BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 607, 14 May 1891, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting cl the above was he’d on Tuesday ever ing. Present: The Mayor, and Urs Hepburn, McLernon, Lewis, Dunlop. Coleman, Whinray, Harding, Joyce, and Taylor. The engagement entered into with Mr Please to investigate tbe accounts was read ; the fee asked for was 40 guineas, and an engagement was made at half that sum. In response to a request from Mr Butt, the Overseer was instructed to temporarily put in order tbe water channel in front of the Union Bank.} The Gas Company wrote, by request of the Overseer, stating that they would fix lamps on the Taruheru bridge at a cost of £2l. Mr Finn, solicitor, wrote stating that Mr Booth bad been appoints! as Commissioner in regard to the Taruheru footbridge, and he had consented to act—The Mayor said the Commissioner would see that there was an opportunity for anyone to give evidence in tbe matter. MrF. Holford applied for permission to cut down some poplar trees which hs had planted soma years ago, and which were now becoming a nuisance, as they stopped up the water channel.—Permission granted. The Secretary of the Municipal Conference proposed to be held at Wellington, wrote ask ing for a reply as to what attitude the Council would assume in the matter.—Cr Joyce thought it was premature for that Council to appoint a delegate, the Conference would only concern the large cities.—Cr Whinray strongly favored the Council viewing the matter in a favorable light, as some of the matters to be discussed were mostimportant to all. —It was resolved to defer di.- cussion of the matter until next meeting, in the meantime replying that the matter was under consideration.

Sergeant Carlyon wrote informing the Council of the circular issued by the Commissioner of Police, allowing the police to collect the dog tax, and stating that on application being made by a municipality, a member of the force would be nominated ; fees fixed by the local bodies to be retained by the registrar as payment for his services. —Cr Lewis said they would have to pay just the same on the new arrangement — Cr Hepburn: We can give him a lower •alary. (Laughter.)—The Mayor said the Inspector of Nuisances at present collected the taxes, and it did not seem to be much, If any, advantage.—ln reply to Cr Taylor, the Mayor said it was not compulaory.— The Clerk said application had often been made, to get the police to col ect the tax.— Cr Coleman i I', looks like a part of tbe retrenchment sch-me.— Cr Joyce saw no advantage in the change, and thought they could get on more sa'isfaotorily under present conditions.—Letter to be acknowledged. Mr Piesse, the investigator of accounts, made an interim report, stating that the deficiency so far for 1889-90 appeared to be £4»4 10s 4d. He hoped to have a complete report by next meeting.—The Mayor said the Items had been carefully gone into, but the report had net been fully completed, and the position would not be known until replies had pome in in regard to the demands made.— Cr Dunlop said that was not yei an actually ascertained deficiency.—The Mayor said tbe report was more to give Councillors an idea M to how the work was going on. The fire Inspector, Mr Faram, wrote in high terms of tbe efficiency of tbe Fire Brigade, and urging that there should again be an effort on that account to get a reduction on insurance premiums.—The Mayor read a copy of a Bill which he had received providing for Insurance Companies contributing to the maintenance of Brigades. [Cr Whinray said they would only add it to the premiums.; As to the application for a reduction of premiums be did not see that they pould at present do rpore. The Association had prom sed to aend an inspec‘or down, but had not kept Jia pledge.—Or Joyce spoke of the ridiculous way io which a place like Gisborne was treated in regard to premiums ; they had to pay 80s, when towns in Australia, with far greater risk, bad only to pay about belt —Cr Whinray said Gisborne was a town with tbe lightest record and yet with the heaviest risk.—Cr Joyce moved the adoption of the Inspector’s report, and it sa- resolved to refer the matter to tbe Insurance Association, vyith a reminder th.t an Inspector bad hot been sent down,

The Overseer made a general report. In regard to the Tarnheru bridge, Captain Kennedy acknowledged his liability for the •light damage caused by the collision on Monday night, and offering to make it good. As toilr Knox’s contract, it was resolved to Urge him to use expedition with the work.—The Mayor and Cr Hepburn mentioned that the atone supplied was excellent.—As to the bridge, the Mayor said he thought the bridge should not have been opened so late in the evening (between 5 and 6) ; he believed the bridge had been considerably shaken.—Cr Taylor understood that the Overseer had been given distinct’instructions not to open the bridge after dark —The Mayor said the suggestion had been made, but he did not think a formal resolution had been passed.—Cr Harding said they did not want to cause inconvenience to the shipping, but must S reserve the bridge.—Crs Coleman and oyce thought that between sunrise •nd sunset should be the time during which the bridge could be opened. —The Mayor eaid they certainly must Consider the safety of the bridge in the first place, another such collision as the one mentioned, would probably seriously damage the bridge.—Decided to give the Overseer ingtruotions in tbe matter, a suggestion being made that the Connoil’e powers in the matter Should be ascertained at their leisure." The matjer of repairs was left to the Works Committee.—The tender for the cottages in Roebuck road was stated to be £23, and it #•( thought the Charitable Aid Board would pay the £3 above the estimate. The following accounts were passed for payment

The following accounts were passed for payment I—Gas Company, £3 17s; A, 0. Arthur, £2 12s fid; Common, Shelton and Co ,£3 18s fid; J. Kenny, £3 19.; Clements •nd Hughes, £l7slod;A. Robertson, £2 18s; F. Hicks, £4. There was considerable discnasion as to the necessity of passing tbe bargees roll. Ji was decided to pass the roll as correct, and it there were any errors found, application Would have to bs made to the Governor. Ore Dunlop and Coleman were appointed to sign tbe roll. Tbe Works Committee were entrusted with foe PWaratiou of estimates for the ensuing ’ Or Joyce, in accordance with notice, promeed that • lamp be fixed at the north end of the Taruheru bridge. He spoke in favor of the motion, whioh Cr Taylor seconded.—Cr Hepburn opposed; he considered the lamp Was not required, and that the rates collected there would not tfuslify such expenditure.— Or Dunlop said tbe lamp was required : very Often .vehicles met on tbe bridge,* which was wry narrow,—Or Whinny considered the expenditure quite unwarranted — For: Crs Joyce, Taylcr, Coleman, Dunlop; all other Councillors against,