Kaiteratalii, sidiiig- at Gisborne Station, and the necessary-payment made Mo secure a quarry reserye at .Gentle Annie . and sundry other sma.ll items vvhich woye.paid for out of this-years, revenue.- . {■■,. j : The Borough is so large and the pop'V.ation so scattered that it is utterly impossible to-meet the.growing -demands and .keep pace with the times without a street, loan. This is imperative, as -now works cannot be undertaken put oi : revenue and I would urge upon tile Council their serious consideration of. ' this question as. our roads sadly need urgent attention.- . Waterworks—The Main Pipe Line is not vet completed. The original contract stipulated for the: completion of the -work by the-Ist-May/ 1907, so it will be seen that the contract is now two years overdue. ;It is to bo regrett-. ed that .a compromise had to bo made virith t-ho aontractors • during the year whereby the contracted working pressure, ay as reduced from 1731b5. to lpOlbs. to the square inch. As you are award this compromise was made on tho novice of the Council’s Engineer, Air Robert Hay, in consequeneo-of the pipe line not standing the pressure stipulated for in the contract, hut it is satisfactory to note that the Borough will receive:!'some.-;compensation for the reduced pressure by the eonferactors making concessions_to the Council and ooutracting' to d Jvoiher-work hot stipulated for in thd original contract, which it is hoped will improve the; permanent stability of the. pipe line. All the concessions made -won 1 d p rob abl y represent a monetary value of over £3OOO. In arranging for the,(reduced pressu;-o it was part of -the arrangement that the contractors should . liave their time extended .for carrying out the work which, time has; gone by; and the work; is still incomplete and will take a considerable time yet before it is completed, but,it is.satisfactory to note that until • the work is, completed the contractors have to maintain the .whole line at t&eir own expense so as to keep the town supplied with water. It is also parte tithe new arrangement that a break pressure, tank or lower intake is to be constructed near to Flood’s place, at Te- Arai and' in consequeneo of this I,caused the. following questions to be submitted to Mir Robert -Hay in writing and I give his-answers, ■which speak’for-themselves. . Qv UF.br what number of population would the scheme serve at 60 gallons per head whilst the water is being taken from the lower intake,- and .when taken from the upper intake solely what; number of population would it serv.e on, tho same-terms?” •<:•

A r “Upper intake only 16,000 people at 60 gallons per head y lower .intake* 12,300 'people at 60 gallons per head. One half the draw-off being utilised in S hours.”- : 0 There ' are. complaints 'about the discoloration of the watery and I would urge that the Council must lace the question of a ’reservoir at an early date,, as- was •stipulated for . in the .prigina:!;, loan and until a reservoir is constructed there, is always a danger of the town. bein g clop riy.ed o f ;w,at er ;fo r severa! days at 4, time besides having the supply »f----fected(by, silt, at ftpc-cL tiipe. > ‘-d This will ..probably necessitate, the raising. ; .o£i a.small loan, and imy parts' of .the Borough ..not reticulated 6ould be provided Her. at the same, time,. The Council has dining,the paSt year • paid-over to-the .coiitracto.rs out;of lodli moneys dip sum . of and 'there. still remains arbalanpe, in this lafccount of £6,6p7 y.nylucu Fill die , absorbed op; completion, f of. the contract, . Tlip jtota. rate required f-pr water wjll be <9kl 'in. the: and. the amount; pf the> loanto-,-£T s ; (%dess.;|irst' instalment of sinkitng fund .paid. X3 ( /5.,. It is satisfactory' to note that it is' lieccssai., to only. Strike. a9-|d ratq in lien .of the ls -T-d originally 'pledged. j;This iSj ;m consequence, of the growth.jof the t<J-wn-. The staff: in this connection,ps,as tollows r tfedfihe.. 7; urncopk, apd. Ingi>ector ; with - two a.vdstgnts.; and .pno.pian in ’charge kff .headv-mirks.- . Abattoirs This Institution has now been- ' working for a. : ofo yearjn; ’’The profit--for the year being £460. llie labor at the abattoirs .comprises,a manager; three slaughtermen and * roustabout’ at an .annual ichargo ot ,£/98. : Tlie present charges: Joy kffhng aiP on : t,ob lihdi a- scale-and should he reduced as°l pointed .out to the .Council earheuuh vear A great- lot ol work is trll the local butchers, as the Council house-,ofoed. and attend to a weeks Jupu.wxi both dirge and .small cattle

