BOROUGH COUNCIL

Gisborne Times, Volume LV, Issue 6153, 10 August 1921, Page 6

BOROUGH COUNCIL

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING mssThe Borough Council met ' last evening. Present: The Mayor, apd Crs. R. Robertson, T. Todd, F. Gray, F. R, Ball, ,W. A. Bowie, C. E. Bickford, H. DeCosta, D. Coleman. ,

A letter was read from the Motuhora Stone Quarries Co., asking if the Council would assist the company 3 by taking a proportion of 2jin. and l£in. metal, say up to 150 yds, that the company would not have space in the bins i'f a proposed purchase of stone by the Waikohu Council should eventuate. The Mayor said the engineer was quite prepared to purchase the stone. The letter was received. A letter was received from the, Invercargill Borough Council, asking the Council to support a protest to the Minister of Internal Affairs against the action of the Government in increasing the charge for auditing accounts - “to what we consider is a figure far in excess of the actual cost.”—The amount was said to be three guineas a day. The letter was received. The manager of the Bank of New Zealand forwarded a list of paid debenture coupons from July 1 to date. The debentures amounted to £2159 Os lid, and the income tax was £l6l Is 4d. The writer asked for the Council’s cheque for the amount. The letter was received. The clerk to the Mangapapa Town Board wrote, stating that there appeared to be a misunderstanding in regard to the collection of the Mangapapa license fees and the Council. The Board would be pleased if the Council would appoint a date for delegates from both bodies to meet and discuss the position. It was stated that a resolution on the matter had been passed by the Counoil on February 11, and the Town Cleric was instructed to reply explaining the position. The Officer-in-charge of the Valuation Department wrote in regard to payment of rates of business premises. He suggested that owing to recent trouble where tenants have been sent rate demands at the instigation of the owner, it would be advisable in future to send special forms, one of which was attached.— The Mayor said the proposal was a step in the right direction and it was decided on his motion to accept the suggestion. The Mangapapa Town Board wrote asking the cost of erection and upkeep of the proposed lamp in Ormond road.—The letter was received. The Under-Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs wrote, giving particulars of uniform headstones adopted ,by the Imperial War Graves Commission. The matter was to be discussed in August and the Council was asked to supply information regarding the burials which are carried out in the Cemetery are carried its jurisdiction.—lt was decided that the matter should be referred to the controlling body, the Cook County Council. Mr T. F. Martin, secretary of the Municipal Association, -wrote explaining the cause of the delay in issuing the pamphlets of opinions. It was due entirely to the disorganisation of his office owing to war and post-war conditions. The position, however, was now normal and he was doing his best to have the pamphlets brought up-to-date.—The letter was received. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer’s report dealt in detail with the work done on the roads, reserves, waterworks, and plumbing, drainage, sanitation, etc. In connection with the progress contracts, the engineer stated as follows: — Sea outfall from septic tank at Stanley Road, T. W. Woods for £1282: This contract was accepted on January 26, 1920, and signed January 29. The term for completion is eight months. Twen-ty-eight piles have been sunk to date; but owing to Lire tide and winter weather conditions the work has been down temporarily, but has now been resumed.

John Burn and Co., supply of water mains and specials for Te Hapara, has been signed; delivery was due on December 4, 1920, but the order is not yet completed. Frederick Armstrong, for erection of 11 workmen’s cottages: Tender for £8,464 accepted September, and contract signed October 2, 1920. Work is now in hand. Contract with W. Coward and Co., London, for indenting cable and insulator's for Te Hapara electric supply, for £1350, plus freight etc.: One drum of cable yet to arrive, also one case of insulators.

A. T. Webb, contract for erection of public conveniences in Peel Street, for £2077, signed January 17, 1921, term for completion 12 months: Work in hand.

Supply of meters: The tender of Messrs Ferranti, Ltd., England, has been accepted at £1093 15s, or £3 2s 6d, One hundred of the 350 meters -should soon be ready for shipment. The report was adopted. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The treasurer’s .statement was as fol--lows Credit balance of the Council’s various loan accounts: House connections £8663 9s lOd, stormwater drainage loan, of £.50,000 (amt. raised £9,700) £5876 1« lid; tramway loan, 1916, of £30,000, £17,711 2s 9d; sea outfall, public conveniences and reserves loan, £7OOO, £2,000 10s 2d; sewerage and waterworks loan, 1916. of £50,000, £3,346 9s 10s; Peel St. bridge and street, metalling loan, of £42,500 (amt.’ raised £11,800). £10,007 14s sd; Te Hapara special district loan( 1920, £IB,OOO, £13,247 13s 6d; street formation and metalling loan, 1920, of £17,500, £9,417 8s 6d; workers’ dwellings loan, £IO,OOO (amt. raised £6000) £193 11s 8d ; £49,500 on fixed deposit, Bank; £12,000 on temporary loan general account) —£70,464 2s 7d.

Bank.—Temporary loans deposit ac., or., £18,341; bank temporary loan balances, er., £12,000; bank balances, dr., £30,341; district fnrit account, dr., £6,380 4s 9d; total £36,721 4s 9d. The expenditure for the four months was as follows:—Streets and bridges £3618, sanitation and drainage £1923, electricity (including capital expens. £2574) £12,222; water supply £1,205; tramways (includ. in.t. and sinking fund) £4,128. The tramways revenue for the four months amounted to £I,BOO. The report was adopted. COMMITTEE’S REPORT. Tire Finance and Sanitary Committee submitted the following report on a meeting hold on August 'sth: —Tho matter of coal supplies for the Power House was under discussion, when it was arranged that the Mayor have power to arrange for same. A visit o? inspection was made to the depot, where things were found to he satisfactory. The Committee would again draw the Council’s attention to the unsatisfactory position of the County contract, whereby the sanitary carts pass through the Borough,' the conveyance being totally unsuitable ,and in many cases overloaded and leaking. A further meeting was held on August Bth, the Mayor and Councillors Ball, Bowie and Todd being present. The Committee went into the question _ regarding tho negotiations regarding raising the loans, and would suggest that tlie Council give the Mayor authority to finally arrange matters in Wellington on behalf of the Council.—The report was adopted. j On the motion of Ci. Bickford, it j was decided that fresh tenders for | the supply of shingle should be called.