BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 10564, 18 April 1928, Page 6

BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Meeting of council

The Borough Council fortnightly meeting last night was presided over by the Mayor (Mr D. W. Coleman). There were also present: Crs. J. Blair, H. E, Maude, J. W. H. Holmes, G. B. Smith, R. J. Kerridge, W. J. Mac Gibbon, T. Todd and F. Collin.

“Dangerous to traffic,” was the basis or a complaint by Mr R. A. Stevenson concerning willow 'trees at the corners of Sheehan Street and Ormond Road and Sheehan and Clifford Streets. The trees obstructed drivers’ vision and accidents had occurred at both corners recently.— The engineer was directed to attend to the matter.

An application for permission to erect a motor shed at the foot of the cutting leading to her property at Kaiti beach, received from Mrs H. Smith, was granted. The Poverty Bay Power Board advised that when the Council executed the agreement as to the borough street lighting system the Hard would provide an efficient service, and inspect all lamps with a view to ascertaining their state of. efficiency. It v.os reported by the Mayor that unsatisfactory lamps had been attended to arid the letter was received.

The estimates of the Gisborne Fire Board showed that the’"' anticipated expenditure for 1928-29 amounted to £2393, the Borough Council’s 'Share of the contribution amounting to £1159. —The letter was received. The relaying of a section of borough water supply pipe line under the Matawhero bridge was mentioned in a letter from the Cook County Council, who agreed to the work subject to the Main Highway Board’s approval. The plan had now been placed before the Board. —The letter was received.

Advising that a meeting of the Highways Council would be held on April 27, the chairman of the Council, Mr G. W. Albertson, asked the Council to appoint representatives to attend when the distribution of heavy traffic license fees would also be discussed. The question of stone supplies for Poverty Bay could also be reviewed. The matter had been considered by the late Cook County engineer, Mr J. J. Keane, and himself, -but owing to the uncertainty ol requirements of the various local bodies it was difficult to proceed further than as.' at present—A committee comprising the Mayor, and Crs. 11. E. Maude and IV. J. MacGibfon was appointed to confer with the Highways Council.

An application for the extension of the sewerage to his property in Riveside road, from Mr R. Baldrey, was referred to the engineer for a report. , An offer from Rees, Bright and Wan chop on behalf of Mr O’Dwyer, of £4O on account of rates owing on his mother’s property at Manga papa was referred to the Mayor aud Deputy Mayor. The Union Oil Co. wrote applying for permission to establish an oil depot adjoining Ranfurly street.— The Mayor and engineer were empowered to inspect the site and that if the matter was in conformity with the regulations the request Ibo granted. The report of the works committee stated that the question of installing screens to a dwelling in Carnarvon street was considered, it being decided that suitable inexpensive screens be, provided, subject to the approval of the Mayor.

In respect of a complaint received about stormwater not getting a wav from Clifford street west, the engineer reported that the trouble mainly arose through the property owners in the vicinity throwing their rubbish into the channel, but he would have the drain regraded and instruct the inspector to prosecute offenders emptying their rubbish on the road. Mrs. Shean requested that the council improve a culvert in the vicinity of her property as the stormwater could not get away quickly enough.—lt was decided that the drain he cleaned out from the culvert to the creek, and that a 12in. pipe he placed below the culvert. This work should greatly relieve the situation. A complaint was received from Messrs. Booth and MacDonald that their grader had not been accepted, “although it was better and cheaper than the one purchased, besides being of local manufacture,’ ‘The engineer explained that the council had approved of the grader purchased and it was, therefore, decided that no action be taken in the matter. _ The commitee recommeiided the setting up of a special committee to undertake the purchasing of goods and plant for the council in future. —The report was adopted. Tlie highest pressure recorded on the;, waterworks service during the fortniszht ended April 9 was llOlbs and the lowest Bolbs,. stated the engineer’s renort. There were no leaks in th e top line during the period. The quantity of water , that passed through the Venturi meter for the weeks ending Anril 2nd and 9th was 6,420,000 and o', 190,000 gallons respectively. The rainfall during March was 12.25 inches. The works committee reported that they had agreed that the gas lamps in outer Kaiti and Mangapapa be replaced by electric light when the other new street lights were being installed. The reserves committee reported that the question of autumn treeplanting was considered. Cr. Todd urged that the Council should take the Government exp-ertj Mr Page’s, advice and plant trees on the sandhills in the autumn. -The question as to whether the Council were undertaking tree-planting for- beautifying or commercial purposes was also raised. It was eventually agreed tha the engineer be instructed that all failures in last year’s work be replanted this autumn. The proposal to purchase portion of Longhush was considered, and the correspondence, in connection with the matter read. It was agreed that no further, action could be taken until replies had been received from the Government, the Town Clerk being asked in the meantime to answer the correspondence and to obtain the Government value and the bed-rock price of the property. The solicitors submitted a draft agreement in connection with lease to sports bodies of the Childers road reserve. It was agreed that same should lie on the table for perusal of councillors before being returned. Or. Collin mentioned the scarcity of suitable playing areas for children round Gisliorne, and said. lie would like lire Alierdeen road reserve to be suitably equipped, if money could bo found for such purposes.