BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Independent, Volume I, Issue 59, 8 October 1885, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the above Board took place on Tuesday evening. Present: His Worship the Mayor (C. A. DeLautour) in the Chair, and Crs. Lewis, Wilson, Kenny, Joyce, Trimmer, and Smith. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the following correspondence was dealt with :— A letter was read from C. McDeavitt, asking the Council to allow him to transfer all his interest in the carting contract to Mr McNeil. On the motion of Cr Wilson it was decided to grant the request providing the sureties in the matter were willing to accept Mr O’Neill. T.etter from the Walmata Road Board asking the Council to grant tho Board

the rates derived from the two chains adjoining the river. Cr Kenny thought they should give it in the shape of a contribution. He would move that the rates be allowed for one year, as a contribution towards the costs of the roads in that part of the Borough. Mr Bourke, in answer to the Chairman, said the rates would not exceed Z’lo for the year. The Chairman did not know that the Road Board had done anything whatever in the shape of expending rates on the parts referred to. Cr Joyce thought it should be given in the way of a bonus. Cr Lewis moved as an amendment : “ That the Road Board be informed that the Council could not see its way clear to comply with the request.” On the amendment being put, it was lost by 3 to 4. Cr Joyce moved as a further amendment ; “ That a bonus of be given.” —Carried.

The Gravel Question. The following communication was received from the County Council :— I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd inst, notifying the appointment of a deputation of your Council in reference to the right of the public to the gravel in the Waipoa River bed, and in reply to the deputation I am to state that this request the Government to tidal boundaries of the Waipoa River, and will also co-operate with your Council in making such representation to the Government, as will secure to the public the use of the gravel from the river bed.

The Chairman said it would be as well to appoint a committee to carry out the intention of the Council.

Cr Joyce moved : “ That the Committee appointed to interview the County Council be the Committee to carry out the matter.”—Carried. High School. From Mr Hislop, asking the Council in conformity with the Act, to nominate two members for the Board of Governor’s of the Gisborne High School. The nomination to be within three months. Public Works Comtittbe's Report. The Committee of the Public Works reported on the Turanganui Bridge as follows :—

The Committee along with the Engineer inspected the Turanganui bridge this morning and consider it to be in good working order similar to when last examined by them. The Engineer has pointed out no defect in the structure. Engineer’s Report.

The Engineer reported :— Turanganui Bridge.— bridge was finished on the 7th of September last, and has now been maintained in good order for one month from that date, as provided by the specification. The draw was opened on Saturday last, when everything worked well, and the bridge has been inspected to-day. The final payment (L 407 15s 7d) will be due to-morrow morning, and must be paid to the contractor, unless the Council decide to deduct a time penalty. As to overtime, full details were given in my last report. As to the regulation of the river traffic through the bridge, I presume that is a matter under the control of the Harbor Board, and I would suggest that they be requested to enforce such rules as may be necessary to ensure vessels passing through without injuring the bridge, and to provide buoys or mooring piles above and below the bridge, to be used by vessels in whai ping through, so that it may not be necessary to make fast to any part of the bridge. Day Labor.— Two men have been employed during the last week, principally in clearing out Read’s Town drains.

Cr Joyce proposed that no penalty be imposed. Considering the difficulties the contractors had to contend with there was every reason to congratulate them upon the way they had carried out their part of the work. Cr Wilson seconded the motion, and considered if there was any blame to be attached to the bridge it was no fault of the contractors, who had carried out the specifications in a thorough manner. It was unanimously resolved that the penalty be remitted. Payments. Law expenses in connection with the bridge, 9s 2d. Cr Kenny thought that all law costs should be taxed in the same manner the General Government adopted. future he should move a motion to that effect. On the balance payment (Z 407 15s 7<l) for the bridge coming forward the Chairman thought that it would be a J graceful act on the part of the County W Council to assist in meeting the large y additional cost of the bridge. At any rate they might make the road on the other side good. Cr Joyce thought there could not be the least doubt but what the County Council would respond. (Laughter.)

The Water Cart. Cr Wilson said the water cart had commenced and he wished to call attention to the fact that the present cart in use was the property of the Council. The specifications required the contractor to provide a cart for this purpose. This had not been done, and if other contractors had known that a cart was to be provided it would have been different. He was there as a representative of the ratepayers, and he strongly objected to the way in which this had been done. The contractor had no more business to use the present cart than any other man. The cart was public property. He asked that the matter be referred to the Public Works Committee. —Agreed to. Cr Joyce thought the cart was not of the required size, and ths water would cost too muelt.

Notice of Motion. Cr Kenny gave notice to move at next meeting “That this Council proceed to the nomin-Cnn of Governors for the Gisborne High School under the Gisborne High School Act, 1885.” Educational Reserves. Cr Smith called attention to the fact that all the most valuable Educational reserves in the district had been kept out of the High Schools endowment. He thought this was very wrong. Mr Lock- should be communicated with, in order that the matter might be brought before the Government They shou'd agitate strongly in the matter. The Chairman said that in order to get the Bdl passed at all, concessions had to be made, and they had every reason to be thankful to Mr Locke for having laid the foundation. He thought they had made a very good beginning. The matter then dropped and the Council rose.