BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 341, 22 August 1889, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Thb Council met on Tuesday evening, when there were present: The Mayor (in the chair), and Councillors Townley, Joyce, Coleman, Whinray, Harding, Lewis, Lucas, and Taylor. VISANCB COMMITTEE’S BEPORT. The following statement was placed before the Committee by the Treasurer: —Bank overdraft, £1864 13s 8d ; Bank limit of overdraft £2000; balance available, £135 6 a 4<i; liability, artesian well, £334 10s. Amount to be provided for, £199 3s 81. Outstanding rates—back rates for 1888, £lB7 Is; current rates, £1385 9s 6d; total, £1572 10a 6-11 Government subsidy due, £l4O Is 81; grand total, £1712 Ils 94. The amount of rates unpaid for two years we find to amount to £217 16s 96. Of this the Town Clerk informs us about £B7 15s will be collected shortly, the balance (£l3O Is 91) we recommend be handed to the Borough solicitor for recovery. We find that in the list <n'y three are absen tees. Summonses have been issued against the majority of defaulters, and every effort appears to have been made for the recovery of overdue amounts. When these efforts have failed, it is for the Council to decide whether the solicitor be instructed to proceed against the properly ss by law provided. With regard to the financial position of the Borough, the overdraft has been increased by the sum of £960, this sum being the amount invested in freehold property taken over from the Sinking Fund Commissioners, at the time of the repayment of the £lO,OOO loan, leaving the current overdraft at £904 13s 4.1. As the limit of the overdraft allowed by law is nearly reached, it will be necessary to retard the pi ogress of any large expenditure until the current revenue is collected.

Cr Coleman thought that the chief question in the report to consider was whether they should proceed against the defaulters. A great number of judgment summonses had been issued, and it now only remained to decide what course should be taken—whether the defaulters were to be imprisoned or their properties sold. The Committee did not wish to make any recommendation to the Council on the matter. With reference to the absentee defaulters he would move that the solicitor be instructed to take the necessary proceedings, which might have the required effect with the other ratepayers who were in arrears. In reply to a question the Clerk said there were only three absentee defaulters, namely— J. Hunt, F. Saunders, and G. Morgan. These persons had no agents in Gisborne, and their postal addresses were not known. The rates due by those msn amounted to about £l2. Cr Whinray considered that as It was such a small amount it would cost more to recover it, and if a sale were held the Council might not be able to get a bid for the property. Cr Lucas said the Council had power to buy in properties in such oases. The Mayor thought the proper course would be to proceed against the occupiers. Cr Lucas having seconded the motion it was carried,

BOAD OVERSEER’S BEPOBT. The Overseer reported Artesian well: Fair progress has been made during the past fortnight with the artesian well. The contractors have got through the papa rook, and are now in a soft sand-bed. There are still no indications of water. The well is now down to a depth of 483 feet, and they expect to complete their contract in about a week. I would recommend a progress payment for the above work. Haiti road s The work ordered by your Council at lust meeting to repair the Kaiti road has been done. 1 have seen Mr Knight re stone kerbing, and he promised to send a written offer to your Council this evening. Day labor £l4 16s fid, as per vouchers. With regard to the artesian well Mr Gilberd, the present contractor, made the following offer to the Council In the event of your wishing to go on with the artesian well, I beg leave to make the following offer on condition that it be acccepted at once, as there is danger of the well becoming “ hide bound ’’ if left any length of time without being driven down. For the next section at £2 per foot for 50 feet and for a further section of 50 feet at £2 10s per foot. This offer I make subject to the following conditions—viz. That I am not to take any risk beyond loss of or damage to tools or derrick, That I am to be paid for every foot gained subject to a deduction of 6s 6d per foot for each foot not piped at determination of contract. That either the Council or myself have the power to determine the contract at any time without compensation. That a bonus of £25 be given me in the event of my obtaining water, gas, or oil in any useful quantity. I ask for this as there is sure to be a lot of extra work clearing pipe and improving flow. That progress payments of 50 per cent, be made, the balance within one month of completion of contract—Yours etc., H. J, Gilberd. P.S. If the offer should be accepted would you either telegraph to me at once or instruct Mr Davidson, the well sinker in charge, to go an with the well. Cr Whinray said it would be a pity to abandon the contract at the present stage. Mr Gilberd had now sunk through the papa, and posssibly they might come across a bed of shingle where plenty of water would be found. The Council might well stretch a point in this instancs and go on with the work. Cr Lucas did not see how the Council could go on with the work after hearing the report of tha Finance Committee. The conditions were very objectionable and ths Council had no money to give away in bonuses. Cr Whinray said the present position of the Council should not stand in the way, especially as they had expended so much money on the work. They should sink another 50 feet or so.

