BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 165, 24 July 1901, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Council was held last night in regard to the borough . loan. Present : The Mayor (Mr Townley), Crs Hepburn, Jones, Lysnar, Miller, Bright, Kennedy, Harding and Whinray. The following report of the committee was read : “ Owing to the attitude-taken by the Public Trustee in not agreeing to the terms of renewal of the balance of the XIO,OOO loan, it was necessary to get the Bank of New Zealand to take up the loan upon the following terms:—The Bank to advance a sufficient sum to repay the Public Trustee (say X 8200), the Public Trustee now holding the sum of XIBOO and interest towards the repayment of the XIO.OOO. Such sum to be advanced for term of five years at 5 per cent, per annum, payable half-yearly, with right L o repay at any time on giving 12 months’ ; notice. The Bank to take over securities ,

)’• consisting of mortgages on freehold proy perty, valued at X 2475 as cash (the Coun--15 cil guaranteeing both interest and principal), and take the Council’s debenture

ie for the sum of XB2OO, being balance of loan. Tho Council to give as security a o lien on a special rate of Sd in the £ on k the annual value of all rateable property !t within the Borough of Gisborne during s term of loan—therefore to gix’e effect to this that the Council must pass the following resolutions. Attached is letter from

Mr Pyke agreeing to loan.” Mr Vincent Pyke, manager of tho Bank of New Zealand, wrote : Be loan of XB2OO from Bank of New Zealand Officers’ Asf sociation, I have pleasure in confirming my parol intimation to you that the Bank 1 of New Zealand Officers’ Guarantee and Provident Association is prepared to lend your corporation tho sum of XB2OO on ! terms as arranged. The securities to be to the satisfaction of tho bank’s solicitor, Mr DeLautour. As the striking of tho i rate and other technical matters will tako a short time, the Association must ask that interest run from this date (July 10), seeing that the money is awaiting investment. Kindly intimato your acceptance of the loan in writing and oblige. Tho Mayor said that it would bo necessary to strike the rate again. He read a resolution suggested by the Borough Solicitor.

vm mu motion oi mo mayor, scconueu by Gr Jones, tho report of tlio Finance Committee was adopted. The Mayor then proposed, Cr Jones seconded, and it was resolved : “ That in the matter of loan duly authorised by special order of tho sth February, 1901 (which was confirmed on sth March, 1901) ; resolved that tho whole loan be repayable without a sinking fund at the fifth year of issue.” It was then resolved on the motion of tho Mayor, seconded by Cr Harding, “ That the Gisborne Borough Council hereby agree to pay off the loan from the i’ublic Trustee, and that the money for so doing bo borrowed from the Bank of New Zealand Officers’ Guarantee and Provident Association, upon terms as arranged, and that tho Council’s solicitor bo instructed to attend to tho carrying out of logal details.” Tho Mayor then read tho debenture form, and on Cr Lysnar’s suggestion it was agreed to see that what was understood be submitted in writing. Tho ordinary business was then gone on with. The Christchurch Council invited offers for a steam road-roller which they wore having replaced. The roller was not suited to tho Council. Mr F. Stafford asked for permission to remove a building, and he would build a wall of bricks as soon as lie could got them.

Cr Jones : Have we the power to grant

Ci's Kennedy, Hepburn, and Miller supported the request. Cr Harding : Suppose a fire takes place in the meantime. Cr Morrison, a ncigbor, thought they should grant the request if possible ; there was no evading of the bye-laws—it was simply that bricks were not available. Ho moved that permission bo granted. Cr Harding : I do not think wo have any option. Cr Jones : He has made a mistake in coming to us. Cr Lysnar : He ought to have done it. The Mayor: The boundary wall of a section must bo built of brick. Cr Miller: That seems absurd ; it might be 800 ft from another building. Tho Mayor: Don’t run the bye-laws down ; you might get an opportunity to amend them yet. After looking into the bye-laws, Cr Harding moved thet a letter be sent that the Council had no power. Cr Whim-ay : If wo can possibly meet the case tho Council should rise to it. Ho proposed that permission he granted.

Cr Hepburn : We might give him leave ) he does not want to evade the bye-law. We all know that there are no bricks available. He had told Mr Stafford ho did not think he would get bricks beforo Christmas. Cr Kennedy seconded Cr Whinray’s motion. The building would not be near any other one. It would be unfair to block Mr Stafford in hit business, seeing that material was not available to enable him to comply with the by-laws. Cr Jones sympathised with Mr Stafford, but said he could not vote for an illegal action. If put to the vote he must vote against it. Cr Lysuar : It would have been more prudent had he gone on and not asked. The motion was carried, Crs Harding and Jones dissenting, on the ground that they considered it not legal. A formal reply was received from lion. J. Carroll, acknowledging the Council's resolution in regard to the Validation Court.

