BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 6, 8 November 1883, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Tmh usual fortnightly meeting of the above was held on Tuesday night last. Present : K. K. Brown, Esq (Chairman), Crs Lewis, Tutohen, Hepburn, Kenny, Joyce, Townley, Brown, Tucker and Smith. His Worship then addressed the meeting, congratulating the Councillors on their advancement, by being able to ha>e new offices, and hoping they would soon be able to have further necessary improvements made. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed The outward correspondence was next read to Mr E. Bamford, acknowledging receipt of his last letter, and to Mr F J Piesse, informing him that the election of Mayor was drawing nigh, and asking him to take the necessary steps with regard to the same Incoming Coirksi'ondbnoi, From E Baresford, asking leave to erect a pump at the end of the trough in front of nia hotel Cr Lewis moved that the request be granted Cr Tutchen said it would be no obstruction but rather a convenience to the travelling public, as well as to Mr Beresford. He would second Cr Lewis proposition . Or Joyce wished to know if the pump would be on the road or footpath Or Tutchen said the trough was over the water channel and the pump would be at the end of it

Cr Brown said the object of the pump Was to drain Beresford’s cellar. There would be no well in the street, but just next to his cellar, so that the surplus water could be drained from it. > Or Lewis’s proposition was carried, subject to the Engineer’s approval V* From Wi Pure, stating that the Native owners of the Waihiriri Block were open to lease the block for 21 years, us follows :— For the first five years, £l5O ; for the second five years, £2OO ; the third five years, £250 j and the balance, six years, £3OO The Chairman said he had been talking to Wi Peri on this matter, who said the lan d was inalienable, and that they could not get a lease for less than 21 years

Cr Kenny asked if the prices in the letter were at per annum, The Clerk replied they were. Or Kenny thought the price was very unreasonable. He would propose that the letter be acknowledged, and that Wi Pere be informed that it was not definite enough, and to ask whether the prices were at per annum or not. It was decided to let the matter stand down, and be taken in the extraordinary business. Grey Street Drain.

The Clerk said that up to the present he had not yet received a report on the drain. Hq did not know whether the committee appointed to enquire into the matter were going to report or not. Cr Townley, one of the" committee appointed, said they had decided that the drain remain as it is. Engineer’s Report. Gisborne, November 6, 1883. To His Worship the Mayor of Gisborne. Sir, —I have the honor to report as follows Grey Street Bridge,— As mentioned at last meeting, the tide is beginning to wash out behind the ends of the wings of this bridge. This would in time cause the roadway to slip. I have therefore packed behind the wings with sods and clay, and I think scour will be prevented for the present. Ido not think it would be a good thing to allow rubbish to be deposited on or round the wings. Aberdeen Road Contract. —The contractor is making fair progress in shingling. The footpath has been shingled the whole length, but more will have to be put on to make up the specified quantity. As regards the shingle on the roadway. I have instructed the contractor to trim it to fit a guage stick, as that mode of measurement is more certain and less troublesome than measuring occasional loads with a box,

The portion of Aberdeen Road by Mr Grahanrs requires a little more work to prevent water standing on it. Disraeli SfreeL—The contractor has not made much progress during the last fortnight, A hill of drifted sand at the junction of Disraeli and Childers Road, which stopped the drainage from Disraeli Street, has been removed, and I propose to put a few loads of gravel on Childers Road at this point, to prevent this portion drifting again, Day Labor,—Xu per pay sheets, has been employed, principally in the jobs described above.

Payment,— l recommend a progress pay meat (being the fourth) to C. McDevitt, the Aderdeen Road contractor, of £3O.

I am, Ao,, R, J. Reynolds, Borough Engineer. Cr Joyce wished to know what the amount of day labor was, as recomended for payment in the foregoing report, The Chairman replied that they would find that out when the accounts were being passed for payment. Gr Joyce considered that the Engineer should state the amounts for day labor in the report because if the report was adopted, they would also have to pass the accounts for day labor when they came on, the charges at the same time being exorbitant. Cr Lewis was of opinion that if the Engineer was found to employ more day labor than was necessary, he should then be reproved, and would have to stand the brunt of it. The Engineer was instructed iu future to insert the amounts for day labor, which he recommended for payment. The report was then adopted. Payments. The following accounts were passed C. McDevitt, £2O ; day labor, £5 5s ; Parnell & Boylan, £6 5s lid j Brown & Smail, £5 Is 9d ; A. Y. Ross, jnr., £2 .5s ; D. Ready, £2 5s fid ; J. W. Noian, £lO 10s. Cr Townley thought the last payment for the retaining of a solicitor for the coming year an unnecessary expenditure. He »aia the Clerk should have been given notice when the last year was up, and not have allowed them to run into another year. As it was, he supposed the solicitor would ha-Ve to be kept on for the balance of the year, 4 months of it had already elapsed, Cr Joyce did not think it was necessary to keep“him for this year. Several Councillors explained that £lO 10s had been paid in advance for the present year, and ho would have to be kept, Cr Joyce was certainly against it. Mr Drummond’s Claim. The Clerk said that this was the night that Mr Drummond had agreed to meet the Council to consider his claim against them. Mr Drummond was not then present. He had reminded him the day before, that it was to come that night. The Chairman thought some decisive step should be taken in this matter. [Discussion now took place on the result of the Melbourne Cup, run that day, and a certain Councillor was congratulated on winning a certain sum on it. The winning horse was also much praised.] Cr Joyce moved that Mr Drummond’s claim be allowed to lapse, owing to his absence.

