BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 568, 12 November 1902, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of tho Borough Council was hold last evoning, whon the following members were present : —llis Worship tho Mayor (Mr J. Townley), Crs Harding, Miller, Bright, Whinray, Hepburn, Lysnar, and Jones. com: u-sponiiunck. Messrs Joyce and Co., makers of tho clock, wrote making suggestions as to the transit and erection of the time piece. Or Lysnar asked what provision had been made in regard to providing funds. Tho Mayor said that tho Bank of New Zealand woro making tho iirst payment, and tho Council would be asked to pay in duo course. There woro several lists out, and ho understood that some substantial amounts would ho forthcoming. Or Miller thought tho .Council should hustle and get the money together. Or Lysnar was also of this opinion.

MOTOIt WAGGON. Tho Mayor road a letter from a Now Zealand firm in regard to the purchaso of a patent motor waggon. The matter had, he said, been dealt with by tho Works Committee, who recommended the purchase of tho waggon. The machine of tho kind would bo invaluable to tho Borough. Tho mattor was deferred until consideration of the Committee's report. REPAIRS TO BRIDGES. Messrs DtCiunes Eraser (County Eu gineer) and John King (Harbor Engineer) wrote in reply to the Council’s letter suggesting that tho rep tirs to tho Turaneanui bridge bo done by clay labor. They gave reasons for this recommendation. Tho Mayor said that the Council hal a good deal of Ihe material that was necos,ary for the work on hand. It would also tie necessary to k ep the bridge upon for radio whilst repairs were going on. He proposed that the Council leave the matter n t ie hands ol the Engineers, and that the att-ir be requested to seu to tho work at juco. C: Jones seconded tho motion. Oc Lysnar suggested that the Works Committee should act in conjunction with me Engineers. Thoro was certain work hat it was necessary to do, hut at the same tiuio expenses should bo kept down. Cr Jones said tout the Engineers represented the two bodies interested. The motion was carried. NIGIITWATCHMAN'S REPORT. The nightwatclnnan reported that one lire had occurred in tho borough during tno previous fortnight, a three-roomed house being destroyed in Iloobuck road, de alsu drew tho attention of tho Council io tho fact that ho had discovered a heap of rubbish burning in closo proximity to some stacks of timber, and had notified the owner of the same. overseer's report. Tho Ovcrseor reported as follows " Mill road: I havo put in tho approach to this road at tho Gladstone road junction. Mr Jones, the contractor for gravelling ef this road, commoncod his contract on November Ist, and is making’very good progress, having about seven chains of the gravelling done, tho gravel delivered hooping well up to tho sample. Stono contract : This contract is also being- carried out to satisfaction ; in quality and quantities the averages are very fair. The work of tho last fortnight ha 3 been confined principally to tarring and metalling.” The report was adopted. inspector’s report. The Borough Inspector, Mr J.R. Little, reported as follows ; “ lie complaint of Dr. Cole, read at last meotiug, I havo seen Mr Friar ro closet being too near tho Dr.’s house, Mr Friar informs mo tha|j ho has no other suitable placo whore ho can place tho closet. 110 recommendations contained in Dr, DoLisle’s report referred to me at your last meeting, I submit tho following : In No. I paragraph of Dr. DeLislo’s report ho shows his dissatisfaction at tho method employed by us in collecting tho nightsoil by tho single-pan system. In changing tho system from tho ono at present- in vogue it would involvo tho Council or tho ratepayers in a considerable oxpeuse. There are at present about 800 closets in the borough, which if changed to tho system recommended by Dr. DeLislo, would voqnirc 1000 new pans, at a cost of 16s each, or roughly speaking, UliUO. A new van or cart would have to bo provided for convoying soil to tho depot, a boiler for steam and a house for washing out the pans, and an extra hand to a.-sist in tho work. In

my opinion it would take closo on .C'2ooo to eliango tlio present system, although the advantages of the new systom in tlio long run might prove of great benefit to the borough from a health point of view. No. 9 on tlie doctor's report refers to vent pipe from drain, I have seen the principle, and it will be attended to at once. Nos. 10 and 11:1 have notified the parties mentioned in the doctor's report re

