BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 192, 21 August 1901, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Tiie fortnightly meeting of the Council was hold last night, there being present: The Mayor (MrTownley), and Crs Bright, Miller, Jones, Morrison, Harding, Kennedv, and Whinray.

A special meeting was first held to rescind a resolution in regard to obtaining a loan from the Fublic Trustee. Negotiations had fallen through, and the loan was being obtained from tho Bank of Now Zealand Officers' Guarantee Fund.

The motion was proposed by the Mayor, seconded by Cr Harding, and carried, and then the special order to be confirmed a month hence was also adopted, on tho motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr Harding. A letter was received from the Pathological Laboratory (Department of Agriculture), stating the application for a slaughtering license for the Gisborne Freezing Company was in order, and the license would be issued in due course.

Cr Jones : -It has taken a good while to reply. The Mayor : Y’es, 15th of May.—Received.

Dr Mason, Chief Health Officer, wrote stating that unavoidable delay had taken place in the appointment of District Health Officer for Hawke’s Bay Health District: the matter was in the hands of the Minister of Public Health and an appointment would soon take placo. In regard to tho loan, Mr Pyke wrote to the effect that the cheque had beon sent to tho Public Trustee. The Mayor: That, I presume, concludes the payment to tho Public Trustee. Mr E. V. Luttrell wrote, drawing attention to the stagnant water at the hack of tho premises lie occupied (Mr Parnell’s section), and he asked to _have the nuisance abated.

The Inspector stated that the section fronted Grey street, near Mr Adams ; where the drain was.

The Town Clerk said the complaint was that some wells that had been dug during the Chinamen’s tenancy were now full of water.

Cr Whinray moved that the Inspector report as to what could be done.— Agreed to. 'The Mayor said that always wet season they had complaints of the kind. Mr -J. N. Taylor, l’atutahi, wrote ns to llanson and Sons’ price for road machinery.

Cr Whinray saiil that it was unfair to keep this matter dangling before people when they knew that the County Council would not put the bridges in order for them. The sfavor said the information was volunteered by these people. Cr Harding: They know the positioner Kennedy : We don't want any vote of diseontii:uallce. The Mayor: Hand it over to the committee. Cr Harding : Hand it o\ er to the County Council, and ask them if they will have the bridges made right. Cr Miller : They will have plenty of money when the wheel tax comes in. Cr Jones said that by the wheel tax it would cost £2O for a traction engine. It .vas agreed to write stating that no immediate steps were being taken in the matter. Mr Mcstayer wrote acknowledging receipt of letters. With regard to the account he stated : " I understand that a private guarantee fund was raised to cover the expenses of these reports, and if the enclosed account, together with the amounts already paid by your Council, should exceed the amount guaranteed, there might be some objection to ask the guarantors for an additional contribution. If so, I shall be quite willing to accept part on account, and leave the balance until convenient arrangements can be made bv your Council.”

The bill presented, dated 10th August-, was as follows:—1901, March lltli to July hist—Visiting Gisborne, obtaining particulars for draining and sewering the town : inspecting sites proposed as sources of water supply ; preparing reports and estimates for water supply and sewerage schemes. To professional services as above: —12 days at .£6 6s, £75 12s; -'ll days at I'd 6s, .£O7 Ids ; expenses, £TO 6s 6d. Total. £lB6 11s Od. A previous payment of £197 Ss was made, making the total £6BO 19s (id. Cr Miller asked what was the amount of the guarantee. The Mayor : £2OO. It was, tie said, the most elaborate report they had ever had placed before the Council, lie did not know where Mr Mestaycr got his information about the guarantee. Cr Miller : Lt does not matter to him anyway. (Laughter.) Cr Jones : It means everything to him. If we do not raise a loan we have no money to pay him. (Laughter.) The Mayor : If we don’t pay him he can soon settle that. (Laughter.) Cr Jones : He might seize the strongroom. (Laughter.) The Mayor said that the account seemed to he correct in all respects. Cr Harding agreed that it was reasonable, and, amidst laughter, said that it would cost them more if they were engaging a solicitor for that time. The subject then dropped. The night-watchman (Mr O. <T. Morcll) reported as usual that all was well, there having been no tires during his hours of duty. The Sanitary Inspector reported that various places complained of had been inspected, and the defects had been, or were being, removed. With regard to Mr Craig’s well, he reported that the water was pumped up into a small tank by a gas engine ; the inside of the well was eased with cement from top to bottom, and the top of the well was arched over and concreted. Nothing from the top could gel into the well. Mr Krskine did not use well water for baking purposes. There had been live cases of scarlet fever since last meeting, all of a mild type. Four were on Whataupoko and one in the Borough. The casus had been isolated. Cr Miller : It is very satisfactory the way owners arc meeting the Council, nonorou milk suitliuhs.

