BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2505, 19 May 1909, Page 5

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A LENGTHY MEETING

COUNCILLORS SIT UNTIL A QUARTER TO THREE.

The fortnightly meeting of the Gisborne Borough Council was held last night in the Council Chambers. Present: The Mayor (Mr W. I). Lysnar), and Crs. Kirk, Maynard, Darton, Clayton, Collins, Somervell, Smith, Pettie and Harris. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was received from Mr John Coleman, Deputy-Official Assignee, asking that the auctioneer’s license, held by Charles Taylor, bankrupt, be transferred to Mr Hy. Louis Jennings.— The request was granted. Mr Vincent Pyke, Manager of Bank of New Zealand, wrote asking for specimen signatures of the Councillors authorised to sign cheques. Mr Thos. Long, of Matokitoki, wrote offering to supply the Council with from SOO to 1000yds of spawls, f.o.b, at Waihirere Station, at 6s per yard; also requesting a grant of £5 to assist in putting the quarry oad in order. — On the motion of Cr. Darton, seconded by Cr. Clayton, the letter was referred to the Works Committee, to report at next meeting of the Council. A letter was received from the Secretary of the Gisborne Gas Company, to the effect that their lamplighter, on being questioned, did not admit having left any lamps unlighted, but stated that he had noticed lamps that had been put out, either by mischief or otherwise, after they had been lit by him. The letter went on to state that arrangements were being made by the Company to ensure the ratepayers receiving an efficient supply. The letter also offered to the Council the sulphate of iron from their purifiers, for pinposes of killing weeds, and also' for disinfecting purposes. — On the suggestion of the Mayor it was decided to obtain a trial load of sulphate of iron at- os. Mr James Innes forwarded an otter -to the Council to sell them a piece of land for a depot alongside the railway line at Stanley Road at the nominal price of £SO, the measurement to b<? one chain frontage to Stanley road ana fivo chains deep. A condition of the offer was that the Council actually make use of the land lor the purpose within twelve months. The Mayor said that the offer uas most acceptable, as the siding would be a good depot for all the metal forth© upper portion of the Borough. Whatever road works were gone.on with, it would be necessary to have the gravel discharged there. On the motion of Cr. Ivirk seconded bv Cr Maynard, it was decided to accept the offer, and see what arrangements could bo made with the RailwayDepartment. , , , Mr H. J. Brownlee forwarded a plan for the erection of a septic tank at the premises of Messrs Hallenstem Bros., Gladstone Road.—lt was decided to forward the plan to the Sanitary InsNorman, Heath and Co of Wellington, wrote offering to sell to the Council a special asbestos jacket for the boiler of the Straker waggon for uso during the winter months.— This matter was referred to the W orks Committee with power to act • The Secretary of the Cook Hospital and Charitable Aid Board wrote demandino- from the Council the sum of £360. being 1-llth of a penny on the rateable value of the Borough to provide for the needs of the Board for the vear ending March 31st, 1910. In reply to Cr. Collins the Mayor said that in 1907 £4OS was paid and m 1908 £4BO. It was decided that tlie amount be paid in instalments as requested. ... The Secretary of ilie Cosmopolitan Club drew the attention to the state of the footpath outside the Club.—lhe Overseer was instructed to have the necessary work done as soon as possible. , r A communication was received from the office of the Minister for Internal Affairs acknowledging the nomination of three members of the Council as its representatives on the 1 ire Boaid. A petition was received from residents of the vicinity of the intersections of Childers Road, Cobden Street, and Carnarvon Street, asking for the footpath to be put in order and ashphalted. and guaranteeing half cost of flic work The Overseer was instructed to attend to the matter. The Secretary of the Turanganui Bowling Club wrote requesting that the Council would lease to the Club a portion of the section adjoining the green, for the purposes of extension of the latter.—The Mayor suggested that the matter be referred to the Works Committee to report, and to fix an upset price, and this course was adopted. Dr DeLisle, District Health Officer, wrote in reference to the houses at the corner of Disraeli Sreet which had been condemned by him. He referred the Council to section 91 of “The Public Health Act, 1908,” which states that any person remainJing in occupation of premises condemned by the Health Officer shall, after 21 days, be liable to a fine of £lO per day for every day in which he remains in occupation. He went on to state that at the time of his visit people were in occupation of two of the houses, and that no work had been done in the requirements of his certificate. He claimed that clause 24 of the Act referred to by Mr. Sheridan had no relation to the matter in question, and requested the Council to adhere to the terms of his earlier letters to enable the Magistrate to give a decision on the matter.

