BOROUGH COUNCIL.
The usual fortnightly meeting uf the above took place in the Council offices, on Tuesday evening. Present: His Worship the Mayor, E. K. Brown (iu the Chair), and Councillors Townley, Lewis, Joyce, Brown, Hepburn, Trtcneu, Smith, and Tucker. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. OUTGOING CORRESPONDENCE. To Ciptain Winter re tanks and belts for Fire Brigade; to Sinking Fund Commissioners. INCOMING CORRESPONDENCE. From Mr. Piesse, Secretary to the Gas Comp my, asking the Council to buy lamp posts which were being imported. Cr Tutchen moled, and Cr Hepburn seconded, “ That a letter be written staling that the Council Was not in a position tu purchase the lamp-posts.”—Carried. Cr Lewis agreed with the speakers. From Mr. Piesse, as returning-officer, announcing 111 it Captain T. W. Porter wuh duly elected Mayor f *r the ensuing year. A petition was presented by Cr Hepburn calling the attention of the Council to the state of Russell Road. Cr Tutchen said that when he came along the road one day 1 ist week the water was u foot deep. Though the road did not belong to the Council, yet those who lived iu ii were ratep iyers. Cr Joyce did not see why the Council bhotihl be held responsible tor the repairing uf the street as it was a private one. Tne Uhiicmm proposed, and Cr Lewis seconded, “ That the Engineer see to the mitt.ee, and report to the next meeting. Cr Joyce moved, and Cr Brown seconded, as an amendment, “ L’hac the Council do no take any steps to rep dr the road until it is ia the possession of the Council.” If any money had been expended on Lhe road it wa> an injustice to Lhe ratepayers. Ou the amendment being put it was lost. Cr Tutchen moved as a further amendment that £5 be spent on the West end oi it. On the original proposition being put it was carried. ENGINEER'S REPORT. Sir, —I beg to report a* follows Afr Aisl-ibi'e AppHc dim.— The end of Disraeli Street, near the entrance to Mi Aisl ibie’s p iddock, is very boggy, and requires fasct.iing to make it s.ifety pmsabknext winter. Cost of f isciniiw, £4. This place will be improved if the drain pissing thi otigli it is cleared out as recommended below. Jfe Dawson's Leiter.— The low place whi h Mr D.iwson requires drained being below high-water mark, I du not think it incumbent on the Council to drain it. At the same time I think it would be advisable to raise, clean out, and relay the pipes in Grey Stieet, which at present are not in un efficient state. This would divert much of the water which now lodges at Mr Dawson’s, and also drain a stagnant pools on the other (Western) side of Grey Street. Roebuck Road.— (l.) At junction with Palmerston Road. I have filled up the dangerous gullies, and do not propose to du anything more to this part uf the road till it is formed and metalled.
(2) —Between Gladstone and Childers Roads. I give estimates as ordered. (a)—C 'St of f inning road, usual section, two footpaths, £35. Meta*ling roadway 20 feet wide, fi inches thick, footpiths, 2inches thick, £lO5. Total cost of f u inuig and metalling, £l4O. (B) —Cost of miking and shingling fontpith ahrng on Western side, £l4. I should nut tvo mmeiid the road being formed unless it is shingled. Lotoe-slreel Foo’bridtje.— This is in a very bad state, and should be repaired ut once, if it ih intended to maintain the bridge. Drains. — I he drain through the Borongh reserves running from Roebuck roxd and Cobden-street to outlet into Wuikamie, through Mr Tucker’s paddock, require cleaning out. Expense, about £B.
('ontrach. — Disraeli Street, The time for this contract expired on November 30th last. The contractor has made very litcle piogre<s lately. The Council should decide whether an extension of time is to be granted, Aberdeen Road — The time for this contract is also tip, and the Coimoil should decide w'heiher the contractor is to h ive an extension. As he has made fair progress, I recommend that an extension of 30 day* be granted. I also recommend a progress payment (being tho sbh) tu this contractor ut £6O.
