Borough Council.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 107, 15 May 1901, Page 3

Borough Council.

Ax ordinary meeting of the Council wa held last night. Present: The Mayo (Air Townlcy), and Crs Morrison, Lysnat Jones, Hepburn, Whinray, Harding, Ken nedy, Miller, and Bright. The Brush Electric Engineering Coin pany wrote: —“ We see from the publii press you now have had a preliminary report on the electric lighting of youi municipality, and if you are calling foi tenders for'the work wc will be glad tc have an opportunity of tendering. The work hi question is very much like untc that we are just completing at Itotorua for the New Zealand Government." .Messrs Steuavt and Penn's report was presented. The Mayor said that Mr Steuart was very practical in his report, and us he recommended that the .summer supply of water should he obtained, they should leave it stand until* the summer was near. Cr Jones thought that a later opportunity should he given to discuss such an important report. Cr -Morrison said ho was informed by reliable people that there was nothing like the quantity of water estimated, and in other respects there were points that would be questioned. Bedded to defer the matter. Mr ii. L. Mcstaycr wrote :—“ Does any of the land edged red on the enclosed | tracing belong to the Corporation ? If so, will you kindly mark which. I saw Dr. Mason, and had some conversation with him about the drainage of your town. [ shall see him again before I send in my report, so as to ensure there being no difference with the Government as to carrying out any of my recommendations.”

A reply had been sent that the property was not that of the Council, Air T. A. Coleman, Secretary of the Hospital Board, wrote :—"I have the honor to inform you that Air E. L’. .Joyce, who was appointed an Hospital Trustee lo represent your Council for the current year, has tendered his resignation of such office, and the Board has accepted his resignation wifli regret." Cr Jones said that he thought that the regulation was by way of the Trustee placing himself in the hands of the Council again. The .Mayor said that in that case lie j would favor re-appointing Mr Joyce, who had proved a good member.

Cr .Cmcs moved, mid Cr Lysnar seconded, tliut Air Joyce lie re-appointed. Cr Kysnar said I lie Council -should give its nominees sonic instructions as to the doctor. Jlo had nothing to say against Dr Craig, hut In- thought they should try and get all the doctors on the list. He had on one occasion desired to get the advice of a second doctor for a patient, hut the hospital doctor had refused to give his consent, to the proceeding, lie would give notice of motion on the subject. In regard to Afr Joyce, Cr Whinrey said it seemed to lie forcing Afr Joyce. Cr Aliller thought the appointment would he a graceful thing, and Cr Kennedy supported it, the appointment being made unanimously. Mr C. I). Keimy, of Napier, wrote: —

“ In reply to vonrs of the Nth inst. re most economic material for bridge decking, it depends greatly upon quantity of traffic and position of bridge as regards price of timber. In the ease of inland bridges with small traffic, totura planking is preferable. If traffic is great nmtai is more economic, as it gets worn out before decay, and is much cheaper than tolling and therefore can lie replaced at much smaller cost. Cor metalled or asphalted deck (loot's f consider only seasoned totara should lie used. I'rovided the bridge is of strong design 1 think metalling an advantage. In large spans, where it is not desirable to encumber the bridge with a considerable weight of metal, close planking covered with four coats of sand and tar from which the spirits have been extracted (Waterworth's patent) makes a good clastic covering about l j inches in thickness, holes being bored where required to allow drainage.”

Cr Bright said that theinforniation was useful, and ho moved that the writer ho thanked. The suggestion was agreed to, and the information ordered to be put by for future reference. A license under the new Act was granted for the Gisborne Freezing Work's, as far as the Council was concerned.

The Mayor stated that the application had to be sent on to Wellington by the local authority, ami instead of the Council getting .CIO fees as before, the fees now went to the Government.

Telegrams already published in regard to health matters were read. It was resolved on the motion of Cr Hepburn, that the committee previously setup in regard to sanitation bo instructed to meet and confer with Hr, Valentine.

The manager of the Taruhcru Freezing Works (Mr Dewing) wrote : —“ As we come under the new Slaughtering and Inspection Act on July Ist, 1901, and have then to take out a new license, 1 have to ask if you will allow us a refund of Xf> on our present license, as it will only have run for half the time for which it was taken out." Cr Lysnar : Let the Government refund it. (Laughter.) It is not our fault. We are not determining the contract. The Town Clerk said the Gisborne Freezing Works would be entitled to the same allowance.

Cr Lysnar: We will have all the butchers applying, too. The Mayor said they would defer the matter until it had been further looked into. Government, he added, had an admirable way of equalising matters. If a Council d : I not do as they desired the Government would deduct it from the subside-.

