BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 829, 18 February 1903, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Borough Council was held late evening. Present: His Worship the Mayor, Crs Harding, Jones, Lysuar, Mason, Whim-ay, Hepburn, anti JtSrigui. SKI-AItATE LAND BOARD. The Survey Department wrote in regard to tile* Council s recommendation tout a separate Land Board for the district should be loaned The matter was at present under consideration. '1 he Mayor said tile district was growing very last, and liad a right to a separate Land Board. IT Wllinrat UlOLlgut tnat Steps should be taken to lolly piae-e before rite Department the* need tor the 1 establishment of a separate Land Board. Cr Harding suggested that a deputation from tile- Council snould meet Mr Carroll during the week, and urge the matter. JT was decided to wait upon Mr Carroll on Friday morning, and urge the need of a separate Land Board. PUBLIC ABATTOIRS. The Department of Agriculture wrote asking what was being done in regard to the establishment of abattoirs in the district. Cr Whinray : They are a little behind in this matter. The Mayor: All that we need say is that everything is ready, and we are waiting for the Government to vote the money. It was decided to forward an answor in accordance with the Mayor’s suggestion. HEALTH MATTERS. The District Health Ofliccr (Dr DeLisle) wrote recommending certain precautions to be taken against typhoid fever. He also asked for certain information in regard to.the district, as he desired to include it in a book that ho was getting up dealing with the district under his control. TKLKCRAPII POLES. The Inspector of Telegraphs wrote with regard to the removal of the telegraph poles from the road on to the footpath, and asking the co-operation of the Council. The Mayor pointed out that the Taw provided that the poles mu9t go on to the footpaths. It was decided to comply with the wishes of the Department in regard to the removal of the posts. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. The Borough Inspector reported as follows : —“ I have tho honor to report to your Council that siuce I resumed duty I have been inspecting in the Borough. As requested at last meeting of your Council re report on Oruig’s drain and water closet, I have visited tho premises mentioned and inspected same. I have also seen Mr J. Craig, who informs me that the water closet is connected with the main drain, which empties into the river above the bridge. Mr Craig informs me that it has been connected with tho river since the shop was built, but very little used, and he is quite willing to have tho closet cut off from the drain if your Council thinks that it is detrimental to health from a sanitary point of view.

Health report: I have to report two cases of scarlet fever which have occurred in tho Borough since your last meeting. I would again draw the attention of your Council to the necessity of having an infectious ward or a cottage set apart for that purpose, as when a case occurs which requires to bo removed you cannot find a place or any one to nurse them, except you put them in a tent, which might aot very well in some cases, but does not in all. This is a question that- ought to be gone into at once, as a case occurred today which has caused the placo to be closed for a considerable time. If the patient had been removed away from the place at once this would not have occurred; also it would have reduced the cbanco of the disease spreading.” WATER SUPPLY, The following report dealing with Mr Cooper’s offer was submitted : “ The committee appointed to interview Mr Cooper with regard to his water supply scheme met that gentleman on Satuvday, Bth February, 1903, and after going carefully into tho subject recommend that the Council agreo to Mr Cooper's proposals, viz., that he be paid £IOOO providod his source of water supply should be adopted as the water supply of the Borough of Gisborno. In tho event of Mr Cooper’s source of water supply not being adopted, but in after years being used as an auxiliary to another scheme, Mr Cooper is not to bo entitled to any compensation whatever. Your committeo consider that with this safeguard properly provided for, the Council should at once have this source of supply investigated. Mr Cooper refuses to in any way reduce the amount of £1000.”

Cr Bright moved the adoption of the report, as he thought the Council might do good in so doing. At any rate he was sure that they could do no harm. Tko Major approved of every source being investigated. If the Council did not adopt it, they would he under no liability. He seconded the adoption of the report. Cr Harding said that Mr Cooper was most emphatic as to the quantity and quality of the water, and he could not be persuaded to reduce his demands. There was no fear of slips in the locality. Cr Lysnar hoped the Council would carry the resolution, so that they might see the source. He considered that there would be a saving of about fifteen thousand pounds on the initial source.

Cr Wkinray approved of the report. If there was the amount of water stated by Mr Cooper, and there was the elevation he described, the Council could not do wrong in making tho offer. Cr Jones opposed the adoption of the report. Previously the Council had offered fifty pounds for the discovery of a source, and now they offered a thousand pounds. The latter offer should be open to the public as the former had been.

Cr Mason thought the Council should i first obtain the loan money before the 1 ratepayers were pledged to pay a thou- , sand pounds for the discovery of any pari ticular source. He opposed the adoption i of the report. The report was adopted, Crs Jones and Mason dissenting. Cr Bright suggested that a legal agreement with Mr Cooper should be prepared before any further steps in regard to the source were taken. This was agreed to. overseer's report. The Overseer reported as follows: “ Tarring and other general work has been carried out during the last fortnight. New work in tarring has been the footpath in Derby street from Gladstone road to Childers street, on the east side of the street, and a new crossing on the north side of Gladstone road at same street. I have had the breastwork at the foot of Ballance street taken down and rebuilt, as the old work was much out of shape,' and being very open caused the water to wash the bank away the whole width of the road. The Beautifying Association having taken in hand to improve this end of Ballance street adjacent to the footbridge, I would suggest that the short portion of the bridge (about 16ft) that has a sharp fall to the street be raised to a straight line with the main portion of the bridge. It will be much better for the traffic in every way, anl will take away the up and down grade that now looks so absurd. This portion of the bridge is very much decayed and will have to be re-

newed shortly ; it is a very simple and not expensive work. The boiler of the fire engine came duly to hand, but nothing further has been done.”