BOROUGH COUNCIL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2110, 19 June 1907, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL

Tho Gisborne Borough Council sat i Inst evening. l'rosont, tho Mayor (Mr. J. Townloy), and Ors. Wliinray, aiieridun, l’ettio, Somervell, Mann, Sawyor, Miller, Bright and Dr. Williams. BY-LAWS. A now by-law was approved extending tlio brick or “inner” area to include soctions 47, 48, 49, and CO Lowe street, sections 56, 57, 59 and 67, 68,' 69 and 70 I‘eel street, and sections 137, 138, 139, 142 and 143 Head’s Quay- . . . Dealing with a proposed special order declaring African box-thorn,

found and gorso as noxious weeds within the Borough Cr. Sheridan urged that box-thorn should be totally eradicated within the Borough. Other Councillors thought this would be a hardship and would mean that tlio plant could not bo used in connection with dividing fences. Cr. Somervell said the Council had distinctly decided to have the boxtliorn hedges abutting on roads eradicated. The thorns were dangerous to children, and his own chilli had suffered for months and lost a finger through an injury by thorns. As to a query of how a by-law would affect hedges, Cr. Sheridan said that the latter would have to ho removed by the tenants upon receipt of a written notico from tlio Town Clerk. After further discussion the special older was carried by 5 to 3 ; Crs. M a nil, Pettie, and Sawyer being in til3 minority. CROSSINGS. Messrs. Rees Jones, J. A. Sceats, J Faulkner, M. J. Parsons and G. Sawyer, residents of Bloomfield road and Abbott street, asked for a footway across Gladstone road, opposite Blc oomfield road. Cr. Sawyer did not see why there were not crossings at all the intersections.

The Mayor said it was a matter of finds. , , , Cr. Pettie suggested that the whole qi estion of crossings should be ropirted upon by the Engineer as soon a; he could find time. The letter was referred to the Engineer. SCORE ROAD. The contractor for Score road, Kaiti (Mr. A. F. Matthews), asked tliafthe road, having boon, completed and inspected by.-tne Engineer, be taken over by the Council. The Engineer recommended this, mid paid a compliment to the contractor for his goqil work. It was one of the best bits of work lie (Mr. Gibbon) had seen done here. As the matter was not urgent it was left in the Engineer’s hands. The river end of the road is to be reported upon.

RACE HOLIDAYS. Mr. G. Nasmith requested, on behalf of the Gisborne Racing Club, that on the occasion of the Club’s Steeplechase Meeting (Thursday and Fiiday, 4th and stli July), it may be decided to close business premises at 11 o’clock on the Thursday instead oi the usual hour. He added that owing to the shortness oi tlio days tho first race was started at 1J..3U in order to ensure cliciv completion before darkness set in. Cr. Whinray did not believe is racing interfering with business. Let people attend to their own affairs. Cr. Sheridan said that in the pas. the business places had closed at r.oon. This was a branch of sport that was as much entitled to .-onsideration as football or other pastimes. It was no good being puritanical—the fact remained that racing was here to stay. He moved that 12 o’clock be fixed as the closing hour. Cr. Pettie said it was a populai meeting, and in past years the shops had closed at 12. Cr. Miller did not think the Council should fix an hour, but agreed that a recommendation should be made to the business people to close at 12.

An amendment by Cr. Whinray declining the request, was lost, and the motion, fixing 12 o’clock as the closing hour, was then carried by a large majority, only Cr. Whinray’e voice being heard in dissent. ' WATERWORKS. Mr. Robert Hay reported:—“The reticulation contract is practically completed with the exception of the river crossings and the connections for house services. The whole of - the material for the main pipe line contract is row manufactured and one further shipment will complete the transport, from Wanganui to Gisborne. The contractor lias two gangs of men employed at Te Arai, and the number of chains of pipes laid per day is increasing as the work approaches Gisborne. There is at the date of writing about nine miles of pipelaying to _ complete this cotitiact.”

..The A. j\l. I*. Society, Wellington, v riting on waterworks loan matters notified that a cheque for £13,988 2. would be sent by July 1. The Society noted, as desired, that the Council would require the final instalment of £IO,OOO rear the end of September. BUTCHERS’ LICENSES. . Mr. C. R. Neale, Government Veterinarian, presented a. report on the different butchers’ shops, the remarks on each being:-—O. C. Duncan ■ Premises clean and in good order, with drainage connections. D Gordon, Makaraka: These premises are kept thoroughly clean and are well looked' after. E. Harris: Premises are clean and well kept. The proprietor is putting up a new building almost-directly. R, Hill: Premises exceptionally clean and up-to-date. McConnell and Co.: Clean and well kept. J. Maynard: Prcmises are beautifullly clean and are right up-to-date. Pilcher Bros.: Premises well kept and clean. J. AVack: This shop, which is confieud almost solely to the sale of small goods, is kept in very good order. ‘‘Seeing that all the above purveyors of meat are keeping their premises in a very cleanly manner,” the inspector continued, “I recommend that their licenses be renewed for the coming year.”—Licenses renewed. BOARDING HOUSES.

The Inspector (Mr. 1 ittle) reporcc that ho had found the boarding licuses (22 in number) clean and well kept, whilst there were no overcrowding With two exceptions all the promises had bathroom accommods tion, and the two referred to would have baths installed when the water was available. Ho rocommended tin renewal of the licenses.

Hie Council granted renewal, making it a stipulation in the two case: quoted that bathroooms bo provided as soon as possible. OTHER LICENSES.

The inspector also paid a visit to the explosive depots, kerosene stores, etc., and found all the premises suitable.—Revewal of licenses granted. FURTHER. STREET LIGHTING.