T!ie Dairy Inspector (Mr Wilkinson) reported:—“As requested at last meeting I have inspected each dairyman's cart bringing milk into the borough, and am of the opinion that, considering the bad roads, the carts could not be kept much cleaner. As long as the milk cans are kept clean, which I consider the principal thing, there can be little cause for complaint. I have given notice to three milk vendors, who have been in the habit of carting pig food in their delivery carts, to discontinue this practice. Any dirt that finds its way into the milk must naturally get in at the milking, and I fail to see how it can get in after it is ready to he brought into town. 1 notice that some of the milkmen have two cans and only one tap, thus having to dip the milk out of one can ; a little dust might possibly in this way Unit its way into the cans, but I should say nothing to speak of. I have also taken tests from each cart bringing milk for sale into the borough, which are as follows: No. 1 test, Little, 28 ; No. 2, Bat-y, 80 ; No. 3, Bell, 30 ; No. 4, Willoughby, 60 ; No. 5, Liddell, 31 ; No. 6, Von Pcin, 61 ; No. 7, Martin and Co., 32 ; No. 8, Wilson, 32 : No. 9, Goldie, 62 ; No. 10, Watson, 36. The above tests were taken with a lactometer. Should your Council desire any further tests, I should recommend that the milk next time be put through the Babcock test.’’ Tiie Town Oierk said that Dr limes had said that when the number had got down to 25 it was bad.

Mr \\ hint-ay wanted to know what that meant—was it diluted'?

Cr Harding : It might have been rain ing.—(Laughter.)

Ci- Bright said that the Mayor had had sonic experience of milk—-he might be able to tell them.—(Laughter.) The Mayor said something to the effect that his experience had not been too cheerful, Cr Jones said that some supplies came from Haiti and some from Whataupoko. Cr Miller : And don't contribute to the Inspector’s salary.—(Laughter.) The Mayor said the test was not a cream test. Cr Miller: If enough water is put in, will it bring it down to 2f> test ? The Town Clerk : Yes. Cr Miller: Water won’t kill as a rule. —(Laughter.) Cr Bright said that what was wanted was to put the milk through a separator. Cr Miller said that evidently the Inspector hud not quite understood what was wanted.

Cr Bright said they dtd not want to know how much was milk and how much was water. Cr Miller : We want to know that, but we want to know more.

Cr Bright: We want to know if it is clean milk.

11l reply to Cr Morrison, the Town Clerk said that suppliers obtained certificates for their cows. That was und. r the Government inspector; it was out of the Council’s department.

Cr Morrison : To see if the certificated ■ows were milked would really require a nan to bo there all the time '! The Town Clerk : Yes.

On the motion of Cr Miller, who said that the dairy inspector had done good work, the matter was referred to the Sanitary Committee and the Sanitary Inspector.

In repply to Cr Morrison, the Mayor said the committee were Crs Harding, Miller, Lysnar, and Bright. Cr Morrison said that it would be a good thing if all cans had taps instead of having the lids opened up in the dusty street. OYEKSEEU's 1.-EI’OUT.

The Overseer reported as to various works. A serious wash-out had occurred in Cobdcn street, but lie had succeeded in remedying it after sonic difficulty.

While the Government’s proposals to import certain bis game are under consideration by acclimatisation societies, it is the duty of settlers to inform themselves as to the habits ot the animals it is proposed to introduce and as to whether they are likely eventually to become a nuisance in their new habitat. If they neglect to specifically protest against the importation of animals which may in time become a pest they cannot expect to receive the sympathy ‘ which sportsmen generally extend towards the farmer who suffers loss from game animals. The sportsmen will naturally only object to the introduction of an animal which is likely to destroy other game, and he will naturally welcome animals which promise such good sport as the markhor, the springbok, the wapiti, and the Cape buffalo. While no doubt there is a sufficient percentage of landed proprietors on the acclimatisation societies, by whose advice the Government will be guided, to look after the interests of., the settlers, members are as a rule those who ho’pe for sport in the future, and the settlers will fail in their duty to themselves ii they negiect to enquire into the proposals and, if necessary, protest against the introduction of any particular species of game.— Wellington Times.