BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 649, 20 August 1891, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

AN ordinary meeting ot the above body was held on Tuesday night. Present: The Chair* man and Cre Harding, Taylor, Coleman, Dunlop, liewis, Joyce, Vjjhinray, anfi Hepburn. ' 1 ■ Messrs Rennady and Evans applied for permission to remove a poplar In front of their premiees in Gladstone road as it affected the light.—Cr Whinray acid that in summer time the trees gave a good shade.—Cr Lewis said if they gave permission to remove these trees there would soon fee none left,—Cr Harding thought such matters might be left to the discretion of ths Overseer, but the Mayor thought that would put ths officer la an unfair position.—Cr Wbinray made allusion to the beautifying effect of the trees, and thought that better NMcns than thocs given should be required.—Or Hopbafn said the light could hardly be interfered With fid tint sids oj fog ?t«et.

The Mayor told the Clerk to read another application of a similar nature, from Maurs Moore and Co, who wanted to oat down ail the trees in front of the shop.—The Mayor said there was no doubt tho view of tfie shop was obstructed.—Cr Joyce thought they could make no distinction between thp applicants.—Cr Dunlop thqugfit some rule should he made -if they were to allow trees, to be hacked down here and there it would spoil the look of the line of trees. He thought himself that the trees were objectionable In front of business places in the lower part of the town, though they were desirable in the upper part of the town, where they did not oauee any obstruction. He moved that the matter be left to the Works Com* mittec to report on, and Cr Harding seconded.—The Mayor did not see what the Committee had to report on, as they all knew where the trees were.—Or Coleman thought there was no use in referring the 3 liter to the Committee, but ha favored its ing Ult over, so as to give mon tinfo U eonsider it.- Ur Ltwia WM opposed UtM

line ot trees being interfered with—a great deal more business was done by the previous tenants of Mr Moore’s place than he would do—there were ten carts there then to one trap that the other business would require.— Cr Dunlop said it was not right that any distinction should be made between parties. When applications had previously been made they had been granted.—lt was resolved to defer the matter until next meeting. Permission was given to the Garrison Band to space for their building, which they*intended to enlarge. Mr Butt again urged that the water table near the Union Bank be put in order.— The Overseer said it would take about £lO to do the work to the lower corner—he had cleared the plaeo out last week and it deepened and left surplus water lying.—The Mayor said the work ought to be done.—Cr Taylor proposed that the work be done with concrete, tenders to be called —Cr « Lewis advised that tenders be called for the three blocks, to which Cr Taylor altered his motion. —The Overseer said there was only atone on hand for the one block.—Or Lewis suggested that the other block be added,— The Mayor thought that would be “ too stiff, and Cr Hepburn said other works would be required higher up the town. —It was resolved that tenders be called for the four blocks. 8. DeCosta wrote referring to the promiee that had been made to have the path repaired near her premises, while it had been neglected, though other paths in the neighborhood had been done. Cr Lewis said the work was no doubt needed.—The Mayor said a kerb would require to be constructed.— The Overseer said he had intended to shingle the path last week, but was short of shingle.—The matter was referred to the Overseer to report on. The Mayor said he had learned from one of the representatives of the Insurance Companies that the letter of the Council sent to the Association had been read at the meeting, and no comment whatever made on it by the person who had been to Gisborne. The representative now referred to said that he believed if a further letter were sent it would have attention, as the insurance rates were certainly too high, considering the fire extinction appliances available.—lt was resolved to write to the Association again. The Overseer made a general report, In which he made allusion to the clearing of the gorse in Aberdeen Road. There was a long discussion on the question Of the gorse, and Cr Harding proposed and Cr Joyce seconded, that failing the gorse being cleared by the owner of the property, the Rev. 8. Williams, the Council get the work done, and sue for a refund, This was carried unanimously. The following applications were received for the position of Returning Officer Messrs 0. C. Luoas,- P. E. Richardson, 0. P. Lewis, G. H. Wilson, W. Ratcliffe.—Or Taylor proposed Mr Lewis, seconded by Cr Whinray. Cr Coleman proposed Mr Lucas; seconded by Cr Hepburn. Cr Joyoe pro posed Mr Richardson) no seconder. Cr Joyce then proposed Mr Ratcliffe ; seconded by Or Harding. The result was Lucas (elected)—Cr Coleman, Harding, Hepburn, and Dunlop; Lewis—Cm Taylor, Whinray, and Lewis; Ratcliffe—Cre Joyce and Harding. Cr Joyoe objected to the form of election, Cr Harding having voted for two, The Mayor said a Councillor could vote for as many as he liked. Cr Hepburn wonld object to any further election. Or Joyce said he would give another vote for Mr Lewis, The Mayor said there was nothing irregular about the election, and he did not see how it could be gone over. Cr Joyce gave notice to move that a fresh election take place. The following accounts were passed for payment Gas 00. £2 6s 93, sundries£9 10s Bd, A. B. Mnir £9 10s, Lyon and Blair £5 2s 63, B. Knox £2O, J. Kenny £9 7s 63, E. Hughes £1 19. E. Clements £1 5s Bridges account £1 4s, Fire Brigade medals £6 10s.