The Engineer (Mr. E. Harvey Gibbon) reported that by increasing the amount set down'for street lighting from £3OO to £4-50 per annum, seventeen more lamps could be erected, besides replacing twelve old square lanterns with new “star” lamps’ and substituting twelve iron columns for twelve wooden posts. The actual amount being paid by the Council per annum at present is:— Gas £ll6 2s 7d, maintenance £lO9 4s; total £225 6s 7d. There are in ai1.23 square lanterns and twelve wooden lamp posts. -Summarised the figures were: Actual c-osQ of present service £207 ss, conversion of twelve lamps and posts £72, 17 new lamps (material, labour, gas and maintcuai ce) £170; total, £449 6s.—The scheme was approved. Positions for the 17 additional lights were suggested by the Engineer. The Council, after several alterations, agreed to have flights placed as follows: —Town division: Aberdeen road, at Stanley road; do., at Herbert road; do., at- Lytton road ; corner Lowe street and Read’s Quay; ccrner Carnarvon street and Berry street; Roebuck road bridge; Childers road at Stanley road; Nesbitt road at Mataroa street; corner Gladstone road and Grey street; total 9 Wbataupoko: Roebuck road bridge; Ormond road at Ballance street; do. at Stafford streeet; Fox street at Whitaker streetdo. at- Russell street; 5. Kait-i: Wainui road at Hirini street; do. at end of Main ; Rnwiri street at Hirini street; total 3.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. Tho Engineer reported :■ — Crawford-road deviation: Ido not see that any advantages would accrue either to the Council or to the parties . petitioning for tho deviation of this road, and recommend that no action be taken. Crawford-road: Repairs are being effected as far as circumstances will permit, but until the road is properly formed and a good coat of metal put on, very little improvement can bo made.-

Crawford-lane: The footpaths are being ropaired, tarred, and sanded. When finished the cost will be charged against the owners of the property. Read’s Quay : The approach from Read’s Quay to the wharf is being held over until negotiations have been opened up with the Harbor, Board,'with a view to that body paying for the metal if the Council does all the rest of the work.

Wailiirere Quarry: In accordance with the Mayor’s instructions I have withdrawn the men from the quarry. Authority was given for the purchase of £l5O worth; of pipes for stock.

WATER RETICULATION,

A return was presented by Mr. Gibbon showing that provision has not yot boon made for waterpipes in the following streets, the number or houses in each street being shown: Town division: Mill-road, 4 houses; Stanloy-road, 9; Loith-stroet, 4; Lyt-ton-road, Gladstone-road toXhilderßroad, X. Whataupoko: Wi Perestreot, from Stout-street to Cliffordstroot, 2 houses; Hall-street, irom Stout-street to. Whitaker-street, 1, Fox-street, from Stout-street to itus-soll-street, 5; RusseU-street, from Ballance-street to Wi Pore-street, 2, McLoan-stroet, from Stout-street to Clilford-streot, 3. Haiti: Grahamroad, 1 house; Iranui-road, 3; Ra-wiri-streot, 3; Parau-strcot, 10;Dick-son-streot, 2; Coleman-street, O; Choesem an-road, 1; Crawford-road, 20. Total, 71 houses. Consideration of this roport was deferred.

DRAINAGE SCHEME. Cr. Whinray moved to rescind the decision, arrived at last meeting, authorising Mr. Marehant to report on a complete system of drainage. He argued that the scheme, costing £70,000, was beyond the Council s means at present, and was not required. At the same time ho was not opposed to a small drainage scliemo lor the town portion. Cr. Maim, in opposing the motion, pointed out that the obtaining or a report did not commit the Council to the scheme for draining the outside

Cr. Sheridan said the Council wanted information. The original £39,000 scheme was for a permanent work, capable of extension, and Mi. Mestayer was not likely to propose anything impracticable. Cr Bright thought the Council would be only courting defeat by going in for too large a scheme. Jhe schemo in the meantime should be limited to the congested portion . of the Borough, always keeping m view future extension. ' . , -> Cr. Miller agreed that to undertake a big scheme was too costly. But the Council wanted a comprehensive scheme, which could be carried out in sections. It was essential, to avoid “botching,” that an ultimately complete scheme should always bo kept in view. ~ , ~ , . Cr. Williams said the old report, dealing with a limited area, was six years old. Therefore the Council should have the report brought up to date. He did not contend that the whole scheme should be undertaken at once. ~ ~ The Mayor did not see the necessity for obtaining another report. If the scheme would cost anything like indicated ho did not think the ratepayers would dream of sanctioning it. , Cr Pettie said that whatever work wafi undertaken, much or little, now '„!• Inter, a good report was essential. After a long discussion the motion to rescind was lost on the voices. MISCELLANEOUS.

William Gravdon applied for the position -of assistant driver and stoker of the road roller when it arrived. — Piled for reference. The Night Watchman (Mr. W. eraser) reported that there had been no fires in tile Borough since last meeting. A request from Mr. J. McKee, allowing some concession re the position of a. telegraph pole in front of his premises temporarily, was granted. Mr. M. A. Yates wrote stating that there was a piece of ground near his house which would become part of Lytton-road when it was made. The neighbors put their cows and horses in it, and this was a great, nuisance, as the animals broke down the fences to get the water which feeds a hydraulic race. He asked if .the Council would rent the ground, say, for £1 a year. —It was decided to reply that the Council have no power to permit a fence being erected.-j One councillor pointed out that although no specific permission could be given to erect a fence, yet if a fence were erected the Council would not be at all likely to raise objection. - There were several such fences in the Borough.