BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 75, 3 April 1901, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting of the Borough Council was hold last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr Townley), and Crs Harding, Joyce, Hepburn, Johnston, Jones, and Kennedy. A letter was received from the Town Clerk at Launceston, asking for information as to the subject of salaries.

The letter was addressed to Cooktown, and it was considered that some mistake had been made.

Mr Vincent Pyke, the Manager of the Bank of New South Wales, forwarded tho usual resolutions for the Council to pass, the first making the overdraft as at 31st March, a liability for the current financial year. The second resolution was to borrow money from tire, bank by way of overdraft ill anticipation of revenue. The Manager also asked that two copies of the balance-sheet for the year ended March 81, 1901, be forwarded. It was decided to adopt the resolution as in former years. A circular was received from the Aud't Office asking that the balance-sheet be prepared for the year as it had been done previously, notwithstanding the new Act. The Town Clerk said that it was practically the system the Council followed.

The Mayor said that the auditor was highly pleased with the way the Council’s books were kept and balance-sheet prepared; it took him a very short time to go through the books, and he highly praised tho manner in which the Council’s work of keeping accounts was done.

Dr Mason, Chief Health Officer, acknowledged receipt of a letter from the Council, and thanking them for having carried out his suggestions. Ho hoped to bo able shortly to take a run up to Gisborao, when he would be happy to further consult with the Council,

A PETITION. Twenty-eight residents of Lowe street, namely, J. Brodie, John Cameron, D. S. Jamison, A. Sawyer, Mrs A. M. Brown, J. F. Mclntyre, Henry Martin, Wong King, Alice • Kennedy, .J. Kennedy, E. Wilson, C. Hanes, E, J. Chrisp, J. Ponsford, F. Parker, 11. Forbes, John Warren, Charles Goldsmith, James Brown, M. 11. Spriggs, C. C. Spriggs, J. Gcorgeson, J. Allen, Isabella Menzies, Mrs I’. Greene, Mrs M. Hickey, Edwin Lewis, G. Ponsford, petitioned the Council to the following effect: —“ We the undersigned residents of Lowe street and Kahutia street rcspoctfully beg to call your attention to the state of such streets as regards lighting and footpaths. There is a considerable amount of traffic

i that locality, yet no part of the whole

lorougb is so badly served. Wo desire nost respectfully to point out that from

the Catholic Church corner to the beach practically nothing has been done to the road. At night time, owing to the number of horses which are allowed to graze at large, it is positively clangorous to pedes-

trians. A lamp at the junction of Kahutia street and Lowe street would in a great

measure serve to make tho traffic safer at night time. Wo would, therefore, rcspoctfully request that your Council will forthwith erect a gas lamp at the position indicated.”

Cr Jones said lie had previously advocated a light being placed at that spot, and lie moved that tho request be granted. Cr Harding agreed as to the necessity of the light, and seconded the motion. Cr Joyce and the Mayor also said that the light was needed, and the motion was carried unanimously, tho Mayor's suggestion that a good light should be provided being agreed to. As to horses, the Mayor said tho attention of the ranger should bo called to that ; recently lie had nearly fallen over a horse lying at night in a street. The Inspector, Mr J. 11. Little, reported as follows:: — 11 Sineo your last meeting, T have been delivering certificates and inspecting yards. I have also erected on the Borough reserve three cart sheds and a boiler-house, authorised by tho Council at last meeting. The brick work an I fixing boilers will be completed this week. The new body for the night-soil cart is nearing completion. I have sold the old night-soil cart for £lO, and, with a very small balance added, the Council will have a now cart, which I think will be an advantage, considering the rough roads during winter, “Health Report: I have to report eight fresh cases of typhoid fever in the Borough since your last mooting.' I have visited most of tho places where the fever cases originated, and I could not see anything that would cause fever; but it is very hard to tell how it comes about. I have also to report one ease of scarlet fever in Palmerston ltoad. I might state to your Council that a nurse has been procured to wait on the child, who is six years old, and they arc to be isolated in tho house as much as possible, under the Medical Officer’s direction.”

The Mayor said the case of scarlet fever was under Dr. Colo, and a plan approved of for isolation had been adopted, the case being kept in one por-

tion of the house under a nurse. It brought up the question of providing a place for such cases, Cr Johnston : Could a child be taken away if the parents object'? Cr Jones : Oh yes. Ho thought something should bo done in the matter, butthere was the otlior question as to whether an outgoing Council should enter into such a large expense, though they should set the matter in motion.

Cr. Johnston thought they should seek to get an early visit from Dr. Mason, and consult with him.

The Mayor said that they could in a couple of months have a place prepavod, with a nurse and other provision. But they must not have the idea that scarlet fever - was so very serious. It only caused ten deaths per year, Cr. Jones: But it would bo very serious if it becaipo cpidemio. Tho Mayor said that when the fever was epidemic there were only thirty deaths in the year in New Zealand. Then

i fell to seven, then three, and last year hey were only two deaths from scarlet

fever in New Zealand. 110 did not see what more they could do in regard to the caso uuloss they had a house set apart. Cr Joyce said it did not seem wise to have the ease of fever and the family in the same house.

