BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 180, 7 August 1901, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the Council was held last night, there being present: The Mayor (Mr Townley), and Crs Hepburn, Lysnar, Jones, Miller, Morrison, ! Harding, Kennedy', and Whinray. | The resolution of the Council in regard to Validation Court titles was aeknowl ledged by the Premier. ! The Secretary of the Charitable Aid ' and Hospital Board, Mr H. McKay, forwarded the requisition for the current year of £7l, equal to l-18th of a penny in the pound on capital value of rateable property of .£305,760, the proportion being 9-14ths'for the Hospital and 5-14ths for charitable aid. —Payment authorised. The amount was stated to be less than last year. Mr Vincent Pyke wrote further specifying the conditions under which the £8,200 renewal of loan could be raised from the Bank of Kew Zealand Officers’ Association, as agreed upon. In reply to Cr Lysnar, the Mayor said the Council would have to pay the mortgage tax. Cr Lysnar said that, according to the law, the Council could not pay the tax. Later on, Cr Miller said the mortgagetax had been rung on them at the last moment; he objected to pay it unless the committee had committed themselves.— The Mayor said the committee had done so.—Cr Miller said he was prepared to stand by that; but it ,was helping the Bank to evade the Act. Cr Jones said that was the first he had heard of it. After further explanation that the

council woum oniy ue pitting tax on its old mortgage, Crs Lysnar and Miller said they were satisfied ; they had not understood it at first. A letter (already published) from Dr. Mason was read, advising against draining sewage into the river. The Mayor said there was no proposal to send sewage into the river; Dr Mason had got hold of the wrong end of the stick. lie was quite right that untreated sewage should not go into the river. The Council would do its best to keep the river free from pollution. Notice of a voucher for .CIO 17s 6d, for subsidy, was received. A letter was read from Mr W. S. Luim,

Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, suggesting the nomination of a suitable person to represent the district in the Legislative Council, in accordance with the suggestion of the Premier and Hon. J. Carroll. Cr Morrison said that the Chamber’s views should bo agreed to. PIo suggested that Crs Harding, Whinray, and Kennedy be a committee to confer with the Chamber.

Cr Jones had no objection to a committee, but he did not see what.it had to do with the Council. If the Legislative Councillors were elected by the people, it would be a different thing. Cr Miller : When did the Premier throw 7 out the suggestion '!

The Mayor said he was not sure of that, but Mr Carroll had mentioned it at the Chamber of Commerce. Cr Jones’ views would he all right if there was an elective Legislative Council. Cr Wiiinray said the Chamber had not wished to be presumptive, and had therefore consulted with the local bodies. Cr Lysnar seconded the motion, the committee to report to tho Council. Cr Harding : Why not nominate somebody now 2 The Mayor said that would hardly ho a courteous reply to the letter. The motion was agreed to. A notification was received from the Governor of tho appointment of Mr O. J. Morell as Inspector of Weights and Measures.—Councillors spoke approvingly of the appointment. Mr Herbert Hill, agent for Hunter’s Mastic Joint, a patent compound for cementing wooden pavements, forwarded a circular setting out the advantages of tho patent.—Received. The Secretary o( the Treasury wrote referring the Council to the Act, and quoting sections, in regard to an application to know whether tho Council could borrow X 70,000 from tho Government. It also stated that a loan could not bo used to pay off overdraft. Cr Jones : That is what I told you all along. Tho Mayor: You knew it, and wo know it now. Tho letter assumed that they had taken a poll, which had yet to he done.

