BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1160, 27 September 1882, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual meeting of the members of the above was held last evening. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Brown. Clayton, Lewis, T’’tehen, Whinray, Somervell, Tucker, Berry and Clarke, Townley.

The minutes we -e read and confirmed ; the outgoing correspondence was then read.

Mr C. M. M‘Devitt applied for an extension of time for 14 days in connection with his contract in Palnierston-road, in consequence of the bullock-drays carting sod to the recreation ground and spoiling the formation, and further asking that the road be closed.

After discussion, it was, on the motion of Cr. Lewis, seconded by Councillor Tutchen, decided that the road from Palmerston-road to Aberdeen-road be closed.

Mr George Cooper tendered his resignation as tally-mu’i, and it was accepted. A letter was read from the Chairman of the Wairoa County Council, which was directed to be acknowleged. Mr A. M‘Donald asked that tenders, not to exceed from £50,000 to £OO,OOO, should be called for in connection with the breakwater. As no plans were on view', it was decided to postpone the discussion until the first sitting of the Harbor Board. Mr Green rood, the clerk of the Licensing Court, notified by letter, that it had been decided to award him £5 5s per annum for his services.

On the motion of Cr Lewis, seconded by Cr Clayton, the recommendation was acceded to. INSPECTOR OF NUISANCES AND RANGER REPORT. The report of the Inspector of Nuisances and Ranger was read as follows :— I have the honor to report for the information of the Borough Council: — Nuisances.—l can only say the town, in point of cleanliness, is a credit to the householders, in nine cases out of ten, should anything be amiss, 1 find it is through thoughtlessness. I have to point out the nuisance and when 1 call next time, I find it remedied.

Mrs Brooke Taylor complains to me of a drain cut through a section belonging to her son by the late Road Board. 1 brought this before your notice last year. It is a nuisance ; the water will not leave it, but lies stagnant; I would ask you to allow the Engineer to examine it. I* ire.—AH rubbish is thrown on the beach once a week. I bum it off; I will ask you to allow this to continue, as it is a ready way of clearing out the tov, u of anyjnflammable matter. It also answers another purpose ; should any animal or vegetable matter be thrown there 1 make a large fire over it, and the ashes of the one kills any smell that may arise from the other. Ranger.--I have impounded 26 horses during the present month. I may state that since the?. W uikanue bridge i* finished a great many horses wander across into the town; five minutes after 1 may have passed half-a-dozen horses may come across. Only yesday I caught four under these circumstances. I may state I gave them up to their owner ; 1 do my best, out 1 assure you I am often placed in a very unpleasant position.—-I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient servant,—Thomas Karam, Inspector of Nuisances.

The Town Clerk was instructed to write to Mr B. Taylor, stating that he (Mr Taylor) could fill up the drum at any time he liked. The Engineer's report was then read. It stated -

Council Chambers, 2(Jth Sept., 1882 Sir,—l have the honor to report the completion of contract for delivery and spreading Leach on Derby-street, nud beg to recommend payment of the same, amounting to £l9 10s. 1 also beg to recommend a second progress payment on McDevitt's contract for formation aud shingle for Curnarvou-street, to the amount of £5O.

I would beg to recommend u first progress payment on Oxenham's Gravel contract, of 4J450. The amount of cubic yards delivered up to date ia 3,6d7. The capacity of the trucks was tented, and was found on an average to be 3 cubic feet short of 3 yards, upon which 1 have based the quantities delivered. The progress payment asked far will leave an ample margin fcr inferior material, over and above the usual 25 per cent. The material now being delivered is of fair average quality, and as near the standard as can be obtained. Nesbitt Road. Upon enquiries I find that the County Council has not caused the Mahiu-Napier road to be gazetted, and the Chief Surveyor is of opinion that the legal taking of the road would date from that of the warrant—June 1879. John Drummond, Borough Engineer. The report was adopted. It was decided that the payment in connection with Oxenham’s contract should be made conditionally, that either a greater supply of metal, similar to that already supplied and which was condemned, should be made or that the original contract be adhered to. The vexed question of the Nesbitt-road was again discussed at length. It appeal ed Mr Morgan said that he would remove the so-called obstructions for £153 compensation. It was determined to keep the road in repair, and not to give the money asked for. Payments to the amount of £lOl 6s were ordered. The question of accepting the offer of the Library Committee, with reference to the offices*, was next considered. Cr. Whinray spoke strongly In favor of leasing the offices for two years at £6O per annum. He proposed that the offer be accepted. Cr. Brown was also strongly in favor of securing the offices, and seconded the motion. Cr. Lewis said that he had, at the previous meeting, suggested that the rental should not exceed £5O u-yeur, but he would vote for the motion if it were distinctly i understood that the library should forego all claims, real or imaginary, they might have in the future upon the Council. Cr Tutuhen said that although he was at first opposed to leasing the offices he was now in favor of so doing. Cr Berry supported the proposition as did also Cr Clayton, but the latter said that the library should expect nothing from the Council during the term of lease. Cr Tucker said the Council were at present paying £35 a year for rent, and he thought the advance to £6O altogether too much. He looked upon the proposal as being simply one to subsidise the library from the rates. This he disapproved of. Hu would far sooner, for his own part, put his hand in his pocket and give three or four guineas. The motion that £6O per annum be paid, the Council having the power to sublet, was carried—Cr Clayton buiug the only dissentient. Tenders for the removal of night-soil and rubbish were then opened, and John Hearfield, being the lowest, his tender was accepted. It was decided that Cr Clarke should take the placu of Cr Tutchen on the Committee to meet the Cook County Council, «s the latter gentleman would be unavoidably absent.

