BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XIII, Issue 3607, 7 May 1880, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the Council was held last evening. Present—The Mayor, Urs Osborne, Mennie, McGowan, Wilson, Speight, Bawden, and Wilkinson. The minutes of the previous general and special meetings were read and confirmed.

Hospital.—Tho Mayoe slated that he had had a conversation with the Secre« i tary to the Hospital in reference to the [ payment of the £144, and he had promised i to write to the Government on the matter. r l here was evidently a mistake somewhere. ; —After some discussion it was resolved j to await the reply from the Government. Teees.—Mr Stilwell, nurseryman, of Parawai, wrote forwarding a list of his ; varieties of fruit and ornamental trees, suitable for planting in the Orphanage and Recreation grounds,—The letter was ; received. Stjevey.—Mr John Walker, surveyor, wrota offering his services in the survey of the Borough endowment.—lt was resolved to inform Mr Walker that his application would be considered in due course. Williamson-stbeet.—A letter was read from Mr Samuel Stephenson, drawing attontion to the bad state of tho footpath near his hotel. He requested that I something might be done to it.—On the motion of Cr Osbobne, the letter was referred to the Works Committee. Chaeitable Aid.—A letter was read from the Onehunga Borough Council, stating that at a recent meeting they had carefully considered the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Bill introduced last session, and were of opinion that the deficiency in supporting the institutions should be borne by the consolidated revenue of tho colony,—The letter was received. CitowN GEAKT.«Mr D. A, Tole, Commissioner of Croffu Lands, wrote that the Crown grant of the Borough endowment had been forwarded to the District Loud Registrar for registration and delivery. ~Cr Speight said that ho had called at tho office in Auckland and 3een the grant, but the officials would not allow him to take it away, as there was £1510s to pay ou it, Ho did not think thoy should pay that sum, as tho laud was not worth £3 per aero.—lt was re j solved to leavo the matter in tho hands of j tho Town Clerk, with instructions to point out the grounds of objection, Health Ebpobt.—The iloalth Officer ; | (Mr Mason) reported that during the

month six deaths had occurred in tho Borough; that Charles Pyne had been fined one shilling and costs in tho Police Court for illegally slaughtering) and that ihe drain on tho east side of Bailliostreet trom Mary street to fc'ealoy street required some attention,—Tho latter portion of tho report was referred to the Works Committee. Bio Pump—A letter was read from the directors of the Moanataiavi Company asking the Council lo contribute to the cost of maintaining the Big Pump, as thoy claimed they had a right to obtain some of tho gold duly. 'Ihe writers stated that failing a favourable reply, they Hliould be compelled to agitate for the abolition of the gold duly, as thus only could the heavy expenses of the pumping be met. They aleo intimated that Messrs Brown and Maodonald had been appointed a deputation to wait upon tho authorities at tho Thames, and urgo the request on them.—Another letter was also read from the samo persons, asking when it was likely they would recoivo the Borough's contribution towards keeping tho Pump going. • They rorainded the Council of a fresolution in reference to this matter that it had arrived at some months ago.~Cr Wilson said he was sorry to see tho threat contained in the first letter. Tho Council had always treated tho question in a fair manner.— Or Speight thought it would bo better if the gold duly were abolished, as then the Council would be in a position to rato all mining property.-—The Town Clerk said the Council only undertook to contribute £50 per month for three months, and all thoy owed ;on that head was £150.—0r Speight said he did not think thoy could comply with the request for contributions, as they could not even pay their own ordinary debts.— \ deputation, consisting of Messrs Brown, E. and a number of mining and commercial men was then introduced.-Mr Bkown said that a deficiency of £400 or £500 had taken place botwoen the time tho Pump stopped, and tho lime it resumed work. Tho Moanataiari Company were now the owners of the property, and wore prepared as sueh to tako a large risk in working it, but they thought that they should not be allowed to bear tho whole cost of maintaining it. Unless the company received assistance from the local bodies, they would have to shut up the Pump, and thereby do a lot of harm to the field; they were unequal to the task of maintaining the Pump and carrying on prospecting works also. As they were all aware the gold duty had been created for the purpose of assisting tho local bodies to maintain their roads, which wore' greatly broken up by the heavy mining traffic passing over them. Bow"the companies which would be benefited by the working of the Pump did not use the roads to a great_ extent, nearly all having batteries of their own, and not requiring . to cart their quartz, and he thought, therefore, that the request they had made for contributions ought to be favourably considered by the Council.—Mr Comee, manager of the Moanalaiari Company, also spoke, assuring the Council that unless they assisted the Pump would soon stop, which would be disastrous to tho field in general. They only asked for £50 per month from out of tho gold duty.— In answer to Cr Speight, Mr Bbown said that it was essential pumping should be carried on in order to allow prospecting to be gone on with energetically. It was impossible to pump from a deeper level than that of the 400 feet, as the necessary funds to do so could not be obtained. Some of tho smaller companies could not contribute anything, and they wished the Council to supply the deficiency thus caused.—The deputation then thanked tho Council and withdrew.—The Mayoe said he thought there was something in what tho deputation had said in regard to tho traffic on the roads. Ho thought the matter was an important one, and one of expediency. He thought they should look on the request in a favourable light.—Cr Mennie said that it would not be fair to promise the Association a certain sum per month, and then not be in a position to pay the necessary amount. Ho asked whether the Council was in a position to pay £600 a year to the pump?—Tho Town Clerk (in reply to a question) said the gold duty now amounted to about £800 per annum.—Cr Wilkinson said he would test the question by moving " That this Council sympathises with tho deputation in their request for a grant of the gold duty from the area drained up to a certain amount; and that a subcommittee be appointed to report to the next meeting of the Council as to the area drained and the amount of gold duty derived from such area."—Cr Bawden, in a few remarks, seconded the resolution. Or Wilkinson added to the proposition that the committee consist of Crs Speight, McGowan, and Bawden,—Tho resolution was agreed to. Culvebt.—Mrs B. J. McLaughlin

