THAMES BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Thames Advertiser, Volume X, Issue 2738, 28 September 1877, Page 3

THAMES BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting was held last evening. The Mayor presided j and Crs. Bead, Ehrenfried, Benshaw, Price, McGowan, arid' Wilson were present.— The miaules having been read and confirmed, the correspondence was read.

Mr T. W. Gudgeon complained of the nuisance he • was subjected to by the emptying of tho reservoir, no oug being able to approach or leave his house, the whole place being flooded, and the gravel and shells he had just put down in the garden being washed away. He requested that tho gravel now being removed by the Foroman of Works out of tho watercourse in Cochrane-street bo placed on the footpath fronting his residence.—Or. Bead explained that the cause of the damage arose from the choking of a pipe. He thought Mr Gudgeon's a reasonable request.-Keferred to the Works Committee.

Bate of Wages, Cost op Food, &c— A let'.er was read from the Colonial Secretary's Office requesting returns from the Municipality (agreeably to motion in House of Bepresentatives made by Mr 1 Wood, member for Mataura) of rate of wages paid to arlizans, number of hours termed a day; the rato of wages ruling for farm and domestic servants, and prices of chief articles of food. The information acquired to bo forwarded to the Agent-General for publication athome.-TheMayor was requested to furnish details.

United Pumping Association.—l ho accounts for the month were received.

Hobse Tbamic on the Him Foot-PATHs.-Drs. Perston and Payne respectively complained of the recent prohibition issued by the Council as to riding on the paths, instancing the Kuranui Hill especially, as being a great hardship on the medical profession.—Or. Eenshaw said the notices had been affixed with a view to save the roads, but possibly the Council had not fully considered the hardship it might causo in certain cases. —The. Foreman of Works stated that the roadway or track for horses was hardly interfered with at all.—Or. Be id thought the notices should be maintained. —Or. J&eenfeied proposed that the Foreman of Works be directed to survey the paths, and report to tho Council whether any alteration or work was required to'accommodate equestrians, and if so, to estimate the cost. •• Carried.

Count? and Borough Council Powebs.—ln reference to the resolution passed by the Council re the Districts .Railway Bill, and forwarded to the other municipalities of the colony, replies generally endorsing the views of the Thames Council were received from Auckland, Uamaru, Wanganui, Naseby, Queenstown, Dunedin, Lytlclton, JNelson, and Wellington. ■ Gow Dun,-A letter from the County Clerk, enclosing cheque for £39419s on this account, was received C'ooncil Offices.—The committoe appointed to report on suitable sites for Council offices, reported "Ihat they visited the various premises enumerated below, beiug the only ones at all likely to be suitable for the purpose required, viz., St, George's Hall, ttoyal Hotel, premises

of the Bank of Australasia, Shortlan-l promises occupied by Dr O'Flaherfcy «i. Karalca Bridge, premises in Queen-street formerly used as Council offices., the prenmes in Queen-street occupied by Mr Horsbrugh as offices, and tho present Oounoil offices, aud I hey desiro to convey to the Oouucil their opinion of each. St. George's Hull is a fine, largo building, andfairly isolated, but tho cost of converting tho building into suitable offices for the Council will be very great, and therefore is not recommended, Uoyal Hotel, Shortland: Building not suitable. Bank of Australasia: Building suitable, but can obtain no information as to prico, or if freehold. The committee are promised this information in a few days. Dr. O'Flaherty's house, Karaka Bridge: Not suitable. Old Council offices, Queenstreet : Not suitable. Premises occupied by Mr Horsbrugh: The premises are well built aud suitable, aud by a moderate outlay could be made available, Tho price is £600, and an allotment 011 each side could be purchased to secure greater security from fire. Present Council Chambers, with the allotments extending on one aide to the furthest end of the Cosmopolitan Hall and on tho other to (he present asphalte ground, with the buildings thereon, price £550: Suitable, and sufficiently isolated to lessen danger during an outbreak of fire in the same street, The committeo have confined themselves lo a report on the suitability of each building, and prefer to leave tho decision as to final selection and purchase to-jho whole Council."—Tho consideration'of the report,'|was deferred till next meeting.

