BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 1353, 22 June 1881, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

At theordinary meetingof theaboveheld last niftht, there were present Crs. Bennett (in the chair), Clayton, Brown, Whinray, Piesse, and Townley. The minutes of previous meeting having been confirmed, the correspondence was submitted .

' Applications. — Mr. J. Nash asked for permission to keep pigs on his section, Waikanae. — Granted subject to restricting the number to two. — Mr. Luke also applied to ke«p one pig. The application was engrossed as a petition drawn up in elaborate form, with a few sprinklings of such words as " wherefore," "thereas," "aforesaid," &c. The Chairman thought Mr. Luke had paid the value of the pig in getting the document drafted. The least they could do was to grant the permission asked for under the usual conditions as to nuisances. This was agreed to.—Permission was given to Mr. Berry to remove a small building from Grey to Disraeli Street. Charge for Lighters. — On reconsidering the letter from Messrs Kennedy and Bennett requesting a reduction in the charge for lighters, the charges for Port Ahuriri were compared with those prevailing here. The charges were about the same. — Cr. Whinray proposed, and Cr. Brown seconded, " That the fee for the future shall be £2 2s. for each boat, and Is. per ton per annum. " — Cr. Townley thought they were taking a move in the dark, and until they got further information he would propose that the question be postponed for next night of meeting, for the purpose of obtaining fuller information. — The amendment was carried. Petition. T-Cr. Whinray presented the following petition : — "To His Worship the Mayor, — " We the undersigned resident ratepayers and business men of Gisborne hereby humbly petition the Council to sanction the immediate work of metalling the Gladstone Road from the Royal to Read's Quay, the present condition of the road is not only detrimental to us as business men but also a disgrace to us as a community.

11 We can moreover see no prospect of any metal beeing obtained from Wae-renga-a-hika before the end of the present month, and therefore request your earnest and prompt attention to the petition now presented, "And your petitioners, &c. — Wm. Adair, A. Graham, and 41 othera."

Cr. Whinray said he would be in favor of calling for a supply of 2,000 yards to be put on at once. — The Chairman asked the Engineer if ho had reported to the Council as to the stoppage of the contract. — The Engineer said he had not brought a report. He made out that they had received 1,400 yards, or 100 yards short of the amount of the contract. McLeod came to him and said h« thought the 1,500 had been delivered and discontinued delivering it. — McLeod said there was nothing to say other than that he had delivered the full quantity.

Cr. Whinray Baid he would ask th 9 Council to accede to the prayer of the petion. It was patent to all that bomb-

thing must be done this whiter. The money would be well spent, and further the object. they hud in view of making Gladstone Road a proper road. He would suggest that tenders be called for the supply of 2,000 yards of metal from the Kaiti beach. — The motion was not seconded. — The Chairman then proposed thnt the petition be received. Seconded by Cr. Clayton and carried.

Sanitary Measures. — Mr. Boardman Dawson submitted the following proposals to the Council : —

"I think I am right in supposing that the reason you treated my proposals coldly on a former occasion was because I would not show something definite. I am now prepared to erect an earthcloset for myself, which, if applied to Gisborne, would save the life of many this summer. Also, a patent drain for converting the ordinary wash from a kitchen, &c. , to water fit for drinking — that is if the water used is fit. I am sorry to say no engineer in the world could now make your well wnrer right for years to come. I will also erect n. tank 50 feet high in the air, and keep it. supplied with water by a self-acting apparatus for the purpose of driving the machinery belonging *o my firm when steam, is down, and for keeping my house damp in case of an adjoining fire.

" All I want from you, gentlemen, is the place to do it in. I propose the space in the bed of the creek, situated in the road between my house and Capt. Winter's, and from there to the river, provided I do not interfere with the traffic. I aho ask you to ruise the road 2 feet at a cost of about £20. I shall be happy to confer with your Engineer on the subject. The rainy season is drawing to a close and my apparatus is very slow but sure. I also wish to rent the land adjoining the land you let to Mr. Fraser." Mr. Dawson, who was present, said he would be happy to confer with the Engineer, touching the practicability of what he proposed, but he would not divulge the nature of his plans, which had coat him years of study to perfect. He would not reveal them to anyone save a partner who would put money in the concern. Councillors were rather nonplussed as to how they should deal with the letter. Ultimately it was decided that Mr. Dawson should confer with the Engineer, and that the letter be deferred for consideration at the next meeting of the Public Works Committee. — Mr. Dawson thanked the Council, and withdrew. Reports — Cr. Piesse reported on behalf the Petitions' and Waterworks Committees; The action taken by the former Committee had resulted in a joint requisition of the Borough and County Councils for the erection of a bridge at the foot of Gladstone Road. The latter Committee had not yet met. He would ask that the Town Clerk be instructed to call a meeting as soon as possible. Termination of Kaiti Metal Contract. —Be McLeod's contract. The payment of the 75 per cent on the completion of this contract was passed, leaving the final settlement to next meeting. —The Engineer was instructed to officially take over the punt and report to the Public Works Committee. Dishaeli Street, — Cr. Whinray proposed and Cr. Clayton seconded that the briars and scrub on the opposite side of Gladstone Road in continuation of Disraeli Street, be removed. — Carried. Sidb Streets. — On the motion of Cr Townley seconded by Cr. Whinray, it resolved that the Engineer prepare an estimate of the cost by next meeting for the forming of the side streets and sowing them with irrass seed. Kerbimo. — Or. Clayton proposed that tenders be called for the kerbing from Grey street to Oobden street. Cr. Piesse seconded. — Carried. Division of the Electorate.— The notice of motion by Cr. Piesse was brought up and discussed. On the motion of Cr. Piesse seconded by Cr. Bennett, the following resolution was carried: — "That a Commitee be appointed consisting of Ors. Bennett, j Townley, and the mover to draw up a i requisition for signature by the Borough and County Councillors praying the Government to divide the East Coast Electorate ; so as to give a member for the Cook County, and that the requisition be forwarded to Mr. McDonald, M.H. R. , for presentation to Parliament.

Public Wokks Committee. — Cr. Townley alluded to the non-attendance of Cra. at these meetings. — The Chairman said he did not believe in the Council resolnng itself into a dual body and holding meetings on two consecutive nights. It did not in his opinion facilitate the business, as all the work done at the meetings of the Public Works Committee had to be re-submitted to the Council. — Crs. Whinray and Piesse agreed witli the Chairman. — It was decided to hold over the discussion on the subject, until the Mayor returned and had an opportunity of expressing his views.