for each; butcher without extTU. cost, wliefcas iai other towns tho bulchcrs;. havo to do ’tho "work themselves. I think 1 several alterations and .additions could ■bo profitably (undertaken this! year .as; well -;as. bettotr , provision - for cooling- meat, and would (recommend the same to the; Council.. .Lotting tho, killing ;by contract/ should be • considered; During tho : pastMwe'lVe 'months the J fol- ’ lowing wete puiNthrough tho. works:. — ■ : 7\ l : ; •..-.; .2665'u- vt ’) T' 1 : iCulves .72r-ba Pigs ... ... 1250 , :;; 1( , - , Sheep and lambs ... 13257 . ]. ; i , ; /Tripes; etc.;;'cleaned 3056 ‘ ■ ' Fire. Proventioiif—During tlio year a poll was takem aml it was decided to establisHTa Eire’ Board as tpriovided for, by Legislation.-. This ; has been .. .doneland; tlio ..Council’s, propeffty. valued, at r £l2Bß handed over to the Board to bo paid for in 20 yearly instalments of £64. Tlio Board'has been carrying on successfully for tho past 9 months. Tho /■Coalnoil’s ..representatives. being, Crs. • Bright,.Pettio and myself; /, Sanitation.—This ' department has been managed by- our Inspector, employing. 3 night'men and 2 men; for. rubbish rronioVal together-' with tho necessary, plant. The.total cost of, the service for the year, was /£.1354. J A forward move has been made by the Council in deciding to go in for th©'sealed pan system! of removal of niMvteoil for tho coming year and consider able changes in this department will tlieref-oro bo necessary. Dr Alasoh, Chief Health Officer, and two Inspectors-have visited us and made; a house-to-house insppctiion and their ireport- will bo anxiously , await-, ed and I trust that .-a'lot of good will be done thereby. _ Hospital and Charitable Aid. —The Council’s contribution in this respect was £475, -and/Grip. Bright and Mann have v .ably icpresented the Council OU tho Hospital Board. I would advise a careful eyo being kept on this expenditure,‘as it is "dpt to develop on the, high' side.. ’ , ; /• . ; i■ —-Unafuthorised Expenditure. • This item has‘ been fully taken advantage of, for during the year borne was honored by a visit from their Excellencies, Lord and Lady 1 hniket;' the Prime ■Minister, 'the Ritrlit iHidmorabl-o Sir Joseph v\ aid,. P.C. together with, others ■of his . colleagues, Tho .Council vas also represented at the , reception m Auckland .on the' occasion /of the visit of tho American fleet. A donation was made to the City Band -for a series of open air concerto, which proved .attractive to the public. . The sum of .£2O. was passed for technical education, and the thanks of- the Council arc due to C'r. Bright ancl Mr. Nolan for the able v/ay in which th G y have carried out their duties as the Council’s representatives on tho High School Board of Governors.

