BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 368, 19 March 1902, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the Council was held last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr Towniey), and Crs Harding, Hepburn, Jones, Lysnar, Whuiray, Mason, Miller. An apology was received from Cr Bright. Mr G. Stubbs wrote as follows : “I bow to your decision, and now request to be allowed to take the " objectionable ” cottage over the bridges to the Haiti beach. While obeying you in this matter, [ respectfully submit that you have neither law nor justice on your side. If you desire to prohibit sledge-houses being brought into the Borough, they should certainly ho provided for the next time you amend your bye laws. Moreover, I feel that you have not treated me fairly

in refusing to disclose the grounds of your refusal. However, the Council must all admit I have not mentioned it to one member of the Council, trusting to get my application dealt with upon its merits. — G. Stcbus.”

Cr Jones moved that permission be

given, subject to the Overseer's supervision, seeing that no damage was done to the bridges. The Town Clerk said that Mr Stubbs intended to have the house shifted in pieces. The Mayor: Then he has no need to ask permissioo. Cr Miller: That is only sarcasm. It was decided to give permission. Mr West wrote : “In writing a few lines I bog to direct your attention to the drain and pathway leading past my house. It is now very overgrown with weeds, and after heavy rain the water forms a pool just at the crossing. There was really no path past my house until some Salvationists came to live next to me. 1 have often cleared the weeds away from the drain, and do even now from the pathway when necessary.”—John A. West. The matter was referred to the Overseer for attention. The following letter was roceived from the Government:—■ “ Sir, —I am directed by the Minister

for Public Works to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of Ist instant, forwarding the copy of a letter to the Minister of Railways, urging the necessity for opening the abovo mentioned railway as far as Ormond for traffic, and in reply to state that this matter will receive the most careful attention.—H. J. H. Blow, Under Secretary.” The night watchman made his usual satisfactory report. Mr Wilkinson, Dairy Inspector, reported as follows: — “ I have again made an inspection of the milk carts supplying milk in the borough. There are at present ten carts in all, and since my last report I may say there is a decided improvement in the cleanliness of the carts. I have also tested the milk from each dairy, the list being as follows: B-ity I'3l, Goldie 131, Diddle 1-31, Bell I'Bo, Hoyle I'3o, Watson I'3o, Little 1-30, Wilson I'3o, Martin and Co. 1-28, Willoughby 1'27. The above tests

are made with a lactometer, and with the exception of the two last , members the quality of the milk is fairly good. As for the sediment, it is impossible to detect any in the small amounts of milk that I receive for testing purposes. G. Wilkinson.” In reply to Cr Jones it was stated that the Inspector went to the carts at any time he chose to make a test ; the naiik was not taken to him. In reply to Cr Miller the Town Clerk said that no reply had yet been received from Government as to the regulations. . The Inspector, Mr J. R. Little, reported that he had been making an inspection (jf the borough, and found most plaoes clean and in a satisfactory condition. Complaints had been numerous in regard to the barricade in front of the Argyll Hotel, and he asked the contractors to remove certain old timber and materials scattered

over the street in a very unsatisfactory manner, but the contractors seemed to think they had a right to shut off as much

of the street as they required. He would recommend that the contractors be given 24 hours to clear the obstruction off the street, according to part 8, clause 33, building regulations, as they seemed to take no notice of any instructions given by him (the Inspector). Cr Miller said that the contractors thought they were entitled to take up a third for the stacking of timber, etc. ; the by-law said the Council might allow them a third. He thought the Council would be liable if there was an accident. He proposed that the matter be referred to the Works Committee to deal with at once.

Cr Hopburn said the Council should do it.

Cr Jones asked had they ever gol permission.

The Inspector said he had not given any permission. He had asked them to have things put in better order to keep the water-way clear, but the contractors did not seem to care to trouble about it. Cr Lysnar said they should write to the contractors, telling them that they must not take so much of the road.

