BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 391, 16 April 1902, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Tho fortnightly meeting of tho Borough Council was held last night. Present: Tho Mayor and Crs Kennody, Harding, Hepburn, Whinray, Jones, Bright, Mason, and Lysnar. _ Tho Chief Health Officer, Dr Mason, forwarded a supply of forms to notify cases of infectious disease. —Received. Tho Town Clerk said there was now no excuse whether a doctor was engaged or not. In tho caso of thcro being an infectious case, tho forms must be obtained, and one sent to the Gisborno office and one to Napier. Where a doctor was engaged, ho atton-egd to tho mattor. Tho Mayor saiu that ho was pleased to say there had only boon two infectious cases in Gisborne for a long period. Tho Town Clerk was instructed to publicly notify that tho forms woro available.

Messrs Davys and Third wroto explaining tho items that had boon questioned in their account on the ground that other than contract prices had been charged. It was claimed that the items were not a portion of the ordinary contract. The Mayor said that ho thought that all overtime had been charged for in tho L'l6 for labor. Mr Davys said that it was not, and that the charges wore fair. Work of tho kind had to be done in a hurried way. Tho amount involved was JE2 14s 4d. Cr Whinray moved that tho, account bo paid. Cr Harding said that in future thoy should have fire brigade work stipulated in the contract.

Tho Mayor said they could not wol, Bpecify the items required. Cr Hepburn seconded tho motion which was carried.

Meßsrs Mackrell and Colloy wroto applying for permission to open Gladstone road for a drain in connection with tho Argyll buildings. Mr Georgeson attended and explained tho proposed work, which was to intersect with another drain.

Cr Whinray : Are the people interested agreeablo ? In reply to Crs Miller and Kennedy, Mr Georgeson said that tho drain would bo done in sections and completed without delay. Cr Jonos said that a 12-inch drain from Erskine’s buildings had a 6-inch outlet. Cr Miller proposed that permission bo ’■ granted, on the understanding that tho work be dono with expedition. Cr Harding said that ho did not think tho 6-inch pipe proposed would be sufficient at times. At his place he had 9-inch pipes, and at times they gave enough trouble. Ho did mot know whether the Council had any jurisdiction in that matter.

The Mayor considered that thoy had the right not to allow a drain if they thought it would not be satisfactory. In reply to Cr Kennedy, Mr Georgeson said that they desired to get on with the work at once.

On the motion of Cr Whinray, tho matter was referred to tho Works Committee, with power to act. Mr G. A. Malcolm, of Avondale, Auckland, wrote applying for a position as inspector or in any other capacity in tho event of a drainage schomo being carried out. He stated that he had for five years had charge of tho work in Wellington under Mr Mestayer. Cr Jones: Wo can reply there is no prospect. There is any amount of labor in Gisborne.

No reply would be given until the works were about to be started.

A London firm sent a circular soliciting orders for Coronation decorations.—Received.

Messrs E. Harris, J. Jeune, George R. Moore, and C. Nicholson again wrote, complaining of the chimney stack on section 323, Gladstone road. They asked that immediate steps be taken to have the nuisance abated.—Held over until the Inspector’s report was read. Mr R. O. Clark, Auckland, wrote, referring attention to the quality of the drain pipes, etc., which he was manufacturing, and he asked for information as to whether the pipes would be obtained by contract or be supplied through tho Council. Ho forwarded the judge’s report on his pipes at tho Auckland. Exhibition.

The Manager of the Bank of New Zealand wrote, asking the Council to pass the usual resolutions in legard to overdraft and loan moneys generally. The Mayor: Until wo reduce the overdraft or pay it off, we will have to pass these resolutions.

The first resolution made the overdraft the first charge on revenue. The next resolution was that the overdraft could be up to £4250. Both resolutions were adopted on' the motion of the Mayor. The Returning Officer, Mr Quigley, wrote, notifying the re-election of Mr Townley as Mayor. The notification was received with applause.

The Nightwatchman made his usual satisfactory report. The Inspector (Mr R. J. Little) reported as follows : “ I have the honor to report that since your last meeting I have beon inspecting in the borough, and find most of the places in good order. The Sanitary Committee have not found time to make a general inspection as yet, but I trust that they will be able to do so at au early date. I have received one or two complaints re chimney stack at Messrs Clayton Bros.’ timber yard. I have been watching it very closely this last week, and I find that it is only when they burn sawdust and shavings that tho smoke nuisance takes place. I have spoken to Messrs Clayton Bros, about the nuisance, and they inform me that if they cannot cure it they will build a brick shaft to the height of 60ft, according to the Borough Bye-Laws. Health report good, and as per Register Book.” Cr Jones said that at times tho shavings came out in flakes.

The Mayor said that no doubt the present state of things was objectionable, and many bitter complaints had been made to him. Cr Jones proposed that Messrs Clayton Bros, be called upon to comply with the by-laws. Cr Bright moved as an amendment that the Inspector be instructed to havo the nuisance abated by making tho firm comply with the by-laws. Cr Hepburn said that if coal and not shavings were used there would be no nuisance.

Cr Harding said that if tho stack were raised to 60ft the firm could burn what they liked.

Cr .Tones said that other people could then step in and put a stop to it. Cr Kennedy seconded Cr Bright’s motion, which was carried.

The Overseer (Mr M. Morgan) reported as follows : “ Taruhcivu bridge : The south end of this bridge has been metalled and blinded as authorised at last meeting. Re footpath at the Gisborne Hotel : I have inspected same as authorised, and find that to grade this footpath as it should be done for a permanent work, that about five chains of tho path should bo broken up, graded, and gravelled. The kerbing on Childers road side should be raised for about two chains ; this work will cost about £9, with two coats of tar on, about 1119. Mr Martin does not agree with picking the whole thing up, and laying down in gravel, but wants to have the front of the building asphalted, which, with a layer of gravel to bed, would cost about TlO per chain. Failing this being done, he would rather {the whole thing remain, and the footpath patched whero broken by the contractors ; this would not exceed JlB. Day labor as per voucher, £l6 45.” Cr Bright said that they had not the money to do the chief work proposed. They should leave the work stand for the contractors to put it in the order that it was originally. The suggestion was agreed to.