BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1133, 29 September 1880, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Special Meeting. A special meeting of the Borough Council was held last night, the object of which was to ascertain the desirability or proclaiming the Waikanae a public road. It was carried by resolution that the Waikanae roads be proclaimed. General Meeting. Present : His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Berry, E. K. Brown, liesse, Whinray, Tutchen, Bennett, Clayton, Ward, and Townley. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the correspondence passing out of the office read and approved. Cr. Piesse stated a part of the minutes mentioned that a sum of £30 voted by the Council as a contribution towards the Cemetery was illegal, no such right to vote money for such a purpose could be found in ' ' The Municipal Corporations Act." It was ruled by the Mayor that the minutes, if, correct, must be confirmed, and that after-action could be taken in the matter. A short discussion ensued, , when the matter was allowed to drop. Incoming Correspondence. A letter from Mr. W. F. Crawford, asking for a refund of £10 he had paid in error into the Customs, for a brewers' i license. The application for a return of the money was endorsed by Mr. J. D. Johnston, Collector of Customs. Money directed to be returned to Mr. Crawford. In answer to an application from the Secretary of the Gisborne Rowing Club, the Town Clerk was directed to reply that the Council , as far as in them lay, grant the Olub free access to their boathouse. • The following letter from Mr. W. L. Rees was read : — Gisborne, 28th September, 1880. To the Mayor and Councillors of the Borough of Gisborne. Gentlemen, — I have the honour to request your permission to erect a bridge over the Tareheru River, at the foot of Peel Street, across to Whataupoko. I also have to request the Council will bear a portion of the expense, say one-half, or in lieu of monetary assistance, granting to me and my co-trustee, Riperata Kahutia and Wiremu Pere, a right to levy tolls for all traffic except that of fpot passengers across the bridge for a period of ten years. . The plans and specifications prepared by Messrs. Winter and Haig can be inspected by the Council and its officers. As prepared, the plans show a fixed and immoveable bridge, which, however, can