The Mayor said that was according to the sanitary regulations. "Where a case could not be isolated it was to be set apart in the house. Cr Jones : The children will not be allowed to school. Tho Mayor : No. The report was adopted, no definite step being decided in regard to a fever ward. OVERSEER’S RKrORT. Ths Road Overseer (Mr M. Morgan) reported as follows : —Palmerston road footpath has been shingled ns ordered at last meeting : the work on the bank of the river is not quite finished. Tho crossings, as ordered, I have only been able to complete one of the three, as the weather has been so much against the work ; other crossings has been tarred as far as tho weather would permit. Gravel contract : This contract has been completed. Delivered to date, 18831 cubic yards. I would recommend payment for same in full. Stone contract : This goniraot has been brought to a standstill, the County Council refusing to allow any more carting on their roads. If your Council de-, sires to finish tho contract at this stage, I would recommend payment for same., The stone delivered to the 2Gt.b day of March, 1901, was 944. V cubic yards. No. 1 drain contract ; Mr Houley lias finished this contract, I would recommend payment for same, SO chains at '2s per chain (£8), together with deposit of £L No. 2 drain contract is very no?*' being finished. I would recommend payment for this work, subject to it being completed. The water in the drain has kept this work from being completed. Eighty-five chains at Is 3d per chain. £5 6s 3d ; day labour, £ls 12s. NIGHT WATCH MAX’S REPORT. Tho night watchman reported: “I have to report that I have been on duty every night this last fortnight from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m., and there has been no fire in the borough during my hours of duty.” The following report was received from the Committee :—■ The Committee appointed to meet the County Council in reference to traction engines and roadwollors waited on that i body on Friday, 29th March, there being present; The Mayor, and Crs Harding,

Joyce, and Lewis, and after due consideration it was suggested that the County Council should obtain the plant on their own account (they owning the quarry), and that the Borough agree to take a certain amount of metal from them yearly at a fixed price. This arrangement the Committee consider would be a very fair one to both Councils.”

The Mayor said that one County Councillor had suggested that the County Council would require the whole use of the traction engine. In that case, and the bridges being strengthened, the Borough Council should get one of its own. As the Comity was likely to get one they should see first whether they could hire it. The Borough balance-sheet was laid on the table at the Council meeting last night. The Mayor pointed out that though the expenditure was heavy, it included such items as sanitation .£515 15s, and there was £65 Is as a preliminaryaccount for the water and drainage report. A question for them to decide was whether the framing of the estimates should be left over to the new Council, a course which was agreed to ; also that the new Council settle in regard to the renewal of loan from the Harbour Board, which the Board’s committee had agreed to, though it had yet to be approved of by the Public Trustee. It was stated by the lessening of charges the Borough would save £BOO a year. Next year tho Council should bo able to give a very good account of itself, though there was still the cost of Mr Mcstayer’s report to face—they did not know what that would be.

Cr Johnston : That is guaranteed,

Tho Mayor said that anyway the Council would have to meet their engagements.

Cr Joyce said that six people had complained to him that night soil had been thrown into the Waikanae last week, the odor being so bad that some people had to return from their walk.

The Inspector said that this was the

first he had heard of the matter, although he had been down to the borough property almost every day in the week. The Mayor said he had passed the place several times, and had not noticed any-

thing. It was resolved that the Inspector make enquiries into the matter.

Cr Jones suggested that before the winter months sot in labor should be employed in cleaning the grass off the footpaths. Those at the southern end of Pool street, on one side of Childers road, in Bright street, and other places badly neoded attention before the winter, the footpaths having been worn into holes in the centre.

Tho Mayor agreed that the work was necessary, but said that the removal of the grass became a very expensive matter, tho cleaning of it off resulting in much of the footpath being carried away. That was why he had urged that Palmerston road footpath should bo tarred; it was the cheapest, though some people appeared to have raised objection. Cr Kennedy: It is cheaper to get it tarred than to keep taking the grass off. .

Cr Hepburn said that it preserved the footpaths to get the grass off; when it was left on a path was worn into a narrow guttor. The taking of the grass off in Aberdeon Road had been a good preservative, as the path had stood well without much gravel. Cr Joyce : That is what someone in tho Times referred to —all the Councillors being up that way.—(Laughter.) Cr Hepburn : No; it was Palmerston road. —(Laughter.) In reply to a question by Cr Jones, the Ovorscer said that ho was having a good deal done in clearing the grass off where the water-tables were being put right. The Ovorscer was instructed to givo his attention to tho matter.

Cr Joyce said that several planks in the Taruhcru bridge needed attention to make them lit for heavy traffic. Cr Jones said that one driver had got a fright tho other day when a loud crack was heard as his dray was crossing the bridge with a load of bricks. The Overseer was instructed to give his attention to tho bridge.