Cr Lewis would second that motion if the mover would add to it, ,r That Mr Drum-

mond be Informed that the Council decline to entertain the claim.

As there was no seconder to Cr Joyce’s motion, Cr Lewis moved and Cr Brown seconded, that Mr Drummond be informed that the Council decline to entertain his claim.—Carried Mr Webb’s Contract,

The Clerk here read a letter from Mr Webb, with regard to his contract for printing and advertising for the Council. The Clerk was instructed to send the same reply as was done in the case of the Harbour Board contract. Hawker's License.

Cr Lewis said from tile return of Hawker's Licenses which he had had laid on the table, he found that there were two parties who were hawking without licenses. He considered it very unfair to other hawker's who had licenses, and that they should be made to pay. He would move that the Inspector of Nuisances be instructed to find out those who had, and who had not, got license., and to report on the same nt ths next meeting. The Clerk said he should like to know the names of the two parties mentioned. There were some persons in partnership, and per haps that was how Cr Lewis found they had no license. Cr Lewis did not know that a Hawker's license answered for two parties. He always thought it was the same as an auctioneer's. Cr Kenny seconded the motion, which was carried. Roebuck Roau, Gr Kenny said it had been represented to him that that portion of Roebuck Road from Gladstone Road to the Hospital, was in * very dilapidated condition. He thought it should be repaired at onoe, as it had been represented to him, siok persons who were taken along that road to the Hospital were likely to suffer much, and in some oases he knew the jolting would have a very deleterious effect. Cr Townley said it had already boefi decided to do that part as soon as they could, and for the reasons expressed by Cr Kenny. Cr Kenny moved, and Cr Smith seconded, that the next new work be the repairing of that portion of Roebuck Road from the Gladstone Road to the Hospital.—Carried. Harbour Board Rent. Cr Lewis moved, and Cr Tutohen seconded, that the Borough Council inform the Harbor Board that they will have to pay £2O per annum for the use of the new offices.—Carried. Lamps. Cr Tutchen said at the time the Council sanctioned the removal of lamps, the lamp down by the ferry was forgotten. He thought the lamp at the ferry should be allowed to stand, as it was necessary for the ferryman, when ferrying of a dark night, Cr Kenny seconded this motion, which was carried. Public Bath. Cr Smith would like to draw the Council's attention to a letter which appeared in the last issue of the Telephone, with regard to a public bath being formed near the fire engine shed, signed by Mr Drummond. He had not gone into details, but a public bathing place was necessary, and if feasible the scheme in the letter ought to be carried out. He was told that the fire engine could pump the water into the bath. Mr Drummond had informed him that he (Drummond) believed there were private persons in the town who would go in for this as a private enterprise. He felt i ‘ was scandalous, there being no public bath.ag house, and merely introduced the subject for discussion, but would bring it up again. Cr Tutchen said that already they had a better site for a bathing place than the one suggested. Cr Smith wished, to know if Cr Tutohen had read the letter,

Cr Tutchen had read the letter and considered it all bunkum. He did not think it would pay or answer. The bathing place at Carnarvon street was good enough. The Chairman said that Cr Smith had only brought the matter for discussion. There was no proposition. The Inspector of Nuisances was ordered to remove a dead bullock at the foot of Lowe street.

