BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2146, 31 July 1907, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Tho fortnightly meeting of the Gisborne Borough Council was hold last evening. Present, tho Mayor (Mr. J. Townley) and Crs. Pottie, Sawyer, Sheridan, Somervell, Mann, Bright and Dr. Williams. IMPOUNDING ACT. -Messrs. Wilson and Horton, Auckland, wrote with reference to supplying copies of the Impounding Act, printed with a view to affixing to notice boards at public pounds. Should there bo sufficient inducement thev proposed to reprint the issue, which consisted of 10 sheets, moasur ing in all about ,10ft by 6ft, the price being 20s for one copy or £o for 10 copies net.—On tho motion ol Cr. Bright, tho Town Clerk was authorised to procure a sot if required.

. SUPPLY OF SHINGLE. Messrs. Evans and Lovell, Kaitaratahi, wrote with reference to the difficulty of obtaining a sufficient 'supply of shingle. They pointed out, as a-good source of supply, that near Paha station there is an unlimited supply, which can be obtained subject to County Council’s permission. They suggested, if the Council thought there was anything in the proposition, that a few trucks be obtained in order to test the quality. They gave, in confidence, an estimate of "the cost of loading the metal on trucks at the station. -—Cr.—Sheridan said he had been in- . formed-it. was of better quality than Kaitaratahi gravel. The price was the same as Kaitaratahi, and the Writers dsaid the carriage could be reduced if access could be had across private" property. The reduction would amount to ninepence per yard. The Mayor said the price was 3s. including . County Council royalty. The source of supply was the riverbed. _ Cr. Sawyer.said he would not consider this offer. • The best plan was to call tenders loaded in the country. Cr. Sheridan: Ke should be grateful for their drawing attention to the matter. Cr. Sawyer said if the Council ; ‘could get -the ; Kaitaratahi property they would not need further sources ■of' supply,. Cr. Whinray moved that five truck loads be secured as a sample. This motion was not seconded and

