Local and General.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3232, 31 May 1911, Page 4

Local and General.

In reply to a question at the meeting of the Borough Council last night, the Borough Engineer stated that the first regular supply of metal from the Gentle Annie quarry would arrive in town in about six weeks’ time. The first lot of metal would be required for patching the roads and the next lot would be utilised for engine-bed foundations at the power house.

The Chief Postmaster that, commencing on Ist prox., the Te Ivaraka Kanakanae and Waikohu-Motu mail services revert to winter running. The Kanakanae mail will close at Gisborne once weekly, viz., Thursday at 6 a.m., and the Poututu, Whakarau and Motu mail on Wednesday and Saturday at 2.45 p.m.

At last night’s meeting of the Borough council the Sanitary Inspector .reported that acting under instructions from the District Health Officer, Dr. Cheston. he had inspected the stables m the Borough. He had issued instructions in writing to the proprietors to the effect that in all stables where the horse stalls have wooden floors, they are to be taken up and laid in concrete and properly graded subject to clause 67. of the Borough By-law. At a. largely-attended meeting of the Poverty Bay Freezers’ Union held last night, Mr W. Rowell was elected President. 'Plie annoyance caused to the inmates of the Old) People’s Home by the howling of the dogs in the adjacent pound was referred to by Or. Wade at the Borough .Council last evening. He stated that- the old people complained that they were often unable to obtain sleep owing to the noise made by the dogs. Or. Pettie admitted that a better site might be obtained, and suggested that Councillors should look round and see if some other place for the dog pound could not be found. The Engineer stated that the proper place for the dogs was at the Sanitary depot, but Councillors pointed out that this was not a nice locality for persons to have to visit in, order” to ascertain perhaps whether valuable dogs they owned were in the pound or not. It was mentioned that the keeper, of the dog pound was at present ill, and there was no one at present to look after the dogs. It was decided to take steps to secure another site. ° .

Mr H. E. .Dodd, secretary of the Gisborne Racing Club, wishes tec call the attention of racehorse owners to the fact that nominations for the meeting to be held on July 6th and 7th close at his office this evening.

“Surely Councillors are able to decide some matters on their own initiative,” was a remark made by Cr. Smith at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council, on a suggestion being made to refer a matter to the Engineer. “You have asked the Engineer for enough reports to keep him busily engaged for the next two months. We want our Engineer to supervise our works; we require his services outside, and do not want to tie him up inside preparing endless reports.” At a meeting of the Gisborne branch of the New Zealand Dental Association held on Monday evening, it was arranged that a delegate from the local Society should attend the coming conference to be held at Wellington, in July. The manager of the abattoirs reported to the Bprough Council last night that the Government Inspector of Machinery had condemned the boiler as unreliable. Cr. Brown stated that there* must have been a. want of care exercised by 'those in charge of the boiler, as it should have lasted for at least another ten years. The Borough Engineer said lie was quite satisfied that the boiler at the abattoirs would require to be replaced within the next year. Cr. Harris said it was another instance of Government" officials making public bodies “sit up”; private individuals were treated with more consideration. It was decided to allow the matter to stand over until matters generally in connection with, the abattoirs were considered at next meeting.

In answer to a query from the Borough Engineer as to what day .the Council intended to observe the holiday for the Kipg’s Birthday, the Borough Council last night decided to reply that Saturday would be observed.

At the meeting of the Acclimatisation Society yesterday it was decided to place a. price of threepence per head on hawuts. Some discussion took place as to wnat portion of the bird should be preduced when applying for payment, and it was eventually decided that the feet would cause the secretary least inconvenience. It was also suggested that the Society should put a sum aside for payment or hawks. “If we do not d 6 this,” said >li Sharp, “we will be paying away all our money.in buying hawks’ feet.’ Alter further debate the maximum amount to be paid away for this purpose during the current season was fixed at £2O. The desirability of having the streets of the borough suitably placarded was referred to at the meeting of the Borough Council last night. The matter was brought up by the receipt of a letter from the Dominion' Sign Company, which forwarded a _Ura-lic street sign, and quotations at which they could supply them to the Council. The' new sign bore the name “Gladstone Road, in white enamelled letters on a black wooden frame. Or. Darton said the Council had talked for years past or affixing the names to the various streets, but had never acted in the matter, dhe work should be done, he said, as it was required. After discussion it was decided to request the Borough Engineer to supply a report 1 as to the probable cost.

A Scottish Society is about to bo formed in Gisborne, and a preliminary meeting is to be held shortly.