Dti/ Labor.— As per day sheets has been employed in «deuiing out gutters, &o. Total amount £l3 7s sd, which includes a motithV wages of lhe road overseer. —I have &e., R. J. Reynolds, Cr Lewis moved, and Or Mmtt.h second *d, that the approach to \lr A'sluh'o’i pad midi he fa<uim» I. ns aska I f tn «i< let’er. Cr I’u'chen moved “ T iut the dmin he <de ined on , an I then there would be no necessity for the fasc niog.’ 1 The • hninn i' uni I t'mt it was for the Cott'icd to adopt nr r -j mt. the motion. lhe Fimin er eni 1. in answer ti Or Tow-'ley, that the clearing of the drains would make it pHSsnble i'r Townlev thou»’it the Council should avoid every i»n-sib e expens • iu the present P'siti mof their fimin -es. He seconded the amendment to clem the drains out.—Jarried GRKY HI RRET D« ‘ IN. The Engi ieer alate I that it would cost £5 »o rb'ar out the G ev Street drain. Cr Brown moved, an I Cr Jojce second id, “ T uit it b • done ” Ur I'ownley again urged the Councl to rememb*r that tie fi unices of th® C mncil had "bs mitely run out. lie did not <»bj »ct. to the w »rk b ing dmm. but the Council w <g not in a position to spen I money without it was absolute y necessary. The Engineer explained that it was necessary for the public health, as the water was stagnant and smelt bad and would become worse in hot weather. Cr Joyce said that if it was prejudicial to health he was willing that the work be done. Ou the motion being put it was carried. On the question of in iking Roebuck Road. Cr Hepburn moved, and Cr Joyce seconded “ That lhe foot pith be nude and shingled in accordance with the Engineer’s report.” Cr Tutchen would agree if the shingle could be obtained. But the contractor could not get enough to do the other road. Cr Joyce said it might be left over for a time, but it was the worst road in town. The Engineer said shingle could be obtained. such as it was. Cr Tutchen said it was only wasting public money to use such stuff as that at present obtained. On the motion being put it was carried. With respect to the footbridge over the Waikmae. Cr Lewis m ived, “Th it the Engineer inspect the footbridge over tho Waikanae, should it not cost over £lO, that he proceed with the work, hut if in exce.ss. t<» report to the next meeting.” Cr Tucker siid that on the event of doing this it. would fix the bridge in lhe C-mncil. It only £h) be spent on the work it would not in tke it permanent. He thought if the Cmincil adopted the bridge it should be prump'ly repdred. I he Cliairm in said tae bridge cost £l5 io repair three years ago.
Cr Tutchen said that £lO would go a long way in repairing the bridge. Cr Townley moved, and Cr Tucker seconded, “That the Engineer report on the mutter at the next meeting.”—Carried. Cr Tutchen moved, “That the drain from Roebuck Road and Cobden Street be cleared out.”—Carried.
With respect to Disraleigh Street contract, Cr Tutchen wished to know why the contractor was not going on with his works. The Engineer said the contractor was doing a great deal of other work, and had not made any progress lately. Cr. Tutchen said it was not for the Council to say anything about extension of time. Cr Tutchen moved, and Cr Joyce seconded, “That a letter be written to the sureties, notifying tlu.ni that the time for the coin pie ■ ion uf the coNtract had expire!, and that the contract was not being completed. Cr Tutchen moved, and Cr Hepburn seconded, “That the report with respect to Roebuck-road be adopted.”
Cr Smith said the shingle being put on the roads was not deserving the name of shingle. He thought it best to wait and get better quality. Cr Tutchen called attention to the conditions of contract, which stated th it the best tint could he obtained was to be used.
Cr Smith moved, “ That the Engineer request the contractor to stop the work until oe could get better shingle. ” The Engineer explained that it would be better to go on and finish the contract at mine, even with inferior shingle. The original proposition was put and carried. inspector of nuisances’ rep »rt.
