BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3303, 23 August 1911, Page 9

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. ' The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Gisborne Borough Council was held last night. .There were present: The Acting-Mayor (Cr. W. Pettie), and Ors. Webb, Collins. Brown, Webb, Sawyer and Darton. CORRESPONDENCE. The secretary of the Harbor Board wrote stating that lie was in receipt of the resignation of Mr W. D. Lysnar as a member of the Board,' and requested the Council under clause 18 of the Harbors Amendment Act, 1910, to appoint some qualified person in his place as a representative or the Borough portion of the Harbor District. On the motion of Cr. Brown, seconded by Cr. Darton, it was decided to elect" Cr. Smith to represent the Council on the Harbor Board. The Gisborne Fire Board wrote stating that a vacancy had occurred on the Board through the resignation of Mr W... D. Lysnar, and it devolved on the; Council to appoint a successor. t Cr. Brown was appointed to fill the, vacancy. The special order regarding building and electric light by-laws was confirmed.

Mr W. H. Sparrow, Launceston, wrote inquiring if the Council would require a representative to superintend che building of the cars. He had had a very large experience and if the Council was making such an appointment he wanted them to consider his application. The letter was received. Mr Short advised that a warrant apportioning the cost of the Waimata Bridge would be published in the Gazette and would be posted in a few days with the copy of the Commissioner’s repoTt. The matter was deferred to be dealt with in committee on Tuesday night next.

Mr David Johnston drew the Council’s attention to the verv dangerous state of Lytton road. A little over a year ago a considerable quantity of material was carted out of the centre of this road, and again on Wednesday and Thursday of last week a further quantity had been removed on the authority of the Borough Overseer. The road had been left in a disgraceful and very dangerous condition, the sides of the cuttings were almost perpendicular. One was 2ft 2in. and the other 3ft 6in deep. Apart from the absurd policy of allowing the material to be taken away which would some day be required to make up the road,. a fairly decent road had been cut to pieces and a quagmire left in its place. It was very unfair to residents on this part of the road that they should be placed under the disability of having to pay extra cartage for every . load taken to their residences. Previous to the road being cut up a single horse could take a ton load in almost any weather, and he doubted very much if two horses could take that load now. He would hold the Council responsible for any accident that might occur to himslf, his family or property. The letter was referred to the Engineer’s department. Mr A. V. Saunders wrote stating that during the opening up of the sewer past the Turanganui Hotel some of the workmen’s picks were responsible for the gravel flying up and breaking two of his windows. One had to be replaced at a cost of £2 10s, and another was cracked. He put in a claim for the broken window, but as one was only cracked he would not ask for the cost of it.

Mr W. (Stewart reported that neither the ganger nor the men knew anything about the matter, and he could not see how the Council was responsible.' It was decided to forward a copy of Mr Stewart’s report to Mr Saunders, and inform him that the Council could not accept any liability. Mr. G. Griffiths, Blenheim,, asked for information regarding the borough water and drainage systems, as they' were about to install a system there. r Tne Town Clerk was instructed to supply the information asked for. The New Zealand State Guaranteed Advances Office forwarded provisional approval for a loan of £5500 for the purpose of providing the Council’s share for building a new hospital. The rate of interest was to be 3J per cent, the term 36 £ years, and the. hia If-yearly instalment in "respect of principal and interest to be £2 8s 9d for each £IOO. The loan was to be secured by a, special rate of l-16d in the ~ It was decided to make' the next meeting of the Council a special meeting for the purpose ox confirming the order.

Chamber of Commerce wrote asking the Council if they wotdd intimate whether they were in favour of a continuous telephone service,' It was decided to reply stating that the Council were in favor of the. movement.

Messrs Howie and Matthews- wrote notifying that they had taken Mr. T. Young into partnership. - . It was decided to» refer the latter to the Borough solicitors. Mr. A F. Pickford wrote asking if it. was possible, to get. a permanent level of the footpath in front of section! 8, block 171, Gladstone Road. The letter was referred to the engineer.

Messrs Blair and Sainsbnry forwiarded a. plan passed by idle Survey Office dedicating Grafton Roan as a public street. They were preparing a grant of easement for the drain from: Grafton Road to Cook Street, and they were instructed_hy Mr. Lawless to undertake this document would he executed immediately. Provision was being made for an easement affecting a strin sft wide which would, they understood the Council to say, be sufficient for theborough purposes. Messrs Chrisp and Coleman wrote regarding Grafton Road, that the Council had no power in December, 1910, to. inform Mr. Lawless’ agent, that the Council would grant permission on certain conditions, including the provision of water mains and sewers. assumed the Council had either constructed or proposed to construct in connection. with the. sewerage. works a drain which would) run witnin 100 ft of the. land in question, and that any such drain was showtn on the drainage map. If they were right in assuming tins fact, then they would recommend the Council to proceed under section 216 oi the Municipal Corporations Act. 1968, and by notice in writing require, the owner t O , provide, construct, and lay a private drain (or drains) the exigencies of the case may require, and', to connect the sime with the Coumicil’s'.diain. If the circumstances require it, the Council: might require the owner to cause the .sewerage and surface water respectively to be drained to separate outfalls. If the owner refused, _tne Council may cause the same to' he dome at hfe cost and expense. They did not se© "honr a means could be. devised tor compelling an owner to lay the water Emins. v ~ _ It was decided to accept the declication of the road. ' . . The Government Statistician wrote stating the. municipal handbook’ was

being prepared, and asked the_ Council to supnly information " respecting the borough. It was decided to supply the information, •' ■' /•