Cr Clark said he would very much like to hear from Mr Faram, who was present, as to the recent wholesale poisoning of dogs, and ask the Inspector if it were true, as imputed, that lie had been the cause. Mr Faram said he was much pleased that the question cropped up as it gave him the opportunity of giving a most distinct and positive denial to the rumors which were afloat, i hose dogs, twelve in number, were poisoned on ik Thursday night. No doubt the CuunMlors aware that lie had the honor io

be the bandmaster of the J Battery band, and Thursday was the practice night. He could clearly prove that he had been in the band-room that evening from 6 o’clock until 10 o’clock, when hejleft for home with his little boy. The first thing lie knew about about the poisoning was when his son pointed out to him a dead dog. The Mayor and Councillors unanimously declared their belief in Mr Faram’s statement and acquitted him of all blame in the matter. Mr Faram then thanked the Council for their expression of confidence in him. Cr. Clarke drew attention to the fact that a number of posts and rails which had been left on the wharf for some time had greatly obstructed the already limited accommodation. The Mayor said the obstruction was now being removed. It was resolved to instruct the wharfinger that in future all goods landed on the wharf must not remain on it more than 24 hours, otherwise they will be removed at the owners expense and risk. Mr Clarke said he would propose that the Agent-General in London be requested by cablegram to supply an estimate of the cost of iron pipes suitable for a water supply for Gisborne. He had with the assistance of Mr Drummond, carefully studied a scheme for the supply of water, and estimated the cost at about £12,000. The most important item was the piping which would cost here as far as equid be ascertained, some £6OOO. Cr. Townley thought that it would be a waste of money to wire by cable to London when the information could as well be obtained from the other Boroughs in New Zealand, where there was a water supply. Cr. Clarke said that the reason he had proposed they should send to the Agent-General was because he would communicate directly with the manufacturers, whilst if prices were obtained in New Zealand the various commissions of brokers, agents and importers would be added to the original cost. The freight he was of opinion would not be more thanabout £1 per tonus the pipes could be used as ballasting. He would propose that the Town Clerk should wire to the AgentGeneral as to the price pipes could be deli- [ vered in Gisborne. Cr. Clayton thought that cabling was too expensive. Cr. Lewis said that he could not see the necessity for sending a cable message at a heavy cost, when the council had no actual power to flout the scheme at present. Cr. Tucker said he thought the Council would not be justified in laying out money for cable messages. If all preliminary matters had been arranged, then it might be wise to w ire. Cr. Brown opposed the motion on similar grounds. He thought th*t it would be ample time, alter the apathy displayed by the burgesses, to write and receive an answer relative to the cost. Cr. Clerk then withdrew his previous motion, and proposed that a letter be written to the Government, asking them to communicate with the Agent-General as to the cost of pipes of various dimensions. Thia was seconded by Cr. Berry, and carried, Attention was drawn to the fact that the time for the completion of Oxouham's con* tract hud concluded that day. After a discussion, it was resolved that the sureties be notified as to the penal clause in the contract. The engineer w’as empowered to employ men to trim that portion of Gladstone Road on which metal was being "oread, so that it would not be wasted by being buried in the sand. It was resolved that the Public Works Committee consist of four members only, instead of the whole Council, and Crs. Clark, Tutchen, Whinruy and Brown were appointed. Cr, Tucker moved that the motion on the books, rs the formation of streets, bo TOchided, was lost.