BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2134, 17 July 1907, Page 1

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Gisborne Borough Council mot last evening. Present, the Mayor (Mr. J. Townley-), and Crs. Somervell, Bright, Sawyer, Pettie, Mann, Williams. Whinray, Miller, and Sheridan. BALANCE SHEET. Tiie Auditor-General returned the annual balance sheet of the Council, which ho had certified “with exceptions.” The Mayor read the “exceptions and stated that there was nothing very alarming about them. Exception was taken to the fact that special rates amounting to £1297 had been unlawfully used under general account. This was an ordinary proceeding to save interest on general account overdraft-. The Town Clerk had notified tlie Auditor-General that the special rate account had since been adjusted. The balance sheet Was adopted. BUILDING BY-LAWS.

A special order was confirmed, extending the brick area to include sections 47, 48, 49 and 50 Lowe street, sections 56, 57, 58, 59 and 6i, 68, 69 and 70 Peel street, and sections 137, 138, 139, 142 and 143 Read’s Quay. A DELAYED CONTRACT. B Fitzpatrick wrote: “Tlie answer given you by tlie County Engineer as to my contract' is not correct, as the stone was not available. We had to spawl nearly all the metal ourselves in order to lift it into the waggons. The County Engineer states that I started my contract on March 16th, whereas February 9th was the date. I want to know if the Council will let me finish my contract next season, and if at the completion my deposit will be returned.”' Cr. Sheridan thought it only a fair thing. Tlie Mayor said the balance ot con-

tract was 350 yards. . Cr. Sawyer said it would not be tail' to other contractors . ' Mr. Fitzpatrick lived close to the quarry, but took contracts miles away and neglected the Council’s work. This was a practice that should not be encouraged. . . , Cr. Pettie said that it they stuck to tho strict letter of the law. other contractors had not fulfilled then contracts, yet got their deposits returned. Cr. Sawyer said the circumstances were different. On Cr. Whimay’s suggestion the letter was left- over until the matter of Patutnhi stone is settled. REMOVAL OF TREES. Mr. John Marshall, of Makaraka, asked permission to remove willow trees from the front of the section at the corner of Lytton and Bulwer roads. He also desired leave to level the footpath, preparatory to erecting a picket fence.—Agreed to. WATER CONNECTIONS. Mr. Dan Porter wrote desiring to have his premises in Fox street, Whataupoko, connected with the water service. “At present,” he wrote, there is no provision for connection. 1 would respectfully urge upon the Council the necessity of connecting with tho pipe now laid along Russel! street, past the corner of Fox street.” The Mayor said the whole matter

would have to ho considered when tho contract was completed. It was no use considering the thing piecemeal. Councillors agreed that the question' of extension would need attention later, and tho letter was allowed to lie on the table.

A HEDGE OBSTRUCTION. Mr. Jas. Johnstone of Whatnupoko, complained of an obstruction on the footpath in Whitmore street and Ormond road, caused b.v a bodge. He had occasion to pass this daily, and at night tiino found the hedge dangerous as, at tlie spot indicated, there is a largo drain and tlie hedge projects fully four feet oil to tho footway. Whilst returning home from tlnS Theatre on Monday night ho “had his eye nearly knocked out” by the hedge. He trusted the Council would order tlie removal of tho obstruction, so that Whataupoko residents could have tho use of the footway “without tho risk of endangering their eyesight.” Or. Bright said that, acting oil' behalf of the owner, ho had asked the tenant to attend to the matter, and a man would he put on to trim tlie hedge back. Tho Town Clerk, in reply to a question, said it was a microcarpn hedge. Cr. Bright said lie would see the nuisance was abated the following day. Tliis satisfied tho Council. A KAITI ROAD.

