BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2768, 24 March 1910, Page 7

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Gisborne Borough Council was held last night. Present: His Worship the Mayor (in th« chair), and Crs. Kirk, Maynard, Collins, Pettie, Smith and Clayton. CORRESPONDENCE.

Miss M. Judd write making complaint regarding the poplar trees on the footpath opposite her residence on Gladstone road. She stated.' that they were taking possession of her lawn, and that she feared the roots might spread under the house and lift the floors. 1 sa *d he had been visited by Miss Judd 1 and had subsequently seen the (position for himself. He thought the Council might- treasonably comply with the suggestion of the letter and do something. The Mayor said that as soon as p OSS’, l) ‘ e the trees would be taken out all along the road. If they took the trees out now for the applicant they would have' to do so for many other residents. It- was eventually decided to give permission to Miss Judd to remove the trees.

. Mr Norman Heath wrote acknowledging receipt of instructions to proceed with the preparation of plans and specifications for the l proposed tramway scheme. He also requested that he be supplied with certain detailed information.—lt was decided that- the Clerk should supply the desired information. Messrs J. J. Niven and Co. made a similar acknowledgment in regard to the electricity proposals. They estimated their willingness to undertake the work, provided their responsibility ceased when the .specifications and estimates were handed to the Council.— The letter was received.

Mr. W. Morgan, secretary of the Technical School, wrote expressing the hope that- the Council could see its way to continue the grant in aid of ftlie school.

In reply to the Mayor, the Town Clerk said that the grant was £2O, and it was unanimously decided to continue the grant. “A good, useful object,” said the' Mayor.

The Hon. J. G. Findlay, Minister of Justice, wrote, stating that lie hoped that in a very short time the work of erecting the new gaol would be taken in hand. Under these circumstances he suggested that it would be useless to go to the expense of providing additional accommodation in the present building for invalid prisoners and lunatics Better accommodation would be provided in the new building. The Mayor said the letter would be all right if the work would be done, but it had been talked of for the last twelve months. It was decided to reply urging the, early commencement of the new gaol.

The secretary of the Municipal Association of New Zealand wrote asking fop information as to remits and delegates from Gisborne for the biennial conference of the Association to be hpld in Wellington in July next. It was agreed to hold the matter over for consideration after the Easter holidays. It was, however, decided in the meantime that the Mayor should be one of the delegates.

A report was received from the police authorities regarding Mr. Stuckey’s application for a billiard license in the premises lately occupied by the Alhambra Club. The report was to the effect that Sergeant Hutton had no reason to alter the opinion expressed to the Council some time ago that already there were ample licensed billiard saloons in Gisborne. It was also stated that Mr. Stuc'key had given every satisfaction while conducting the Alhambra Club.

It was decided tliat the license applied for by Mr. Stuckey be. granted. The Hon. Jas. Carroll, by letter, acknowledged the receipt of the Council’s representations in regard to the accom. modation for invalid prisoners at the gaol, and stated that he had submitted the matter for the. favorable consideration of the Hon. the Minister of Justice. —The letter was received. THE SEWERAGE SYSTEM. The following report was read: —- . At a meeting of the Committee of the whole Council to consider the question of arranging with Mr. Marehant re engineering the Gisborne " sewerage scheme, there were present the Mayor and Crs. Collins, Clayton, Maynard, Smith, and Kirk. After a lot of discussion it was agreed to recommend that the Council appoint Mr. Marehant as their consulting engineer for the sewerage scheme -at £1350 and £4O a visit, as per details set out in attached agreement. It was also decided to recommend that Mr. Marehant prepare complete plans and specifications for the reservoir at 2% per cent, on the cost, as per letters attached. The report was adopted, and the Mayor and Cr. Petti© were deputed to sign the- agreement with Mr. Marehant. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The Engineer (Mr. A. J. Paterson) reported as follows : I have the honor to report that works carried out during the fortnight ended 19th March are as per schedule attached. Mr. Marehant and mj-seif completed tiie examination of the main pipe line from the Intake to Parker’s (junior) crossing, and the results of the examination have been already placed before you.

Waterworks: The contractor for the caretaker’s cottage estimated the extra cost of the proposed additions at £4l 125,. which was reasonable, and duly accepted. I understand he lias the work well in hand. The water was turned off one day owing to a leak m the main at Johnston’s Gamp. General: Tarring and sanding footpath crossings and clearing grass and weeds from footpaths has been carried out, and will be pushed on during next fortnight also. The Straker -waggon has lost two ddys this fortnight, one day rolling the Domain and one day owing to shortness of metal at Patutahi. The trailer plant is not wearing well under the severe loading. Sanitary: A visit was made to the depot along with Mr. Little, and the work twias being carried out satisfactorily. With reference to the application for an increase in wages, I cannot recommend same, as although the work is not congenial it is not heavy manual work, but the conditions under which the men work could be improved. Sometimes the water pressure is low, and this will be remedied when the Stanley Road main is put in under the 'Loan. I have to -recommend that the men be given/'one set of suitable overalls once every three months. Quarries: The Town Clerk and myself visited Patutahi, Gentle Armie, and Otokr; quarries, and from a topographi-

cal standpoint Gentle Annie quarry is the best for handling stone cheaply. Work should be immediately started on this proposition, however, to prove its (permanence further than the present tunnel shows, but the opening out process would supply ;a large quantity of stone. For this'reason I would recommend .that your Council advertise for a competent quarryman, to take up his duties as soon after 20th April as possible. The survey of the reservoir site on Kaiti Hill is now in hand.

