BOROUGH COUNCIL

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 924, 24 June 1903, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL

The iortniglif.lv meeting of Lie Council was held last mgnt. Present : I'he Mayor (Mr Townley), and Cr.s Morrison, Lysriar, Ji. phiirri, Sum rve:i, I Larding, Johnston, Miller, arid Vv'mnra.y. The following telegram was received from .Mr Can ml on ihe ilith inst.: “ J have seen Sir Joseph Ward re ciock and gravel; there viJI he no difficulty with regard to the former, directions will he given for is to be put up. I have recommended that you should put it up yourselves under the eve- of the Public Works officer, it will

he a large saving m expense, in the- matin'of gravel Sir Joseph Ward will let me know later on.”

.Mr Carroll wired as follows on tho 22nd inst.: Sir Joseph Ward told me distinctly that lie would send necessary instructions a'ong fur die erecting of the clock. 1 cannot understand the delay. I shall, however, enquire and let you know this even-

mg. Further telegrams were read, practically giving the Council authority to proceed with tiio erection of the clock, subject to Mr Armstrong's supervision. The .Mayor said they might take it they rimy had authority, though Mr Armstrong had not received word from tire Governmini. Mr Armstrong had in hi* mind a plan fur the erection of tho clock, and die best thing would bo to set up . uiali commute,!. lie thought the letters of instruction ware in Wellington, and they would have to be obtained. It Was a puzzle to oim why there had been so much delay. Ce Morrison seconded the motion.

In reply to Cr Lysnar tho Mayor said the first work would rather he mechanical than carpentering work, that of a watchmaker, until it was erected. They hud had an offer from Mr Seymour. Cr Morrison said that the Mastcrtori ciock was erected under tho supervision of a watchmaker and was taken cure of by him.

Tho Mayor, and Crs Uurding, Miller tnd Soinervell wero elected a committee ,o deal with tho work.

A disinfecting lamp, costing 12s 6d was received from the Health Department.

Tiie Clerk of tho Cook County Council wrote asking for the Council’s share 15s) of the cost of conducting the business of tho Waiapu Licensing Committee for tiie year ended March til, 190 J. Or Miller said there wfis no election, and they should have information as to tho details.

The Clerk said the County Council was the controlling body ; all kinds of forms had to bo supplied, and there wore advertisements and the Clock’s allowance (j£2dj for the year. When there was an oieciiuii it cost the borough TOO. Councillors were satisfied with the explanation.

Mr J. Eaton, secretary, on behalf of tho Druids’ Soc-iai Committee, wrote asking for the use of the Council’s flags, etc., on tho occasion of their annual reunion on July 'Jth. Cr Miller proposed that tho request bo granted. —Carried. Mr \V, Sandlant, eoaehbuildor, wrote asking for tho Council’s permission to remove two oid poplar stumps in front of ins promises. Tho Mayor and Cr Morrison said tho stumps wore unsightly. Permission was granted.

Mr Morgan, Overseer, reported as follows :—I have the honor to report on the following : The broken weather of Into has given a great 1 pre-ssuro of work in all parts of the town. A considerable amount of cleaning and patching has had to bo done. Tho streets are still in need of a considerable amouut of repair. Gladstone road : This road 13 very much in need of a coat of metal from Peel street to Customhouse street, hut I do not think it possible to do tiie two blocks with this year’s

metal, as tho roads will require a good deal of patching. I think one block might bo done, say, from Peel street to Lowe street,

his block oeing tho most worn of the wo ; to do this block 2tio yards of metal ,ould bo required. I have had the seats i tho Recreation Ground painted and jade a fixture as authorised by the Coun-

cil. Two of tho seats have been removed from their position und broken. Esplanade road : I have had tho earth that has been deposited on this road trimmed up. Grey streot footpath : Having understood that the path near tho bridge was to be fenced because of insufficient light, and your Council having since authorised the erection of a lamp at this place, I would ask instructions on same. I would respectfully submit to your Council the great need of a stable for the horses at tho Council’s paddocks. There is no convenience for horses or man in tho present shed, which is very rough on tho horses this tirno of the year. A long discussion onsuod on tho subject of tarring a section of Gladstone Road. Cr Miller urged that something should bo done at the earliest opportunity. He cited tho cases of Napier and Christchurch.

The Mayor said that none of the tarring would stand unless thoy had proper shingle. Eeforring to tho question of metal, Cr Whinray said that it must be apparent to Councillors that when metal was spread it was half ground away before it had settled. By obtaining a heavy roller tho Council would save thousands of pounds. Ho did not want to seo any uioro metal put on tho roads until thoy had a roadroller.

Cr Miller wanted to see a report from the Overseer in regard to tarriDg tho roads. A picco of road could bo triod as an experiment. Cr Harding said that thcro was not a yard of street in Gisborne fit to put metal on. In Wellington and Christchurch they put as much metal on a chain as thoy did on livo chains in Gisborne. It was simply nonsense talking about tarring Gladstone Road. There was not n city in Now Zealand that had ns much traffic on it as had Gladstone Rond, it was a waste to spend money in tarring the roads in their present

commion. Cr Morrison pointed out that tho crossings in Gisborne had worn splendidly. , The Mayor thought that a section of Gladstone Road from tho bridge upwards could he tried. Cr Somervell thought that Gladstone Road had a gooil foundation of metal. He had scon big stones put in. Cr Harding ; The metal was all picked up whilst you were at the Thames. Cr Somervell: Then you require a now foundation. (Laughter.) What the Council undertook in this direction should bo well done.

Tbo Mayor suggested that tbe Overseer should report at next meeting as to the advisability cf tarring a section of Gladaton. Road and the cost of same. Miller urged that some better nictt.od should ho obtained lor putting im inl on. Tnc Overseer said that it would bo b iter if the Council could afford it to pick up the road before spreading the mend. Greater care might also he taken in regard to the size and class of metal put on. He behoved it would bo more economical for the Council to do this in tho long run. In answer to Cr Miller, the Overseer \ said that he could not recommend the use

ol ft traction engino for rolling. Cr Lysnar wanted to see a specific portion of the loan money car-marked for road machinery. It was decided to obtain a, report from tho Overseer as to cost of preparing and tarring ft section of road. It was decided to offer a reward of .Go for tho conviction of tbe persons who damaged tho seats in the Recreation Ground.

Cr Somervell said that ho had seen ono of tho damaged scats, and it was a shame that they should have such wilful and evil-minded persons in tho community. A general report from tho Inspector of Nuisances was read and adopted,