Air. A. M. Orpwood, of Crawford road, Kaiti, wrote again drawing attention to tho state of ' the bridge approach and road in Ilirini street, south of AVainui road. Though levelled. tlie road was as bad as over ill wet weather. This particular spot was “a disgrace to the Borough.” The Engineer said the road had recently been attended to. Or* Pet-tie •'suggested that a footpath receive attention, and tliaT an outside planking ho erected at the bridge for the convenience of foot passengers. Cr. Sawyer said tho mud on the bridge rendered it almost impassable to pedestrians, 110 agreed with the suggestion. Tho Mayor thought this might meet the case.

The Engineer was instructed t'o report. THE STREET LOAN. Mr. Jas. limes wrote urging the claims of Stanley street to be included in the loan improvements. He pointed out' thaat it is a-through road to the beach (or was shown as such oil the plans), and at present a through road to the abattoirs. There are nine houses in the road, he stated, and likely to he more. The thoroughfare is in a deplorable 'condition, though it carries a considerable amount of traffic.

Cr. Bright said ho did not know the locality. Ho thought it a good idea if a reduced map of the borough streets could bo placed as a frontispiece to the printed by-laws. The Mayor and Council agreed that the information would ho valuable, and tho Town Clerk will ascertain the cost of a lithographic block. Tho letter regarding tlie street was held over until the loan schedule was discussed. . AMENDED PLANS. Mr E. G. A. Reynolds asked for approval of his amended plan of new premises. He proposed carrying up the wall eight or ten feet higher, which would give a much better appearance to Gladstone—road. Cr. Sheridan considered the owner was entitled to no consideration. He got the original plans approved for a wooden building ; had the Council known tlie class of building eventually intended it would have come under the brick area regulations. Tho Mayor thought Mr Reynolds s application was only reasonable. Cr. AVhinray : "We allowed the Club additions in wood. We can’t make fish of one and flesh of another. On the motion of Cr. Bright-, seconded by Cr. Miller, approval was granted.

WATER PIPES. Messrs John Burns and Co., Ltd., wrote re the Council’s proposal to lay in a stock of cast iron pipes for possible extensions in future. They pointed out- that when ordering the pipes for Mr J. A. Moodie, the contractor for the reticulation contract, they had included a number of extra pipes. Some were now left on their hands, and they offered these to the Council at £8 10s per ton net. After discussion the matter was referred to the Engineer to report upon what pipes will bo required.

WATER TROUGHS. Tho Cook County Council thanked the Borough for the concession of water supply for tho Arai water trough. A similar concession wa-s requested for a trough to be erected at the junction of tlic roads adjoining the Matawhero sale yards, the County Council agreeing to pay any reasonable charges for the service rendered.

The request was acceded to. RAILWAY ACCOUNTS.

Tins stationmaster (Mr H. Day) wrote suggesting that to get oyer the difficulty in paying the Council railway account weekly, as required by the regulations, it would be advisable to open, a standing deposit account of £SO to meet accounts as they became due. The Mayor said this would be a convenient arrangement. It was to cover gravel freights. Hut £lO should be a sufficient deposit. Cr. Bright said £SO was altogether excessive.

The Mayor ; They want a standing credit of £SO. It is unreasonable. Cr. Miller : Is the Government hard up ? It would be very handy if we could all conduct business on those lines. The amount was eventually fixed at £lO.

MUNICH 1 A L ASSOCIATION. The secretary of the Municipal Asciatiou of New Zealand (Mr T. F. Martin) forwarded copies of two report's by Mr George Leslie, actuary, setting forth particulars of the superannuation scheme proposed to bo established by the Municipal Association. Ho trusted that the Gisborne Council would take this opportunity of joining the Association so as to come within the direct benefits of the scheme and also to have some voice in the administration of the fund. The annual subscription for a borough of Gisborne’s size was £3 3s, payable on July 1. Affiliated Councils obtained quarterly, free of charge, a printed pamphlet of all the opinions given by himself as counsel to the Association. The Mayor said the Council had never joined the Association, but the question of joining might be considered.—The Council will discuss the question later on. METAL SUPPLIES.

