BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 196, 30 July 1884, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual meeting of the above was held last night. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs. Tutchen, Townley, Joyce, Kenny, Moore, Lewis, Hepburn, Smith, and Brown. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed, and the outgoing correspondence, Petition, A petition from ratepayers resident in the vicinity of Palmerston Road East, and a letter from Messrs. Common, Shelton & Co. drawing attention to the very bad state of that road between the Taruheru Bridge and Bright Street, were presented by Cr. Joyce. Cr. Townley—l would like to ask what is on the estimates for spending money on the Palmerston road ? The Clerk-£l5O. Cr. Townley—lt seems to me to be a wise course to at once call for tenders, and have the work gone on with. The work is urgently required, and several members of the Fire Brigade have complained about it, and it causes them much inconvenience. I think it should be metalled with Ormond shingle, as the beach shingle is of no possible use. Cr. Joyce—l may state that there is a notice of motion at present standing in my name in reference to this work, and I certainly say it is the worst bit of road in the whole of the Borough, as there is continual traffic along it, The other day I saw an empty dray almost stuck there. I propose that tenders be called for the forming and metalling of that portion of Palmerston Road. Cr. Tutchen—l should have brought a motion to that effect myself, as the work is urgently required, but I should like this added to the motion, “ That the contract extends from Peel Street right across Grev Street.” If that is added I will have much pleasure in seconding the motion. Cr. Joyce agreed to add that to his motion, which was then put and carried. Engineer’s Report. I have not much to report to this meeting. The tracings of the bridge, and plans and specification were forwarded to Auckland and Wellington, as ordered at last meeting. An arrangement for ringing the fire-bell from the ground has been fitted up. Poplars and willows are being planted on the slope of Read’s Quay. Very little progress has been made with the Childers Road contract, but the weather has been unfavourable. The total length metalled now is about 19 chains of roadway, and 12| chains footpath. , The report was adopted without discussion. Payments. C. McDevitt, £5 10s.; Tally-man, £4 Bs. Roebuck Road. Cr. Tutchen—l would draw the Council’s attention to the fact that when the Engineer was instructed to fill in the drain in Roebuck Road, it was decided to have the footpath on this side of the road also formed. I don’t know whether there is anything of that in the minutes, but I remember that such was distinctly mentioned. The footpath has not been formed at all, and the consequence is that when it rains there is about two feet of water in front of four of the houses in that street, and already a zigzag drain has had to be cut to drain it off; therefore I think the footpath on the side should be at once formed and metalled. Cr. Hepburn—lt was moved that the drain be filled in, and that the footpath be formed and metalled, but I proposed an amendment that the drain only be filled in, which was carried.

The Engineer—The drain only was to be filled in, but what Cr. Tutchen says is perfectly correct; the footpath does require to be formed and metalled.

Cr. Tutchen—l move that the Engineer be instructed to divert the water from off the footpath.

Cr. Moore—l second that. Cr. Townley—ls there anything on the estimates for this road ? The Clerk—£l7o. Cr. Tutchen—There has been £l5 spent on it already. Cr. Townley—The best thing wo can do is to have plans and specifications drawn, and get the work done permanently, I don’t want to see any money squandered away on temporary works. The temporary work on this road was undertaken as it was impossible to get metal, but the time is now approaching when the road will enable us to get metal fiom the Waipaoa River. Cr. Tutchen—l move that tenders be called for this work, according to the plans and specifications which the Engineer has already prepared. Cr. Lewis—l will second that motion.— Carried. Disraeli Street. Cr. Tutchen—There is another item I wish to mention. In the forming of Disraeli Street the ground rises at the junction of Gladstone Road, and the consequence is that the water lies there about eighteen inches deep when it rains, and it wants an outlet on the west side of the street. The Engineer was instructed to see to ths work. Gladstone Road. Cr. Tutchen—There is another item I might now mention. That portion of Gladstone Boad opposite Messrs. Parnell and Boylan’s store is in a very bad state, there being always about eighteen inches of mud lying there. I think we might have a little gravel placed there to patch it up. There are many other places in this road which are in the same condition, the trees being allowed to grow on the north side which prevents the sun getting on to the road to dry it up. I move that we call for tenders for the repairing of Gladstone Road from the wharf up, with 500 yards of gravel, or more if thought necessary.

Cr. Smith—l second that, and quite agree with what has been said.

Cr. Townley—l shall move that this question stand over for the present, as we now have several contracts in hand, which ought to be completed before going on with others such as this one, and which is not of so great importance as stated. Another thing we cannot get the gravel down until the other contracts are finished, because there is only one

Cr. Brown—l will second that. We have not the funds to do the work. It can stand

The amendment was put and carried by a majority of one. Cr. Smith’s Notice of Motion. Cr. Smith’s notice of motion was now brought on, “ That the following bye-law be passed, ‘ That from and after the coming into force of this law, it shall not be lawful to use in the construction of outside walls, except front and framing, which may be of wood, any material other than stone, brick, or concrete, within the following limits of the Borough of Gisborne—viz., both sides of the Gladstone Road from its junction with Read’s Quay to Grey Street.’ ” Cr. Smith said he had found out that it was an exceedingly difficult thing to effect a reasonable insurance on their goods or buildings. He had found it very difficult lately to get insurance on buildings in a certain block of this town, and when he did it was very small, and he had to go to several offices for that. The insurance companies were now becoming so very careful that it was getting quite a matter of great commercial difficulty. He was sure it was quite premature to bring such a resolution forward, but he would do so from time to time to keep the matter well before them.

Cr. Tutchen—l shall vote against it, for this reason, it is of no use because more than half the property between here and Grey Street is leasehold, and it is unjust to the freeholder.

Cr. Townley—l agree with Cr. Smith, but I think what we require more than anything to improve the insurance is a good water mpply. Wellington is a wooden city, but they have such a splendid water supply that sixteen jets would knock a house down. I think we can let this stand over for a time. Cr. Smith—l am agreeable to let the matter stand over for a month, to give members time to fully consider it. The matter was, after discussion, postponed for one month.