BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 273, 27 November 1901, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Tiik fortnightly mooting of the borough Council was held last night. Present : The Mayor and Crs Harding, Kennedy, Miller, Mason, Jones, Lysnar, and Whinray. In regard to the proposed water and drainage poll, Tho Borough Solicitor, Mr E. J. Chrisp, wrote as follows :—'' lie notice to electors,

I enclose herewith copy of notice as altered by nio, and am satisfied that it complies with the requirements of the statute. Assuming that the poll will he taken, you will prepare a sp'eeial roll, which should ho prepared, corrected, completed, and authenticated in the prescribed time and form, ltefcrring to your query as regards tho qualification, I think that the right to vote must bo given to both husband and wife, that is that each should have tho vote. You will of course exclude from the roll all residential voters, leaving only freeholders and ratepayers and their wives or husbands, as the case may be, and each elector will have one vote only. I would suggest that you publish the notice on the 1 Oth, 17th, "24th, and 21st December, holding the meeting on the 7th January and the poll on the 21st January, 1902, which dates would bring you within the statute.” |

The Mayor said that the advertisement :iad been very little altered. lie proposed dial tho advertisement, as approved of by die solicitor, be inserted in tho press, and ,ho meeting to he held and poll taken on die dates recommended.

In reply to Cr Lysnar, the Mayor said that tho poll could only bo hold a day or two earlier, which would come within the Christmas holidays. Cr Kennedy seconded tho motion. After some further remarks as to the rate of interest, it boing understood that if the money could not be got at -1 per cent, tho ratepayers could easily be again approached on that point by itself, the motion was carried unanimously. “ Carried unanimously,” said the

Mayor. “ But it will not be carried unanimously on tho polling day,” said Cr Lysnar. Cr Jones: You aro always trying to throw cold water on the scheme. AVhy don’t you come round and help us ? Cr Lysnar : I will if. you get a proper scheme.

Mr J. D. Ritchie, for the Department of Agriculture, wrote : “As the inspection of slaughtering places is now vested in this Department, in accordance with the provisions of tho Slaughtering and Inspection Act, 1900, I shall be obliged if you will, unless you have already done so, arrange for the’ cancelling of the appointment of any Inspector of Slaughterhouses appointed by your body under the Abattoirs and Slaughterhouses Act, 1894, this Act being now repealed.”—lt was decided to inform the Department that Mr Wilkinson had been appointed by Government, but was not acting now. Tho Council was advised by the Treasury that a voucher for Xloo 15s, advance on account of subsidy, was being sent on. The amount was 75 per cent, on X 205. Mr C. Thomson, on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, wrote, calling attention to the quantity of sweet briars growing on a number of streets and roads of the'Borough, and calling upon the Council under the Noxious Weeds Act of 1900 to have them destroyed. “ Now,” ho wrote, “ is the time to go to work on them, when they aro in flower and before tho seed forms.” In a later letter he stated that since writing he had found that the Borough is possessed of several sections, some of which are thickly covered with briars, and he asked the Council to see to it at once that the briars were destroyed. Cr Lysnar suggested that the Council should do its own sections and call on tho owners of property to clear their grounds. Cr Miller : Let us clear our own property first. On the suggestion of Cr Jones it was resolved that tho Overseer report on the matter, if the cost”was not great to at once get tho Borough’s property cleared of the briars. Tho Borough Inspector, Mr J. lv. Little, reported that he had been inspecting the Borough, and found everything in a satisfactory condition. The chimney stack at Mr Skect’s factory had been erected to its former height, but it did not seem to carry the smoke off any better, and the Inspector was afraid it would always remain a source of nuisance, lie matter how high the stack, owing to the shavings and sawdust used for firing purposes. Mr Skeet stated that lie had raised tiie height of the stack as high as could safely bo done. Arrangements had been made for the taking of niMitsoil twice a week from the school and other places during the summer. Thero had been no cases of fever to report since the last meeting. In reply to questions the Inspector said that the chimney stack was 42 feet high ; according to the’'by-law it must bo not less than CO feet high, unless with special permission of the Council. Cr Lysnar said they better let it have a "cr Jones asked would it make any difference if bettor fuel wore used > The Inspector said that the light fuel was worse than coal would be, as it got up the chimney quickly. ' At the request of Cr Jones, it was agreed that the dust cart should take the Old Men's Home within the circuit. Mr O. J. Morell, night watchman, made his usual satisfactory report —no fires to