house,

he turned into a draw-bridge or telescope bridge if the Council is of the opinion that the Taraheru River will need an open passage for navigation. As time is of great importance, it being absolutely necessary that both the Taraheru and the Waimata should be bridged before the month of February next, at which time we purpose holding in Gisborne the first great sale of Maori lauds, I should be pleased to receive an immediate answer to this communication. I should suggest to the Council the appointment of a Committee, with whom I could arrange the whole matter. I would veuture also to ask the Couucil to pass a resolution asserting the necessity of removing the restrictions existing upon the lauds to the North of Gisborne, which might be forwarded to the Government. I more particularly desire to press this upon your notice, because I havo received intimation by the last mail that a party of settlers from the North of Ireland, under the guidance of G. M. Reed, Esq., are coming iv a few months to this district, with a view to settling finally upon some one or more of these very blocks. I believe that the place where it ia intended to bridge the Waimata is outside the boundaries of the municipality, but I would respectfully ask the Council to afford me all the assistance in its power towards the erection of that bridge ; also which request I am also preferring to the County Council. I have the honour to remain, Your obedient servant, W. L. Rees. It was was proposed by Cr. Ward, seconded by Cr. Bennett, and carried, — "That as soon as a bridge across the Taraheru river is erected, this Council shall take steps towards granting permission to the proprietor, so far as the Council are legally able to do, to collect tolls in accordance with the value of the bridges for a fair and reasonable period, upon such bridge being properly vested in the Borough ; the bridge to be kept in repair at the expense of the persons authorised to collect the tolls." It was resolved that the Engineer and Public Works Committee inspect the plans, and that the Council expresses its opinion that the open navigation of the river should b. maintained. Cr. Ward proposed, aud Cr. Bennett seconded, and waa carried — "That thi3 Council has to express its opinion that it is advisable the restriction on the inalienability of land on the East Coast be removed by the Governor, and that this Council will support a petition to the Governor, with a view of obtaining the withdrawal of such restriction." Proposed by Cr. Whinray, seconded by Cr. Clayton, and carried — "That this Conncil solicit Mr. Rees to alter the site of the Waimata Bridge to the foot of Gladstone Road, being on the main line to the East Coast, when the Council will be prepared to offer any asssistance in its power." The present lessee of the ferry having broken his contract, fresh tenders were ordered to be called for. On motion, the Standing Orders were suspended, and the following tenders opened and disposed of : — Removal of Night Soil. There were two tenders, one at Is. Gd. and the other at Is. per box. Ordered to stand over. Supply of Metal. Not. broken, 7s. 6d. ; broken, 7s. Thia tender was not accepted, being considered too highi S__.EE. F OR-tA_lO_r. No. 1 Contract. At per Chain. £ s. d. '•J. Williams 14 6 .0. M'Davitt 2 7 9 P. Loughran 2 2 6 M. McLeod 1 14 7 J. McDowall 14 0 No. 2 Contract. J. Williams 2 6 0 C. Petersen 2 11 6 M. McLeod 19 8 J. McDowall 1 9 8 No. 3 Contract. J. Williams 1 6 0 C. Petersen 2 17 M. Morgan 2 7 6 P. Loughran 2 4 0 M. McLeod 17 9 J. McDowall 1 7 9 No. 4 Contract. " J. Williams 1 11 0 A. Petersen ... ... 1 7 6 M. Morgan 1 15 6 P. Loughran 2 10 0 M. McLeoad 1 4 4 J. McDowall 14 4 No. 5 Contract. J. Williams 1 17 7 P. Loughran 2 4 0 M. McLeod 1 14 0 J. McDowall 1 14 0 No. 6 Contract. J. Williams 1 6 6 A. Petersen ... ... 1 9 6 C. Petersen 1 17 9 M. McLeod ... ... 1 3 10 J McDowall 1 3 10 No. 7 Contract. J. Williams 1 10 0 C. M'Davitt 1 14 9 M. McLeod 1 36 8 J. McDowall ... ... 1 16 8 Proposed by Cr. Piesse, seconded by Or. Tutchen, tbat John McDowall's \ tender for Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, be accepted and those of James Williams for Nos. 3, 7, being the lowest tender in each case — carried. Proposed by Cr. Piesse, seconded bj' Cr. Berry, ' ' That the tender of Messrs. Hearfuld and Dunfoy at Is. per box be accepted." — carried. The applications for the combined appointments of Ranger, Inspector of Weights and Measures, Nuisances, Fire and Dog Tax Collector were opened, when Mr. T. Faram was appointed. There were four applicants. Tenders for Totara. Per 100 feet. £ s. d. McLeod 10 0 Parnell & Boylan ... 019 9 J. R. Morgan 0 17 9 W: Common 0 17 3 W. P. Finneran ... 0 15 6 Proposed by Cr. Whinray' seconded by Cr. Tutchen—'' That Mr. Finneran's tender be accepted. " Wm. Adair's Wharf. The Wharf Committee's report was then read, as follows : — A special meeting of the Wharf Committee of the Borough Council was held on the the 21st inst. Present : His Worship the Mayor, Cra. Bennett, Townley, Piesse, and Ward. Mr. Adair, who was present by invitation, stated that lie was quite prepared to forego the six month's

notice, as per agreement with the Government. The question now, was simply one of compensation. The sum required, he stated, % would probably amount to £1, 100, or he was agreeable to submit the whole matter to arbitration. The Town Clerk produced all correspondence received on the subject, and after discussion it was resolved — (1). That the Committee, having enquired into the tenure upon which Mr. Adair holds possession of the new and old wharves, are satisfied that no question of title exists to bar arrangements being made by the Council to take over the property. (2). That this Comniittee recomends to the Council the desirability of taking the necessary steps to purchase Mr. Adair's interests in the said two wharves. Proposed by Cr. Whinray, seconded by Cr. Berry — ' ' That the Council purchase Mr. Adair's interest in the wharf, appraizing the valuation by arbitration in the regular way, namely one arbitrator on each side and a referee. " Carried. Proposed by Cr. Bennett, seconded by Cr. Ward — ' ' That the remuneration of the arbitrator be £10." An amendment was made to this that the sum be £5 ss. The original motion was carried. Cr. Bennett moved £50 be given as honorarium to the future Mayor. Seconded by Cr. Tutchen. This motion was withdrawn. His Worship the Mayor moved, seconded by Cr. Piesse, that the' Engineer's salary be raised £50 per annum. An amendment by Cr. Bennett, seconded I by Cr. Townley, that the salary remain as at present, was carried. Cr. Piesse spoke in reference to certain claims advanced by Mr. Drummond in a previous report, and moved that such report be brought up at next meeting, and re-considered. The Council broke up at quarter past 1 o'clock this morning.