Cr Lewis moved that the authorities be written to asking for further information in regard to the Footbridge Oommission, and this was agreed to. Or Whinray said he considered it highly Undesirable that any portion of the foreshore be leased above the bridge, as the revenue to bg derived would in no way adequately recoup the Board for the expense entailed on the public bodies in opening the bridges. He moved that representations to that effect be made to the Board. He could not see why the Board should for a moment entertain such applications, seeing that the ratepayers to the different bodies were identical with each other. He intended to give notice of the following motion i—- “ That thia Connoil, in the interest of the ratepayers generally, represent to the Marine Board in Wellington, the desirability of doping «h» three bridges which span the Turanganui and Taruheru rivers, except to such river traffic as is adopted by Messrs Nelson Bros, —the Tnranganui bridge having been altered to suit their boats, and largely at their cost. That no hardship would be entailed, or inconvenience to those using the river ; but that a great hardship and inconvenience does exist to the burgesses generally, and at a piat totally incommensurate With interests served. Also, this Council views with alarm the frequent applications for leases of the foreshore above the bridges, which if let under the most favorable circumstances could not return anything approaching an adequate return for the large outlay devolving upon the Council, and we would most respectfully urge the members of thqHarbor Board not to let any foreshore above the bridges,, whilst |he large ares below is still unprbfltably employed, or indeed not used at al)." He was astounded that they had allowed the Opening of the bridges to become a matter ot sqch expense, growing imperceptibly. He Contended that the rivet was really only a tidal ereek. It was most anomalous that the ratepayers should ba put to the cost they had been to repair these bridges, amounting to nearly a third of the revenue received by the Board from the rivers, while they could hardly get sufficient money to put a shovelful of metal on the roads. ’ ’’ ‘ ' Or Joyce though) that if a revenue porjld be obtained from the foreshore it ought to be Obtained, though a proper rental be charged for it. He did not think the bridges of a navigable river could be dosed until a new Act bad bean passed,*—Cr Lewis commented on the unfairness of the Harbor Board receiving all the income and the Councils inburring all the expense—if that were altered he would favor their letting as much of the foreshore as they liked.—Cr Harding thought the Board was capable of conducting its own affairs and he wozl.d be to .any complUnicalions from them. He himself was in uvor of a revenue being obtained from the foresbors, A» to the) bridges he thought the expense In future would not be great.—Or Dunlop said that he thought if they had any power at all they should Bthe letting of sections above idge unless there was a proper rental tn.—The Mayor said the site applied for boat slip was specially suitable for the le, |bg be thought the townspeople IBOUm endeavor to assist a local industry, Instead of having to sand vessels away to get repaired. In the case of Common, Shelton and Co. their hands generally assisted when the bridges required to be opened, and the expense was very little. He did not think they should communicate With the Marine Department as proposed, as no doubt if the rivers ware required for new industries the bridges would require to be opened, As to ios proportion in which the rates were borne b'e did not think ft would make any difference when the two bodies rated th* «ame people,—