—Streets. — ' The streots“of the Borough have been attended to by.the.overseer and a gang of men. When 1 came into office over 40 hands were employed cleaning grass off footways and roads; this was too much of a drain on the funds of tho Council, and-the staff was: reduced to about 15 aiid they have done good work, but there is room for a lot of improvement. It is. far too expensive to clean the grass of? footways and roads when it grows/ as fast as it is cut, when, by-a little more expenditure,, the footways might be shingled and tarred. This would prove a great bp on to those ratepayers who reside at a distance from the : centre of our town. The most important new work done on the streets has been in connection with Wi Pore Street and the breaking up and remetalling Gladstone Road from the Masonic corner to the Fire Bell, which will be completed in a few days’ time. Considerable expense has been incurred in raisinoc ;the Esplanade Road, Kaiti And also some ' shingling on Abattoir Road, and it is to bo hoped that with the new-supply of gravel that will be available shortly from Kaiteratahi, the Abattoir, Esplanade and-othcr back roads in the town! will be shingled. The. acquisition of the St raker waggon and the locomotive .crane grab, together With the necessary hoppers and sidings should prove a great benefit to help to I’educe the price of metal. The overseer has already reported to this Council that 'With the' extra, facilities now being made for getting metal and shingle into the Borough that Patutahi metal should be obtained at a cost of 8s per yard, and Kaiteretalii gravel at 2s 6d per yard, thus it will be seen that a large saving will be' effected on the old cost which-was about 14s for Patutahi fix fal and 5s Gd to 6s 6d for Kaiteratahi gravel. —-Kaiteratahi Gravel.— During the year the Council has secured a lease, of 5 acres for a term of 42. years at a rental of £lO per annum where, there is a splendid and unlimited supply of gravel. A siding and' necessary ,hoppers have been erected and a locomotive steam grab for filling and shunting trucks has been purchased but unfortunately the contractors erected it on- tho Government line, instead of the Council’s line, -which is not connected, hut I -am pleased to say that arrangements have nrow been made with the Government ; to link the two lines' together which work is expected to be completed in the course of a few days and as soon as it is the Borough will ob-■ tain, an ample supply at a moderate price. 1 7 -1 - « i ■ ■ -./ ; With these ne,w facilities the Council will bo /able, to supply, either .the Government or tho public with;,eliingle, —Gentle Annie Quarry.— I am pleased to Ijo able -to report that with the, aitl of the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward find" the member for the district,the Hon. JAs. Carroll, that section 133 a, Patutahi, known as part of the Gentle Aiinic QhArry; containing '6O acre's" is now 'heihg invested in the, Borough .'As a qiia'rby tins will;put .tlio Borougli in' thb position of being able to obtain, the best stone in the dietnet without being hampered of interfered .with by. quarry, regulations. The principal .items of , expendltuie have been as fiollovv^p-.,

Straker . fiW'm, waggon I arid trailer 900 Hoppers .and spling, Kaiterqtalu, :: dUU Hoppers,. Patutal;n, , .. I-'i Siding .Gisborne Station Porniancnt levols; (Ist. payment) J4U Widening Russell,Street ... . ,- - ?0 Stone, shingling,; and carting -• (about) ' - ••• ••• dffOO Tariiing and kerhi,ng, footways.-..-, 4.UU Construction, Bsplanade .and Awa- . ;puni Roads . *f- •••, £<uj. Street-.-lighting ~j: d-, .yi y.i jiyf Street watering' .3,. ;V Maintenance ,bridge*! _<, T • ■;? f Quarries, Gentle ; Annaey .and *Vai- • j hirere i ; ~••• , -p ••• General,, maintenance,, streets, , ! drains,/and footways , ... ‘-v ___ v -; Making - a total of ... ; £9591 A poll taken fpr, ’a stiqet loan I regret to say, was lost.. I would point out that while the Council have collected -the full rate for' the last,.three,.years, excepting last joar, which was -d -droit,