It was agreed to give notice that a portion of the obstruction should be removed, to the satisfaction of the Inspector. Cr Mason said a 6ft fence could be insisted on. Cr Miller said there were other places they should deal with at the same time. There was much complaint in regard to the obstruction at the Gisborne Hotel, which was not required. Contractors should be given to understand that they have no title to the use of a third of the road without the special permission of the Council. Cr Jones : Which we are not likely to give, as it is too dangerous. It was agreed to write as suggested. The Overseer, Mr Morgan, reported as follows:

“ I have the honor to report to your Council on the following: Since last meeting no new works have been done ; the time has been devoted to asphalting footpaths and street crossings, and patching the streets in general. Stone contract: This contract is still unfinished ; only a few loads of broken metal have been delivered since last meeting, which has been spread on Gladstone road. I would recommend that tenders be called for the cleaning out of the Gladstone road drain. On Saturday, the 15th, Messrs Nelson Bros', punt in passing through the Taruheru bridge struck the tier of piles that carries the south end of the swing, with great force, and drove the head stock back towards the piles, carrying the main portion of the bridge, and leaving it very difficult to open the swing. I have got the piles in position, and put in a temporary stay, but I think something should be done of a permanent nature to save the row of piles from so frequently being damaged. I have herewith given you a rough sketch, which, if carried out, will, I think, meet the requirements. That marked in with red is the work purposed to be done. Day labor as per voucher.—M. Morgan.”

In reply to Cr Hepburn the Mayor said that Messrs Nelson Bros, had not yet been written to on the matter.

The Overseer said that the carrying out of his suggestion would cost about £l.

Crs Hepburn and Jones said that Messrs Nelson Bros, should be informed of the accident.

The Mayor said it had been duly reported on that night, and the Council could take what steps they chose. In reply to Cr Jones, the Overseer said that by his suggestion the outer pile Would bear the impact of a bump. Cr Lysnar said the bracing should be done, and as to repairs Messrs Nelson Bros, should be charged, The Mayor said that the repairs only meant a couple of hours’ work. - The Overseer said that the real cause of the accident on Saturday- was that the punt was so heavily loaded. Cr Jones moved that Messrs Nelson be asked to contribute a share of bracing the bridge.—Agreed to, the work to be done.

The Mayor asked for an extension of time for the Finance Committee’s report.

Cr Harding said they were only wasting time.

Later on, Cr Miller asked if there was any reason why the committee had not reported. The Mayor said that they had not given any. In reply to Cr Miller, the Mayor said that tbs letter applying to ths Govern-

uienc had not yet been sent. Cr Miller upbraided the Committee for the delay, aud said he thought there was more energy required on it, while Ci Harding reiterated that he_ considered it was only waste of time to apply to the Government. Their only way, he said, was to get one of the financial institutions to place the loan on the London market. Cr Jones said there would be other ways than that. Cr Miller again urged that the matter should be attended to, and the subject was dropped. It was rosolved that a meeting of the Council he field next Wednesday to sign the electoral roll. The Mayor reported as to the trial of the tire engine boiler, which had been more satisfactory than on tho previous occasion. Cr Lysnar urged that a new boiler should he at once cabled for. The Mayor said that it would bo better to have another trial. They had got 601bs of steam up in eleven minutes. Cr Lysnar said for the sake of the £250 they should not hesitate. There would be live minutes’ delay, with the makeshift boiler, in getting up steam, and the mischief was done in those five minutes. He moved that an up-to-date boiler be cabled for at once. It was bad enough under the old system to have to wait for the water to come through the hose, but this would be much worse. He appreciated the effort at economy, but thought they should not have cheeseparing in such a matter. Cr Jones seconded the motion. He also appreciated the effort to economise. He was afraid that if they took such risks there would be loss of life as well as of property. Cr Whinray was inclined to tho Mayor’s view, and favored another trial. The Mayor said that at best it would take them fivo minutes longer to get up steam. Cr Whinray moved that the ordor for a uew boiler stand in abeyance until the trial of the present boiler had been made. They had gone to a good deal of expense, aud should try and get something out of it. Cr Mason seconded the amendment-, which was carried. For : Crs Whinray, Mason, Hepburn, and Miller ; against : Crs Lysnar, Jones, and Harding. Cr Lysnar said the trial should have been completed during tho fortnight. Tho responsibility was on tho Committee ’ iif case anything happened in the ineani time.