the wells on their properly, which must be filied in, hut that tliey could construct others if built m a proper manner according to the doctor’s report. No. 14, ro tank water : The doctor recommends that Huberts’ water separator be used, but I think that if Dr. DeLisle had seen Mr Osenham's patent water separator he would have been pleased with it, as I think tlio one ho has recommended is too complicated to bo of any practical use in Gisborne. A copy of lloberts' filter is on tho tablo for your approval. I might state that water is a very scarce commodity in Gisborne at tho preseut time, and if it does not soon rain it will ho a bad job for tho residents, as I have been told on good authority that there is no water to ba had at the brewery this year. Health report: I havo to report one caso of diptherea, ouc caso of typhoid in the Hospital,

and four cases of scarlatina in the borough since last mcotiug." DR. DE LISLE’S REI’OItT. Dr Do Lisle’s report on tho Dorough of Gisborne, which has already been published in tho Times, was brought up for consideration. Tho Mayor spoko in favor of Dr De Lislo’s proposals. lie stated that many of the sowors in tho boroughs of the colony were nothing more or less than fever-beds, i The Council should have a septic tank

erected. As far as he could see the drainage of the Borough could ho more cheaply and efficiently undertaken by the septic tank system than by any other. The sum of iIOUO would go a long way towards getting over tho nightsoil difficulty. It would, he thought, be better than an imperfect sewerage system. The septic tanks were not expensive, and if placed in central places in the Borough the drainage of the Borougli could easily be arranged. His Worship suggested that a committee should be set up to consider the septic tanK system. Cr Whinray seconded the Mayor’s proposal. He pointed out that the septic tank system was working well in Franci and elsewhere, and if it was what it wus eluiuiQd to be Gisborne would be much improved by its adoption Tho matter was well within tueir means and could bo easily arranged. Cr Lysnar expressed pleasure at hearing the remarks that had fallen from the Mayor that evening, whose views he fully endorsed. Bussing on to the question of water, Mr Lysnar opposed the Council taking any .urtner steps to acquire Ine Waihirero ri- -erve. Ho did not see. why

the borough should be saddled w tli thiseven or eignt hundred acres. They .lid not require it, neither had they the means to acquire the land. lie complained that little progress had been made in obtaining water and drainage for Gisborne. Tnesc matters had brought him on to tin Council, and he was sorry that such pomprogress had been made. He considered the septic tank system was the best obtainable.

Cr Miller was in favor of keeping to the proposals already decided upon by tho ratepayers. He did not think they would bo justified in adopting a report from themselves on the line 3 suggested b.y tho Mayor. lie was disappointed at tho action of tho Finance Committee. Cr Harding followed iu tho sumo strain, although ho did not altogether oppose the recouunondafcions of Dr DoLisle. There had hardly a meeting passed during recent months that he had not asked what tho

Finance Committee were doing in regard to obtaining tho loan money, but lie had never succeeded in getting any satisfaction. Ho was opposed to committing the Council to any septic tank system until the loan proposals already decided upon by the ratepayers woro given effect to or revoked. Ho required some information from tho Finance Committee.

Cr Bright pointed out that Mr Mestaycr was opposed to tho septic tank system, and for that roason ho would vote against tho Mayor’s proposal. Ho recognised that tho Finance Commitleo had good reasons for withholding their report, but they had not relinquished tho hope of obtaining tho money at tho rate agreed to by tho ratepayers. Cr Hopburn disagreed with the Mayor’s proposals, and hoped that tho Council would not do away with tho drainago scheme.

