BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 137, 21 May 1884, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the above was held last night. Present—Councillors Lewis (in the Chair), Tucker, Brown, Joyce, Kenny, and Smith.

The minutes of the last ordinary and special meetings were read and confirmed, as also was the outgoing correspondence.

Incoming Correspondence

From the Secretary of the Gas Company, asking permission to be at once allowed to break up the soil and pavements of Grey Street and Gladstone Road, for the purpose of laying mains and service pipes, and for them to decide what number of burners will be required for their offices, stating that twelve street lamps were expected shortly, and asking if they would require them. Cr. Kenny—Have the Gas Company got their Bill passed yet ? It seems to me very unwise to do anything until the Bill is passed. Nobody has any right to break up the streets except the Town Council. The Chairman—l presume the roads are under our control; but if we give authority to any person under the supervision of the Engineer, this work can be done. The Company only asks for permission, which we can grant. They are not doing it on their own responsibility. Cr. Kenney—lt would be safer if they had waited until they had got their bill passed. The Clerk—Perhaps they apply under the 294th section of the Municipal Corporations Act.

Cr. Kenny—That only relates to supplying gas, and not to breaking up the streets. Cr. Joyce—What is the use of their constructing the Act if we can give permission ? Cr. Kenny—l strict legality I don’t think we have the power to grant permission. The Clerk —I have another letter from the Secretary of the Gas Company. It is as follows:—“Sir,—l have the honour to inform you that it is the intention of the above-named Company to introduce, during the next session of the Assembly a bill intituled “ The Gisborne Gas Company (Limited) Bill 1884,” copy of which I beg to hand you herewith. With the view of its passing into law the more readily, I would respectfully request your Honorable Council to accord the bill whatever support may be in its power to give.—l have, <fco., F. J. Piesse, Sec.” Cr. Tucker—l will propose “ That the Gas Company be requested to indicate any source of power to the Council to grant their request, and that the Council hold a special meeting next Tuesday for the purpose of considering the power so indicated, and the decision which they should give as to the aforesaid request. Cr. Kenny—l will second that. The proposition was put, and carried. The Chairman—That refers to the first part of the letter. We now come to the question of burners required by this Company, and of street lamps. The Clerk—About ten burners would suffice for these offices.

Cr. Kenny—l move that the number of burners for the Council Chambers and offices be ten.

Cr. Joyce—l second that.—Carried. Cr. Brown—l move that the consideration of the question of street lamps stand over. The Chairman —I will second that. No amendment. Carried. The Chairman now read the second letter for the Secretary of the Gas Company. Cr. Kenny—l move that the letter be simply acknowledged.

The Chairman —I don’t see what we can do in the matter. Cr. Brown—l will second the motion. Carried. From Messrs. Common, Shelton & Co., asking to have the permanent levels in front of their store in Peel Street and Palmerston Road pointed out to them, and requesting the Council to form that piece of Palmerston Road between the Fire-engine Shed and the corner of Peel Street, and pointing out that such work would be of greater importance to the Fire Brigade than to them. Cr. Joyce—l think I brought this question under the notice of the Council some time ago, and it was agreed that the Engineer should report on it. I think this requires attention as in the winter time there is a great depth of water lying on that part of the street referred to, and is very inconvenient, and in case of alarm of fire in wet weather, the firemen will be ankle deep in mud. For that alone the street should be seen to regardless of Common, Shelton and Co. The Chairman—We will take the first portion of the letter re permanent levels. The Engineer was ordered to point them out to Messrs. Common, Shelton and Co.