In answer to the Mayor, the Inspector said that nothing had yet been dene and the houses were still in occupation. Cr. Clayton moved —“That, a copy of the letter he sent to Mr. Sheridan with a notification that unless the matter were remedied proceedings would have to be taken.” The motion was agreed to. . A communication was read from the Under-Secretary for Lands referring to section 133, Block VII. Patutahi iS.D., which will be shortly vested in the borough. The writer stated that the Cook County Council was prepared to accept the payment of £l7O as part of its outlay on the reserve in question. The County Council had also informed him that the actual payment was £I(U Ss in addition to which it had expended the sum of £ll7 Is in fencing and forming stock-resisting paddocks,' unci that they claimed from the borough the sum of £ll7 9s. He would ask the Borough Council to communicate direct with the County. Council on the m Th°e r Mayor said that it was a fair request for them to pay the present-day value of the fencing, etc. It would he necessary to see that the fencing was really on the section. He would suggest "that the matter be left m the hands of tlio Works Committee. The County Council was at present receiy- ; ing £CO per annum for l -><- sccuoii, 1 L i 1 i'' '■/ d 1 1 . * I | ,> ■ 4 ,»

which amount would he payable to the borough. Cr. Clayton said lie thought the Cook County Council might want to* retain the stock paddocks for county ratepayers.

Cr- Harris said lie regretted the attitude of the County Council in connection with the quarry. He strongly resented the remarks that had been made by 7 the chairman of the County Council. Cr. Collins asked if the reserve was vested in the'borough,, and the Mayor replied that it was temporarily, and was to be absolutely 7. It was decided to refer the matter to the Works Committee.

Messrs Blair and Sainsbury intimated that they had received,a communication from Mr. Geo. Edwards refusing the provisional offer of the Council 111 regard to his claim for compensation for the taking of land in Russell Street.— The letter was received. REPORTS. NIGHTWATCHMAN’S REPORT. The Nightwatcliman reported that there had been no fires in the borough since his last report. j

INSPECTOR’S REPORT

The report of the Borough Inspector was as follows: —“I have the honor to report to your Council that smeo last meeting T have “been inspecting in Blocks 21, 22, 23, 24, 25. I have notified Mr. Redstone to remove the mud from his stable yard, and during the wet weather to keep the horses out oi same. I have also notified the oectipiers of the Federal Cafe, the Civil Service Co-operative Bakery, and the Poverty Bay Co-operative Supply Company 7 to clean and fill in their yards, and if this order is not at once complied with I will institute legal proceedings to, have the matter remedied. the chief health inspector, Wellington, has forwarded part of his report, and notices have been served as per instructions to have all the necessary suggestions and repairs carried out. As the notices were only posted on the Irtli inst, sufficient time has not elapsed to crive effect to them. I would recommend that , tenders bo called for the erection of u wood and iron shod £it tlie depot, and I woiild ask the Sanitary Committee to visit the place and approve of the site for same. The purpose for which the shed is to be used is the washing, steaming, and stoung of pans, likewise the two waggons now in course of erection. Mr. Ormond has this contract well in hand. Air. H. Warren, contractor for the pans, has not started yet owing to material not yet being to hand.” The report was adopted. SANITARY COMMITTEE.

The Sanitary Committee presented the following report: — The Sanitary Committee met on Tuesday, May'll., there being present the Mayor and Cr. Collins. The first instalment.of Dr. Mason’s Sanitary Report was considered and the Inspector was instructed to attend to serving the necessary notices as suggested in the report. The Mayor said that all necessary 7 notices had been given. There was one patter 1 regarding the flushing of urinals direct from the water supply that required attention, as there was a danger of contaminating the 1111010 water supply. They were quite within their rights in requesting disconnections in any such cases and the proper fittings substituted. There would be little or no danger if it were not for the periodical cutting off of the water suppiU'r. Darton said that lie would like to draw attention to the fact that they should at an early date have the reservoir in connection with the water supply. He did not think it was worth while disconnecting the urinals for such a short time, but suggested that the matter should be held over for further consideration.

