THAMES DRAINAGE BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 18, 22 January 1895, Page 5

THAMES DRAINAGE BOARD.

A sPECiAi/meeting of this Board was held thia morning, when there were present, MeBSrB G. S. Kissling (Chairman), R. Coomer.F. Clarke, W.S. Wilson, T. Radford, R. Spratt,' F. A. White, and J. J. Dickov Assessments.—The Chairman said the first business was to fix tho contributions for the ensuing year. The Secretary, Mr McDonnell, had gone carefully into the estimated expenditura with the following result :—Reßult, coal and cartage, £2,300 ; wages and salaries, £1,300 -foundry, work, £350 ; pumping requisites, £250 ; board fees, etc., £200 £50,' Total, £4,580. The Chairman said there was a'reduction of £500'6n the estimated expenditure for coal and cartage as coal could now be procured at a dheaper-'-rate; • Fumping requisite!) had increased, as a new rope had to be procrired which would cost nearly £150. ■ The Board agreed to adopt the estimates.' ■"•■" ■' '•'-..■■■ ' Some discussion thon arose regarding the contributions.' The list: last year was as follows:—May Queen, £160 per month; Waiotahi, £53 15s ; Moanataiari, £29 10a 8d; Hazelbank and Victoria, £29 2s 9d each ; Cambria, £25 4s ; St. Hippo, £8 13s 3d; Kurunai No. 2, £5 18s 2d ; Kurunui No. 3, £4 6s 8d; Queen of Beauty, £10 ; Thames County Council, £20 ; Thames Borough Council, £10. Mr Wilson suggested that the May Queen Company was paying too mnch. The Chairman agreed with Mr Wilson, and eaid if any concession were made it should be to the May Queen. Mr Wilson said that the Company had been doing dead work, and making calls to carry on. - The Chairman BUgge9ted. thab £25 per month should be taken off the contribution required from the May Queen Company. \ Mr Spratt said these people in the May Queen had a hard straggle, and he favoured the reduction.

Accordingly, the May.Queen contribution was reduced to- £135 per month, and the remainder fixed at the same rate as the previous year. On the motion of Mr Coomer, seconded by Mr Clark, ib was agreed that the Board should sit to hear appeals on the 31st of January at 11 o'clock. Ib was also agreed to allow the usual rebate of 12J per cent, on all contributions paid beforg t&e end of the month.

The consideration of* a letter* from 3. 3". Uraig relative '; to the coal con tract, was adjourned until next) meeting.