BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 220, 27 August 1884, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A meeting of the Borough Council was held last evening. Present : —Crs. Townley (in the chair), Lewis, Kenny, Joyce, Hepburn, Brown, Moore, and the officers of the Council. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. The minutes of a meeting of the Board of Health were read and approved of. Correspondence comprised a circular from Mr. Badger, and circular from the Property Tax Commissioner. The Clerk was authorised to forward the price of the “ Whole Law of New Zealand,” a copy of which had been ordered by the Council. He was also authorised to reply to the Property Tax Commissioner’s circular. The following was then read : — Dr. Pollen's Deport.

As requested by your Worship, I have visited all the Union Go’s, steamers arriving at this port from the south since the 10th instant. In every case I have to report that the passengers and crew were free from any sickness of an infectious nature. There have been no passengers for Gisborne direct from Melbourne, since the 4th inst. I notice in recent telegrams that small-pox has occurred in Sydney as well as Melbourne. I now write to ask if it is the desire of your Board that I should continue my visits of inspection to the steame’s, and whether the steamers from the north should be included. I may state for the information of your Board that, as public vaccinator, I have received instructions from the Government to re-vacci-nate, free of charge, all adults desiring the operation.—Yours d’C., Hy. Pollen. It was resolved that the report be handed to His Worship the Mayor to be dealt with by him in the meantime. The following was then read :— Engineer's Deport. Stanley Doad. — Having examined and taken the levels of this road, I find that the total expenses of forming and metalling the portion between Gladstone and Aberdeen Roads would be £2OO. This would include forming roadway and footpaths, and metalling roadway only with 25 cubic yards to the chain. Length of road 20 chains. Access would thus be given from the improved part of Aberdeen Road to Gladstone Road. The same object might be gained by improving Aberdeen Road from Roebuck Road to the Brewery, (assuming that Roebuck Road is to be metalled). This would cost more, say £3OO, but more houses would be benefitted than by making Stanley Road. Childers little progress has been made with this contract since last report. The late fresh in the river has prevented the contractor getting out gravel. It is expected that gravel will be brought down to-morrow.

Palmerston Doad.— The contractors are engaged with the formation, which is not yet completed. A small quantity of gravel has been brought down which appears to be of tolerable quality. Day Labor.— The water-channels in some places being in a dirty state, I have employed a man to clean them out. I also intend to put in a box culvert across Palmerston Road at the crossing of Grey street, as the 'place is too steep for an open crossing.

Amount of day labor to date 14s. Cr. Hepburn said there was no doubt the work in Stanley Road ought to be done, and £2OO would be very well laid out. He proposed “ That the work be done.”

Cr. Joyce would be willing to agree to the work if there were funds, but a large amount of money had already been spent in that part of the Borough. It would be more judicious to postpone the work for a time.

Cr.. Smith seconded the motion. He did not know whether members ever went up that way, but in winter time it was simply impassable. It seemed foolish having two parallel roads formed and no means of passing between the two.

Cr. Brown moved as an amendment “ That the work be left over for the present.” There was only one ratepayer in the street proposed to be made.

Cr. Lewis seconded. The work was necessary, but he had to oppose it on financial grounds. The Chairman would have to vote for the amendment owing to the state of the funds. The amendment was carried. The remainder of the report was adopted as read. Tenders. The following tenders for Roebuck Road were opened :—M. Boland, £3lB 6s. 3d.; R. Douglas and Co., £386; D. Malone, £287 175.; C. McDeavitt, £382 2s. 6d. Cr. Lewis moved—“ That Malone’s tender be accepted.” Cr. Brown seconded. Carried. Payments. The following payments were passed:— C. McDavitt, £1 16s. 6d.; Cook County Council, £3 2s. 6d.; Parnell and Boylann, £4 ; W. Badger, £2 Bs. 6d. Total, £ll 7s. 6d.

It was resolved to apply to the County Council for half the cost of the hall for the late public meeting. Ext raordinary Easiness. The Engineer’s attention was called to the water channel in Gladstone Road between Peel and Lowe Streets. A notice of motion by His Worship the Mayor was allowed to still stand over. A notice of motion in the name of Cr. Smith re brick party walls was then brought forward. Cr. Smith spoke at length in support of his motion. Cr. Lewis seconded the motion. He quite agreed with all the remarks that had been made in favor of it.

Cr. Lewis proposed that Crs. Smith, Kenny, and Townley be appointed a committee to draw up a suitable bye-law to meet the case. Cr. Joyce spoke against the original motion.

The Chairman said one brick building made a great difference to the risk of fire in a block, and he seconded Mr. Lewis’s motion. Cr. Joyce proposed as an amendment that the matter stand over for the present. Cr. Moore seconded. Cr. Joyce’s amendment was lost on the voices. Cr. Lewis’s motion anent committee was carried. Petition. The Clerk asked if any action should be taken with regard to the petition emanating from the public meeting. The Chairman thought the Mayor and the Chairman of the County Council would give the matter due attention. Danger. Cr. Smith said he had been asked to bring before the Council the manner in which the Ranger’s duties were carried out. It had been shown to him that the position should be placed in the hands of some one who would give their whole attention to it. It was impossible that a man who was fully employed owing to his ability as a tradesman, could properly attend to the work. He thought if all the stray horses were impounded they would bring in a large addition to the amount now received from that source. The office might be given to some employee whose time was not fully occupied. Next meeting he would bring forward a motion bearing on the matter. He had no complaint to bring against the ranger, but it was impossible that the duties could be properly attended to by a man who was fully occupied in other ways. The Chairman said he had been told by ratepayers that cattle had got into their gardens and caused much annoyance. Cr. Smith gave notice tnat he would move at next meeting, “ That the post of Ranger, Inspector of Nuisances, etc., be given to a person who could devote their whole time to the duties.”