BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 619, 11 June 1891, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting of the Bjrough Council was held on Tuesday evening. Present : The Mayor and Crs Lewis, McLernon, Coleman, Dunlop, Taylor, Joyce, Harding, and Whinray. TURANGANUI BBIDGB. Captain Winter made a report regarding the recently damaged Turanganui Bridge. He estimated the cost of repairs at from £4O to £45. He proposed making aq alteration in the bridge to prevent accidents, the cost to be about £175. Mr Sunderland, who was present at the meeting, explained how the accident happened; in future he would expect the bridges to be opened at five minutes’ notice, and if they were not opened he would have to come on the Council for dqtention. It would cost about £4O to repair the damage, and he was willing to make it £6O, so as to enable a proper job to be made. Cr Joyce thought it was a very reasonable offer, but hoped Mr Sunderland would increase it to £lOO, as the work was being done for their own use, and the local bodies wgre npt|fluch of funds. Cr Lewis concurred, and said no doubt Mr Sunderland would see his way clear to make a further consideration; and at the same time he was of opinion that a request should be made to the County Council to contribute more than a third, for they were more interested in the freezing works than the Borough was. Mr Sunderland said he would not offer more than £6O, and even that offer was made without authority from headquarters. Cr Whinray said it was a serioqs matter, and the Council ghould consider it carefully. They should meet the County Council and ask them to give something more than they were compelled by law to give. The Mayor said the matter had been before the County Council, and it had been allowed to stand over till it came up before tbe Borough Council. He did not know where the money was cornipg from to do the repairs, but the work was very necessary, and delay would be inadvisable, Or Harding said the bridge would have to be repaired, and as it was no use letting the thing go on, the work required to be done at once; the County Council had not been liberal with them before and were not likely to be more generous now. Cr Dunlop thought the amount proposed to be paid by Mr Sunderland was fair enough, but tbe County Council should pay more than a third, The Mayor thought that in the circumstances Mr Sunderland might be induced to give £75, and then the local bodies would perhaps see their way clear in the matter. Mr Sunderland said they would give the £75. He thought that the Councils should try and get the Harbor Board to contribute. That body got all the revenue, make huge wharfages on tbe frozen meat. The Major said he believed the work oould now be undertaken. He intended to raise the question in the Harbor Board as to the fairness of that body contributing. Cr Joyce also agreed with Mr Sunderland with regard to the Board, and then, at tbe suggestion of Cr Harding, a committee eonsitting of Ore Lewis, Whinray, and Dunlop, I were appointed to confer with the Board to I see it they would do anything in the matter

Cr Harding moved that the work be carried out at once, tbe Works Committee to attend to the matter. This was carried unanimously. THE DEFICIENCY. Mr Piesse’s report on the Borough accounts was read. The total amount of the deficiency £277 7s lid, dating from the year 1881. The bond was for £250. Mr P. H. Bourke wrote enclosing a cheque for the amount of deficiency. He added that it would be the final payment as far as he was concerned. Cr Joyce said it was only virtually relieving the bondsmen. Cr Whinray moved that the amount tendered release the bondsmen. It was gratifying that the amount had been paid without having to ask for it, Cr Dunlop said there was a deficiency of £66 before there were any bondsmen, and he did not think that could come under the bond. The Mayor was of opinion they could not obtain anything from Mr Johnson, the other bondsman. Cr Whinray moved that a vote of thanks be given to Mr Piesse for the clear manner in which he had laid the accounts before the Council.—Carried. Mr Piesse’s account of £2l was passed for payment. STREETS. Cr Whinray suggested that something should be done in the way of marking the streets. Drivers coming in from the country did not know where to leave their passengers, because there was no sign to signify the name of the street. The matter was left to the Overseer to find out the cost of placing notice boards on the different streets.

Cr Coleman said some repairs were wanting in Lowe Street.—Overseer to attend to tbe matter. INTERVIEW WITH MR KELLY. At the conclusion of the ordinary business on Tuesday evening, Mr Kelly. M.H.R was interviewed regarding the affairs of the district. Cr Lewis said there was one thing the Council would like Mr Kelly to bring before the Government, that was that they should have a Supreme Court House here. It was undignified for a Judge to sit in a theatre. There waa also no proper accommodation for the jury. He hoped Mr Kelly would bear the matter in mind. Cr Joyce asked Mr Kelly if there was a chance of getting a Deeds Registry Office here. They had been fighting for it for a long time, bnt had not succeeded. Mr Kelly said the matter had been brought before him at the meeting held that evening, and he had promised to bring the matter before the Government. As regarded what Cr Lewis had spoken about, he would use his influence in the matter, but he was afraid the Government would not do anything at the present limo. Cr McLernon said they were short of domain lands in the place, and he asked if there was any possibility of getting a grant of land from the Government. There was only one patch of land containing about six acres that could be used for recreation purposes. Mr Kelly thought that the matter would be hopeless in asking the Government. He had great difficulty in getting 50 aores of land at Opotiki for recreation purposes He thought the matter should emanate from the Council, and that they should forward a claim, and he would do his best to get the grant. Cr Whinray thought ]Mr Kelly should do something in regard to the harbor, and also native lauds. The native land administration was the most scandalous thing under the sun. In regard to the harbor the Harbor Board would meet Mr Kelly on the matter. The Mayor said the Clerk had sent a rate demand to a half caste and he replied refusing to pay the amount. Mr Warren stated the natives would not pay their rates. Mr Kelly said the natives in the Bay of Plenty were exempt from paying rates. He thought something should ba done in the matter. Or Coleman said there was no reason why the Loans Act should not be applied to boroughs. Before long they would have to consider a water supply, and there was no better way of raising the money than at present. Mr Kelly stated that tbe matter had been previously brought before the Government. The Mayor thought if the hospital could get some assistance in the way of an endowment, it would be a good thing, especially if the Government were going to withdraw the subsidies from these institutions. Mr Kelly said that the Government would have to continue the subsidy. The Tuaranga district had only got a small endowment bringing in about £l5 a year. He blamed the Secretary of the Landa Department for neglect in making proper provision, A committee consisting of Crs McLernon, Coleman, Whinray, Lewis, and Dunlop, was appointed to draw up a report on the various matters affecting the district. The Mayor then thanked Mr Kelly, and said he would keep him posted up in the affairs of the Borough.