Cr Lysnar suggested that they write stating that the necessary steps would bo taken. —Agreed to. A letter was received from the clerk of the Cook County Council, stating that the Engineer intimated that the cost of strengthening the Waipaoa bridge to carry a traction engine and trucks would be .£IOJI 18s 2d, and the bridge over the Aroha creek would also require to be rebuilt. The first-named item was beyond the power of the Council to provide for. Tlie Mayor said that settled the question at present. It would have been a good tiling for both County and Borough, and should got their metal at about half the cost. Mr Fairley had been prepared to allow the use of his engine at a fair remuneration. The letter settled the poiut. They might abandon the question for the time being. Cr Miller : 1. hope not. “ Well, bring it over in a balloon,” remarked the Mayor, and the subject was dropped. The night-watchman, Mr O. J. Morell, reported that all had been well during his hours of duty. He added“ Messrs Common, Shelton and Co., as agents for tlie Commercial Union Fire Assurance Co., have refused to pay anymore towards tlie nigiitwatcliman’s salary, because the door of the old shed on the bank of the river at the back of the Loan and Mercantile storo was open last week ; an old shed that is partly pulled down, and has been so for the past six months or more, and which I did not know was being used for anything ; nor had I ever any instructions about it. So why Mr Shelton should stop tlie Insurance Company's pay I do not know; I thought the company was for firo purposes.” The Town Clerk stated that the amount involved was 5s a month. The Mayor and Crs Harding and Jones mentioned that very good work had been done by the watchman. Cr Lysnar suggested that Mr Shelton be communicated with in the matter. Cr Jones said that the insurance companies certainly ought to pay. Cr Kennedy said it was not worth writing to anybody about; if the company would not pay let them stop it. Cr Jones suggested that a letter be sent to Mr Shelton, as agent of the company. —Agreed to. The Overseer (Mr Morgan) reported that Mr Peryer had commenced his contract for the formation and metalling of l'eel street. As authorised the approach to the Grey street bridge had been widened so that a footpath could be made, and a footway across the bridge was being constructed. He had, with Mr King, inspected the tier of piles at tlie Taruheru bridge, the recommendation being to brace the piles together; he also suggested that the piles be stayed from the tier of piles next to them : this would cost about .£2 10s. He estimated the work of asphalting the solid portion of tiie Taruheru bridge at £43 ; the worst of the planks would have to be repaired, also the swing portion will require some new decking, estimated at <£-o—£6:3 in all. Othc-r works authorised would be given early attention. Day labor £23 -Is.

Tlie Inspector of Nuisances (Mr J. R. Little) referred to the general works —to tree planting on the beach reserve, and to repairs to cottages. In his health report he stated that during the fortniej'f. a slight ease of scarlatina j*,ad occurred, and a ease of typhoid fever had been brought in from the Karalta.

It was stated that the typhoid patienthad died that day. It was agreed to have the work to the Taruheru Bridge (£'2 10s) carried out,

As to the asphalting, Cr Lysnar urged that it should be done ; it would preserve the bridge and would be a very beneficial experiment ihe longitudinal planking would not be effective. In reply to Cr Miller as to whether the planking would be strong enough to hold asphalt, the Overseer said he had allowed for defective planks to be replaced. In reply to Cr Harding, the Overseer said that he did not propose to close the bridge : the work would have to be done it) sections early each morning. Cr Lysnar said the bridge now simply rotted as the planks wore down. Cr Hepburn said he thought it would bo a good experiment, and seconded the proposition by Cr Lysnar, that the work be done.

Cr Harding said that ho had gone to considerable expense with asphalt, and had l’atutahi metal put down in his passage way ; the traffic churned it up, but it was all right the second time after it had been allowed to set. He thought it would be necessary to keep the traffic off till the asphalt set. The Mayor : Could not planks be laid down over the asphalt '? The Overseer said they would have to do the best they could. Cr Lysnar said a slack day might be chosen and heavy traffic kept off. Cr Harding said they might shut off the bridge for a day or so. Cr Miller wanted to know if the expenditure was to be a gift from the borough, and was assured that the borough, county, and harbor board paid it. Cr Harding said the work should be done on Sunday and the bridge closed till Tuesday. The Mayor said they would not have Sunday work there (a Councillor had said that was done in Melbourne). After further remarks the Mayor said to settle matters he would propose that the bridge be closed on a Wednesday and Thursday. In reply to Cr Harding, the Overseer said the work would take about three days.' Cr Lysnar: Could not the work be done at night V The Overseer said that it would need light—it would be started early in the

morning. Cr Lysnar said they might close the bridge for a week against heavy traffic, a suggestion which met with approval. Cr Harding : Close on Saturday night, start the work on Sunday, and open the bridge on the following week. It was agreed that the matter bo left to the Overseer, the bridge to be closed for a week against heavy traffic. It was stated that the work could bo dono well on in the season, when more reliance can be placed on the weather. The Secretary of the Fire Brigade wrote asking that, all other things being equal, members of the Fire Brigade, which was a volunteer institution, should got the preference in the matter of employment. Cr Kennedy: A very good suggestion. The Mayor said that most of the brigade men wero tradesmen. Cr Hepburn said he did not believe in