record. „, ~ , r The Borough Overseer, Mr M. Morgan, reported as follows Stone contract : This contract is being carried on in a : thoroughly satisfactory manner, both iti quality and measurement of stone. No fault need be found : the contractors appear to do their ber-L. To date, we ha.-e 305 cubic yards of metal delivered in the yard. I" would recommend a progress payment. Asphalt : 1 have . laid the second section on the bridge. This section was somewhat damaged through the very heavy traffic on Saturday last', there .being over three_ tons weight passing over it on two wheels, which is excessive : also a number 1 of very heavy waggons. The day, being a very, hot one. softened the tar, and caused the damage. I have been able to bring it somewhat back to its place by rolling. 1 do not expect any permanent damage, the asphfdi being hard. I have a quantity of crave! partly prepared for another raising, but have to let it stand ov_i\ owing to the weather. It will take several days to dry . it a«ain before anything further can be i done. We have a fairly good supply of I tar on hand for further works. Day i labor, £22 2s. . ... Cr Jones said it was a pity that the ! heavy traffic went over: it was just wliat • C'r Lvsnar had said would happen. : c/Mason sfid that the second lot of ; cementing was better than the first lot. Cr Lvsnar said they ought to deal firmly with those taking heavy loads over the bridge. He thought if they could Jmd who had caused the ruts they should cotu- ; pel them to bear the additional espouse

I incurred. The damage had occurred on i i-Tiday. Did the Overseer know who had I done it '! I The Overseer said he had been asked, I but had refused permission for two of Ken- | nedy and E vans’ drays to go over. He j had been told that two of that firm's drays

i did go over. Cr Lysnar : Well, Kennedy and Evans ' should be called on to pay the damage. Cr Mason suggested that planks be put on the bridge, and the Mayor suggested that a notice be put up. Cr Lysnar moved that notice be given to Messrs Kennedy and Evans that they would be held responsible for any damage done to tiie bridge. Cr Harding seconded the motion. The question then arose as to whether or not Kennedy and Evans’ drays had

”ono over. Cr Mason said that if the drays had gone over after 5 p.lll. that did not come within the time specified. Cr Kennedy and he would accept the Overseer’s statement that no permanent damage had been done ; and the matter might lie left at that. The Mayor said that no doubt the discussion would do good, and the subject was then dropped. Cr Jones raised the question as to the pace at which people were to go over the midge ; some people now had the idea that they could go over the bridge at a fast pace. Cr Lysnar thought with an asphalted bridge they should permit trotting. Cr Mason : J. agree with you. Cr Jones : What about the women and I children walking over '/ Cr Lysnar thought they siiuuld have a report on the subject ; tiiey should have . some laxity in tiro matter as in Napier ; so long as the foot trallic was protected. Cr Miller said he would strongly oppose any riding or driving over the bridge at a fast pace ; it was better that a horseman should have to wait a lew seconds than that too lives of women and children crossing tin; bridge should he endangered. Cr Kennedy moved that the matter be referred to the attention of the police. Cr stiller seconded the motion, which was carried.

Cr Miller urged that there should be more tarring of the footpaths done. He proposed that the matter he referred to the Works Committee, with power to push the work on.

Cr Kennedy seconded the motion, which was carried.

For the supply of 200 dog collars George Maher tendered at X 5 10s, the tender being accepted. On the motion of tho Mayor it was resolved to make the usual arrangements with the County Council to collect tho dog tax, the allowance to tho Borough being X-25.

On the motion of tho Mayor, seconded by Cr Whim-ay, the Town Clerk was reappoiutod Borough Valuator as usual. Cr Lysnar approved of tho appointment, hut said ho thought it would bo simpler and more satisfactory to rate on the capital value, and they should consider the subject at a later date. When every other body and the Government wore rating on the capital value it would be prudent for the Council to consider the matter. He would not make any motion on the subject, as ho himself would like to consider it further, but at present his idea was that they should take the capital value.

The Mayor said that there would hardly be time to alter tho system for the en-

suing year. In tho past they had kept to tho rental value, and ho moved that they continue as at present. Cr Jones pointed out that there would be several awkward points in making a change. The Mayor said however they struck tho rate the revonuo would be required. In reply to Cr Jones, the Mayor said that when the new valuations were to hand they would have a comparison made of how the two systems worked out.

Tho motion was agreed to. . In regard to electric lighting, Cr Whinray said that Mr Dunlop was at present in Gisborne, and would like to obtain a reply to the communications sent. He understood that Mr Dunlop was in the district as the representative of the firm. They desired to know if facilities would be given to take the project up by private enterprise if the Couucil would not embark on it.

The Mayor said that a report had not yet been received from the committee. It was agreed that the committee should arrange to confer with Mr Dunlop, the meeting to take place at 4 pan. on Friday.