Cr Lewis agreed with the last speaker; although there was, he had been informed, very little probability of striking water, yst the Council might be successful in having a plentiful supply of water for the town. He also objected to the conditions with Mr Gilberd, but he thought the work should be proceeded with. Or Joyce said he objected to the stipulation when it said that either the Council or the contractor could discontinue work at any time. He thought that the work should be gone on with, and that the present financial state of the Council should not be put in the way to stop such an important work—they could easily get over that little difficulty. Cr Coleman said it was impossible to expend any further money oq the work at present, Cr Whinray said there were enough rates due to meet the further cost of the work. The well was now progressing favorably, and the country was improving, according to the latest Parliamentary advices, which would have the effect of making the Banks more lenient. He said it would be the height of folly to stop the works now. Or Townley said the first question to decide was whether the Council were justified in accepting Mr Gilbert's offer, The work itself was more important than even street making. He thought it was rather early to diseqss ths matter, considering the contractor hail another 17ft to sink, and until that had been completed the Council should not enter into any fresh agreement, The matter wanted careful aonriderailan. Or Lewis said it would be wasting the rates payers’ money il the work wqs npt centlnued, It was pointed cut that trie Council was not in a position to accept any contract over £2O for which tenders had not been publicly called.

The Mayor said that if they accepted this offer the Council could easily justify themselves in doing so. There was very little doubt but that Mr Gilberd's offer would fcs the lowest, • '■ ■ Or Lucas said it would be practically useless to call tenders, as the contractor was master of the situation, and no other person could tends? so low. Or Whinray said he was very sorry to see such unpractical men sitting at the table—it Completely upset his ” bile.” Or Harding moved, Tbit Mr Gilberd proceed with the work, the Council giving £2 per foot for the first Mil, and £2 IQs for tha second 50ft-, Or Lewis seconded the motion, which was carried, Ora Coleman and Lrsdis voted against ths proposition, I here lay before yqu an estimate of stone i karting of which I can do it at—From S

inches to 6 inches wide, frotn 1 foot 3 inches to 1 foot 6 inches in depth, at £5 2s 6d per chain.—Tours etc,, W. Knight.—Received. PAYMENTS. The following payments were passedA. R. Muir, £7lss; bridges account, £2 ; Lyttelton Times, £1 3s 9d ; H. Gilberd, £lB 15a ; M. Morgan, £3 9s; GtenoßNs Standard Co., £2 13s; A. Robb, £3 10s ; D. Ready, £3 3s ; W. Brown, £2 2s; W. O. Skoet, £8 18s; Harbor Board, £l6 Sa 6d. TAEUHEBtr FOOTBRIDGE. The Mayor reported having interviewed the County Council with reference to raising the footbridge, with the result that that body agreed to pay one third of the cost of the work. On the motion of Cr Townley, it was decided to cal! tenders tor the work, to be in by next meeting. The Overseer explained that the woik could be done by day labor for about £l6, The Poundkeeper was instructed to forward a return of the receipts since the new arrangement had been entered into.

A feature about thia year’s Derby Day, about which the Methodists are expressing much satisfaction, was an anti-raoe campaign which their Church conducted on the course with great spirit, and they claim with great results. They had one of the largest tents on the Downs, and towards evening, when “ all the fun of the fair ” was at its height, they hold services of song and prayer. Many who went in to scoff remained to pray ; and the preaching and singing were so attractive that, however much jout of place the good work seemed to be at the Derby, ths chiefs of the campaign reckon up many personal victories.