the principle at all; it was like foisting men on the Overseer. The men should have a fair show with others, but there should bo no preferential claim ; there might he ratepayers who had as good a right as anyfireinan. Cr Harding agreed with Or Hepburn. Cr Kennedy said he did not think there should be any heated discussion ; all that was asked was that, other things being equal, a fireman should have special consideration. Cr Lysuar moved that the matter bo referred to the Overseer, and a roply bo given to that effect. The Mayor said that was all that was required. Most of the brigade men wore tradesmen, and applications of the kind would not be very frequent. Cr Miller seconded the motion, which was carried. lleplies from Mr Mcstayer, in answer to questions, were submitted, and it was agreed to take the subjects after the Charitable Aid Board’s business had been dealt with. Then the first subject taken was Dr Valentine’s report. Cr Lysuar said he thought they should promptly recommend the appointment of a health officer. He did not think a local doctor would care to undertake the duties, and an outsider should, ho thought, be appointed., He did not think the Government would appoint a local man. Cr Miller said they need not waste much time about that; Dr DcLislc, of Napier, was almost sure to be appointed. Cr Lysnar said he would bo prepared to move in favor of recommending that gentleman. Ho moved that the Government be recommended to appoint Dr DoLislo as health officer for this district. They could not deal with Dr Valentine’s report until a health officer was

appointed. Cr Harding seconded the motion. He said he did not think they could do better than recommend the appointment of Dr DeLisle.

Cr Jones said he had no objection to Dr DeLislo. Dr Valentine signed himself as a district health officer. Their first effort was to have a local district defined. He doubted if they could take part of a county, but Dr Valentino said it could bo done. If another body were set up, they should have the opportunity to make recommendations. The Mayor said that Dr Valentine had simply referred to a local district. Or Miller said in the House the other night the Premier had said that health officers would be appointed when suitable men were available. Cr Lysnar said they might get a man they did not want. Cr Jones ; That would be all right, if we get a fair man. Cr Miller supported the recommending of Dr Do Lisle; but they should go m to deal with Dr Valentine’s report; t referred to buildings that should be

clone away with. He could refer to matters in regard to which the Inspector might sue. It was resolved that the Council recommend that Dr DeLisle be appointed as health officer for the district. In regard to the sanitation report, Cr -Miller said thoro were some very bad spots requiring attention. One building alluded to in the report should be removed without delay. Cr Lysnar agreed with that view. Cr Jones said they should consider the cost, and try and get the individuals to do the work. It was agreed to give notice to the owner of one property that the building had been condemned. It was also deeided to give notice in regard to yards. Cr Miller said one important omission from the report was the back of the Education Board’s properties, and it was deeided to refer the Board's attention to the matter through Mr Coleman. The question was raised as to what was being done with well water at one place, and it was stated that the Inspector should

enquire as to whether the well water was being used. Other matters were also gone into, and steps authorised to give effect to the report. As to the new cemetery site Cr Lysuar proposed that the Mayor and Grs AVhinray and Lysnar bo authorised to take steps for locating the area of the Waiohiharorc site suggested. Cr Miller seconded the motion. The Town Clerk said that the land would cost about JMO au acre when all expenses were paid, Cr Lysnar thought fifty acres would do. The Mayor : Ob, try and get a hundred acres.

The motion for a committee was agreed to. Cr Lysnar said that steps should bo taken to alter the . by-laws so that the keeping of fowls would be prohibited on the town side of Derby street. At 10.80, the report had been dealt with, and Councillors were desirous of adjourning. It was resolved, on the motion of the Mayor, to deal with water and drainage at a special meeting' of the Council next Tuesday night. He gave notice to move : “ That the Council proceed to raise a loan of £175,000 from the Government, interest at the rate of 31 per cent., for the following works : (a) High pressure water supply from Waihirere, .£'35,000; (b) drainage system for the Borough, L'30,000; (c) road formation and metalling with Patutahi metal Childers road, Palmerston road, Aberdeen road, and others to be decided on by the committee, £110,000.” Cr Lysnar quoted a telegram he had received from the agent in the colony for septic tanks, showing that the cost would be a great deal less than stated by Mr Mostayer,