A somewhat unusual position arose at the Magistrate’s Courthouse yesterday during the inquiry concerning the death of Samuel Taylor. When proceedings were about to be resumed after the luncheon adjournment, a delay occurred through the foreman of the jury not being in attendance. The time set for resuming was 2.15, but whea 2.40 bad arrived without the missing juror having put in an appearance, matters assumed a serious aspect. The ActingCoroner, police, and counsel discussed the position, various authorities were unearthed, and the law on such an unusual happening was looked up. Just as the Acting-Coroner was about to suggest an. adjournment, the foreman of t he jury put in an appearance and explained that he had been under the misapprehension that the inquest was to be resumed at 2.45. After the ActingCoroner had read the delinquent a 1-ttle homliy, the proceedings were resumed.

“He is a regular Jonah,” was the remark of a Councillor last night, when a letter from the Borough nightwatchman came before the Council, intimating that he could no longer undertake the duties of extinguishing the street lamps owing to injuries lie had received while travelling about at night in pursuit of his duties. The speaker intimated that a chapter of accidents had befallen the nightwatchman during the past few months. It was decided to relieve him of the duty of putting out the lamps, and to appoint someone else to do the work.

During the last fortnight three cases of typhoid fever in the Borough were reported to the authorities. The popular evening sessions of the Skating Company will be resumed tonight, when the Brass Band will plav selections and the two toboggans will be in use once more. The rinx will ‘.e open this morning and afternoon riso, as usual.

A letter was received from the Harbor Board by the Borough Council last evening stating that the Board took exception to the amount they had to pay in connection with the expenses for the recent election. They wanted an explanation as to why they were charged half the expenses, as there were only four members'elected for the Board, as against the Borough Council’s election of Mayor and election of representatives on the Council. It was decided to reply that just as much provision had to be made for the election of members of the Harbor Board as for members of the Borough Council. The disabilities the settlers of Crawford road suffered under in having no footpaths was mentioned by Cr. Smith at last night's, meeting of the Borough Council. During the recent wet weather, lie said, people had been unable to leave their homes. After discussion the Engineer was instructed to provide a, footpath on the upper portion of the road.

The wool classes in connection with the Gisborne Technical School are proceeding most satisfactorily. The classes are conducted by Mr Cahill, instructor, twice weekly in Gisborne. Classes are also held at Te Arai, Waingake, Rakauroa, Matawai. Motu, Whakarau, and Te Karaka. Yesterday Mr Cahill met the* settlers of Waimata district, and arranged to hold a class there every alternate Tuesday, commencing on June 13th. To-morrow Mr Cahill will meet the settlers, of Patutalii at 8 p.m. in the ha'll for the purpose of arranging classes there, and on Friday the settlers of Whatatutu will be conferred with. Over

100 pupils have been already enrolled. Much credit is due to Mr W. Morgan for the interest he has displayed in connection with the classes. The Gisborne Plumbers’ Board of Control recommended to last night’s meeting of the Borough Council that the Council should grant provisional journeymen plumbers’ licenses for twelve months to Messrs. Rees Jones, S. G. Doig, Karton, L. V. Norman, Holmes, and Leslie, as they had passed the examination held by the Board. During the currency of their license they would have to pass one or two other examinations set out in the Borough by-laws in order to gain a permanent license. Tlie licenses were granted by the Council.

The song recital to be given in Holy Trinity Schoolroom on Friday evening next by Mr and Mrs G. Lam out Gurr is being looked forward to with pleasurable anticipation, by lovers of music. A most attractive programme will be submitted. Mr and Mrs Gurr will be assisted by two local amateurs, who are highly spoken of by musical critics. Mr Claude H. Williams, of Muriwai, will make a first appearance'on a Gisborne concert platform as a Violinist, while Miss Lyhe King will he heard as a pianoforte soloist. Miss Freda Davies will act as accompanist.

The policy which the Borough: Council intends to pursue in regard to street improvement formed the subject 0 f dhoussion at last night’s meeting, when Cr. Collins maintained that the Council had no definite scheme. Cr. Darton stated that the Mayor .vas si ill wedded to Kaitaratahi shingle. Councillors were heartily sick 0 f Kaitaratahi shingle, and would have none of it. "Cr. Pettie stated that the Mayor had a definite programme in regard to streetformation, which he wished investigated, and he thought it only fair that the Council should wait until His Worship submitted his scheme. This course was agreed to. Mr. Foden, the London buyer for Messrs. C. Rosie and Co., has secured for this firm a choice little, assortment of latest styles in Ladies' Long Coats at a very big discount, and they will be sold to-day and during the next few days at 30 per cent., or 6s in the £, discount off usual prices.*