Borough Council.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 9, 30 June 1887, Page 2

Borough Council.

Tub usual fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held last night. PresentCrs Lewis (Chair), Joyce, Ponsford, Whinray, Dunlop, Graham, Tucker and Townley. MINUTES. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. overseer’s report. The following Overseer’s Report was read and adopted Taruheru bridge: The repairs to this are now completed ; twelve lower walings have been put on ; two braces in the centre pier head had to be replaced All the lower end of the diagonal braces have been nailed where required ; four of the piles are slightly damaged with marine insects, but only where there has been any sap. All the timoer has been well tarred from the mud to three feet above high water mark. This work has cost £l9 8s 3d, not including waste timber.—Two men are now employed eementing the iron pius pUtin by Mr Drummond. This work will be finished this week.—Complaints have been made about the mnd near Captain Tucker’s gate, causing people to get over tue tence ; this can be repaired with a few loads of sand and two or three loads of shingle.— Carting for the month, £lO Is 6d ; day lavor, £8 16s 9d as per vouchers,

, BNOINESn'S BEroBT. The Engineer’s report on the Waikanae Dam question was read and adopted Herewith I have the honor to forward plans, specifications, and estimates for erecting a “ breastwork " and other alterations and additions to Grey Street Bridge, Should your Council decline to carry out the proposed works I would recommend that a sum of from £l3 to £2O be expended on the present structure in laying a concrete and stone floor, securing the ends and slopes of embankments with pitchers, tarring, and painting hand rail. Upon examination I found that through the action of the ebb tide a scour has taken place and carried away the original bed of the stream to a depth of nearly two feet, leaving the centre pier exposed, which must at once be remedied, otherwise the stability of the whole Works will be endangered. From the totals of each estimate attached, deduct £3O for neceieary works on the present structure, and the balance will show the cost of the works proposed, The attached estimates show the relative cost of the works proposed by your Committee, and those recommended by myself, vie,, taking down one span of the bridge (town side), extending the embakment), and using the timbers for the breastwork, &o,) this would have the effect of still further confining the stream, and affording more ground for reclamation, The tidal effect on the seaward side of the embankment shows a deposit of silt of from two to three feet in depth, and for a distance of about 14 chains, and to assist more rapid deposit rows of wattling might be run out from the Waikanae side, between high and low water marks, say at a distance apart of two chains between Grey Street and Bright Streets. The cost would amount to about £4 or £5. This, however, is an after consideration, and if successful could be carried on to Peel, Lowe, and Custom-house streets. I have only provided for two swing doors for the passage of drainage water of the Waikanae, but, if necessary, two extra ones could be constructed - The only danger I anticipate to the successful working of the swing doors is from the silt likely to be deposited by tidal action, the only remedy for which will be to gradually extend and keep the channel open as necessity may arise. I do not anticipate any danger to the works from any freshets or floods for the reason that the waters of the Waikanae are only affected to any considerable extent when the Turanganui nver is in flood, and when at flood level no undue pressure will take place as the two forces will be equalised. The estimated cost of the proposed breastwork and Grey Street bridge would be £6B ss, and the cost of the alterations to the Grey Street bridge as per plans and specifications will be £66. Payments. Payments to the amount of £133 7s 9d were authorised. boads. It was decided that the Clerk should write to the Gas Company, asking them to leave the roads in a due state of repair after laying the pipes. Several small road repairs were authorised. METAL. It was decided that the Public Works Committee draw up the specifications for the supply and spreading on Gladstone Road of about 2000 yards of metal, and that tenders be called. The metal will be laid on the road by the end of March next. FIBS MAIL’S. The motion of Major Porter on this question was again allowed to stand over till the next meeting owing to the Major’s absence up the Coast. VICTORIA BAY. The question of changing the name of the Bay came before the Council in the shape of a letter from the Harbor Board on the matter. A long discussion took place on the question, it being eventually decided to co-operate with the Harbor Board on the matter, Crs Joyce and Tucker being the only dissentients. ,