lapsed. It was agreed to inquire into the matter'-opened up by Messrs. Evans arid'’Lovell’s letter. . A NEGLECTED ROAD. "The Gisborne Sheepfarmers’ Co. submitted' a schedule of rates paid by the company since 1903, also the amount in wages and salaries for the same period expended in the town. The company drew attention to the shocking state of the municipal roads between the works and the river which the Mayor had been good enough to inspect that morning in company with Crs. Bright and Pettie. This road had never been formed or drained, while the work done by tlic company to keep it open was always destroyed I)y the stone traffic from the beach. All coal and lumber loaded on the Kaiti side, it was pointed out, had to use this road, which is a frontage to the public wharf. Ao municipal expenditure of _ this kind had ever been made on this road be- ' yond the northern corner of the public wharf. —The Mayor said the roan was in a very bad state indeed, it was the main road to the monument. It was suggested that two cross drains and a water table -would be valuable in drying the road. —Cr. Whinray said the company should contribute. They occupied a considerable portion of the road, which was not much used for general, traffic. —The Mayor said the company were-large ratepayers, an 1 had contributed in the past. — Cr. Sawyer said that for tlie sake of the horseflesh the road should be at tended to.—The Engineer said tliai Kaiti shingle would answer the purpose. Wooden" culverts and the construction of a waterway would serve to roakexth-egwork- serviceable. —Cr. Sheridan said, there was a good deal of. traffiCjs-yCw:<Spniervell said the freezing works was an important industry. A good many got their living by carting. He moved that, the work be carried out.- —Cr. AVilliamr suggested that permanent work be included in the loan schedule.——The motion to have the road attended to was unanimously carried. —Cr. Sheridan moved that the Harbor Board be asked to remit the.royalty for Kait shingle used on this road. —Cr. Whinray asked how the Board could make any distinction? —It was pointed oil! that the Harbor Board used the road which was also used for the cartage of shingle from the beach. COST OF PIPES. Messrs. John Burns and Co., Ltd. Auckland, wrote re their offer ,fo: oast iron pipes. Since that time i duty of 20 per cent, had been placee upon pipes, and the? firm could nol hold their order open except subjec to" telegraphic ' reply.—The Mayo; drew attention to the serious drawback the 20 per cent, would impost upon local bodies importing pipes o: entering into contracts /or uatci works. Ho moved a motion "protest ing against; the proposed duty.~-Cr Williams seconded. The Council hai . • not only, to look to tlie present but tc the future. —The motion was carried unanimously. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The Borough Engineer reported: “Maintenance. —The maintenanc staff has beon fully occupied in attending to the many calls for repair: throughout the Borough. “Culvert. —An old box culvert col lapsed in Whitaker-street. As the material was quite rotten I replace! it with earthenware pipes. . “Waimata Road Culvert. —Inn. culvert, which for a long, time lias been more or less unsafe, collapsed on Sunday night. None of the old tim her. except perhaps some of the plank ing, will b'e available, for use again_ as it is wholly decomposed. The roac lias been temporarily closed aeamsi traffic, and the work of rebuilding tho culvert has been commenced. “Spare Wheel for Crab Winch Messrs. J." Chambers and Sons, or Auckland, advise that a spare wheel cannot bo supplied from stock, and. as it would bo altogether too expen sive to make a pattern and cast one. I suggest that one be indented from the makers; the cost should not exceed £4. The Council will recollect that this wheel was broken while being used by the Council’s employees, the winch itself being borrowed from the County Council.” _ The report was received, Cr. Sheridan advocated that the repairs to the winch be done locally, but the Mayor’s motion to indent a wheel from England- was carried. ORNAMENTAL LIGHTING TRIPOD. A proposition for the erection o. an ornamental tripod light at the corner of Gr.ay-street and Gladstoneroad was introduced by Cr. Whinray. Thirty-one ratepayers petitioned the Gas Company to undertake the lighting. It was* pointed out that a plate direoting the way to the office could ho attached, with benefit to the Gas Company. The tripod would throw a light towards the beach . and Glad-stone-road. It was suggested that the Borough Council should provide and erect a suitable concrete base and pillars, on which to erect the tripod Bliaft, also that a small drinking trough for dog.s be placed at the foot, with provision for later on attaching a drinking fountain for the use of tho public. The petitioners -,voro prepared to pay £lO towards providing - -»■ a suitable base and shaft upon which to erect the lamp. A. communication was also read from the-Gas Company, , > *.- wliicfc was agreeable to provide £25 * ' .. fmmlW

towards the cost. Before tlio company would order tiro-column mid lamps it required ft guarantee from tiie Council to contribute tlio balance of cost. —Cr. Whinray urged tho Council to favorably consider tlio matter. Tlio intersection was an important one, and the tripod would bo an ornament to the streot. Tlio Mayor remarked that tho Council had already decidod upon granting, ono - lamp for Gray-street, but-the present request meant some initial expenditure and the maintenance of three lamps.—Cr. Bright: The other two should bo jiut in some of tho darker places in the Borough.—The Mayor said tho raising of £135 by tho interested'parties was. a recommendation, biil.it was questionable whether tlio Council' would ho justified in sponding £lB per annum for throe lights wlion mo would suffice.—ln reply to Cr. Bright, Cr. Whinray said ho had 11c estimate of tho cost of the tripod. I'.io maintenance would rest with the Council. —Cr. Sheridan said that one good globo would be enough, and he would bo prepared to support some proposal of tlio kind, which would only entail the maintenance of ono light, nnd the Council would then bo justified in subsidising the work. But threo lights were beyond the Council’s I means, especially ns there were some ! parts of the Borough unliglited, and vitil little hope of securing lights for .•oars to coino. —The Mayor considord the expense of threo lights in iladstone-road, whether longer hours >f lighting were necessary, would ■qual tho expense of four lights elsewhere, viz., £24 per annum. —Cr. Bright moved to tho effect that tho Council regretted it could not see its way to undertake the expenditure.— Cr Wliinray considered tho Council di 1 not riso to tho occasion. It was their duty to cator for the requirements of tho busy portion of tho town.—Cr. Mann : But not at the expense of other parts of tho Borough. —The motion, declining the request, was carried, only Cr. Wliinray dissenting.—Mention was made of the present tower in Gladstono-road and the expense of lighting it. Cr. Sheridan said it was. in tho wrong place; it should have been erected either at ills intersection of Peel-street or Grey-streot. RECOUP OF WORKS AUTHOR-

