GISBORNE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2171, 22 April 1908, Page 1

GISBORNE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Tho usual fortnightly meeting of fclio Gisliorno Borough Ootmeil was In.:hi last evening. Present: Tho Mayor (Mr. J. Townley), CVs. Wliinrny, Somovoll, Mann, Sawyer, Bright, Sheridan, Pottie, and Dr. Williams. CORRESPON DEN CE.

Tho'Bov. tV. Cockcrill drew attention to a dangerous piece of earthwork near tho Bookuck lload bridge, Whataupoko, and suggested tliat a railing should bo placed so as to prevent aecidonts. Tho Mayor said a handrail should bo placed at tho spot. Tho work had already been authorised. Mr. W. Rowell applied for a transfer of his billiard-room license to Mrs. Rowoll, or in tho alternative to Mr. If. J.. Andrew.

The. transfer was granted to Mrs Rowell.

Cr. Pottie raised tho point, that all billiard rooms should bo under tho inspection of ail ollicer apuointed by the Council. The by-laws provided for such inspection. Cr Somervell said the billiard rooms were merely gambling dons for young moil, and tho by-laws wore frequently broken.

Mr. L. W. Fowler, Hastings, inquired as to the efficiency of. tho water pressure from tho mains for firo prevention purposes. Tho Town Clerk was instructed to supply the information. Messrs De.Lautour, Barker, and Stock, solicitors, forwarded a claim oil liehalf of Mr. Marnier for £IOO as compensation for land taken for street purposes at Wliataunoko. Cr. Sheridan said if the road was widened, tho increase'd value would compensate for any land taken. Ho moved that tho road bo formed, so as to provide a set-off against the claim. The Mayor said the road should have been widened in the first place, but tho Council would not pa6s tho work. Cr. Sheridan’s motion was carried.

Mr. Vincent Fyke, manager of tho Bank of Now Zealand, informed the. Council that arrangements would bo made for ail overdraft of £IO,OOO, as soon as a copy of the estimates and balance-shot was_received.—Received. Tho proprietors of “Progress”wrote stating that they were prepared to accept advertisements of contracts to be let, at a nominal charge.—Declined. •

Mr. E. W. Burton, ironmonger, Gisborne, sent sample plates for numbering houses, which no could eunMy at os 9d per dozen. The same Matos have been adopted by tho Auckland City Council.—Received. Twenty-four day laborers employed by the borough asked that their wages bo increased from Is to Is lid per hour, as, with tho increased cost of living, their present wages were a bare existence.

Cr. Sheridan said tho usual rate was Is per hour for casual labor. Cr. Sawyer said the rate of pay should be left to tho discretion of tho overseer; some men were worth 9s a- day and others not 7s. Cr. Williams said the overseer would bo placed in an awkward --osition if the suggestion were adopted. Tho Mayor thought tho Council should face the position.

In answer to a question, the overseer said that about fifteen men made full time, while others lost work in bad weather. It was decided that an increase could not be given at present, but that the Council was prepared to always pay the current rate of wages. Mr. Bull asked the Council to form the footpath along and metal Crawford road.

Cr. 'Williams said the road was in a bad condition, and almost impassable. The letter was referred to the Works Committee with power to act. REPORTS. The overseer (Mr Morgan) reported that the asphalted block in Gladstone road had beeu completed and opened for traffic. The paths on the Esplanade and Wainui Roads, Kaiti, would he finished in a few days. The greater portion of the drains in tho town had been cleaned out during tho fortnight. Wi Pere Street was in a bad condition, and should be formed and metalled as early as possible. He had made some concrete blocks for kerbing and channelling Read’s Quay. He could not recommend kerbing and channelling in tho solid, as there were too many holes and soft places in the ground from old tree roots, and solid work would soon sink and break up. The culvert at Clifford aiid Sheehan streets had given way, but liad : been temporarily repaired. The total amount of metal received from Patutahi was 3,853 yards . The report was adopted. „ The Council then discussed other, business, which is reported elsewhere in this issue.