BOROUGH COUNCIL

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 261, 13 November 1901, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCIL

Thk fortnightly meeting of the Council was hold last night, there being present: Tho Mayor (Mr Townley), and Crs Hepburn, Miller, Jones, Mason, Bright, Lysuar, and Whinray. Mr R. 11. Mason made tho usual declaration, and took his scat as a Councillor, being warmly welcomed by the Mayor and brother Councillors. A communication was received from the Health Department, thanking tho Council for the offer to circulate copies of the pamphlet on enteric fever, and, as requested, forwarding a further supply of you. The Assistant Surveyor-General wrote stating that tho Council’s request that instructions should be given to revise and extend the standard survey of the town of Gisborne would receive consideration as soon as possible. A circular was received from the Birkenhead Burgesses’ Association, asking for an expression of opinion as to tho methol of voting known as “ plumping,” and as to whether it should bo made informal by legislation. Information was asked for as to numbers of votes and voters at the election in April, also the number of vacancies to bo filled and candidates nominated.

It was resolved to supply tho information. Bates were remitted in three cases of widows, owing to circumstances. Tho Night watchman (Mr O. J. Morell) reported that there had been no tires during his hours of duty for the fortnight. Mr M. Morgan, Borough Overseer, reported : The stone contract is now well in hand, and very fair progress is being made by the contractors ; tho stone is improving in quality from former years, being of a harder and closer grain, and not showing so much shell as in former contracts. I have been preparing a quantity of asphalt for.the bridge, but have been unable to lay any down, through the weather. Day labor as per voucher, Ll 9 Ids. The Inspector (Mr J. B. Little) reported :—Since last meeting I have been inspecting in tho Borough, and find tho most of tho places in a satisfactory condition. Tho material for the erection of a new smoke stack at Mr Skeet’s factory is now to hand, and Mr Skeet informs me that the work of erecting the same will be started to-morrow. Health lieport : The Health Department have forward SOO copies of the circular issued by them how to provent the spreading of typhoid fever, and I am delivering them to the householders in the borough, There has been no eases of typhoid fever or infectious diseases reported in the borough orsuDurbs since last meeting. The Mayor said that he hoped the erection of the smoke stack would be pushed on with as soon as possible. The Overseer said that the work would have been completed if tho material had been available,

At the meeting of the Borough Council last night tho Overseer was* called on to give Ins opinion as to Douglas’s quarry. He said that ho was of opinion that there was really no stone in the quarry; the material would be of no use, and there was nothing worth going to the expense of testing. There was a little hardened sandstone and shell, but the higher portion was clay that would pulverise without giving any wear. There was a shelf of papa, which indicated there would he no depth. He thought a couple of shots would dislodge all the stuff that was there. Ho had difficulty in getting anyone to offer to bring down some stuff. Cr Lysnar said that one man had offered to bring trial loads down at 7s 6d a yard. The Mayor said that with the cost of quarrying added, that would he more than Batutahi metal; as to the boulders they were not worth handling. Cr Hepburn said that the stuff was useless; he had brought down some and tested it. Cr Lysnar said that the Overseer had been asked to obtain prices for quarrying and bringing down some of the stuff; the only mau carting on the road liad been made the offer of carting at 7s 6d a yard, and they should have the information. They could test it with ten yards. Cr Hepburn: One yard would do it. Cr AVhinray said lie had gone to the site many years ago, and endorsed all that the Overseer had said; there was nothing at the place worth powder and shot, and the road and bridges were not suitable for the carting of the stuff down. The Mayor said that he had previously said that the stuff was of no use ; the Overseer was justified in informing the Council that it was worthless before going to expense in bringing a lot of rotten stuff in. Cr Hepburn said that carters who had brought down samples had said it was of no use. Cr Lysnar said that the Council had made a resolution, and should stick to it. On the motion of the Mayor the Overseer’s report was received, and it was decided not to go to any expense in the matter.

It is reported that the streams about Lake 'Waikareinoana aro teeming with trout.