Cr Jones was not so eonfidont as some members on the success of tho closo pan system. Ho thought tho public would look upon the sotting up of a committco to consider tho septic tank system as a backing down from the original proposals. Thoy required time to enable them to get the money, and ho boliovod it would bo obtained at 4 per cent. It was not tho place of the Council to set up such a eommittoo after tho voto of tho ratopayers. Cr Lysnar was about to address tho meeting again, when Cr Bright objected, on tho ground that ho had already spoken. After further discussion tho motion was lost, the Mayor and Crs Lysnar and Hopburn voting for it, and Crs Harding, Miller, Bright, Jones, ami Hopburn against. WORKS COMMITTEE. The Works Committee recommended tho Council, when funds permitted, to purchase a Yorkshire steam motor waggon. A lour-ton waggon would make eight trips per week, carrying four tons on tho waggon and two on the trailer each trip, or a totai of 48 tons for the week. Tho cost wouid he about L’O, as against JUu 4s at prosent. Cr Whinray urged tho necessity of obtaining u roud roller at tho same time as they purchased the motor waggon. It ■vould mean a great improvement in tho oils of tho Borough. Ho seconded tho .1 ;1 .ption of tl,o ri port. Ur Jones ilid not think tho Council should go to such groat expense in tho matter of purchasing a motor waggon fur t i ■ small amount of gravel they obtained iii year. Ho was of opinion that they

f. ,uid dovoco their efforts to securing g >, .el from Kaiteratahi, aud in this way l my couid at u reasonable cost havo passable roads. He regretted that ho should have to oppose the recommendation of tho Committeo.

Cr Bright said that tho Council required to adopt cheaper methods in regard to the haulage of metal, and the recommendation uf the Committee was a step in this direction. They had a large Borough and required a considerable amount of metal. The waggon would also bo required for other purposes. Cr Lysnar said that snob a machine would pay its own cost in less than a year. Cr Hopburn, a member of tho Works Committee, remarked that since tho Committee reported ho had given a great deal of consideration to tho question, and was inclined to change his miud as to tho necessity of obtaining tho waggon. The cost of loading and unloading, strengthening bridges, and many other matters had to be considered, and taking everything into account he did not see that there was much in it.

Cr Miller did not seo where the money was coming from. He was iu favor of the Borough going in for up-to-date machinery, paving the streets, etc., but recognised that thoy must wait until thoy had the means. It was only wasting time to talk of tho matter. Tho Mayor having replied, tho recommendations of the Committoe were adopted. DOG COLLARS. One tender was rocoived for dog collars, viz., £3 12s 6d, for two hundred. The tender was aecopted. LOAN PROPOSALS. Cr Miller proposed ■' That tho Finance .Jommittee ho asked to report on tlw likelihood of petting the loan money at 4 per cent.” Ho pointed out that tho fact of tho money not being forthcoming, was keeping everything back, and tho sooner tho committco stated whether they could get tho money or not tho better for all concerned. Personally, ho did not think tho money could be obtained at 4 per cent. Cr Lysnar seconded tho resolution, remarking that tho Council had simply boen played with up to tho prosent. A now Council would be elected in a few months, and tho matter would probably be hung up for another two years. Cr Whinray objected to tho Financo

Committee being bustled over the matter. Tho prooosals required careful consideration, and the old methods in regard to drainage and road construction, who being replaced by now. Cr Bright defended the action of the Finance Committee, and said that all efforts bad been made to secure the money at 4 per cent. They had not. however, given up all hope of obtaining the money at the rate mentioned.

The Mayor spoke on the sauic lines aCr Bright,' the reasons tl a militated against acquiring the money at the present time at -1 per cent. Or Whinrav deemed it was a fortuitions circumstancethat the mony market was unfavorable at the present time, lie an ucipated that a good deal of the money would not be required for the purposes for which they were raising it. Cr Miller replied, and said that what he had against the Committeo was that they had no possible chance of getting the money at 4 per cent., and knowing they, the Committee, should admit it, Me (Or Miller) wanted better roads, water and drainage, and he was prepared to paj for it. The motion was lost. Cr Lysnar meved “ That tno correspondence in regard to the loan be placed 0E the table.” Ho claimod that mort

was no correspondence m the possession of the Council to show that the money could not be obtained at 4 per cent. It was only a surmise on the part of soino people. He did not want them to take his word or Cr Bright s word, but that tho correspondence should speak for itself. Passing on, Cr Lysnar stated that the real reason of the money not being forthcoming, was that the Council wanted to borrow £IOO,OOO on a Borough the capital value of which only mounted to a littlo over £300,000, There

was also the question of the practicability of tho works which it was propose to be undertaken to be considered.

There being no seconder, Cr Lysnar's rnotiou in regard to the correspondence, lapsed. The Council adjourned at 9.45 p.m.