BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2339, 4 November 1908, Page 5

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING

Tlie usual fortnightly an- eting of Jfche Borough Council was held last night. Pji’osent:] His Worship the Mayor (Mr. W. D. Lysnar), Crs. Williams, Bright, Somervell, Sawyer, Pettie, Whin-ray, Sheridan, Mann. CORRESPONDENCE. The Under-Secpetary for Lands wrote stating that after consideration the Government had decided that an area of 100 acres might be taken for scenic purposes at Waihirere, at a cost of' £337, provided that local bodies contributed the balance of purchase money over and above the Government subsidy of £loo.—-Cr. Whinray moved that the Harbor Board, and County Council bo asked to cooperate with the Council in scouring the reserve.

The Mayor pointed out that the reserve was merely for scenic purposes. 1

Cr. Bright said that tlie previous arrangement was that the Council should, find £IOO and the Government find the balance.

After discussion it was resolved to ask the Harbor Board what area they intended to acquire for a quarry reserve, -and. that on receipt of the information, the . Council and the County Council should take steps to acquire the balance.

A letter was read from Mr. J. Fitchett, Wellington, stating that the new trailer for the Straker waggon would bo forwarded earlv. —Received. ‘ •

The secretary of the Harbor Board wrote stating that the Board bad decided that they courd not comply with the request of the Council for permission to take gravel from the Kaiti beach. —It was decided that the letter should he received.

Mr. W. Douglas, of the (Strand Cafe, wrote drawing the attention of the Council to the fact that the new building of Mrs. Erskine’s entirely blocked up the window of one of his rooms. —It was resolved to reply stating that the matter was not within the jurisdiction of the Council, the Mayor remarking that- it was a point of law regarding the light.

Mr. R. Hay, engineer, wrote stating that he had completed the permanent levers of the town, hut was unable to proceed with those of Kaiti and Whataupoko, and offering to. arrange to have the latter works carried out locally.—The Mayor said that they should insist on the work being carried out at once. Cr. Whin ray said that the appointee should be a qualified engineer, and not another surveyor. It was a most unsatisfactory position and they should certainly know who was going to do the work, as it was an important engineering work. He was much against Mr. Hay’s suggestion. It was decided, on the motion of the Mayor, that Mr. Hay be requested to supply the names of the surveyors whom he intended to appoint to do the work. Mr. H. T. Day, stationmast-er, forwarded an authorisation for the Council to occupy tlie portion of the Kaitaratahi railway reserve leased by them, the necessary preliminaries having been arranged.—Received. The Inspector of Orchards (Mr. Gordon Esam) wrote drawing the attention of the Council 1 to the provisions of the Orchard and- Garden Pests Act.—The clerk pointed out that the position was that there were a few fruit trees on the pound section.

Cr. Sheridan pointed out that the trees were, not on the Council’s property. —It was decided to refer the matter to the Inspector, with instructions to spray the trees if they were on the section occupied by the Borough Council.

The following reports were received and adopted: AYORKS COMMITTEE.

The- AYorks Committee reported having met on Thursday, October 22, to consider the breach of the building by-law committed by Mr. H. J. Brownlee; It was decided by the committee that the whole of the exposed portion of the eastern wall of the building mentioned, would have to bo covered with Caiman’s best asbestos fireproof sheeting, to the satisfaction of the Building Inspector, leaving tho present corrugated iron structure intact. OVER SEER’S REPORT.

The Overseer (Mr. AA : . Morgan) wrote stating that owing to a severe attack of influenza he would be unable to attend the meeting of the Council. INSPECTOR'S REPOBT.

The Inspector (Mr. J. R. Little) reported, as follows: —“I have the honor to report on the following blocks which I have inspected since your last- meeting: Blocks numbered on map'll, 12, 13, 14, 29, SO, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, Gisborne, and 12, 14, 10, and different places in R uoseJi. (Street, Wliatuapoko; also 1,2, and 3, Ivaiti, and I find the same satisfactory. In inspecting the different blocks I would draw your Council's attention to the amount of paper and different rubbish that was never intended to be shifted when the Council first instituted the shifting of household rubbish. This matter will have to receive tho attention of your Council, as I think in cases of this kind' where it- is nob household refuse it should be removed to the destructor provided by the Council, at- tlioir own expense) The services of one of the hion on tho dust cart had to bo dispensed with, and in the meantime I have appointed;..another man in. liis stead, -s Mr. Brownlee, architect, has complied’ with the Works Committee’s request, and has fixed asbestos on the wall to my satisfaction.” The Mayor considered that the suggestion of the Inspector regarding waste paper, etc., should he given effect to. It was ail very well to

remove anything that would go into the ordinary .rubbish, tin, but anything above that quantity should have to be removed by the occupier of the premises. Cr. Whinray referred in strong terms to the amount of rubbish, which was allowed to gather in the back yards of the borough. Cr. Pettie was opposed to the suggestion that occupiers should be compelled to remove the refuse from their premines. It was the duty of the Council, and they should do it thoroughly. Cr. Somervell said that from a sanitary point of view the present position was objectionable. • Cr. Whinray had not exaggerated the position one iota.

Cr.' 'Williams suggested that the open concrete pits for rubbish should nob be allowed. The places that had these pits should bo compelled to have a number of tins of the same kind as the smaller ratepayers. Cr. Bright said that the first consideration was the cleanliness of the borough. The condition of affairs was not proper, and where the accumulation of rnlbbish was .large arrangements should be made for the rubbish to be removed more frequently.

Cr. Sawyer supported the proposal to make ratepayers remove their own rubbish above a certain quantity. Cr. Mann said that- iff was 'a matter for the borough, and if they did not attend to it the work woif.d not be done, and. the borough would hot he kept clean. The larger ratepayers in the centre of the town had a greatdeal of rubbish, but were entitled to some consideration.

The Mayor said that lie was strongly .in favor of the removal of a certain quantity of the rubbish, by the Council, but anything above that amount should he removed by the teants themselves. The necessary receptacles should be provided by the people, according to their requirements, and should be of the kind authorised by the by-law. It was finally decided, on the motion of Cr. Sheridan, that the open refuse bins bo abolished, and that the Council remove any household rubbish placed in proper receptacles, and the occupier of any place who allows rubbish to lay about and outside Hie tins be proceeded against by the Inspector. Accounts amounting to £478 Is Sd were passed for payment, tand the Council proceeded to discuss the schedule of the street expenditure on the loan proposals, and the question of drainage.