BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 284, 11 December 1901, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of tho Council was held last night. Present: Tho Mayor (Mr Town ley), and Crs Ilophurn, Jones, Bright, Mason, Whin ray, Lysnar, Miller, and Kennedy. A reply was received from tho Police Dopartmont stating that tho request to enforce tho by-laws, relative to the driving of stock and trotting over bridges would receive attention. Dr Finch, Acting District Health Officer, wrote drawing attention to tho advisability, on account of tho recrudescence of plague in Sydney, to instruct inspectors to keep a look-out for diseased or dead rats. —Deferred to tho Inspector. A circular was received from tho Department of Public Health as to tho amondmcnt3 in the Public Hoalth Act in regard to infectious diseases, which must now also bo referred to the local authorities. It was suggested that some members bo deputed to act between tho periods of the meetings of tho Council. The cooperation of the Council was specially asked in regard to infectious diseases prone to bo disseminated by children at school. Tho Mayor said that the suggestions wero now in force. Cr Bright said that tho Inspector should act in the periods between meetings, and the Mayor repliod that that systom was now adopted. The Electric Lighting Committoo reported : 11 Mr Dunlop waited on the Com-

mittoo, and statod that Messrs Stouart and Fenn wore anxious for a reply to their letter; and in reply to a question by Mr Lysnar, stated that ho thought his principals would be agreeable to make the Council a concession in tho way of street lighting, also that arrangements might be made for tho Council taking over the works at valuation after a fair lapse of time, say 20 years. It was decided to report to the Council that the Committee saw no roason why tho offer of Messrs Stouart and Fenn should not be taken into consideration by the Council, provided suitable arrangements are mado in regard to taking over tho work at any stated periods, and obtaining concessions for street-lighting.—Report received. The Public Works Committee reported that instructions had been given to tho Overseer to hire another tank and employ extra labor, so that as much tarring the footpaths as possible should be done. The nightwatcbman reported that there had been no fires in the borough during his hours of duty. He added a warning to the Council that their property at tho tire engine shed was endangered through, he believed, tho practice of a firm in placing live ashes from their engine on the rivetbank near tho stone yard. He had on the previous night been trying for hours to locato a smell of fire, and had found a quantity of ashes smouldering on the bank of the river ; if there had been a high wind blowing the ashes would have been very dangerous. Tho Mayor moved that a letter be written to Messrs Common, Shelton, and Co., calling attention to the danger, and stating that tho practice must be discontinued. Cr Bright thought it was a matter for the oflicers of tho Council to deal with, but the Mayor’s suggestion was agreed to. In his report tho Inspector mentioned that since last meeting there had been three slight cases of scarlatina and two of measles. The Inspector stated that the moasles cases had recovered, but the scarlatina cases were still under tho caro of the

doctor. The Oversesr (Mr SI. Slorgan) reported 11 1 have the honor to report on the follow ing works :—Slakaraka Domain : The fencing of the drain has been completed as authorised. I would recommend payment for samo as per voucher. Asphalting : Very little progress has been made in the preparation of asphalt for the bridge- since last meeting, tho weather being against the work. I have been tarring the crossings in Gladstone road, and doing the needed patching on footpaths before tarring them over with a final coat. As authorised at last meeting, I have started the work of grubbing out the briars in the Borough paddocks and the streets adjoining the samo. This ' work was started at Cobden street, and is now nearly completed to Disraeli street, on the south side of Childers road. I have made an inspection of the streets of the borough as authorised, and find in many places the briars are making headway, the worst places being Herbert street, Stanley road, and the south end of Lytton road. The west ends of Gladstone road and Aberdeen road are again getting badly covered with gorse, as is also the north end of Lytton road. In many places, the fence line is very thick with briars. Tho north end of Boebuck road is also very dirty. Steps should bo taken as early as possible to get tho streets cleared of all offensive weeds, as the sap is now well up in the plants, before the 6eed matures, and whether cut or grubbed will give the roots a severe check.” In regard to briars the Overseer said he estimated that it would cost .£35 to clear the briars in the streets. Cr Lysnar said they should call on the property-owners to do it as required by the Act. The Council could not afford to spend £35 in that way. ' Cr Whinray proposed, and Or Lysnar seconded, that property-owners be notified that in terms of tho Act they must '■ clear their land ol the briars, and also the ■ * road in front to the centre, _ Cr Whinray said the way the briars were left mado the place look very disreputable. It was mandatory that the clearing should bo done. The motion was carried. It was resolved that the usual notification be made that ten per cent, would be charged on overdue rates. The plans for the British Empire Hotel woro forwarded, and were passed subject to the approval of the Inspector. In regard to tho report on tho electric licrht scheme, Or Lysnar moved and Cr Whinray seconded that the report of the Committee bo adopted, and that Messrs Steuart and Fenn be asked to state what concessions they would make to tho

Council. It was resolved to hold the next meeting of the Council on December 23rd.