BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1428, 12 April 1905, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly mooting of tho Gisborno Borough Counoii was hold last evening. Presont: His Worship tho Mayor (Mr J. Townloy), Crs Morrison, Whinray, Hepburn, Johnston, Miller, Harding, Kennedy, and Somervell. OPENING UAWA BRIDGE.

An invitation was received from tho Uawa Bridge Committee (Tolago Bay) for tho members of tho Counoil to attend tho opening ceremony, to bo hold on Easter Monday.—Tho invitation was accepted with thanks, CORRESPONDENCE. -

A lengthy letter was reoeived from the Australian Mutual Provident Society, pointing out that the £75,003 loan to the Counoil had not. been finally agreed to, as it had to be confirmed by the principal board at Sydney. Details in connection with the loan were dealt with at some length. It was not oxpeotod that the ohief board would withhold their sanction to the loan.—The Mayor said the lottor was a very satisfactory one, and it was not likoly that any objection would be made by the board. The financial position of Gisborne was very good, the liabilities of the borough being very small. The Council were all the time aware that the sanotion of the Sydney board would have to be obtained. —Members expressed their satisfaction in regard to the letter, having no fears that the loan would bo finally granted. Mr Witty, secretary of the Harbor Board, wrote stating that Messrs Stafford, iKowioy, and others had applied to the Board to havo sufficient drodging done to afford faoility for bathing at the Carnarvon I street jetty, and the Board had requested the overseer to inspeot the locality. At the last meeting of the Board he reported as fallows: “An examination has been made of the locality abreast of Carnarvon street and the bathing shed, and a rough sketch prepared showing timber breastwork for retaining spoil removed by the sand pump. The cost of this,'including labor, would be about, £2B, to which £5 would need to bo added for repairs to jetty.” After some discussion, the Board decided that they had no power to undertake suoh work, and a resolution was [ passed that tho matter bo referred to the Borough Council with full permission to carry out work as shown on the plan, should they undertake the same. The Mayor said the work would cost about £33.—Cr Kennedy thought that in view of the work being done by Messrs Nelson Bros., and the probable continuation of tbs same, the matter should stand over for the present.—Consideration deferred until next meeting. Dr Chas P. Scott wrote asking that the following matters be laid before the Council :—“ No 1. At some expense I erected a lamp on the corner of Fox and Clifford streets, Whatanpoko, and find that your Council’s lamp at tho dame corner so obscures my light that it cannot be seen from Ormond Hoad until after midnight, when your lamp is extinguished. With this explanation I would ask your Council to allow me to have my name on their lamp, and the glass changed to red, when I would be willing to pay whatever proportion of cost for lighting the same. It would then be alight until daylight each morning.” Hs also called attention to tbe faot that the corner of Ormond road and Fox street is in a dangerous state for vehicular traffic, very narrow, and the road at the corner crumbling and subsiding into the drain. Cr Miller thought there was little chance of the request being entertained. They were all willing to pay a little for an advertisement. Cr Hepburn said the Council might remove their lamp to a spot where it would be of greater use. On the motion of Cr Kennedy it wa3 agreed that Dr Scott should bo informed that the Council could not entertain his request. The Town Clerk was also requested to interview Dr Scott in regard to his taking over the Borough lamp. The complaint in regard to the culvert, was referred to the overseer

• A number of town and country butchers wrote objecting to the use of the abattoirs until such time as the road was put in proper state of rop3ic.—The Mayor said that the road could be put in repair when the abattoirs were opened. There were many roads in the Borough in a worse state than the road referred to.—Cr Miller urged that something should be done. It was no use having abattoirs unless they had a goad road to them.—The Mayor said that the overseer was arranging for repairs to be done to tho road. Mephan Ferguson, Wanganui, wrote asking when the Council would be oalling tenders Tor pipes required for their water supply scheme. He also requested plans, specifications, and tender form to be forwarded as soon as they were available, also the name of the engineer who will design and superintend the carrying out of the scheme.

Mr E. J. Chrisp wrote stating that the Harbor Board had leased to the Gisborne Freezing Works a small piece of landabutting the road in front of the Works. On investigating the title it was found that this road was actually included in the certificate of title to the Harbor Board land, and that consequently there was really no legal road to'tho small piece leased to the Freezing Works. Under section 2 of the Public Works Act, 1903 ; tho District Land Registrar refuses to register, but will do so if the Council resolves that it is satisfied that the section of the Act does not apply. The Harbor Board intend taking steps to have the road properly dedicated and placed under the control of tho Council, but that will take some time. He therefore aelted that the Counoil in the meantime pass the resolution, which will in no way prejudice them and enable the Harbor Board to register their lease. He enclosed form of resolution. The Council only needed to be satisfied that the land Was not being used for dwellings. The Council would not be put to any expense over the matter.

A resolution was passed agreeing to the terms of the solicitor’s letter. Messrs F. Rhodes, C. A. Foots, D. Gordon, J. Maynard, and McConnell and Millington, being a majority of the occupiers of all the shops in tho borough of Gisborne carrying on the trade or business of butchers, petitioned the Council to have tho Gazette notice of the 21st February, 1905, re early closing, cancelled so far only as it affected the trade of butchers in Gisborne.

It was decided to forward the petition to the Labor Department. A petition from the grocers of the town to the samb end was also forwarded to the department. A leDgthy report was received from the committee appointed to inspect the different gravel beds in the Waipaoa river. The committee thought the Kaitaratahi gravel was the beat, and recommended that arrangements bo made with the Government for the same.

REPORTS.

The Overseer reported as follows: Grey street: The gravel has been slow of delivery for this work. Since your Wt meeting 120yds havo been delivered by the Railway Department. A few leads of beach gravel have been put on tho footpaths of this street. The drains are beirg cleaned out throughout the town for tbe winter mouths, and tarring has been done in the principal part 3of the town. Norih Gisborne : The drains in this part of tbe town are being cleaned out, and two new culverts have been put in at the'junction of Ballance and Russell streets. Stone contract: The contract is now completed, I would recommend a final payment for same.

The Nightwatohman reported that there had been a fire at Mr G. Humphreys’ residence at 1.25 on the morning of Friday, 7th instant. t