BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1721, 11 April 1906, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. Tho fortnightly meeting of tho Borough Couneil was held last evening, when tbe I following members were present :—His Worship the Mayor (Mr John Townley), Crs Miller, Bright, Whinray, Sheridan, and Webb. Apologies for non-altendanoe were received from Ora Rees, Hurding, Lysnar, and Colley. ROEBUCK ROAD BRIDGE. The special ordar for the Roebuck road bridge was confirmed, Tho order for material has already goDe forward, and the ereotioa of the bridge w.ll bo proceeded with at an early date. BANK OVERDRAFT. Tbe usual resolutions dealing with the Couooil’s bank overdraft were passed. FIRE BRIGADE.

A deputation from the Fire Brigade’ consisting of Messrs Wildish and Nield> waited upon the Council asking for a vote in order to oope with tbe requirements for the year. A number of new helmets, as well as more up-to-date plant, was

required. Or Whinray asked what the estimated cost would be. It was oocsssary that tbe Brigade should be as effectively equipped as possible.

Mr Nield pointed out the need for the men beiog supplied with belts, axes, and other nooessary year. Cr Bright moved, 11 That the Brigade be supplied with tho material require!.” S.conded by Cr Miller, and carried. WATER SUPPLY.

Mr R Hay, Engineer for the Water Works, wrote as follows : —“ I have received the following cable from \ ancouver, whioh I forward for yourCouccil’s information : 1 Woodpipes, expect to save 13.000 pounds. It is most probable will ereot factory New Zealand. Oar repre sentative will be at Auckland to arrive about middle of June.—Canadian P.pe.’ " Deferred until consideration of details of soheme in CommitteeWAIKANAE ESPLANADE.

A letter was received from Mr lan SimsoD, enclosing a skotoh plan of proposed works on tho Waikanae beaoh to prevent further encroachment of the sea. Gr Bright suggested tho matter should be referred to the Overseer for an estimate of oost.

Or Webb vigorous'y protested ngainst this course being adopted. He contended tho proposed work could be osrriedj out for ten pounds a chain. Or Sheridan thought it was absurd for the Council to proceed with the work without first obtaining export advice. Or Webb was proceeding to ask the Building Inspector as to wbat the timber in the works required would ocst, when Cr Bright interposed, urging that as tha Council had an Overseer, he should be the person consulted. After a little lively discussion, the letter was referred to the Overseer, Cr Webb remirking that this only meant shelving the matter.

BAND DONATIONS. The Gisborne Rifles Band wrote placing tho position of the Band before the Counc'l, and asking for assistance. The application followed on one from the City Band made at tho previous meeting.

The application was referred to the Estimate Committee. SLUM DWELLINGS.

The District Health Officer (Dr. DaLisle) wrote in regard to the prevention of slum dwellings, drawing the attention of the Council to section Id, sub-section c of tbe Public Health Amendment Act, 1903, authorising tho looal authoritisa to make a by -law prohibiting the erection of buildings not having a frontage to a publio or private street, and preventing the over crowding of lands with buildings. “ Considering the rapid increase of popula'jon in Gisborne and the tendency to crowd buildings on insufficient ourtilage,” res marked Dr. DeLisle, “ I strongly urge you to incorporate in your by-laws regulations in accordance with the Aot that I have quoted, in the interests of the publio health of the inhabitants of your town, the prevention of overcrowding and the erection of slum buildings.” It was decided to deal with the matter when tho revision of by-laws oame up for consideration. The Health Officer also wrote urging the use of donbled-eealod pane for night soil, contending that their use would prove a great factor in checking the sprfad of typhoid fever. INSUFFICIENT CURTILAGE.

Tho Health Officer reported adversely on a newly-erroteJ house in Lowe street belonging to Captain Tucker, which was possessed of au insufficient curtilage as required by section 352 of tbo Municipal Corporations Act. Ho called upon the Council to serve notice upon the owner to make the alterations which ho suggested.

The Council decided to serve tho necessary notice as requested by the Health Officer. INSPECTOR’S REPORT.

The Borough Inspector reported • “ 3inco your last meeting I have been inspecting in various parts of Iho borough, and find tho most of places in a eat sfaotory condition of oleaDliooss, The fencing around the cottages at tbe abattoirs, wbioh was authorised by your Counoil s -me time ago, has been oompleted in a satisfactory manner. The piece of ground at the bottom of the cemetery reserve, whioh your Council authorised to be fenced in for a sheep paddock, has not bsen started yet, and before doing so I would reoom mend that the whole of tbo ocmatery reserve bo fenced in, as it would only require a fenoo on tha roud line and one on tbe back next tho sra. It would reduce the expense considerably and scoure the advantage of a 43-acro paddock, which is well sheltered for sheep, and it would always be improving the ground.” Tho report was adopted. OVERSEER’S REPORT.

Tho Overseer reported as follows: — ‘■Tho nl’oratinns au'horised ni the corners of some of tho blocks on Whataupoko are being carried out. To provide gratings for tho crossings at Custom House st-oet and Gladstone road would cost from £o to £6 10s eaob, aooordiDg to size. Abattoir road—lf this road is form-id permanently about 45 chains will require filling in. When this part of theroid is filled up to tho required levol and gravelled

it will bo vory heavy for trafllo for a long time. I estimate the cost of formation of 85 ohains at £385, gravelling 85 chains of road and 46 ohains of path £697 15s, total £IOB2 16s. As authorised, lam having s Mr Hopburn’s land at Patutabi testod for 1 stono. lam not in a position yot to state j the quantity of stono available, but tho quality is good. Russell stroot. —Tho west ond of tbis stroot oomplainod of at last mooting would tako 120 yards of gravel to put it in ropfir. This would cost £33, other work to preparo for gravol £2, in all £35. Tho drains in this streot aro being oloanod out. Tho drains in Ballauao stroot havo also bean oleaned. Mr Clayton oomplains that tho water doos not get away from his piaoe fast enough in a vory hoavy rain, but rises on bis land.

Tho oauso is tho drain is not graded sufficiently towards Whitaker slreet; hero tho formation being of a loose nature, tbo drain has been pitohed and grouted, and cannot bo lowered unless tbo pitohing is removed. The path m Ballanoo slreet I near Ruseoll street is rather low, and requires to be fillod up for two or throo I ohains and gravelled, when it is possible to I get gravel for it. There has been no I gravel dolivered tbo last four weeks. It I is useless to form paths at this time of tho I year and have no gravel to put on.” Tho report was adopted. CONTINUOUS VERANDAHS.

Or Webb urged that the building regulations in reg rrd to tho uniformity in height of verandahs should bo striotly observed. A number of new buildings were in oourso of construction, and one verandah should fit ints the other. Tho veran-

dahs should bo cjnneoted, so that they would bo continuous.

Tho matter was roferrod to tho Building Inspeotor, Councillors warmly eupporting Or Webb’s suggestion.