BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2542, 1 July 1909, Page 5

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. , The fortnightly meeting .of the Gisborne Borough Council was held last night. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr. W. D. Lysnar), Crs. Kirk, Maynard, Collins, Somervell, Smith, Pettie, and Clayton. CORRESPONDENCE. A communication was read from a number 'of householders in Ormond Road, thanking the Council for acceding to their request to .gravel the footpath, but submitting reasons agaiwtn, the. raising of the path in accordance •with tho permanent levels. JThe matter was referred to the Works Committee with power to act. Mr. William Tattley wrote in reference to tho drainage from certain houses, and the storm water being turned on to his (property in Russell ■Street. The matter was referred to*the Overseer to report to the Works Committee. Mr! John Warren, clerk of the Cook County Council, wrote asking for the Council’s consent to the reservation of the stock paddock of 10 acres on section 133, Block VII, Patutahi. The Mayor suggested that the Council should approve of the present stock paddocks being kept open for the county ratepayers On his motion the Works Committee were authorised to report bn the question of the extra area. A number of ratepayers wrote asking the Council to have the footpath in Clifford Street, between Sheehan and Hall Streets, formed and gravelled. The request was of, and tho Works Committee was instructed to consider the. question of levels, with power to act. * Miss Osborne, secretary of the Gisborne Ladies’ Hockey Club, wrote’asking for permission to use the borough reserve opposite tho Domain on Thursdays and* Saturdays for practice. Cr. Kirk produced a petition signed by a large number residents regarding this reserve for the purposes of playing Australian and Association football. • The request of the ladies was granted, and tho Reserves Conservation Committee were authorised to report regarding the other request. Messrs John Chambers and Son wrote acknowledging receipt of payments in connection with tho Kaitaratahi crane, and referring to several items of expenditure in connection with the establishment of tho locomotive which thev were not entitled to ,pay. The matter was left in the hands of the Mayor to endeavor to arrange details. Mr. L. G. P. Spencer, A.M.1.C.E.. wrote offering to submit estimates and plans to tho Council for a reservoir in connection with the water supply, and ‘also for a ferro-eoncrete bridge over the Waimata river. The letter was received. Mr. Robert Hay, engineer for the waterworks, acknowledged receipt of a report of the Waterworks Committee, and promising to have the several matters mentioned attended to. A letter was read-.from Dr. DeLisle asking’ what steps had been taken by the Council to abate the nuisance existing in a number of houses, as mentioned in tho health report... The Town Clerk said that only a •portion of tho report had been obtained, and it was decided to reply to Dr. DeLisle to that effect. The railway statipninaster wrote asking for a written statement that tho ‘Council undertook the care and safe keeping of the waggons taken on to the Council’sJine below the hopper at Kaitaratahi. It was decided that tho request be acceded to. Messrs Brownlee and Grenfell, architects, wrote on behalf of Messrs Hallenstein Brothers, pointing out the urgent need for some provision for the carry-ing-off of storm water and sewage from their buildings in Gladstone Road. The letter further asked if the Council would pay half the cost of a drain to the river, which would also relieve several adjoining premises. The Mayor said that although in 'sympathy with tho people affected, he did not think the Council could accede to the. request in the letter. It -was decided to obtain a report from the Works Committee regarding gome temporary expedient pending the loan proposals. Messrs J. R. Redstdne and Sons wrote asking if it would be possible for the Council to grant them a general license for their vehicles plying for hire, such license to include drivers/ licenses. On the motion of Cr. Clayton, seconded by Cr. Smith 2 it was decided! to give notice of rescinding the by-law in order to grant the request ,and that the .police be asked to report on the matter also. _ Mr. J. H. Martin,, of the Gisborne Hoto‘, wrote mailing application for a second |-iucli connection from the water mains to his new hotel for household purposes. , , ~ ~ Cr. Clayton moved that the request be acceded to. characterising it as a most reasonable one. The Mayor said that the question was most important, and should he carefully considered. It seemed to him that Mr. Martin had already got all the considerations that lie was entitled to from tlie Council. Other people had a-inch connections, hut