" Government always has the whip hand," added a member. Messrs W. Hunger and Co. wrote : .‘■Hearing that you purpose gettin • improved tools for sweeping streets, wc beg io enclose you circular of standard English sweepers, scrapers, etc., giving a full description of different tools and prices of same in .England. These are the kind of tools used in Christchurch. Wo would be pleased to import any of these tools for your Borough Council at o percent, indent commission, in addition to all out-of-pocket expenses." Heferved until the estimates caiuc on. Communications wcto received from several gas companies, stating their inability co supply the Council with tar. The Auckland Company would be glad to do it through the agency of the Gisborne Gas Company, which acted on their behalf in Gisborne.

The Town Clerk said that the Council got it at cost price from the local company. the ( barges increasing the amount from od to Cd. He did not know of any otlier way by which they could get it.

The Mayor said that they would not require much tar until the spring. Mr E. Yon Dadelzcn wrote from the Registrar-General's Office : —“ I have the honor to request that you will be good enough to cause me to be furnished as soon as possible with the different heads of information set forth in the enclosed form for statistics for the year ended 31st March. 1901." The Town Clerk said the information had been prepared. Cr Jones said that it should be made plain that Haiti and Whataupoko were suburbs that should be included. Cr Lysnar said that was a very important' matter, as business people had been turned away through looking up the Year Book aud' finding Gisborne only credited with a population which did not Comprise the suburbs. •' The suggestion was approved. The Controller and Auditor-General wrote :—“ I have the honor to return herewith the balance-sheet of the Borough of Gisborne for the year ended the 31st March, 1901, which I have certified. I shall be obliged if you will send a printed copy of the balance sheet as soon as it is published, for record in this office.” Mr Dunlop forwarded some further information in regard to road rollers, for which the Town Clerk was instructed to write a letter of thanks. Mr Harry Withers wrote: —“ Hearing that your Council intend putting on extra rubbish carts, I beg to apply for the position of driver of one of them temporary, with a view to a permanent billet. I am thoroughly acquainted with all parts of the borough, and can furnish references if required.”—Matter deferred. Sergeant Siddells wrote : —“ I am in receipt of your letter of this day covering an‘ extract of a letter received by your Council from Messrs DeLautour and

Svmes, complaining of nuisances alleged to have been committed near their premises, and to inform you that the matter will receive the attention of the police. I may inform you that during the past year several prosecutions were taken against persons for committing nuisances in the'

I streets, and in ali cases they were , | punished. As this matter has been ; j brought forward, I may draw your.atten- . I tion to the want of public conveniences in , | the town.” The Xightwatchmau, in his report, referred to a dangerous little fire that he had put out. In regard to checking nuisances, he asked for instructions, and pointed out the risk he ran of action for damages in taking up a case that might fail. Cr Height said that all that was wanted was for the nightwatchman to communicate with the police, and get them to take action in the cases referred to. The Sanitation Committee reported as follows: Your Committee has had under its careful consideration the question of endcavorI ing to improve the sanitary condition of ! the borough. To aid us, we have made a I partial examination, in company with your Inspector, of the back premises of the main blocks, and have now to make tho following progress report and recommendations : That the resolution passed at the citizens’ meeting on the 10th inst. be urged upon the Council. Street-cleaning.—That the Council at once put an extra man on .street-cleaning and bridges, and that the street-cleaning apparatus recommended by the Estimates Committee be procured with all possible speed, arid that a hand-cart bo supplied for the use of the men street-cleaning. Public urinals.—That the Council im-

mediately have erected one each of these conveniences on two sites, and after plans which we shall bo prepared to submit to the Council. The want of proper drainage has limited the number of these we can recommend to be put up meantime. The sites proposed are at the Kaiti and Whataupoko bridges.

Removal of rubbish.—We are satisfied that another cart is required to deal anything like effectively with this, and recominen 1 that one made as large as convenient be immediately 'procured, and in the meantime an extra dray bo kept

going. That no wooden boxes for bolding rub bisli be used or permitted, but that iroi:

boxes with proper coverings be used,

Disinfectants. —Wo recommend that a supply of lime for privies bo distributed by the rubbish carts, and that the public bo required to use the same, and to mix ashes therewith when possible. That the Council further distributes plentiful supplies of lime for disinfecting rubbish pans and night soil receptacles, and that the rubbish and night soil moil bo directed to use the lime in connection with their respective duties. All night soil and rubbish pans and carts to bo thoroughly disinfected. Footpaths.—That the public be specially requested to sweep the footpath opposite their business promises every day. I’ouitry.—That no poultry bo permitted to he kept in the business portion of the town. An offer lias been received to remove tlie manure from stables, etc., in the business part of the town every morning, free of charge to the Council or burgesses, and we recommend the acceptance of this, as it will relievo our own carts.

