THAMES BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XIII, Issue 3691, 27 August 1880, Page 3

THAMES BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Council was held last evening. Present —Crs McGowan (in the chair), Osborne, Wilkinson, Bawden, Marshall, Mennie, and Wilson.

The minutes of tbo previous meeting were read and confirmed, and a precis of the outgoing correspondence read,

Bad Culvebt.—A letter was read from Mr James fienshaw, calling attention to the state of the pulvert where Baillie street crosses Willoughby street, near the Baptist Church, and requesting the Council to do something to it.—Referred totheWorks Committee.

Tbamwats.—A lotter was read from Mr-Wm. Souter, (anent a notice from the Borough solicitor), stating that he would replace the rails and' crossings he had taken up in Bella, Coromandel, and other Grahamstown streets, as soon as the Shortland contract was finished, they being in use there at present.—Received.

A Complaint,—A letter was read from Mr B. Schotjeld, toll-collector on tho Good Wharf, complaining tihat the hose on issue to him was rotten, and caused a great waste of water in supplying the shipping, for which he was liable to be charged, He asked inquiry to be made into the truth of his statement as soon as possible, so that complications might not arise between him and the,'. Council when settling up acpouflts,—Ci? McGowan said it would be much better to attend to the matter now than havo complications arise hereafter.—The Tcbncock, in reply to questions, said that the hose was an old one, having formerly been in use by the fire brigade. A length of 60 feet was quite sufficient for the purpose. Good canvas hose could be prooiiired for about a shilling a foot, but it would havo to be covered.—On the motion of Cr Osbobne it was resolved to purchase the requsite length of hose.

Mb Gidlbigh'b Water Account.Mr W. Laurie, the Borough 'fu.rncopk, reported in reference to tho complaint of Mr Henry Gidleigh, of the Melbourne Hotel, that he had been charged for water which had not been supplied him, that in the oarly part of the year he (Mr Laurie) turned off the water for. non-

payment of tho rate, but a fow months Bfterwards turned it on again on the account being settled. Mr Gidleigh had stated that sinco tho early part of tho year lie had not received any water, but he (tbo Turncock) could only account for it that the pipe on his premises had benomo choked.—Tho ' r ows Clebk said Mr Gidleigh was charged at the rate of a shilling in tho pound. He was constantly receiving complaints like Mr Gidleigh's. —Motion made by Or Bawdbn, seconded by Cr Wilson, that report be adopted.— In reply to a question, the Turncock said that he could not tell whether Gidleigh was aware that the water had been turnod on. He did it at Ave o'clock in tho morning.—Cr McGowan said ho did not see how the rato could now be remitted by the Council, but if Mr Gidleigh pleaded, poverty it could be remitted by tho Charitable Aid Committee.-Cr Wilkinson thought it was hardly fair to charge him for what he had.not consumed.—Cr Mabshall moved as an amendment that the matter remain over until next meeting for further inquiry.- Seconded by Cr Mennie.™After further discussion, tho resolution was withdrawn/and the amend, ment, which became the resolution, carried.

A Bequest.—A letter was received from the Thames Cricket Club asking the Council for the use of the asphalt roller to roll the new cricket ground on tho WaioKaraka flat.—On the motion of Cr Wilkinson the application was granted.

