BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 936, 8 July 1903, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Tho fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held last night, there being present: The Mayor (Air Townley) and Crs Morrison, Lyanar, Whinray, Miller, Johnston, Harding, and Somervell. A number of carters petitioned the Council to allow the use of the Kaiti road

leading to tho Gisborne Freezing Works,

guaranteeing to deposit on the road each week not less than one loud of gravel, under tho direction of tho Council’s Overseer.

Cr Morrison proposed that the offer be accepted. Cr Lysnar said the permission should bo from day to day in the discretion of the Ovorseor. While the weathor was fine they should facilitate the work of the carters, but in case of wet weather the load of gravel would be of no avail to prevent damage to the rood. ' Cr Morrison said the suggestion was in accordance with his motion.

Cr Miller wanted it distinctly understood that tho Council would got the load in per week, whether an individual carter happoned to use the road for a week or not.

It was agreed to give tho permission. In regard to any Carters who made ll3e of the road without agreeing to these terms it was stated that the other carters would soon have them called to account. Tho Colonial Secretary forwarded an extract from the Now Zealand Gazotte, intimating that Wednesday, 15th July, will be observed as a public holiday in the Government offices throughout New Zealand for tho celebration of Arbor Day. ■ Cr Morrison suggested they should vote about £5 to tbe Beautifying Association to plant some particular trees in Grey street.

Cr Whinray said tho Council should retain their own functions, and not delegate them. Cr Johnston said tho Association had all the appliances necessary. Cr Morrison : Say, let them take Grey street.

Or Whinray : That was suggested last year and they did nothing. Cr Morrison : Yes, you opposed them. Cr Miller: Prom the support some Councillors give them wo cannot expect them to do much. The Mayor moved that planting be done on the depot. Crs Harding and Lysnar supported Cr Morrison’s suggestion. Cr Whinray suggested planting on the railway site frontage. ? Tho Mayor: Better put them on the promenade. It was agreed to vote £5 to the Association, as proposed by Cr Morrison. M f Lissaut Clayton, Provincial Secretary of the Farmers’ Union Executive, wrote as follows:—“I atn directed to write and ask tho Borough Council if it could take some steps to iiave Grey street, leading to tho railway station, put in order, as its present state is a great inconvenience to country people arriving by the train.” It was understood .that Peel street was meant, and not Grey street. Tho Mayor said the work would soon be done if they could got the shingle.

Further information was obtained from Mr A. Brittain as to a steam waggon. Mr H. D. Boll’s opinion concerning the proposed borough loan was tabled. Cr Whiriruy said the opinion was not intelligible until the questions were also giveD. Cr Lysnar t said it was better to have the questions. Cr Harding : Let tbo solicitor give the questions and the interpretations. The Mayor said from Mr Boll’s experience in municipal laws he was the best qualified legal gentleman in New Zealand to give an opinion. In alluding* to the Wellington works, Cr Lysnau interpolated that Mr Mestayer had had to do with a scheme mentioned which had cost rEIJO.OOO more than tho estimate.

Cr Harding said there was no use of them faking the paragraphs one by one and Crs Whinray lind Lysnar raising objections, Let them have a special sitting with tho solicitor present. Cr Whinray said the questions would do.

’ Tbe Mayor moved that the questions and answers bo obtained and dealt with.

Crs Harding and Morrison objected to such delay, and the Mayor said he would propose a special meeting for that night week.

Mr Lysnar said they were not going to diotate to Mr Bell, If the questions were correct they must respect the opinion. He told them the loan was irregular, and they must begin again. What they wanted was a special night to settle the loan proposals. They wopld not need to consider the opinion five minptes. LB regretted that when ho stood there two years ago and asked them to got the opinion they did not do so. The whole of the proceedings in regard to the previous loan were wasted. Cr Miller: Question. After some further remarks by Cr Lysnar, Cr Miller rose to a point of order, and the Mayor ruled against Or Lysnar, who moved that a special meeting bo held to consider the loan proposals. Cr Harding said he took no exception (0 the opinion, but thought if any question were to bo raised the solicitor should be there. If it was only a matter of ten minutes thoy should get the solicitor and have the thing settled. Cr Lysnar said the opinion would bo clear it they could read the English language. Cr HardiDg : Some here cannot. Cr Johnston said a fourth standard boy could understand tho opinion. Cr Lysnar : Wo don’t know the questions. Cr Johnston : Oh, wo all do.