wrote asking the Council to have cleaned out a culvert near her house in Upper Pollen street.—Beferred to the Foreman of Works, 9 inch Mains.—A letter was read from Mr Superintendent Hollis, of the Shorlland Fire Brigade, in reference to tho bursting of the 9-inch mains at Parawai, which the Turncock had alleged was caused by the negligence _ of the Brigade. He attributed the accident to the defective state of the pipes.—A letter on the same subject was read from Mr Laurie, the Turncock.—lt was resolved to forward a copy of Mr Laurie's letter to Mr Hollis. The Cembtebies.-Tlio Town Cum. forwarded copies of the resolutions passed at the meeting of the local bodies on Wednesday evening re cemetery matters.-The Mayoe said the sooner they did away with the joint meetings of local bodies the better, as the County Council would not agree to any resolutions that did not suit their views.—Or Mbnnie thought they should take no notice of that, but pay their shares of the debts due.—The first resolution was agreed to.—Cr McGowan moved that the first portion of the second resolution, " That the Cemetery Committee be dissolved," be only agreed to. —Cr Wilkinson moved that the Council disaprove of the second resolution.—Cr Mennie seconded the amendment pro forma.—After further discussion, the amendmeut and resolution were with, drawn, and it was agreed to write to tho County Council that if they would do tho same the Borough would agree- to pay half the liabilities as a temporary arrangement. Belief,-The .Believing Oicer reported that during the last mouth there had been thirty-eight names on the relief Hat, receiving daily 81 to 89 rations, at a total cost of £30 7s lid; that one person j was receiving rations the cost of which {was refunded out of money paid into j court by her sons; that on ths 3rd inst. | John Fitzgibbons vaa committed to gaol for two months for leglecliug to provide for his wife and family.™Beceivod. 1 CaossiNa.—Mr J. C. Williams gave notice of hia intention to make a carnage