the overdraft 4 grown ;l up to the full S. >l.7}

~. .-—Ble^Ql'vqsTrF--/.,. .... .a,-, . llhe/Counfcii/cqlleoted bver E 650 from ' A-eiits of thoiK'' feservesj’ ahd ! I’ / - wdiild bffbr tho suggestion that.' the : frontage of the but; Up j and offered for lease. This .wquld give the workers a chance 6f securing a .homo and at the samo time 'enhance the revenue of the Council, vuthouf ini Any way interfering with /the reserve from ;a sports point:of view". ,~n The Council'have to! thank Mrs, Carroll fqr her .valuable gift- ,of tvyc acres of Kaiti Hill, near tho Cook MonumoUt, and it is to be hoped that others may follow in her footsteps and show their public generosity-; r,ThO Mayoress, Mrs Lysnar, has donated- two swings and two see Ma-w-s for th© use; of children on the : fe,serve facing the Waikan'a© beach, which are greatly appreciatedi -t’. (regret to state that .it is urgently riooessary that a small recreation reserve ,of about four acres should be secured in the centre, of Whataupoko and also in Kaiti before it is all built on and-.the r land becomes , very expen-, sivo- to buy: This is 'necessary as' a practice, ground and a hreathing spot for the growing children iff the two suburbs, and it is to be hoped that'the ratepayers will authorise this during the coming year. -. . ■: . • Steps are now being taken to make the Makarqjsa Domain, on*the banlcs of the Taruhenv River, available for the public use by having a jetty erected on the river bank so that it can be reached/bylthd river, ,/A drive has;been made , into the ground from the main road, land a 'skelter shed is. also being erected, and the ground will he connectecT with the Town water supply for the convenience of picnickers. The fences have been attended to so as to alloy/ further planting to- be proceeded with this winter, and if a small expenditure was made, in levelling off the centre of, the ground, it could be made available ion large sports gatherings. .During the year an effort was made to secure 'the Railway Reserve’ opposite ; the Waikanae beach from the. Govern- j ment, and the best. arrangement that 'could’he made was 'to secure a year to year ’lease of the ground comprising. about seven acres. The fence around: the ,reserve has been done up, part of ] the ground planted, as well as other im-: provements eiTcct-od. x\ strong effort / should be made to absolutely secure tins , ground as a permanent-reserve for tho ■ towm.

; . 6 i-1 .a ;, i 1V >.} r, U t JJi i o —Drainage.— A poll, was taken, for a loan to carry out A ‘ sewera^f/ scheme On'the' Shone system 1 , as ..reCTlnmohded by ME: Mes•tayer, but tho ratepayers rejected it, and i I think rightly so, for it wAs too costly. The Council are now obtaining further information upon the question, and.it is to be Ixoped that a report will be finally selected that will meet with tho„ favor of the-'ratepayers, and that before,the expiry of the incoming year Gisborne will", Jb© ;un|loHa|:ing att ulp-tb-date and econoinicaT sewerage ■.cheme. d f - ; 4 —Office f Adminjstjiatiqn,, A This ‘ lias been excellently coiltlu'ctcd bv the - Town i nd-?assistant* -with,casuai;' help-/ at ; a /cost of/ £1102..,f0i/ the' year. Over £20,250 revenue jw.eys collected, And; only about £l5O remained uncollected at bulk of this Is how in Ka'nd. 1, J •v ; '/> 0 —-/' , r loH> / , I woiild offer to, suggest that The -Wows r Council be set off in committees of, say, three, each committee to have charge Of its own department, and to attend to its proper .administration. —Contracts.— .1 think too much of the Council’s work is done by piece Work, and, urge! for consideration the letting- of: as-hiuclh work as possible by public tender. U . ! -r-Borough J: ; I attach a schedule of the Borough -‘revenue and expenses from 1891 to '.1909, which,shows that the total, revenue in 1891 -was £3263, and it has grdw/n to" £20,250 in 1909/ The schedule also ' shows the. valuation of the Boroygh fpr ■the same'periodj in 1891 the vdhr'atidn was £25,600," and in ‘ 1909 £99/500: While our.town is so backward in progressive Avto'ks that are- all -essentia] for the convenience and progress of a rapidly growing, town such ,as Gisborne, As shown by ’the' attached figures; it is to be regretted that there lias not been a more . forward move made by the ' CouxtdilJ as a 'whole; during the year, but conside/ring that the minds 01 the members of the Council have been working on opposite linos the Lest remits,- wider all circumstances, have been obtained. ?:■■■■■'( r' c ■' ir r I have the honor To remain, Your'S: trujy, . •>. ■■ -rW. Douglas Lysnar. > r Mayor.