A list of the Fire Brigade plant, etc., was supplied by the Secretary, Mr Chas. A. Nield, at the request of Superintendent Townley. In regard to a new boiler for the fire engine, the Mayor said it had not deteriorated much in recent years, a contrivance having been invented by the custodian to deal in abetter way with the drippings. He thought the boiler could bo let stand until the Government Inspector paid the district a visit. Cr Lysuar said they could not go in the face of such advice, but a layman seeing it in time of fire knew that the pressure was not sufficient. The Mayor said that so long as they could get SO lb pressure they were safe. Cr Kennedy.agreed that it was better to leave it till the Inspector camo ; he would bo here in a few weeks. Mr E. Wilkinson, poundkeeper, replied in reference to Mr Hird’s complaint in regard to his (Mr Wilkinson’s) horse being allowed to roam on the roads. “ I wish to state that such is not the ease, and the occasion which he speaks of was caused through one of my neighbours leaving the gate open and thus letting the horse out, and of which I was unaware till I noticed Hird catching the horse, for which ho demanded the driving foe, and I thought my refusal to pay him was justified on the ground that I was refused the driving foe on his eow, which was impounded a short while ago, and on which occasion I demanded 2s, but only got Is, which amount Hird evidently wished to recover by impounding my horse.” Cr Whin ray: I think it is just an exchange of neighborly courtesies. (Laughter.)

A copy' of the order in regard to noxious weeds was forwarded by the Government, docks, thistles, lupins, and pennyroyal being included. Cr Ilopburn: Have they got an inspector to see this is carried out’? Councillor: Yes. (Laughter.) “It is all bunkum including thistles,” said one Councillor. The following awards were made by Messrs W. P. Finneran and W. O. Sheet in regard to the Borough leases : Section 29, leased to Mrs Teat, present value .£275. Section No. 81, leased to Mr Primrose, .£BO. Section No. 72, leased to Mr Jameson, £OB.

Section No. 77, leased to Mrs File (two buildings), £l7O -total .£598. Mr Morell (nightwatcliman) reported i that there had been no fires during the fortnight. The Overseer (Mr M. Morgan) reported that the weather during the fortnight had interfered with work and caused the roads to be broken up, the face of them being much worn it had been necessary to give them, every attention, and extra drays had to bo hired to cart stone for repairs. Specifications had been prepared and tenders called for the formation of the beach end of Grey street, as authorised. He recommended that the bridge in Lowe street over the drain crossing the road bo taken up and pipes laid and the roadway filled in, as the present bridge would require more timber to replace it than the remaining portion of the bridge is worth. The pipes required were on hand, and the outlay would not bo more than recommended for that part of the road. No suitable horses had been offered for sale to the Council, and he recommended that some one be appointed to select from young stock at first hand instead of an inferior horse being taken at a high price, lie had the opportunity of working a horse for a time for the feeding of it, arid ho had hired a dray and harness from Messrs Pool and Jamison, which would improve the position for a time. Much trouble had been caused in Peel-street from a falling in at the sides of the road, which at times had been very dangerous ; through the heavy rain of last week the same thing occurred again. On digging down ho found that the cause was a broken pipe leading from the British Empire Hotel cellar. Mr Joyce wished it repaired at his expense, and that had been done. Going through the bridge that morning Messrs Nelson Brothers’ punt had come in contact with the tier of piles that had lately been smashed, causing them to shako considerably. It was necessary to protect the row with a fender, as the current brought the barge to that side of the piles. Since Ist July there had been carted on to Gladstone Road 78 loads of stone, 63 to the upper Gladstone Road and 15 to the lower portion of the town below Grey-street. In the same period there had been taken off 57 loads in mud and rubbish collected. The drain proposal was agreed to. As to the fonder to the bridge, it was resolved that the Overseer consult with Mr King, Harbor Engineer, and report to the Council. _Cr Lysnar suggested that a report bo given as to asphalting the bridges The Inspector, in his report, noted that there had been one case of scarlet fever during the fortnight (a child of about 13), and precautions had been taken. Ho recommended a progress payment on the

cottage contract and return of the deposit. He gave values of articles such as tanks offered by outgoing tenants of the Council.—Agreed to. It was agreed to have somo trees planted at the nightsoil depots. The following tenders wore received for additions and repairs to a borough cottage recently occupied by Mrs Black : Clayton Bros .£lO9, Gisborne Plumbing and Painting Works £76 7s, Allan and Jones

(accepted) £69. The following tenders wore received for formation and shingling of Grey street from the bridge to the beach : W. Perver (accepted) £BB 9s, W. Jones £9S 10s. The estimate was stated to be about £IOO. Cr Lysnar: They can do a work like that much cheaper now than at another time. Cr Mliler wanted to know what had been done in regard to the committee for road-making plant. Cr Kennedy said their hands were tied until they heard from the County Council whether they were going to strengthen their bridges. It would not be prudent to order the engine if it could not get to the quarry. He moved the County Council be written to asking what they were prepared to do in the matter. The Mayor said that it would bo necessary to have a now bridge in the Patutahi gullyCr Hepburn said they might get by the old road, which, though fenced in, was in the control of the Board.

The Mayor : That would require a road. Ho seconded the motion. Cr Miller : Bo I understand that we have all the information to order the machine if the bridges are strengthened? Cr Kennedy : Yes ; the main thing is the bridges.

Cr Whinray said that there was a young river near Grey-street bridge. Cr Harding : Mud. Cr Whinray : No, a river carrying the mud along. It was a perfect quagmire, and it required an acrobat to get over the bridge. In some parts a channel of a foot depth had been scoured out. They would not find a road in the Motu so bad. lie moved that the Overseer he instructed to have the work ,done. The slush on the bridge was a preponderating weight bringing down the bridge. The bridge should be asphalted in the summer. The Mayor and Cr Harding supported the proposal, which was agreed to. The Overseer said he had left the mat- j ter over until tho tenders were in.