were paying for them', and there .should be no differCr. Smith said that a man ought to be entitled to sufficient water for his household purposes, especially if he liad erected a large building in the town. With such a building, fire hoses were essential, and one pipe was not sufficient. The oxtra pipe asked for would only be used at one period of the day, and he thought the request should be granted. • - The Mayor said that every place that had a fire service had to pay for it. If thev gave it to one they would have to do it to another. V Cr. Pettie expressed his sympathy with the request, while considering that the question wanted careful consideration. He thought that they ought to meet the applicant in _ the matter of the second nipo. especially as lie had practically doubled the size of liis hotel. ■ Cr. Kirk moved, and Cr. Somervell seconded, an amendment that, tho request bo referied to tlie Waterworks Committee. . Cr. Collins supported „ the motion, but the amendment was carried on the easting vote of the Mayor. ; WATERWORKS COMMITTEE. The Waterworks Committee presented the following report Your Committee have to rexport that they met on Friday, ’2sth June, 1909, at 1.45 p.m. There being present: Crs. Kirk,. Pettie and Smith. The letter from tne Gisborne Sheepfarmers Frozen Meat Co. offering to pay £250 per.annum for water was duly considered, when it was agreed to recommend the Council Yp supply the Company with water untier C'ause 240, ‘Municipal OorphuftUons Act, 1908/ at £3OO per annum for any quantity not exceeding 10,000,000 galiMMmiL,; itfflikJ * ■ i-- // /. . ■; l '■ 1

lons and 6d .per 100 gallons; thereafter, (payable in advance and year to commence as from Ist July, 1909, the Council not guaranteeing any quantity.” The report was adopted. ABATTOIRS.

The following' report was presented: "The Committee appointed to consider the question of passing of a diseased beast at the abattoirs met on Friday 25th June, 1909, at 2p.m., when there were present, The Mayor and Crs. Collins, Kirk and Smith. A copy of report by Mr Young, who was sent up by the Government to go into the matter, was read and discussed. A most exhaustive enquiry was held, the evidence of Mr Burton, Mr Sjpragg and Mr Kinnimont ,heing taken ana. carefully considered, when it was decided that His Worship send an urgent telegram to the Chief Veterinarian, strongly urging that the suspension upon Inspector Spragg be removed and that he be retained in. Gisborne, as the Special Committee of the Borough Council is anxious to have his services as Inspector and Manager a t the Abattoirs. That the Special Committee has held a full ( enquiry and believes that sufficient punishment upon the Insnector for. the matter reported to the Chief Veterinarian is that be be reprimanded, the Special - Committee being unanimously of the opinion that an oversight was made by the Inspector under extraordinary circumstances. Therefore your Committee would suggest that} the Council agree to adhere to their finding.” . A telegram was read from Mr. C. J. Reakes, stating that he had dealt with the Inspector, and. recommended that lie be retained at the abattoirs as manager. Cr. Collins said that,_ on inquiry, it had been found that friendly relationships existed at the abattoirs. It had been acknowledged by both Messrs , Burton and Spragg that had the carcase in question gone- away it would not have been dangerous for human - consumption. The matter had been reported by the manager, as was his duty, , and both Messrs Burton and Kinni- , mont had expressed a wish that Mr. Spragg be retained as manager of the * abattoirs. The committee had been thoroughly satisfied that there was no danger te the public, and he thought - that perhaps more had been made of : the matter than should have been. ' Cr. Tettio moved the adoption of the < report, and congratulated the Abattoirs i Committee on the way they had ban- i died the subject. Cr. Clayton seconded the motion, ] and Cr. Kirk said that it had been i abundantly demonstrated to the committee that the consumption of the . beast could not possuny have endangered any person. •>- > ■'The motion was carried, and the re- * port adopted. * WORKS COMMITTEE. j The Works Committee presented the j following report:—“Your committee < met on 22nd June, 1909, when there 1 were present the Mayor and Crs. Barton, Pettie, Smith, and Somervell. The question of new works being done to standard levels was considered, and it ■was decided to recommend that all new work on unformed roads be made on permanent levels and all new work on roads already metalled to be made on permanent levels unless the cost of : altering the old work in order to bring j the roads to the standard levels is too ( great, in which case it .shall be brought as near as .possible to the proper level; - the Council to decide each