Messrs. Partington and Perry submitted a sample of stone to the Council, and ottered to supply it at a price favorable to the Council. The whereabouts of the find wore not disclosed. Cr. Sheridunii said the distance was about two and a quarter miles, which would not be difficult fur cartage. He was informed it was a fair sample. He moved that the Engineer report on the quality oi stone and the probable supply. The Mayor seconded. The Council could not afford to overlook any chance of procuring .metal supplies. The Engineer was inclined to think the sample was of some papa formation, but admitted the sample was too small to definitely say. Mr. Perrv waited on the Council and explained that blasting would bo necessary to get tile stone. He could say positively that it was not papa, of which lie had had considerable experience. He undertook to provide a larger sample. Tile Engineer will investigate and

report. Cr. Sawyer informed the Council that there were thousands of yards.of boulders available at AVaiimi. The site he pointed out was to the right of Mr. Nolan’s, a few chains inside Captain Tucker’s property. If permission could be obtained it would not take moro than £2O to provide access.

The Council considered it. was worth inquiring into, and the Engineer will also report on this suggestion.

Referring to the Engineer's remarks oil the small quantity of stone in hand for maintenance, the Mayor said there was no -'respect of getting stone till October. ROAD-HOLLER.

In reporting that the road-roller lias conic to hand, the Engineer remarked : “It appears to he up to my expectations, and will prove a most suitable engine. Tho trial will takeplace shortly. The scarifier has not vet arrived, but I am expecting it durin" the current week.”

Tile Mayor said it seemed to be a verv good engine. It went up the incline from the wharf very easily, he

mentioned, at a much faster pace than a man could walk. TENDERS FOR STONE. The Mayor referred to the necessity of. calling tondors for Patutahi mutai lit tho earliest moment, as it would prove cheaper in the end. It gave tho eurtors an opportunity of advantageously arranging their work for the summer mouths, and the per-

son in charge of tho quarry would know exactly how much metal to provide for. Ho thought tho Council should endeavor to get a good supply for the year, and moved that tenders be called for 5000 yards. Tlie Town Clerk said that if the Council wanted large supplies one man had announced his willingness to import a traction engine for cartage purposes. Cr. Sheridan said 5000 yards had been used already this year. Ho would like to see tenders called for 8000.

Cr. Miller: If anyone is importing a traction engine we should say wo aro prepared to take 10,000 yards at a iirice. AVo don’t want to see any recurrence of tlie present scarcity; it is not good policy. Cr. Williams: If tho loan schedule is carried we shall want a groat deal more*

Tho Mayor: This is for 'maintenance. The loan works will ho separate altogether. AVo cannot npofil/ibly deal with more than 5000 yards. If the contractors got it in in good time, however, we can increase the quantity. It was agreed to call tenders for 5000 yards, tho first portion to bo delivered as soon as tho roads are passable.

Regarding traction proposals, the Mayor said lie had been-- in hopes that the new road machine could act as a traction, blit the power was not sufficient. Ho made reference to Mr. E. H. Fenton’s scheme of traction waggons, but was of opinion that trucks to carry 1] or 2 yards were of little value, it was just as easv to convey tlie metal in drays. The possibility of traction carriage was left over, the Engineer to give his views on the sup-n-estion. LOAN SCHEDULE.

Consideration of the £20,000 loan schedule was held over until next meeting, councillors not having gone into the matter sufficiently.

GENERAL. Jas. AALn. McFairlie, of Makaraka, applied for the position of enginedriver in connection with the new road-roller and scarifier.—To lie on the table until applications are considered.

The severity of the weather oil the

more elevated localities on the Main Trunk Line is being keenly felt by the co-operative men. A correspondent of the Mangaweka paper states that no sooner -is an opening made through the ice than it is frozen up again. The ice heir - several inches in thickness, hammers and axes are brought into requisition to break through it. The various railway cuttine's present a most unusual sight where the sun’s rays never penetrate. Icicles four and seven feet ill length are of common occurrence during frosty weather.