The Mayor said that the necessary alterations could be made for 25s or 30s. Cr. Collins said the urinals were a source of danger as at present constituted, and as a public matter tlie suggestion should be adopted. On tlie suggestion of tlie Mayor it was decided that the Inspector be instructed to sec that the urinals he disconnected from the water supply direct, and he connected by a different system. It ivas further decided that the suggestions contained in the report as a whole be approved, and the inspector be instructed to see them carried out.

Cr. Pettie spoke in terms of praise of the report, which he thought would be of great help to the Borough Inspector. Cr. Harris said that the report was certainly not favorable to Gisborne buildings. It was resolved that the Sanitary Committee inspect the site for a wood and iron shed at tlie depot lor the use of tlie borough employees. WORKS COMMITTEE. The members of tlie Works Committee presented the following report:— Motor Bus Stand: \Your Committee have to report that this question was considered, and for the present it was agreed that the motor bus stand should be in the centre of Gladstone Road opposite the “Herald” office. Crossing WainuL Road: This matter was considered and the overseer was instructed to have the old crossing shingled and later on tarred. Street Lamps: Your Committee went carefully into the matter of sites for six additional street lamps and report that the lamps be erected at the following corners: —Rutciie Road and Hinaki Street; Ballance Street and Whittaker Street; Albert Street and Gladstone Road; Grey Street and Palmerston Road; Rangi Street and Custom-house Street; Roebuck Road and Palmerston Road. Road Works.

Works authorised but not yet completed.—loo yards Waihere spawls, say, £SO; tar footway Wainui Hoad, started bridge end, £120; form and shingle footway Herbert Road, formed but not shingled, £25; put in 18in pipes across Read’s Quay from Gladstone Road to river, done in part, £10; form and sliignle footway Beere’s Lane (including culvert), opposite Tattlcy’s propelty, part formed but not shingled, first available shingle to be put on, £3O; iorrn and shinglo footway Albert fetreot., formed but shingling not completed, £2O; asphalt centre of roadway ancl tar sides of Gladstone Road (including channel), work now being undertaken £200; remir footway Herbert Load and Russell Streets, commencedj shmHe Awapuni Road, commenced but not finished, estimated cost £IOOO say expended £250; shinglo Wi I ere St and Roebuck Road bridge approaches, Roebuck Road not completed, Wi I ei Street shingled, £SO. lotal, £/00. _ Works' authorised but not earned out __Uorm and shingle road and fotm Palmerston Road (extended) opposite'Parson’s, £120; form and put -in

order Stanley Road from Childers Road to railway, £2oo;attend to water channel Disraeli Street and Palmerston Road, £5 p shingle Root and William Streets, £l3O jtwo watering vans, £2OO. Total, £655. Crane grab to be paid for £BSO. Total, £2260.

The immediate works necessary to be undertaken are. —Bright Street formation, £25; Kahutia Street formation, £2O; Herbert Road formation, 1 £25; Ormond Road formation, £120; Whittaker Street formation, £ls; Aberdeen Road formation, £6B; Crawford Road footway, say from £SO. Total, £323. 1 That the Crawford Read footway be attended to with sand, and that a fence be erected to keep stock off near the freezing works paddock gate, also that Esplanade Read receive attention by clearing out mud and filling with sand. Your committee have to report that the above comprise the principal works authorised and the immediate works necessary to be undertaken. In answer to Cr. Collins the Mayor said that works had been authorised to the amount of £I4OO. Cr. Somervell considered that members should have copies of tlie report before they were asked to vote on the matter. ITo knew work that had been authorised 25 years ago that had not been yet carried out. He moved that the report be put in the hands of Councillors for consideration at next meeting. The motion lapsed for want of a seconder. , Cr. Darton moved that the works already authorised be endorsed by the Council. . , ± . Cr. Clayton seconded tho motion, which was carried. On the question of street lamps, referred to in the report, two letters were received asking for lamps at tlie cios-sino-s of Cobden Street and Palmerston Road, and Cook Street and Gladstone Road. , , - The latter request was granted instead of the proposed lamp at the corner of Albert Street and Gladstone Road. The former petition was refused j the general opinion being that it was more urgently required at tlie corner of Grey Street and Palmerston The remaining sites recommended by the Council were approved. A couple of the more urgent new works —viz., Crawford Road and the Esplanade, were authorised, and, on tlie motion of Cr. Darton, seconded by C Smith, the remainder were bed ovc until next meeting of tlm council. OVERSEER’S REPORT.