individual i ease where the permanent levels are not followed. Numbering houses: This < was considered and the meeting adjourned to Tuesday last, at 2 p.m. The committee met again on i Tuesday, ■ 29th June, at 2 p.m., when there were present: The Mayor, and Crs. Pettie, Smith, and Somervell. The question of numbering streets was again discussed, when it was agreed to recommend that the system as adopted in Ballarat be adopted, but instead of making each block hundreds, they may be fifties, as shewn on plan attached, the odd numbers being on one side of , the street and the even numbers on the other side; in all cases the numbering being commenced from the river. Your committee, would suggest that the Council obtain the necessary brass figures for numbering and under- 1 take to do the work, calling upon each householder for, say, Is. Additional Trailers : Your committee have to recommend that tenders be called locally for the supply of two trailers. Stanley Road South : A visit of inspec- j tion was paid to this locality, when it was agreed that in lieu of closing the end of the street that it be only -diverted, as shewn on attached sketch, and that the same be fenced off and open to the public. Road Metal: i Your committee have to report that they inspected the Waihirere metal and shingle in trucks at the railway sta- j tion, and also the same materials being j put down in Roebuck Road, which your , committee deemed to.be satisfactory.” The report, and the suggestions con- . tained in it, were adopted. j ENGINEER’S REPORT. < The following report was read and , adopted:—“l have completed On book . form) the whole of the standard levels throughout the borough and suburbs, ( and am now ready to go over the ' roads with Mr. Morgan to obtain the widths and depths of metal required, ' to submit to the Mayor and Councillors ; preparatory to taking out the quantity for each road and street, or as may be . instructed. —W. E. Gardner.” J OVERSEER’S REPORT. . 1 The Overseer (Mr. M. Morgan) pre- : sented the following report :—“Crawford Redd: The.fence authorised to be i put up to protect the path on this road is completed. I. have also • ut a small footway over the outlet drain ] above Parau Street. The .path led to ■ this point, but it was impossible for. ; women to cross the drain. The wood culvert at the junction of Clifford ■ Street and Hall Street completely gave : way, and I have renewed the same with pipes. All drains of any importance in the borough, have been cleaned out since last meeting.. . I have scraped the town from' the wharf to Roebuck Roal, including the more important side streets. The bridge over the creek in Beerc’s lane is very much decayed, and is not fit to carry heavy traffic. The path in this street requires a few loads of gravel to complete it. Roebuck. Road: The pitching of this road at the. junction of Aberdeen Road and the approach of the bridge iST being donei as, authorised by your Council. A good deal of patching is being done in all parts of the town, hut it is almost impossible to keep up to the demand for this work with so much other work-in hand. Waihirere stone contract : This contract is proceeding fairly well, the stone sent in at first was very inferior. I warned the contractor as to the quality, and the stone is now much improved. Gravel Pit: I do not think it -prudent at this juncture to recommend toe . much alterations or any more expenditure than is really necessary unt? the scheme -has been thoroughly Money, spent now might) be -foil be an unnecessary expenditure, A we havo proved the working a th ends of the line. It is quite e >t

that the, machine must bo. packed up on her girders for working the grab. To have screws and plates fitted on for this work might be an improvement to the wedges, but very little time would be saved. The clamps for fastening the machine to the lme are the maker’s own way of doing it, and one thought to he necessary • but I think this might be d-one aw r ay with when the machine is well packed on her girders. The present, line is doing its work all right, and it is found possible to work the -grab on the present line without the extra -working base,” The report was adopted. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. The Borough Inspector (Mr. J. R. Little) reported as follows:—“Since last meeting I havo been inspecting in the. borough, and attending to the different notifications which have been sent out from the office recommending alterations and repairs which were required to be effected in the borough from a sanitary point of view, and I am pleased to say that most of them are being attended to. There have been no further reports from the Public Health Department, only what have been before your Council. I would suggest that the Department in Wellington be written to asking them to forward the balance of their report, as at the present time I am only working from the remarks that passed from the Inspectors during the time they inspected the borough. Re extension of drains to low-water mark, on both rivers a large number of these drains have been-' extended, and I trust by your next meeting I will be able to report that they are all completed. Notices have also been issued to householders and owners who allow the slop* to drain from their sections into -ke side drains on Whataupoko and Kaiti, and asking them to discontinue the. practice, or have the said drains cut off. During last week I had the boiler which was lying at the depot, which is to He used for steaming out and sterilising the soil pans, taken to pieces and the same thoroughly scaled, cleaned out, and painted. This boiler was inspected by the Government Inspector last Saturday, and I am pleased to re >port that he was thoroughly satisfied with the boiler; also for the purpose was going to he used %r, and allowed 601 b of steam per square inch, which is very satisfactory for a boiler which was manufactured in 1686. Mr. Coney, contractor, has started the contract let to him at last meeting, and the same is progressing favorably. The contractor for the supply of soil pans is not proceding with his contract as rapidly as he specified in his tender, when submitting the same to your Council, and I would recommend that notice in writing be given him asking him to use more expedition in carrying out the contract. Up to the present there are only about 300 pans completed. If this contract is allowed to drift on the hot weather will be upon us before we get the system started. Tenders for cottage at the gravel pit will be laid before you, I estimate the cost at The report was adopted. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £644 2s 3d were passed for payment. GENERAL. The Night watchman (Mr. W. Fraser) reported that since last meeting of the Council there had been one outbreak of fire ’r. the borough. Cr. Kirk moved that any alteration to the existing railway time-tablei between Napier and Wellington which may prcuulieially affect the interests of Gisborne by disarranging the existing railway and steamer connection will not be favorably received by this Council, and that the Council telegraph to the Hon. Jas. Carroll and the Minister for Railways in the matter. Cr. Pettie seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The Mayor then moved that it be an instruction to all subordinate employees of the Council that they are uot te communicate any information regarding Council matters to any person other than their immediate superior, and that any breach in this direction will subject the employee to dismissal, and that in case of any grievance or complaint, it be made in writing and banded to either the Mayor or Town Clerk. The motion .was seconded by Cr. Collins and carried. In accordance with motion, Cr. Clayton moved —“That a committee consisting of Crs. Darton, Collins, Pettie, Smith, and the mover be set up to revise tne standing orders, and that -when revised, they shall be printed for the guidance of Councillors.” Cr. Collins seconded the motion, which was opposed by the Mayor and Cr. Kirk, andton being put to the meeting was lost. A notice of motion in Cr. Smith s name, that the meetings of the Council be held weekly instead of fortnightly, was held over for a month. Cr. Clayton then moved: “That ail agenda paper be prepared and placed in the hands of each Councillor at least 48 hours before each meeting, so thatCouncillors may be cognisant of, and have an opportunity of considering, business before the sittings of the Council.” In doing so, Cr. Clayton said that such a motion, if adopted, would, in his opinion, materially expedite the business of the Council, and save a great deal of unnecessary debate.

Cr. Pettie seconded, stating that, in his opinion, the resolution was an important one. Cr. Kirk said he was in favor of the idea, but did not think Cr Clay ton had gone the right way to achieve Ids object. . Or. Collins supported the motion,- remarking that it was a very general principle in all well constituted bodies to have an agenda paper, which was amost necessary thing. , The Mayor said that his sympathies were entirely with the motion, out he felt. that it would be utterly impracticable, on account of the extraordinary amount of work which it would entail. He personally would like to have such a paper, but felt that the fact of having the correspondence open to be seen at any time met the case. Civ Clayton, in reply, said that he only wished to have the more important matters on the paper, matters that might cause discussion m tne Council. ■ .. , . The motion, on being put to the meeting, was lost. • to . This concluded the business, and tho Council adjourned at 11.45 p.m.