BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1249, 17 January 1883, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A meeting of the Borough Council was held last evening at the Council Chambers. Present His Worship the Mayor in the chair, Crs. Clarke, Somervell, Townley, Clayton, Lewis, Tutchen, Whinray, and Tucker. MINUTES OF LAST REGULAR MEETING. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING. The minutes of the special meeting, held on the 9th January, were then read and confirmed. OUTGOING CORRESPONDENCE. The outgoing correspondence was then read. INCOMING CORREFONDENCE. A letter was read from Mr William Adair, relative to the obstruction of the thoroughfare in front of hi» premises on the Gladstone Road, as the customers coming to his business premises we e simply precluded from doing so by the obstruction caused by the cabs standing immediately in front of his premises. Mr Bourke, the Town Clerk, said that with reference to this question of having a cabstand proclaimed, it had been determined by the Council some time ago that the Byelaw haying reference to this matter required alteration, but at the same time it was found that the cost would be too much to alter one bye-law, so it was resolved to let the bye-law in question stand as it was for the present until a general alteration of the various bye-laws requiring alteration had been considered. After some discussion, it was resolved that the Clerk be instructed to write to Messrs Wilson and Fryer and ask them to instruct their cab-drivers to stand in the middle of the road, in accordance with the permission already given by the Council. A letter was read from Messrs Graham, Pitt, and Bennett on behalf of the Union Fire and Marine Insurance Company, stating that they intended to adhere to the decision arrived at by the other Insurance Companies with reference to contributing towards the cost of the maintenance of the Gisborne steam fire engine and the Fire Brigade. The next letter read was— Gisborne, Jan. 11th, 1883. The Town Clerk, Gisborne, Sir,—ln reply to your communication asking the Mutual insurance Company to suascribe to the funds of the local Fire Brigade, we beg to state that we forwarded same to our head office, with the following result, viz.: “That the Company, in conjunction with other Companies doing business in New Zealand, decline to subscribe.” In support of the decision arrived at by the Company we represent, we may be permitted to state that the competition existing in Fire Insurance, does not warrant such expenditure as that asked for by you, and the argument that it pays to support brigades is well answered by comparison with the policy of life offices, which do not keep doctors in attendance on their risks to prevent them from dying, but they load the bad lives, — We are, &c., W. Ratcliffe and Co., Agents Mutual Fire and Marine Ins. Co., N. Z. Cr. Whinray considered that the question might very well be postponed for the present, in order that the agents of the insurance companies who had refused to contribute towards the maintenance of the fire brigade might be communicated with and informed that one insurance company, vis., the North British, had agreed to contribute pro rata. Cr. Clayton was of the same opinion, It was then resolved that the various offices who had refused be communicated with, and informed that the North British Company were willing to contribute pro rata. Messrs Rogan and Nolan wrote to the Council re the leases of the Borough Reserves. The letter stated that several applications bad been made for leases, but as no survey had been made they were unable to comply with the request, as there was no plan to guide them. In reply to His Worship the Mayor, the Town Clerk stated that the resolution *to the effect that the Borough Engineer be instructed to peg off the sections in question was passed by the Council in June last. Mr Drummond explained that the plans of the sub-divisions were in Mr Barnaid’s hands, and had been for some tine past. The plans were all ready, and he had some in his custody now which Mr Barnard could see at any time he desired to do so. After some discussion, it was moved by Cr. Whinray, seconded by Cr. Townley and carried, “That the Town Clerk interview Mr Barnard with the survey of the Borough Reserves, and that he report the result of his interview at the next meeting of the Council. The following letter was then read in answer to advertisement in the various papers in the Colony, calling for tenders for a water scheme Caversham, Dunedin, Jan. 10th. Dear Sir, —Your card, dated sth current, only reached me to-day at 12 p.m., and as the mail for Gisborne leaves this evening at 5 p.m., I have had but short time to examine your papers. The conditions you send practically limit the competition to your local men, as it would but be little benefit to any outsider to expend money and time in getting up the information you require simply on a very small chance of getting the £lOO offered. Only a personal investigation would be of any use in deciding the scheme required,and that the terms will not afford. As you have a man who is competent to judge of the value of plans, etc., to be submitted, my advice to the Council is that they should give him £lOO and let him prepare the works for the supply. It is most certain that by doing so they will get a better return for their money than they will from any unacquainted with the locality. I enclose copies of two of my papers should the plan, etc., submitted not be satisfactory. I have retired from the Indian service, and am on half pay, but I should be glad of something to do.—l am, etc., M. R. Duncan, late ex-Engineer mingutin and Drainage Works, Punjaub, India. There were two testimonials attached to the letter. His Worship thought it would be best to refer the gentleman to the conditions attached to the call for tenders, and to state that the Council would be happy to afford any information in their power. This was agreed to, and the Town Clerk was instructed to write to that effect. A letter was then read from the Secretary of Public Works re the £4OO loan. Payments to the amount of £lB 12s 5d were passed by the Council. Extraordinary Business. Assessment Roll —The Engineer stated that he could not get the Roll prepared in the time specified, as he had very many difficulties to contend with in reference to its preparation. It was, after some discussion, unanimously resolved that the Town Clerk write to the Government, and .Apply for an extension of time for a fortnight from the 15th January, to make up the Roll; and also, for an extension of time for objections to be sent in. It was further resolved that the Engineer have the trees trimmed, and the docks removed from the principal streets, and that the Engineer engage a man for the purpose.

CRtCKET CLUB GROUND, It was proposed by Cr. Somervell seeon* ded by Cr. Tutchen, and carried, that a letter be written to the Cricket Club Committee, drawing attention to the fact that horses are allowed to run loose in the recreation grounds, and that no horses in future will be allowed there. His Worship said that he consided that the Cricket Club had done a good deal towards keeping the ground in repair. In fact they have spent £5O on the ground since the Council had allowed them to use it. The Club had reaped no benefit up to the present time, and he was informed that the Club had now engaged workmen to see to the erection of a house upon sledges for the purpose of affording accommodation for a caretaker for the ground. Cr. Tutchen thought the horses were botching the ground, and deprecated the idea of allowing the horses to run there at all, as they were destroying the trees, which had been planted by the Council at a great expense. PALMERSTON ROAD. Cr. Somervell called attention to the state of Palmerston Road at its junction with Car-narvon-street so far as regarded the drain. It was resolved that the Engineer’s attention be called to this matter, and that he report at the next meeting of the Conncil as to the best means of draining this portion of the road. GISBORNE TOWN HALL. It was proposed by Cr. Tutchen, seconded by Cr. Lewis, and carried, “ That a letter be written to the Government asking for a site for a Town Hall on the reserve behind the Government Buildings; the letter to state the reason for asking is that the Council have no other available site.” It was also resolved that the County Council be requested to co-operate with this Council in obtaining the site, i.e., a quarter acre at the south-west corner of the reserve. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE. His Worship the Mayor resigned his membership as one of the Public Works Committee, and Cr. Somervell was appointed to fill the vacancy. The Council then adjourned.