crossing in front of an allotment near his botel in Queen street. —It was resolved to grant the application Audit - A letter was read from Messrs Woodward and Crick, auditors, containing suggestions in reference to several items on the Borough books.--Cr McGowan thought that in dealing with one of the items the auditors had exj ceeded their functions.—lt was resolved to dealt with tho suggestions, Wobks ltEroET.—Tho report of the Works Committee was read as follows :— 1 he Committee have to report that after visiting the intake between tho railway embankment and the Beach Head, they rocommend that the Karakacreek be allowed to flow down its present channel, and the silt and tailings carried in its waters to gradually fill in tho intake, With reference to tho request contained in tho letter of the Thames Harbour Board, that half the cost of metalling tho newly formed portion of Mary street, on tho Foreshore, bo borno by the Council, tho committee recommend that' tho request of the Harbour Board bo eomplied with. The com. mittec also adviao that Government bo urged to at once form tho approach on both sides of the railway embankment at Cochraue street, as at present goods carried by cutlers for delivery at tho Grahamstown end of the Borough have to be carted an exceedingly long distance over tho Borough streets. The committee, after visiting tho Borough endowment, have to report that they consider tho land wity be, after an expenditure of money on it for drainage purposes, a valuable property, and will hereafter bo a great acquisition to tho Borough funds, by producing to an incomo when let, At tho present moment tho committee do not recommend any drainage or other works being undertaken, but in the spring tho old water courses bo opened up so as to allow tho surface water to escape The oommittee advised that thoy be authorised to communicate with the County Council with a view of urging forward the formation of the Paeroa road, as this would save a long detour to travellers passing from tho Paeroa to the Waitoa district,— On tho motion of Cr Speight, the consideration of the report was held over until next meeting, The FoBEMiN of Wobks reported on the Works perfomred by him during the past month,—Beceived, Wobks Report.—The report of the Foreman of Works was road, showing that 1101 yards of asphalt had been laid during the month in Cochrane and Queen streets, at a contributed cost of £13818s . 4d; that 958 yards had been top dressed ! in the South Ward, at a cost of £719s 8d; that repairs had been effected to Cochrane street flume, drains out and cleared at a cost of £25135; that the drains in South Ward had been attended to. The report added :-I beg to draw the attention of the Council to the bad state of the roads in various parts of the Borough for want of metal, The quantity on hand in December, 1878, was 366 cubic yards, and in 1879,742 cubic yards, out of which was spread 1058 yards. At present there is none on hand, and I would recommend that metal should be got to spread in the worst parts at once, as if let go much longer in several places it will be costly in repairing as well as dangerous. In the Borough there aro 7? miles of metalled roads and 12 miles footpaths to bo kept in repair, ns well as four miles two chains unmettled roads; and the average quantity of metal required is six cubic yards per chain, or 3648 yards, at a cost of £1550 Bs, I append list of different streets metalled and number of chains;. As tho winter progresses the bye-roads will have to be attended to _by laying ashes or sand, whichever I find most convenient. List of jmetallcd roads in Borough:Tararu road, 172| chains; Tararu Creek road, past Brown's battery, 10 chains; Coromandel street, s|; Moanataiari road, 6; Haven street, s|; Burke street, s£; Abraham street, s£; Golden Crown street, 5; Owen street, 14£; Brown street, Albert street (upper), 13; Waiotahi road, 21|; Queen street, 9; Pollen street, 100|; Albert street, from Pollen street to Beach, 12|; Cochrane street, from Beaeh to Bella street, 22; Mackay street, from Mary street to Sealey street, 11; Pahau street, from Pollen street to Mackay street, 6; Baillie street, from Earaka bridge, to Mary street, 7; Bella street, from Earaka bridgo to Coehrane street, 15§-; WaioEaraka road, from Bella street to boundary, 17; Bichmond street, from Pollen streot to Bolleßton street, 18; Mary street, from Beach to Bolleston street, 19; Willoughby street, from Bolleston street to Beach, 24; Grey street, from Shortland Wharf to Bridge, 10; Eolleston street, from Mary street to Willoughby street, 31; from Bella street to Bull's bridge, Earaka Tramway road, 6; Earaka road, from Bolleston street to Sandes street; total, 608 chains The clause referring to metal requirec

was ordered to bo referred to the Works Committee, and the consideration of the remainder was adjourned until the next meeting,—Or McGowAN proposed, and Or Wilkinson seconded, that the Foreman of Works be instructed to utilise the available labour in putting the tracks and footpaths in the out-districts in repair for the winter.—Carried. A motion in reference to extension of Borough boundaries was held over, and the Council rose at 10 p.m.