Sir, —I h ive the honor to report, for the information of the B Tough Council : — .Vuisances.— The present contractor (Mr Burch) is carrying out his contract in a most - itiilactory in inner Since his appointment ( have nut received a single complaint in re<pect to the way he curries out his duties. Dog Registry,—On the Ist of next month vou will require 150 new collars. I would uiggest they be made the same as the County Council’s, as many persons have complained to me that the collars supplied by your Council are too heavy. Ranger — During the month I have impounded 34 horses and 105 sheep, —I have, etc., Thus. Far am, J A. Cr Tutchen moved the adoption of the report. DOG OOLLIRS. The Town Clerk said they had 25 collars left in stock from last year. It. was decided to cull for tenders for the supply of dog-collars. FINANCE COMMITTER’S REPORT. A letter from Mrs Charlotte Teat, applying for a loan of £2OO, offering as security eution No 29, with house, vaiued at £5OO, w.iS read and considered, and it was res lived that the sum of £2OO be so lent at 10 per cent, for a period of four yeira, insurance policy tn be endorsed to sinking-fund corn-mi-sioners in the usual manner. The report was adopted. PAYMENTS. Labor, £3 19s 64 ; Wilkinson’s monthly pav, £li» 8h ; Piesßp, £1 Is; Insurance, £4 17 6d ; J. Rosie, £39 13s ; Parnell & B iylin, £2 13s; Pousford, £5 13s 4d ; McDevitt, £6O. EXTRAORDINARY BUSINESS, R» printing and advertising, Cr Tutchen moved, and C»* Joyco seconded, “ That tendera for the same be called f«»r the period of 12 months, commencing January Ist and end ing December 31, 1884 ” HAITI STONE. Cr Tutchen had a few worda to aay about a matter of great importunoe to the Borough. Some time ago ht spoke to Mr. Locke, who was then acting aa Government agent, about securing the right of obtaining atone from the Kniti Beach, and he iMr. Looke), took such measures so as to secure the same, and he (Mr Tutchen), distinctly remembered that 2 chains wide, extending from the mouth of the Titraiiginui out to the island, was secured to the Borough for ever. Now he was surprised to see it mentioned in the paper th it Wi Pere disputed the transnetiou and that it wis Nought to set the deed aside altogether He thought the Council should by every means In its power assert its rights in this matter and enforce the covenants of the deed. Wi Pere perfectly understood the terms and CGiiditim sof the certificVe when the money was paid. He hoped the Cmincil would assert its rights. Cr Townley was also much astonished tn see. the report in the newnpiper. which, If erne, seemed most leinurkable tn him, that Wi Pere should dispute the validity of the deed. He agreed with Cr Tutchen aa to the necessity of pressing their rights in this matter. He did not think (or one moment that the deed should he set aside and the privileges therein assured lost to the Borough. The Borough had very little to ihmk the Government for; having reeeived but scant attention and am ill mtreies from the hands of the Executive, and he thought .hat the Borough might reasonably ••xpecr. th it it would l>e supported in this matter. He thought that a a'rongly-worded resolution should be Dissed asking the Government to mike a stand against the setting aside of this deed. The subject was of the utmost importance to the Borough, and the privilege was specially conceded, and a strong stand should be made against the netting aside of the deed. Cr Joyce cordially agreed with CrTownley. He thought the Council should look to the matter at once, and lay the question before Government prior to any one else doing so on the other aide, otherwise a wrong impression might he given about the question. The Chairman aai I Uap'sin Porter was pre•ent. and aa he was thoroughly a<*qu tinted with the whole of the rircumatanrea attend ing thia matter, perhaps he would be kind enough to give them hia opinion. Cr Joyue liked that the copy of the de*d might, be real, which wi* aeoirdinglv done.
Canhiin Porter aaid the deed w<i« entirely illegal and not worth the paper it. was written on. There were only 28 signatures to the deed out. of 10G owners. To ni 'k j the deed effective it. must be signed by all the owner* in the block, bur. even then it would be u«el<*as for any other purpose than as a lease until the block had passed the Lands Court. Up to the present time the land was inalienable, and could not be sold, but only leaded by the natives. The deed itself wa« entirely useless, and conveyed nothing. Some of the parties signing the paper were not even owners. The beat course for the Council to adopt was to get the natives agree to the B trough taking what stone it wanted from the beach. If this was done the natives umuld not go back from their word ; or take the other alternative of asking the Government to define the interest in the block The Government hud great powers, and could legalise almost anything. He wonld advise the Council to take the course he had propos 'd in the Landa Court. Cr Joyce was of a different opinion to Capt'dn Porter, and thought the deed good. If the Council h id p over to take the witer shed under the Public Work* Vet, r.hev mint also Imre p«>w*r o tike t is stone if they wanted it. The Con i il w nil I only wint the ua« of the bind. If the n»uiv a hid t»ik m the public inonev an I were not thowners of the bind they had obtained the money unler false pretences.