It wa3 agreed to have the opinion brought before the next meeting with the questions. Cr Morrison proposed that the solicitor be asked to be present, but this was lost, Cr Whiuray describing it as au insult to the intelligence of the Council when they could all road the opinion. The committee’s report favoring a lease of tbe Old Men’s Home site was adopted. The Sanitary Committee met on July 2nd, wh(in thore were present: Tbe Mayor and Crs Lysnar, Millor, and Morrison. The committee’s report was as follows : “ After consideration of the letter received from tho Galvanised Iron Company, Auckland, in reference to the sanitary pans, it was decided not to adopt the suggested pan, as the company were deviating from the plans originally cited, inasmuch as the Council could not ordor less than 200 pans at a time, whereas originally no number was specified ; also that apparently only one man was to supply tho pans- to the public at 8s 6d caoh, in lieu of any of the plumbers being allowed to ordor pans from the copy in any quantity at 6s 6d each, and retailed at 8s 6d,” Cr Lysnar moved that unless the offer made to the Council bo adhered to the

committee's recommendation be adopted. A letter was read showing that the firm had supplied a largo quantity to tMr F. Hall, Or Lysnar said tbo Council could not take 200. They might make a limit o£ twenty. Or Lysnar said they should stipulate that tbo Council or tradespooplo could obtain lots of about fifty. Cr Harding : Are wo going to dictate to them ?

Cr Somervell said they had simply to consider the Council’s requirements. It did not matter who the pans were sold to. Cr Harding said he would go farther and say the pans must not be more than 8s fid to the public. The Committee’s report was agreed to. Tho Public Works Committee reported having met on July 2nd and inspected the fire brigade station. Present: Tho Mayor and Crs Somervell and Miller. Your Committee have to recommend that the Council erect a loose box with a small hay loft, for the purpose of keeping one of the horses there at night time in readiness for taking out tho manual engine to a fire when situated at any distance from the station; also it is necessary that a few new hydrant branches, eto., be ordered. The Committee also suggest that the place be fenced in, and that an inexpensive shed for making asphalt be erected. In regard to tho firemen’s room your Committee would urge tho Council to extend the partition to the front of the shed, making an entrance from the street and removing the present largo doors further eastward. This would greatly improve the accommodation for the men. Your Committee also recommend that tho practice of one of tho butchers in throwing brine and greasy water on Peel street bo put a stop to immediately.

The report was adopted. The Inspector reportod : “ As requested at your last meeting, I have visited the two boarding-houses which have no baths fixed on their premises, and beg to report as follows : The proprietors oi those houses are quite willing to comply with the domands of your Council, but ask where they are going to get tho water from to supply tbe baths, as their premises are so situated as to rain catchment area that it takes them all their timo, if there is one month’s dry weather, to supply tho demands required for culinary purposes, and therefore would bo un able to supply water for bath rooms when most Deeded. I have also gone into the question of what it would cost to erect a building for storing kerosene and painters’ spirits. During the last 12 months from July, 1902, to July, 1903, there has been over 5000 cases of kerosene alone received over the Giaborno wharf. In the first place, from enquiries I have made from tho different storekeepers, this store, if erected, would have to bo placed in a central and conveniently situated position, so as not to involve unnecessary cutting or handling. It would not be necoasary to provide storage room for tho above mentioned amount to be in hand all at one timo ; but taking into consideration the increase of population, aud the number of uil engines, wmch uro fast increasing in this district, I would recommedtr.that an iron shed, 50ft long, 24ft wide, with a 12ft stud, with a sft passage ruunmg up the centre and divided into different compartments, with a concrete floor and lighted from the roof. I estimate the cost of such a building as above mentioned at £225, which would give a storage capacity for some years to come. Health report : There have been no case of infectious diseases reported in the Borough since your last meeting.” The Overseer reported on works in progress, and gave an exhaustive report on road-making and tarring. The report was adopted. The Department of Public Health forwarded a couple of plans of septic tanks suitable for (1) town installation, and (2) ■ for privato residences.