BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1124, 16 August 1882, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Borough Coun* cil was held last evening, Present s His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Clayton, Lewis, I Tutchen, Somervell, Townley, Whinray, ■ Brown, and Tucker. . The Town Clerk having read the inhiUtes, I also tho minutes of a meeting of tho Fliiaiicd | Committee, the incoming and outgoing '< respondeiico was road, Pemtoaion was given to Mr M. Mail to erect • a culvert. Mr H, Camion uUo asked loi* i permission to erect certain planking work. : Both were granted. i A letter from the Library Committee was ! read, asking that they might bo allowed to I meet a Committee of the Borough Council. The Town Clerk said it was intended to erect a building on the Lowe-street Reserve by the Committee, in which offices for the Borough could be obtained. A letter was read from the Town Clerk, Napier, relative to pauper burials, which was ordered to be acknowledged with thanks. From the Cook County Council asking for £l9 Os sd, as a refund in connection with the recent action taken by Mi- C. McDevitt. After several remarks it was decided to answer the letter by sending a cheque for the amount, notwithstanding a strong protest on the part of Cr. Tutchen. A letter wa« read from Mr H. E. Webb, jun., relative to the state of Grey-street, especially that portion of it near the Taruheru River. Cr. Tutchen mentioned that he had seen J the street for himself, and it was in a dis- | graceful state. Ordered to stand over. Mr H. Fraser asked that a transfer of his ’ lease should be made to Mr I). M. Orr. An application was also made by Mr Orr that the Council should consent to the transfer. It was proposed by Cr. Clayton, and seconded by Cr. Lewis, that the conditions of the lease must be complied with before tho sanction of the Council could be given. A letter was read from Messrs. Kenny an«l Finn. * n b* half <;f Mr S. M. Wilson. • oni- ;

plaining as to the Engineer's conduct. The following a copy of the letter :— Gisborne, 15th August, 1882. To His Worship the Mayor, Borough Council, Gisborne. Dear Sir,—We are instructed by S. M. Wilson, Esq., to inform you that on Mr. Wilson applying to Mr. Drummond to show him the position in which to erect the fence around his property in the Palmerston Road, Gisborne, Mr. Drummond declined to do so except on payment of a fee of Five Guineas.

Mr. Wilson has asked Mr. Drummond to put some gravel on the crossings opposite his Hotel on several ©occasions recently.

This Mr. Drummond has always refused to do, and has commenced to gravel the crossings in front of “ Page's Hotel." before repairing the crossings leading to Mr. Wilson's house. When complained to, Mr. Drummond replied “That Mr. Wilson has the best crossing in the town.” We are instructed to remind you that for two (2) years Mr. Wilson has kest the two crossings in front of his Hotel in a good state of repair at his own expense, and he thinks it very hard that he should have to go on doing this. Mr. \\ ilson submits that the conduct of the Borough Engineer in demanding from him the above-mentioned fee of five guineas, and in habitually neglecting the crossings alluded to, was inconsistent with his duty and position as a paid servant of the Council, anil Mr. Wilson respectfully requests that your Worship will pe good enough to cause this letter to be laid before the Borough Council at its next meeting.—We are, etc., Kenny and Finn. Discussion ensued at some length but was after hearing Mr Drummond’s statement which was to the effect that he commenced the work where he thought it most needed. Agreed on the motion of Cr. Tucker, seconded by Cr. Lewis, that the Town Clerk be instructed to inform the writers that it was no part of Engineer’s duties to survey private properties, and also that the Engigineer was allowed to exercise his own discretion as to where he should commence making crossings, A report of the Lamp Committee was read and adopted. It was stated that it would cost £8 to place the lamps in position, Council Chambers, Aug. 15, 1882, To His Worship the Mayor, Sir, —I have the honor to forward the accompanying report of works in progress, and works considered necessary. Gravel Contractor (Oxenham’s).—About 200 cubic yards have been delivered under this contract. Seven truck loads of material were delivered through mistake, which I have condemned, as not being in accord with specification, nor of the quality suitable for the road. The material brought down was intended for the County roads, and was to be used for filling in before the gravel was spread, Owing to the present inclement weather the contractor is m doubts whether he can deliver gravel for some time, Carnarvon Street Contract,—The works on this contract are being proceeded with, but tlie bad weather has retarded operations, Derby Street Contract.—The contractor is collecting shingle, and expects to commence spreading early next week. Extra Labor,—l would beg to request that two extra day laborers be employed for say 14 days, clearing out the water-tables on the various cross-roads, principally on Palmerston, Childors, and Aberdeen Roads. On Childers Road from Stanley to Roebuck Roads, outlet drains will require to be made. The natural outlet from Mr. Daly’s corner is through the Government reserves, and thence to the swamp, but I would bog to recommend that the low ground be filled up, the soil for which can be procured for the allotments at a cost of about £2O, as against a much greater outlay for drains ; as they must be laid with pipes, the Sheep Inspector objecting to open drains. Owing to the heavy rains, portions of the Borough Reserves have been completely inundated, and uotlets will require to be cut into Roebuck Road drain, also the low-lying Sart of Aberdeen Road from Derby and Coben Streets.