Tlie subject is a large one, and is of the utmost and pressing importance, and your Committee would urge upon the burgesses the necessity of co-operating with the Council in the matter of cleaning the town.

Further suggestions may probably bo made by us later, but wo are in hopes that your Council will adopt this report, and wo feel certain immediate benefit will result.

The Mayor said that a man was put on permanently to clean tlio bridges, and give tlie rest of his time to cleaning the streets.

Cr Whinray said in view of getting a horse sweeper they must not go to needless expense.

Cr .Lysnar said that in any case they should have a man employed in this wav.

It was agreed that the man be kept until tlie Council give further instructions.

Cr Morrison thought the question such as urinals should be left until the Health Officer arrived.

Cr Harding said that the conveniences were very necessary, and no doctor could tell them better than they know themselves. The question should bo decided without dolav.

Cr Whinray said they should have some idea as to the cost before voting. Cr Kennedy said the ’Committee were entitled to the Council’s thanks. The recommendation should bo adopted, and the question as to cost and style gone into afterwards.

Cr Jones approved of the recommendation, but thought they might formally place the suggestion before Dr Valentine. The suggestion as to urinals was adopted. As to rubbish around business places, Cr Jones said that house refuse should be removed, but such things as straw and paper that came with packing cases should be removed by the business people themselves. Cr Miller said the Committee had taken that view, and many people had agreed to subscribe towards the cost, but a few had refused. The Mayor said it would be unfair that they should have to clean up business premises— Cr Miller : Hence the dirty town. The Mayor : Then the business people are to blame. Cr Miller said that was the fault of not having a better system. Cr Lysnar said the committee had given a great deal of attention to the subject, and ho had concluded that the only fair way was to take the money out of the rates, and then all would pay proportionally—the business houses paid so much more than private houses, and should be given facilities accordingly. The Mayor said a new rubbish cart would cost iIOO.

The paragraph was adopted. In regard to the next paragraph, Cr Jones said it would bo better to adopt the scaled pan system. Cr 'Whinray said the suggestions were all very good, but they would require another cart for the lime.

Cr Bright said that it would be a good idea for the Council to supply some lime. The Mayor said the man could not do the work proposed in time. Cr Miller: Are you going to burke a question like this because it will take the man another hour or two?

Crs ‘Whinray and Hepburn considered the proposal was not practicable. Cr Bright considered disinfecting the most important suggestion made. Foul spots should be disinfected. Lime was the best disinfectant, aud when it was suggested Councillors should not say it was impracticable. The Mayor ruled that- the suggestion was carried.

The next three paragraphs were adopted, and the report as a whole was adopted. The Inspector also reported on the subject of sanitation. In his health report he mentioned that there had been two fresh eases of fever in the fortnight. The Overseer in his report also referred to the subject of cleaning the town, and stated that the expense entailed would be 16s a week. ANNUAL ESTIMATES. The Committee appointed by the Council at last meeting to draw up a schedule of estimated revenue and expenditure of the Council for the year ending 81st March, 1902, reported': The Committee met on Tuesday evening, 7th May, 1901, when there were present: The Mayor and Crs Morrison, Lysnar, Whinray, Hepburn, Bright, Miller and Kendedy. The Mayor read a draft schedule he had prepared, and it was discussed seriaturu and eventually passed as attached hereto. It was then decided to try and carry on without increasing the rates. . / The Mayor, in order to give effect to this, has been obliged to cut out several items of expenditure, and the estimates would appear in schedule No. 2. It is therefore now left to the Council to decide which schedule should be adopted. With one the general rate would be Is 6d in the JEI, and the other it- would be Is 9d: the special rate being fixe4 at 3d, The Com-

mittee recommends that the Council writes to the Cook County Council informing that body that it is contemplated that road machinery would be purchased, including a traction engine for hauling of metal, and requesting that they have necessary strengthening works done to their bridges and culverts. The Committee has also to report that the Clerk was authorised to write and ascertain the price and terms for a traction engine, together with road

roller parts and fitted with suitable trucks and scarifier. And also to enquire from the Engineer of the Hawke’s Bay County the feasibility of metalling the decks of bridges, and to endeavor to collect from business premises sufficient money for reimbursement of the night watchman’s salary. Your committee has also to recommend that the Town Clerk’s salary be raised by £25 per annum. Continued on fourth page.