ISED. Cr. Sawyer complained that tlio wharf siding had not yet received attention, although authorised some dmo ago. It was explained that the lack of metal was the drawback, but tue matter would receive attention temporarily.—This drew from Cr. Blight some comment on the necessity of keeping a proper record of works authorised, the date of completion, and tho cost of the work. There were numbers of small works liable, to iie overlooked when waiting for material, etc., and a systematic record would obviate this.—The Mayor said the resolutions on tho minutes were attended to.—Cr. Bright said there were not always resolutions, and mattei - were lost sight of. A record would obviate the necessity of watching tho minutes. He moved a motion on the subject. The book would then always be available for councillors to peruse.—Cr. Whinray pointed out that the Council approved of a schedule of work at the beginning of each year.—A Councillor: It is never adhered to. It is hardly looked at a second time.—The Mayor: It is the very thing you are now askkiqg for. —Cr. Sawyer seconded the motion, that a record be kept, which was unanimously agreed to.

GENERAL. Messrs. Chrisp and Coleman submitted copy of a lease, J. Townley to Gisborne Times Company, with consens of the Council to the right-of-way endorsed.—Approved. “The bottom is knocked out of it altogether,” said tho Mayor, reierring to the proposal to obtain metal vt Perrier’s quarry. As soon as a couple of shots were put in to test tho supply, he added, the pretensions cf this source of supply were settled. Tho further the depth the softer tho stone. Tho material was useless for road work, and the attempt to obtain supplies there was given up in disgust.—Cr. Whinray: I had a similar experience 20 years ago.—The Mayor (jocularly): Yes, you had many a picnic. I know you prospected a good deal as a young man.—Cr.

lawyer pointed out that Disraelitreet, between Gladstone-road and Uhilders-road, facing the section beenginp- to the Borough Council, rei aired drainage. Water is encroacli:ig under the adjoining houses.— Che Mayor said the Engineer was attending to the matter.—Cr. Sheridan sa : d that the footpath in Read’s Quay needed attention. The roots of the trees broke up the asphalt, with tho result that pools of water inches deep inconvenienced pedestrians.—’flic Mayor said the trees should be removed and the footpath kerbed between Dalgety’s and the Post Office.- —The Town Clerk : That kerbing has been authorised.—Cr. Williams asked whether it was absolutely necessary to remove the trees. • He did not like to seo them sacrificed.—The Engineer said it was necessary. It was impossible to have a decent footpath whilst, the roots broke up the asphalt.—lt was decided to have the trees removed, ami an advertisement will be inserted inviting ratepayers to cut them up for firewood. —Cr. Williams pointed out that a couple of' holes have worn in the Kaiti bridge.—They will receive attention forthwith. —The necessity for topping the young trees in Peel and other streets was urged by Cr. Williams. They were running up too tall, and should he made to spread a little. Cr. Whinray differed. Tho trees should not he topped until they were at least 15ft high. The argument that tall trees kept tho sun off the roads was not a very weighty one. —The Council agreed to have the trees trimmed as required.— C-. Pettie stated that the Harri? corner, opposite Mr. Ambridge’s was in need of temporary repairs. People could scarcely get along to their residences.—Referred to the Engineer.