Books foe the Libbaby.—A letter was read from the Board of Education stating that they had approved of tho list of books for the Thames Free Library, to be purchased out of the Government grant, and had handed it to Upton and Co., booksellers, who had transmitted it to England.—Carried. Hemittanob op KATES.-Mr 8. T. Whitehouse wrote, on behalf of Mrs Esther Love, of Mackay-street, asking the Council to remit her rates, as she was unable to pay them, being an aged widow of very limited means.—On tho motion of Cr Osbobne the application was referred to the Charitable Aid Com* mittee. Cbossing at Pahau-steeet.—Mr John Knowles, Undor-Secretary for Public Works, wrote in reply to the application for a crossing over the railway embankment at the foot of Pahau-street, that the matter having been previously dealt with, the Minister for Public Works could not again consider it.—Beceived. The Fobeman op Woeks reported as follows:—VI ith reference to the footpath in Mackay-street, near the property of Messrs Fagg and others: In the first place the owners must fill in their ground, having a depth of three feet in the centre; or, the owners to cut a drain through the middle of the property to the Bichmondstreet drain, which I think will be the cheapest. I would recommend that tho owners fill in their ground, whioh would be a permanent work, the ground being so low that, unless done, complaints will be continual, and a few loads of gravel will always keep the footpath good. The Government have carried a tile drain through the reclamation works to the south side of Willoughby-street, and I would recommend that a box drain be put across from north side, and a dray crossing be made on to the embankment, but not until the contractors have finished. -Cr Mabshall said he did not think it was tho duty of the Counoil to ascertain how the bad drainage was caused; but he was of opinion that the footpath should be constructed as soon as possible, This was tho only street in the Borough that a person could not walk along in wot weather. He moved, " That the work be done at the earliest convenience."— The resolution was seoonded by Cr Mennie.—ln reply to a question, the Fobeman of Woeks said the work would not bo very heavy.—The resolution was carried, and the report adopted. Telegrams.—A number of telegrams from Cr Speight, M.H.E., on Borough matters were read and received, FIEE BbIGADE Exr-ENDITUBES.-Tlie report of the' committee appointed to investigate the matter of certain goods having been ordered and made without the authority of the Council being first obtained, was read as follows: - The committee have to report that the hydrant charged against the Fire Brigade should have been charged against another local body, and not against the Council, It appears an agreement was made with the Colonial Government by the Thames Water Supply Committee to lay down a large main water pipe into the Govern* ment Buildings, Queen street, and supply one hydrant for £50; that the hydrant talien by Government was one belonging to the Fire Brigades, Messrs Price not having one cast at the time, and the one now supplied was to replace the one taken. The account for this has, therefore, been Btruck off the Fire Brigade account. With regard to the drying reel at the Shortland engine house, the comJ mittee find no authority for same was obtained. From enquiry they find it was much wanted, and recommend authority be given to the Shortland Brigade by the Council to procure this reel,, and if such authority be given, the price for same be allowed at £7 10s. Committee suggest that written notice be given to each Brigade that no debts beyond repairs to hose or maohinery must be incurred without the authorisation of the Council first being obtained.—On the motion of Cr Osbobne, the report was received and adopted Thambs - Waikato Railway, — The following telegram from Mr Speight, M.H.K,, was read:-"Bill just intraduced called Kailway Construction, intended to divert the balance of vote for Thames Bailway to construction of line from Hamilton to Cambridge. Sum is £15,000. Consult County, and wire joint opinion to Oliver. Strong effort being made to carry bill. Act quickly, and advise me of your action tomorrow. The Waikatoideaislo stop our line at Morrinsville, and go thence to Cambridge. Houeo likoly to close soon.—W. J. Speight."— Cr Wilkinson said that in the Publid Works Statement Councillors would remember that the Minister for Pnblib Works stated that there were two proposals in regard to the railway. One to construct a railway to Cambridge, and the other to continue the Waikato lino to Omahu, and that the vote would be an alternative one. He presumed, from the telegram just read, that in this Bailway Construction Bill, Government had inserted the Cambridge line in lieu of that to Omahu, showing that they intended to appropriate the balance of the vote for tho Waikato branch, and meaniug that the Thames was to get nothing. He thought the Council should remonstrate with Government an tho matter.—Or Mabshai,!. moved that Crs McGowan, Wilkinson, and the Town Clerk be a committee to draw up a reply to Mr Speight, and a strong remoqatranoa to Government.—Cr MgGo.wAN said it was very necessary that the Council should take action in the matter. When he was at the Thames, Mr Oliver assured tho deputation that waited on him that i

the Thames would not suffer at his hands; but it now appeared as if ho was not keeping to his promise.—Or Bawden thought a public mooting should be called to sonsider the matter, as it was so important. If a strong protest was passed by a public moating it would be more telling in itß effect than one which came from tho Council, -Or MoGowan admitted the truth of the last speaker's remarks, but thought the Council should send an independent opinion to Govern-ment.-Or Wiikinson said it would not do to sleep oyer the matter, as the bill might pass within the next 24 hours. The resolution was seconded by Or Mennie, and carried. (The committee subsequently met and forwarded telegrams to the Minister for Public Works, and the representatives of the district, protesting against the line being diverted,) Eevence-A Government voucher was received stating that the sum of one shilling had been lodged to the credit of the Borough.—Or MoGowan: I suppose we'll pass it.-A Oouhoiuoe : Eeoeive it with disgust, you mean.—The voucher was received. The Fibe Bbigades.—A return, asked for by Or Osborne at last meeting, showing the cost of maintenance of tho Fire Brigades during the year ended last month, was read as follows:— Grahamstown: Salaries, £61 ss; gas, £12 8s; uniforms, £32 6s; machinery and repairs, £6 2s 3d; horse hire, 15s; refreshments at fires, £6 8s 4d,—Total, £119 4s 7d. Shortland! Salaries, £45 15s j gas, £14 3s 6d; uniforms, £16 15s 9d; machinery and repairs, £4 lis 6d; timber, £9 17s 6d; refreshments at fires,. £6 8s 4d—Total, £97 lis 7d. Grahamstown Brigade, £119 4s 7d; Shortland Brigade, £97 lis 7d; fire plugs, £6 ss; accounts unpaid, viz.; A. and G. Price, £7 13s; 0. Curtis, £2; O. Gentry, £7 10s; goods authorised, but accounts not yet rendered: uniforms Shortland Brigade, about £40.-Total, £280 43 2d.Tke return was ordered to lie on the Council table for the inspection of all interested.