Captain Porter advised the Council to write to the Government, and ask that their
Sr.he Crown’s) righti under the deed be efined.
The Clerk aaid he had a letter referring to the subject from Mr Locke, which was now read, ami which advised the Council to aak Government to defiue their interest in the deed.
Cr Townley had no doubt but what, providing the attention of Government was called to the frnts of the case, the Councils’ interest* would be protected. Cr Tutchen remarked that he was alxwt to suggest that the Engineer peg off thmr ground. (Laughter) Cr Joyce moved “ That the Government be communicated with through the medium of Mr Lo ke, he having been largely con* oerned in the arrangement.”
Cr Tucker did not auree with thia. From what he heard fall the other day it appeared that Government was already in communi citiou with the C *urt on thia subject. The land the Council's ; they hud no right he could see no harm in o<>mtndmßcing with the Government direct He would move “ That the attention of the Government be called to the conditions of the deed.” The Council could go no further. Cr Tutchen explained te the Board the whole uf the trsnsuctions which led up to the execution of the deed and considered they could not possibly have a better title than that which the deed gave them. Cr Tucker believed the bind was obtaiefl| with a view of constructing a breakwater. Cr Tucuhen said, ar. the time this arrangement was made the breakwater had never been thought of. Cr Townley seconded the motion of Cr Tucker, which was carried.
Cr Joyce moved and Cr Tutchen seconded “ That the communication be made through Mr Locke.”—Carried.
nuisance. On the request of Ct Joyce, the attention of the Inspector of Nuisances was called to the drains in Bright street, which had been the subject of complaint. H. E. JuHNBTON AND THE WHARFINGER. Decemlier 4, 1883. Secretary of Gisborne Harbor Board. Dear Sir, H. E. Johnston has refused to furnish me with a copy uf the s.s. Rusina’* freightHe has been served with the usual notiefl Please instruct me what to do in the matteM I am, &c., J. Bennett. Notice.—Mr R. Mackie, master ■■. Rusina—Please take notice that from the present date you do not take in cargo unless the wharfage is paid on the same, as your agent lu* refused us a copy of your cargo-list. I am, Ac., J. Bennett, Wharfinger. Cr Joyce thought the Council wa* bound to uphold their wharfinger iu the execution of his duty. Cr Townley moved, “That the Connell resolve itself into a committee of the Harbor Board to consider thi* matter, as it was a great importance.” Thia being done, in answer to Mr Lewis, the wharfinger stated that, in spite of notice given, a number of bales had beenj shipped. Mr Lewis thought no time should be lost, and moved, “That the Secretary instruct their solicitor to institute legal proceedings at once, under the Penalty Clause, against the offending parties, whoever they may be." Mr Brown seconded the motion, as Jjm thought it high time such a thing shouldml stopped. " Mr Joyce thought a criminal information might also be laid against Mr Johnstone. Mr Townley thought it would be much better to take legal opinion before proceeding to extremes. Mr Joyce thought the Wharfinger should be instructed how to proceed. The Wharfinger said if he was not protected he should be compelled to give up the wharves He found it most difficult tn fulfil hia duties. When he asked Mr Johnstone for the copy he (Johnstone) said if tWe Harhor Board wanted it they might come for it themselves. The Secretary was instructed te lay the matter before the solicitor, and should he be advised to do so, to take immediate legal l proceedings against the offending parties.
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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 18, 6 December 1883, Page 2
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3,114BOROUGH COUNCIL. Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 18, 6 December 1883, Page 2
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