Lamps.—l have agreed with Mr, George Humphreys to furnish posts and iron work for the erection of six lamps to be erected where fixed uppon by your Committee, for the sum of £B, according to specification. Grey Street Bridge.—The works under this contract are about completed ; a return of the works will be furnished at next Council meeting.—Yours, etc., J. Drummond, Engineer. After discussion the Engineer’s suggestions were adopted. Cr. Tutchen asked if it was true that the driver of the Ormond Coach carrying the mail, had cut the rails across the barricades at Roebuck Road and Read’s Gate. His Worship said that he had given permission to the mailman to pass, and was of opinion no action could be taken against him. It was impossible for the coach to travel through Lytton Road. Eventually it was resolved that no action should be taken further than that Mr. Drummond should be allowed four extra day laborers in order to render Lytton Road passable during the time the Gladstone Road was closed.

Mr. W. Daly appeared in person relative to the stateof his paddocks in Childers-street. They were completely swamped in conseouence of the road formation. After considerable discussion it was resolved that tenders be called for filling in the paddocks, the price not to exceed £3O. Such tenders to be opened by a Committee consisting of Crs. Townley, Tucker, and Tutchen. Plans and specifications for the Dangerous Goods Store to be erected, were directed to be prepared during the next fortnight on the recommendation of the report submitted by the Committee.

Cr. Lewis drew attention to tho necessity of calling tenders for the lighting of the street lamps recently procured, After seme conversation it was decided to call for tenders for the work being performed during the coming six months, Mr. D. M. Orr appeared personally, rfelatlva to tho anpllaatiou made by Mr Fraser by letter as to the transfer or tho reserve at pre* sent occupied by him. The Councillors, after hearing Mr. Orr, agreed to the transfer of the lease upon the required fencing being done, but declined to extend the term.

Mr. Orr thanked the Council and withdrew. The question of how best to drain Disraeli street and some of the allotments, occupied the Council fully an hour. Each Councillor appeared to have a knowledge of engineering, but eventually it was decided that Mr. Drummond should enquire and find out if the property owners should pennit a drain tube out through their sections. Cr. Tucker drew the attention of the Council to the manner in which the Cook County Council had acted in the matter of the Native Lands Division Bill, and Submittod the following draft of a latter to be sent to the County Council ’fo the Chairman and members

of the Cook County Council. Gentlemen,—At the last meeting of this Council it was decided to recommend certain alterations of the Land Division Bill, ami this Council on a review of the arguments still thinks those alterations necessary. This Council subsequently perceived with much regret that your Council had without affording any opportunity to this Council to explain or to argue as to the public desirability of the proposed recommendations, appointed a committee to consider the subject while committee' apparently deenn-d it ary to fexpresb the

unanimous opinion of that committee. The Council beg leave to point out that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, and that if the County Council deliberately addresses itself to undo that which this Council endeavoured to do. without first making mi attempt to discover the reasons to be adduced by this Council, it is certain that the interests of the public for whom both Councils should deliberate and act are best served. Ihis Council would respectfully submit that hi future before your Council proceeds to veto any resolution by this Council, it would be courteous, as well as in the interests of the public, to afford this Council, or some of its members, an opportunity of explaining, and if necessary advocating such resolution, Yours, etc.. W. H. Tucker. Cr. 1 ucker was thanked for the trouble he had taken in the matter, and the Town Clerk in-structed to write in aceordanee with the draft.

It was announced that the terms of office of Crs. Townley, Brown, and Somervell would expire on the 14th Sept., and the Town Clerk was instructed to notify the fact to the Returning Officer.

The necessity for requesting Messrs. Common, Shelton and Co., to refrain from making further additions to their stores on Read’s Quay now in dispute, cropped up and after some talk it was decided to send a letter to Messrs. Common, Shelton and Co., protesting against that firm expending money upon the premises as the money laid out would probably have to be paid by the Borough Council.