The Overseer’s report was as follows: '■•Gladstone Road.—Very little progress very ’low, and the roads are in a_ % cry metal. It will not stand moistiuc, an •' , , mi „ f-tliinor leaves have giv**- 1 the Mhataupoko and Ka ti ; l SSSSck Krai! to f S£fS !o Vm-iftp P»t His Worship the Maj<ai g ave every assist ) d worked 1,10 " se lil,d venort as authorised. 1 The report was approved. finance COMMUTE e . r n Finance reported that they had considered tb e quo* £ u ßussoll compensation for 7 c s t, re ot wide 11Street for tlie pni 1 • _ rCCO mmend that ing. H was decided to iccom the Council ofici - make a specified sun Bathgate’s the road, and that * tt j cment . The claim -g° to comt instructed Wo Sbfection. to both Fort’S 1 XS general. Accounts amounting to £lo9 9s Sd were passed for pay men • i\i a yor, it On the suggestion ol tlie - Ull J i • wi rtvrt the AVorks Committee was decided that tnc ' num . boSg'of homes'in the streetsand Mho Cr Kirk moved that a , Conservation Committee bo appomt-cd consisting of the Mayor arid Os. Dai ytt'"d the motion, Ailucli tlicn mo ved that no Councilor be allowed to speak O or amendment for longer than to nun IV Thc Mavor stated that notice of ( motion Shirt bo given of the proposed alteration to the by-laws. future O v Clavton moved that in iuluic B] official reports that are to come before the Council shall be type-written and that' copies shall be in- the hands of Councillors at least before each meeting. Mo cla mc that this was necessary if V? ‘ nrwore to be given a reasonable oppoi tunitv of properly considering the matters that came before them. Or Pettie seconded tho motion. The Mayor said this would necessitate an increased staff or greater exjend^ tnre in some way. Such a. haul ana fast. rule could not be earned , out at all Cr im Darton supported the. ino W’ end said that the debate on the abut S Affect by the casting vote 01 the May o . Councillors had received no reasonable oppo’rtnuity to deal properly with the 111 The’ 'motion was lost on tho casting T, ’oi- ol Coifins l brought up tho questron nf the urgent necessity of a lesenoi f!,S° itStaoi in conncrtioii w. the water supply system. Alta faomt

discussion it was decided to call a committee meeting of the whole Council for Wednesday night week to consider this question) and also that of a road construction' scheme for which loans would bo required. On Cr. Clayton’s motion it was decided that the Harbor Board be written to and asked to cut a trench through the' papa bar at the mouth of the Waikanac crock so that the water may have free ingress and egress to the creek. Cr. Clayton moved as follows: “That the Public Works Committee report as to the feasibility or otherwise of acquiring the Gisborne Gas Works; (a) the cost of such action; (b) tho necessary steps which would have to be taken to that end.” The mover thought the matter should be brought to a head. Cr. Kirk deprecated the introduction of matters which stood in the way of drainage and other urgent necessities.

The Mayor suggested a postponement of the subject, which was ultimately referred to the Finance Committee. It was decided to change the date of meeting from Wednesdays. Cr. Darton gave notice to move at the next meeting to rescind tlie resolution altering the management of the abattoirs. He claimed that there was no urgency td give effect to such a drastic and unexpected step, and asked that no steps should bo taken to alter the existing position until his motion had come up for consideration. The Mayor refused to give any undertaking in the matter. The Council rose at 2.45 a.m.