BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 472, 26 June 1890, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the above was held on Tuesday evening, when there were present:—The Mayor, and Crs McLernon, Lucas, Lewis, Townley, Hepburn, Whinray, and Harding. The Gas Company wrote, in reply to a communication from the Council, stating that they could not see their way to make any reduction in the price of gas, as when everything was considered, the Council was now getting it at a lower rate than other consumers.—The Clerk stated that a reduction had already been made during the year, and that the amount now paid by the Council was £LO less than previously.—lt was further explained that when the Company entered into the contract, it was with the belief that the lighting of the streets would be more extensively gone into. — Councillors were satisfied with the explana tian.

Mr H. J. Reed wrote complaining that the path near his residence had not been satisfactorily repaired, and might have been better loft ns it was.—Cr lauylor thought a few loads cf shingle might be put on.—The Overseer was instructed to attend to the matter.

Messrs Finn and Chrisp, solicitors, wrote asking the Council to accept a surrender of the lease of the section of land adjoining the Fire Brigade station, and now occupied by Mr P. O’Meara.—Councillors were of opinion that as they were only in receipt of <£lo per annum for the section, it would be better to keep it for Borough purposes, as they had at present no vacant section handy, and the reserve would be worth more than that sum for the Council’s own use.—lt was therefore decided to accept the application. The Overseer, Mr Wilkinson, made a general report, which was adopted. Mr Faram, Poundkeeper, in his report applied for authority to use a sum of £7 for a sheltering shed, etc., so as to comply with the rules of the Act. He had more than sufficient funds in hand for June to defray all expenses. —In reply to the Mayor, Mr Faram said that the shed was .required. for the adjoining paddock, because when the pound proper was being used there was no shelter for horses in the paddock.—lt was a greed’that the amount was reasonable, and the expenditure was agreed to.

The following accounts were passed for payment:—Charitable Aid Board, £56 41; bridges account, £1 Ils; A. Sawyer, £7 16s ; A. Bobb. £5 ss; F. Hick, £1 8s 6d ; Gas Co., £29 16s 3d ; T. Morrison. £2. The Clerk stated that he had spoken to Mr Arthur, prior to his departure for Wellington, about applying for a grant cf land for the erection of Municipal buildings, and a telegram had since been reotivedfrom Mr Arthur, asking if no other site\ would be equally suitable. It was evident there was some objection to granting the site chosen. Cr Lueas did not think it necessary to push the application. They were at present iu very comfortable offices, and obtaining the grant would only run them into the expense of taxes for the payment of the interest on the loan that it would be necessary to obtain for the purpose of erecting the buildings thereon. Cr Lewis was of opinion that they shoal i look a little further ahead. They should obtain the grant while they had the opportunity, and the matter of building could be settled after the grant had been obtained, when the other local bodies would no doubt join iu with them in the expense of erecting buildings if it was decided to take that step.

Cr V/hinray was of the same opinion as the last speaker, and moved that the application be followed up, which was agreed to.

Cr Lucas drew attention to the matter regarding the damage which had been done by the e.s. Fanny and the schooner Opotilci. He thought sufficient time had been allowed the owners of ths Fanny to reply to the Council’s application for the amount of damage caused, and moved that their solicitors be instructed to take what action they thought advisable against the owners of the Fanny. They could decide how to deal with the owners of the Opotiki when they had settled with the owner of the Fanny. Cr Harding thought they would be acting rather hastily in taking such a step, as only three weeks had passed since the notice had been sent to Napier, and the owner of the boat might not have been iu Napier at the time. Cr Hepburn said that the owner was at Napier last week when he was down there. He thought that ample timohad been allowed for a reply. After some further discussion, Cr Taylor seconded the motion, which was carried. The question of laying the additional length ot fire mains was brought up by Cr Whinray, who urged that it should be gone on with at once, so that there should be no chance of losing the Government subsidy. It w T as unanimously decided to leave the matter to the Public Works Committee to prepare specifications and to advertise for tenders to be in by next meeting. Several minor works were referred, to the attention of the Overseer.