BOROUGH COUNCIL

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 270, 7 March 1889, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL

An ordinary meeting of the above took place on Tuesday night. Present: The Mayor, and Crs Taylor, Dunlop, Townley, Lucas and Whinray. At a special meeting of the P.W. Committee, Mr Gilbred stated that after looking round the Borough, he thought near Mr Brassey’s place in Roebuck road was the best place to have an artesian well sunk. Cr Taylor complained that he had not received his notice of the Committee meeting until it came by post that morning. The U erk said he understood that the notice had been delivered, but the note might have been sent by post without his knowledge, GISBORNE POUND. Mr W. Cooper wrote stating that on Nov. 26 he had impounded a horse in i he Gisborne Pound, and placed damages upon • it, but though the horse had been sold, he had been refused payment of the damages. He pointed out that Mr Cannon was liable to a penalty of £5O for such detention. Cr Dun op supposed the pound fees had absorbed the sale money—in many instances the poundkeeper lost by the transaction, Mr Cannon said Mr Cooper had not applied for the damages nor would he have been entitled to them. If be wanted damages he was bound to sue the owner. The horse was not redeemed, it was sold. The Act stipulated that from the amount of sale the fees and trespass rates should first be deducted; then the remainder was held in hand until the o .vner claimed it. After a certain time, if unclaimed, the money went into the hands of the district authorities, and by the arrange ment with the Council he (Mr Cannon) would be entitled to the money after November next if it were not claimed in the meantime. Mr Cannon wrote as follows

With reference to a letter of Mr Beswick’s, complaining of my conduct as ranger and poundkeeper, I do not deem it necessary to speak about the first part of the epistle, because Mr Beswick himself (or any sensible person at any rate) knows perfectly well that the impounding was legal. With regard to the latter part, I beg to assert that the mare was impounded at 2.50 pan. and released at 5.20 p.m., and no person (between those hours) had applied to release the animal. I myst-lf was at home all the afternoon. The fee demanded and paid was a legal one. — Yours, etc,, H. Cannon.

The Mayor said the letter was just a reitera tion in writing of a former statement. Cr Townley thought before adopting the report the Committee should go fully into the question and report as to the present engagement.

Cr Lucas agreed, an additional reason why the Council should take the pound over being what Mr Cannon had just stated as to fee?, Cr Townley considered they might go into the question then. In reply to Mr Coleman the Clerk said it had been arranged that Mr Cannon should be empowered to impound all horses, etc, and retain the fees, he in return undertaking to indemnify the Council from all expenses. No period had been stipulated. Cr Dunlop thought the report should be referred back for suggestions as to site, etc. Mr Cannon said had he the privilege of attending the Committee meeting he could conclusively prove by figures that the Council could itself only carry on the pound by a loss to the ratepayer?, Cr Townley said that was not the question —the object the Committee had in view was to keep the street clear of horses and at the same time give satisfaction to the ratepayers. They had officials with whom it might be arranged/ Mr Cannon thought he had satisfactorily answered all his defamers. Or Lucas said the position was a most anomalous one. The Mayor said it might influence them if as Mr Cannon said they would to a certainty lose by it; nor did they expect as a public convenience Mr Cannon should carry it on at a loss. Mr Cannon did not wish that understood, but the Council must lose by it. Cr Lucas said it was absurd to estimate what the future would be. He had no objection to Mr Cannon personally, but they were in a most anomalous position for they were liable for all expenses and perhaps continual lawsuits. Mr Cannon pointed out this was the first lawsuit that occurred for four years, and as it was he contended he had done his duty) Had it not been for the action of Mr Day all these trivial complaints would not have been made. It was decided that a fuller report be brought up at next meeting. overseer’s report. The Overseer reported as follows :— Artesian Well: Mr Gilbred has commenced operations in sinking the well at the south end of Roebuck Road—about three chains from the town boundary. Stone Contract : This work is still being pushed on. The contractor will be able to stack about 500 yards near the Old Brewery when another depot will have to be secured

for the remainder. A progress payment of £2O is asked for.

Berry Street: This street is much out of repair and ought to be attended to. The holes in the centre of the roadway can be filled in with beach shingle, the water channels dug out, and the soil carted away. This work will cost about £5 10s. Carting Contract : As this contract terminates at the end of the present month, I beg leave to ask your Council to purchase a iray, so that the horse can be doing other work when not required with the watering cart.

Russell Street: A few loads of gravel are required to fill in the worst holes in the centre of the roadway in this street,

Carting for the month, £3 Ils; day labor, £9 19q fid, as per vouchers.

It was decided that the work required in Berry and Russell Streets be authorised. (Jr Lucas thought, tenders shnuiff be called for a dray, and he proposed accordingly. Cr Townley seconded, and the motion was carried. Cr Lucas moved that a wooden crossing be made in Peel Street at Miss Doran’s corner, similar to that at Mr Adair’s corner, Or Townley seconded.— The Committee reported BOROUGH INSPECTOR’S REPORT. Mr Faram reported The night soil contract expires on the last day of this month. With your Council’s permission, I will alter the tartps of tha contract in the apecifla&tion to three years, and a°k fq? tenders for a weekly service. My reasons for doing so are Ist. It takes a con* tractor six months to get into the way of the work. 2nd. By giving a three years’ contract to a respectable man, you will get it done better and the contractor will take greater interest in his contract. One year does not in reality get a man used to the work. 3rd. By a weekly service you will have less sickness in the Borough, and will get the work done cheaper and better. Should your Oounoil agree to my proposals, instead of two sureties have a deposit of £2O, to be absolutely forfeited in case of non-fulfilment of contract. Should your Council not agree to a three years’ contract or weekly removal, they should taka tfie last year’s specification. Or Lucas proposed and Or Coleman seconded that one of the conditions of the nightsoil contract be that if necessary the service shall be weekly during the period from Ist October to 31st March.*—Carried, It was resolved that the contract be for three years instead of one as at present, It was decided to adhere tq ifie old system of sureties.

masassa, W. H. Clayton ,, ,, £1 7 0 W, King,, ,, 1 7 6 Gas Company .. .. 8 13 11 G Humphreys ,. ,, 2 8 9 Common, Shelton <b Co. 2 14 5 Adair and Adams .. 1 13 6 Primrose Wade & Bennett 1 1 0 W, Morgan .. ,. 20 0 0 J. W. Shellard .. 2 12 Q A. Gregg 2 12 6 W. Grey,, ,, 8 17 0 W. Pool 2 10 0 Doleman and Clements.. 1 18 6 Gisborsb Standard Co. 2 11 4