Taeabu and Gkahamstowh Teamway.—The committeo reported as follows :—

The committee jhave the honour to report that from docuraenls inspected by them, they arc convince! that the claim of the Council to the Grahamstown and Tararu Tramway in 1831 is perfectly just and equitable. After reference to the letter sent by the Council on the 11th day of August last to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, and of his reply thereto on the sth instant, the committee did not considar such reply to refute, or .even answer, the reasons adduced by the Council in their letter for the property becoming Borough property in 1881, The committee therefore decided to forward to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary a second letter,: more explanatory than the former one, and with such letter a copy of the deed of grant under which the tramway was authorised to be laid, the which'was sent on the 22nd instant. A telegram and letter were sent at the same time to Mr Robert Grahani, then at Wellington, as'iing him to assist the committee generally, and especially by searching the Auckland Provincial • Eeoords at Wellington for the original of the deed of grant, and referring him to the Thames members for copies of letters anddocuments relative to this matter in their! hand?. Up to the present the following telegram is the only reply received, and as Mr Graham notifies in it his intention to leave Wellington on the 23rd, the committee .have, since its receipt, communicated with Sir Gfeorge Grey and Mr Howe by telegram, asking them to inspect the letter sent to the Colonial Secretary on the 21st, and to support the Borough's application. .

Copy or Tedtoram. ... Wellington, September 22nd, P, C. Dean, Thames. Sir George Grey says he is acting under mutual agreement Macddnald and Brodie Thames; matters. I return tomorrow. Severe earthquakes. . KoBBRi Graham, • —On the motion of Or. Eenshaw, it was resolved that this Council approve of' the course taken, and leave the matter still in the hands of the committee. Election Expenses,—-The account of, the lleturning Officer was presented, and ordered to he paid, on being certified by the Finance Committee.

Haeboue Board.—Cr. Bead's motion, withdrawn at the last meeting, was again moved and carried, with two dissentients, " That the oxpehses of tho recent Harbour Board election be paid by this Council on condition .that said Board undertake to repay the advance out of the first monies they receive." '

FiNANCE.—The fortnightly pay-sheet was read, and several 'small accounts passed for payment. It was incidentally mentioned that the expenditure on the introduction of asphalte .had so far reached £73 43 sd.

Walteks-street.—Tho lenders for work required 'here were received, the amounts being:-Gash, £31 12s; MeDermott, £48; and Akers, £20. Tho latter was accepted.

Licenses foe Vehicles.—Several owners of licensed vehicles requesting that the fees might be paid half-yearly instead of annually, it was resolved that the licenses be annual ones, and might be paid in two instalments.

Committees.—The ifollowing were appointed to constitute the several committees for the ensuing year:—Water Supply: The Mayor, Crs. McGowan, Ehrenfried, Price, and Gibbons, Finance: The Mayor, Crs. Wilson, McGowan, and Gibbons. Works: The Mayor, Crs. Head, Price, and McGowan. Fire Brigade: Tho Mayor, Crs. Ehrenfried, Renshaw, and McGowan. Cemetery: The Mayor, Crs. Eenshaw and Wilson. Kerosene and other licenses: The Mayor, Crs. Butt, Rowe, Wilson, and Bead. Representative United Pumping Association : Or, Read.

Komeston-steeet. « Or. Eead asked what progress had been made in steps for improvement of footpath in Eollestonstreet, near Willoughby-street. — The Town Olebk replied that Dr. Jtilgour had expressed his willingness to bear a share of the expense. Possibly the new bye-law would help forward the work. Me Seveen's ]{xpebiuents.—On tho motion of Cr. Khkenfeibd, it was resolved that £5 be paid to,W'r Bullock, iu liquidation of his claim for fire-extin-guisher destroyed in above experiments. This concluded the business.