Requirements fob the Council. The Clerk asked to have a shed for wood and coal erected at the back of the offices. It was agreed that the Clerk should get particulars of estimate, etc., for the same, and present it at the next meeting, then the matter could be considered. Floor. Cloth.— Agreed to have Lenollum cloth put on the floor of the Council office and Engineer’s room. Wi Peri’s Letter. The above letter was again brought on for discussion. Cr Tucker read the letter to the Council. Cr Tutchen said they wore not great enough fools to entertain it, Cr Smith would ask the Committee appointed to enquire into the titles of this block to state whether they had found out the owners of it and whether they had dons anything iu the matter at all. The Chairman said he was one of the Committee appointed, and had done what he could. He had seen Mr Hurrey, who had promised to get the necessary information, but up to the present he had not done so. Cr Smith said it seemed impossible to get information fiee, therefore they would have to pay for it. He intended to push the matter on and ascertain whether the scheme was feasible, or impracticable. He didn't believe, if the thing was gone about properly, that it wanted so much money to carry it out. He moved that some licensed Interpreter iu this line be paid to get the information required if possible, with regard to the ownership, the area of the Block, and for what figure it could be obtained. The Clerk stated that Wi Pere had said that the owners of the Block were willing to lease it. Cr Smith said the thing was to get a freehold lease of it. The Clerk said they would not grant that. Cr Tucker said they had not decided, supposing all things were answered satisfactorily, whether they would take the land. As the land was now, they could not buy it, as it was inalienable. What the Council should first decide was whether or not they would have anything to do with it, whether they would take the Block over for 21 years lease, and chance the Natives representing the matter to Government, to enable them to sell it, as it was for a public body. Cr Smith disagreed with Cr Tucker he thought if they were going to get land the first thing was to ascertain the title, and get full particulars. Cr Tutchen moved that a letter be written to Wi Pere stating that they could not entertain his proposition, as it was too exorbitant.

The Chairman said he would take the voice of the Council to see who would veto going in for a 21 years lease. All the Councillors were unanirhous in agreeing not to go in for a 21 years lease of the Waihiriri Block. The Chairmrn said he would take the voice of the Council and see who objected to entertain the obtaining of a lease for any length of time for the purpose of starting a water supply. Cr Kenny did not think Councillors should expend Borough mouey on a leasehold property. He thought if the Natives were void that the Council could buy the land, by bringing it under the Public Works Act, as a freehold, by giving them a price which the

Council thought reasonable, they come to terms. He did not like the **y which the Natives had acted by aticklng such an immense price. The voice of the Council was then all being unanimous in objecting to Obtain lease. ... „ Cr Tucker voted against the *?••- voted as to whether they should take hold, and freehold only, Cr Kenny explained that the not the power of removing the ability of the land. It was the of the Land Court, who now power. He suggested that a letter be informing Wi Pere that they were take the land as freehold, and not and also that the Council can take it m under the Public Worke Aot. He did like the way in which the Native! and it was just M weil that the should find out that they were not under the tomahawk. Cr Tucker did not think to got warm on the subject. As to able to take It under the Public Works they must not forget the This letter had oome from the Natives their point of view, no doubt the land more valuable to them than the oillors) knew of. ÜBB Cr Townley thought the would take a very broad view of the If the residents of this town Government to help them to get Ku they would do so. He thought tie was unreasonable, and that another scheme should be entered into. question of artesian wells as euggeeted Cr Smith ought to be enquired into, and would answer better than the scheme, if successful. Cr. Smith said the gentleman he spoken of, with regard to the artesian had said he would write to the embodying a scheme for artesian J«lls, estimate, etc., but he had gone wway out doing so. He (Cr Smith) would and get information from him. It wae gentleman's opinion that at Makaraka boring was stopped too eoon, if it had continued a constant flow of water have been obtained. There being no amendment to Cr proposition, which was seconded by Smith. It woe carried, Cr Joyce thought Cr Smith's was a very applicable one. f t ''t. The Council was unanimous In t| Asidering the artesian well scheme, bettar than the previous one, of obtaining a supply of water from the Waihiriri stream. Notice or Motion. Cr Joyce gave the following notice oL motion—" That no solicitor be retained fo>A|M the present year.” Council rose at 10 o'clock. HH

council rose av iu u ciuua. STATEMENT OK RECEIPTS AND PENDITURE in connection with Entertainment given by the Sable Orphans, in aid of the Public Library and the Gisborne Club

Wk. Ratcliffe, TKAfaurer, Gisborne, 7th November, 1888. | ~

Racnira. 1 To amount taken at door ... Tickets aold outside ... £28 U 11 U ExrBKDiTras. By Scott, Pianist ... ... Townley, hire of piano ... S 1 3 » McFarlane, rent of hall ... Herald, advertising) &o ... 8 8 0 8 11 8 Standard ditto ... ... 3 10 0 Ticket-takers .... .i? 10 0 Whinray, for screen Allanaon and Hansen ... - • 10 0 ’ Parnell and Boylan 11 0 T. Adams, tambourine ... 7 « Sundries, as follows i candles, Is i cartage, 2s | paints &c, 6s ... ,,, • 0 Turanganui Library, half nett proceeds ... ,,, Rowing Club, ditto ,., 10 10 0 ■ 10 10 oH Balance carried forward ... 8 £38 7 1