A further report from the engineer was read as follows: An application has been made by Air. Grant, C.E., for the Council’s permission to construct a- street on private property, off Stanley Road. The proposed name, is Lyndhurst Street. Mr. Grant has agreed to some, minor alterations in gradient to faciliate surface drainage, and also to arrange that any portions of the adjoining sections close to the road will be- filled in to such a depth that there will be no lodgment of water under any building which may ho erected.

The proposed cross-section is according to the design laid down in the bylaw providing for two l2ft footways and a traffic-way of 42ft width. The by-law provides for 40 cubic yards to the chain, at least, of metal or shingle from channel to channel. This works out at about 4;} inches of gravel over the, whole width of traffic surface, which is little enough. The practice has been that this 40 cubic yards per chain have been considered sufficient for the whole road, footways at well as traffic-way. I cannot recommend a continuance of this method and am of ooinion that the full maximum of 40 cubic yards per chain should 1 bo specified for the traffic, way and that the footways be covered with 2iii screenings, or shingle to the satisfaction of the engineer. This is according to the by-law, page 26. I wish to draw the Council’s attention to this by-law and the necessity, for considering an alteration in the construction of streets. Our present 12 feet footways in the- suburbs are too wide for the traffic and are costly to maintain because they gradually become weed grown. This growth extends on to the road itself, becoming untidy and irregular in line, and blocking the channels. The following method of road construction would absolve some of those difficulties for the present:—

One traffic way 30 feet wide in the centre of the street, and two strips of grass or parking 11 feet—one each side of the street. The kerb line would divide the parking and footway. The crosstab on the parking and footway would bo- -ain to the foot, as provided by the by-law, and tli e . crown of the road being the same as at present, the cross-fall on the road formation would be much steeper and therefore keep the road cleaner. The allowance for metal, 40 yards per chain, will give an average depth of 61 inches over the whole 30ft roadway, and this depth, combined with the big crossfall would keep these roads very clean. I have sketched ,in pencil, this proposal on Air. Grant’s plan, but the construction is not according to the by-law.

With reference to watermains, I am of opinion that these should be laid in the street during construction, and that the owners shoulcl pay The cost of the labor and the Council provide the material. The entrance to this street from Stanley Road) should also be formed and shingled, on the turn, ami as this will cause a stoppage in the Stanley Road channel water on the north side of Lyndhurst Street provision must be made for taking this storm water under the proposecTnew construction.

Therefore I recommend the Council to grant permission for the construction of this street subject to these conditions :

(1) That proper entrance is made from Stanley Road. (2) That provision is made for storm water from the north’side of Lyndhurst Street, and l west side of Stanley Road, to pass under Lyndhurst Street entrance.

(3) That the cost of labor in conneo tion with laying the watermains be paid by the applicant. (4) That not less than 40 yards of shingL ner chain be placed on the road. (5) That the road be maintained by the. applicant for three months after construction and previous to being taken over by the- Council. (6) That the design and construction are to the satisfaction of the. oorough engineer.

The Ala-yor said the report raised .-111 important distinction in the formation of the streets, which was worthy of the consideration of the Council. The matter was one in which they might well make an experiment in the new street. The report was' adopted, and it was decided that the Council favor the sug. gestion, in regard to Lyndhurst Street only. NIGHTW AT CHAT AN’S REPORT.

The Nightwatchman’s report referred to one outbreak of fire- in the Borough since last meeting, during his tours, viz., the fire at Peacock’s timber yard.—The report was adopted. Accounts amounting to £9Bl 6s 6d were passed for payment. METAL SUPPLY. In accordance with notice, Cr. Kirk moved:—“That this Council hopes to be able to comply with the request of the Cook County Council, and believes that it will be able to do so, and at a price not more, but probably less, than the sum the Cook County Council is now paying but this Council is desirous. before committing itself t-o a contract with' the Cook County Council to supplv metal at a specified price and within a specified time, to have its Engineer visit the locality of the Gentle Annie Quarry and report to this .Council, and that a letter to this effect be immediately forwarded to the Cook County Council.” . Cr. Clayton seconded the motion, which was supported bv Cr. Pettie. The motion was vigorously opposed by the Mayor on the grounds that it was onlv splitting. straws, and was almost identical with the original motion he. had moved. He greatly deplored the waste of time that bad occurred. Or. Smith moved as an amendment, and the Mayor seconded, the original motion, of the Mayor.

After a wordy discussion, the motion on being put to the meeting was carried, the Mayor and Cr. Smith voting against it. The. Mayor’s original motion, which Cr. Smith moved as an amendment, was as follows: “That a reply be' sent stating that the ouarry will be working by November, and that the Council can supply metal at a cost to- be fixed without royalty, and probably less than that paid at -' v esent, and to inquire what weoklv quantity is required.”