The Engineer—There is I think £BO on the estimates for the work they require. Cr. Brown—l move the receipt of the letter be acknowledged, and that Messrs. Common. Shelton and Co. be informed that an amount is on the estimates for the work, and that the work will be proceeded with as soon as possible. Cr. Kenny—l second the motion. Carried. From Mr. E. K. Brown requesting that the trees opposite his place be attended to as they are so dense, and required cutting. The Chairman—l move that the request be granted. Cr. Brown—l second that. Carried. Engineers Report.

zlfterdcen Road—Derby and Cobden Streets. The cost of clearing this road of briars and digging out the roots would be about £5. I should not recomend fhat this work be done unless it is intended to form and metal the road; the effect would be to make the road, in winter, worse than it is at present. Read's Town Drain.— This contract has been knished. The work has been well done, and within the specified time; and I recomend that a final payment (£l7 XOs.), be made to the contractor. Borough Reserve Drain.— The part of this drain described in my last report has been deepened at an expense of £6. I have, &c., R. J. Reynolds On the motion of Cr. Brown, seconded by Cr. Sulith, the report was adopted. Cr. Joyce being the only one opposed to the adoption. Payments. J. Turton, £l7 25.; Searle and Benfield, £6. Tenders. The tenders for the formation and metalling of about 44 chains of Childers Road were now opened as under: —D. Malone: Formation, £1 4s. per chain ; shingling with beach shing, £4 9s. per chain ; shingling with Waipoa River shingle, £8 4s. 6d. per chain. C. McDeavitt : Formation, £1 6s. per chain; shingling with beach shingle, £7 ss. per chain ; shingling with Waipoa River shingle, £lO 17s. 6d. per chain. J. Turton : Formation, 14s. per chain; shingling with beach shingle, 3s. per yard; shingling with Waipoa River shingle, 7s. per yard. Cr. Tucker—l propose that Malone’s tender be accepted for formation and river gravel. Seconded by Cr. Smith and carried. After a very weary and prolonged discussion, Cr. Kenny proposed, “ That the Engineer be empowered to make an arrangement with a view to the metal being measured by a tallyman appointed by the Council, the tallyman to be paid by the Council, and to be their servant exclusively, and no extra expense tn be occasioned to the Council by the arrangement. The tallyman’s wages not tc exceed Bs. per day, to be deducted from the contract. In reply to a question put by Mr. Malone, Ur. Kenny explained that the arrangement would be made with him. He could consent to it or not, and was thorough master of the situation. Sir George Grey’s Offer. The Clerk—With regard to the offer made by Sir George Grey to the Council last year to supply trees to plant a garden with. As it was too late in the season when the offer was made the matter was held over till this month, and Sir George was told that he would bo further communicated with on the subject this winter. Cr, Tucker—The offer was made to me when I was in Auckland this time last year, and I think the reason why we did not have the trees was because we had no place to put them. The offer was that if we had any public gardens here, he would be very glad to

give from his own gardens one of every kind of tree that he possessed. I thought we might make this useful for the Recreation or Hospital grounds. No doubt he will revive the offer.

The Clerk—The matter was left over until this year.

The Chairman—lt would be better to leave the matter stand till next meeting. Cr. Tucker—The Hospital ground would be a good place for them. The Clerk—You could plant a couple of streets. Cr. Tucker—They are not trees fur street planting. They are only for botanic gardens <fcc. The matter was left to stand over. Palmerston Road. Cr. Joyce—l propose that tenders be called for forming and gravelling that portion of Palmerston Road, from Peel Street to about half-way between Grey and Bright Streets, as it is down on the estimates. The Clerk—lt is not usual to call for tenders at once, because the work is down on the estimates. Cr. Joyce—This road is more deserving of attention than the other, fcr which tender has just been accepted. The Chairman—Our financial position is the consideration at present, Cr. Joyce—That should have been considered before. This place is all flooded in winter, with the exception of a few patches. Cr. Tucker—The way the Government do is to have plans and specifications drawn out for a certain works and tenders called for; they take about three months considering them, and ultimately decide not to have the work done. We should follow their example. Cr. Smith —During the whole time I have been in the Bay, I have not known the banks to be so stringent as they are now. The Chairman—l think we might wait for another month before proceeding with this work. The Clerk—We will then have the licenses in, which amounts to something like £6OO. Cr. Joyce-i-If that is the case I shall withdraw the motion for a future time. Notice of Motion. Cr. Joyce gave the following notice of motion:—“ That tenders be called for the forming and gravelling of that portion of Palmerston Road from Peel Street to half-way between Bright Streets.” This completed the business of the evening and the Council rose.