THAMES BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XIII, Issue 3698, 8 October 1880, Page 3

THAMES BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of tho Council was held yesterday evening. Present—Crs Speight (in the ohair), Wilson,. MoQowan, Bawden, Mennie, Marshall, and Osborne.

The minutes of tho previous general and special meetings having been read and confirmed, tho Town Ciebk read a preois of tho out-going correspondence, Rails.—A memo, was read from Mr D, M, Beero in reference to O'Brien and Co.'s tramway from the reclamation to the hoppers on the Queen of Beauty hill. —Or fcPKiOHT said Mr Beere wished to know whether the Oounoil wanted the line to remain intact, or the rails taken from tho Tararu tramway to bo replaced. —In reply to questions, the Fobehan op Wobks said ho thought it would be advisable to replace the Tararu rails,— The Town Ciebk : Mr Beere says that if the Bella street and Pahau street line is allowed to remain, Government will oeaso all responsibility,—Beferred, on tho motion of Or MoGowan; to the Works Committeo, with power to act, Colvebt.—A letter.was read from Mr E. S, Edwards, of the Hematite Works, asking the Works Committee to view the culvert in front of the faotory, as it was very inefficient.—Deferred to the Foreman of Works. Bad Watbb-tabie and Footpath.— Mr William Atkinson wrote, calling attention to state of the water-table and footpath near bis residence on the corner of Cochrane and Pollen street.—On the motion of Cr Mennie it was resolved that tho Foreman of Works should see to the matter, Eeobbation Gbound.-A letter was read from.Mr Thos. Macifarlane, trustee in the estate of James Tuck, lessee of the Beoreation Ground, stating that he had been unable to obtain a new tenant, and the Council were at liberty

to deal with the property as they thought fit,—The Town Ciebk said Mr James Rattray was the successful tenderer for

the lease of tho properly,—The letter was received;

Vaiubb.—Mr Andrew Fleming was appointed Valuer for tho ensuing year, at the usual rate of remuneration.

Belief,—The Believing Offioer reported that daring the month thirty-seven persona had received, rations, at a cost of £316s Bd.

The Electoral Bom,—The Registrar of Electors (Mr A. J. Allom) wrote forwarding copies of claims to vote, and stating that he would be glad of any assistance from the Council in regard to plaoing additional names on the roll.—Or MoGowan suggested that the Council should take steps to assist Mr A Horn.— He moved, " That the Town Clerk and the other officials of the Council take steps in the matter."—Carried,

Subsidieb.—-A letter was read from the Treasury, stating that preparations were being made for paying to the Borough the subsidies due at the rate fixed by the Finanoial Arrangements Act of last

session.—Beceived. Obphanage.—A letter was read from Government, stating that in future the Education Department, and not the Colonial Seoretary, would have the control of the Orphanage, and that all communications in reference to the institution must bo addressed to that department.— Eeoeived.—The Town Clerk said Mr Hislop, the head of the department, would shortly visit the Home, and it was resolved that the Charitable Aid Committee should wait upon him on his arrival and oonduct him over the institution.

Govebnmbni Vouoheb.—The Treasury wrote that £10, pawnbrokers' lioense fee, had been lodged to the cicdit of the Borough,—Beceived. Chabitablb Aid.—A letter was read

from the Colonial Secretary requesting theCounoil to furnish him with a regular acoount current of the revenue and expenditure _of the Orphanage and Charitable Aid Committee since the Ist of July last.—On the motion of Cr Osbobnb

the matter was left in the hands of the Town Clerk,

PATBONAGE.-The Grahamstown Fire Brigade wrote asking the patronage of the Council at a concert whioh they intended giving on the 14th inst., in aid of the Library and Accident Funds.—

It was resolved to oomply with the request.

Big Pump.—The Secretary (Mr Btodart), of tho Hauraki Pumping Association wrote stating that the Borough Oounoil had not complied with clause 116 of the Articles of Association respecting a representative on the directorate, and that it had not kept to its promise to contribute £50 n month towards the maintenance of pumping operations.—Or McGowan said the Council had complied with the olause in question. He moved that the letter

be received, and a reply sent that the Counoil adheres to its former deoision.— Seconded by Cr Mennie and agreed to. Health Officers Report.—The report of the Health Officer (Mr Mason) was read, and was to the effect that during the month three deaths had occurred ia tho Borough; that the proprietor of the wild beast show had been fined for not having abated a nuisance in connection with his exhibition, and that it would be advisable to clean out the drain near Smith's residenoe at the junction of Bellastreet with the laraka road.—The Foreman of Works having been instructed to attend to the latter matter, the report was adopted.

! Waiotahi a Biook, — Mr 0. T. Wilkinson, Government land Purchase Agent, wrote that the Native Minister had decided that no final payments were to be made to any of the .native owners of interests in the Waiotahi A Blook, Grahamstown, until the Land Court had appointed a successor to one of the grantees, who was deceased.—deceived. Wateb Supply. — The report of the Water Supply Committeo was read as follows:-The Committee have to report that they find the water ongino now erected in tho Committee's workshop, Pahau street, is tho property of the Council, and will have to be paid for by the Borough, it having been ordered some 18 months ago from Messrs. A. A G. Price by the Turncock of tho Water Supply Committee, who thought a conversation that passed botween the Works Committee of that body and himself authorised the purchase, As your Committee find that the Turnoook aoted in good faith in believing ho was authorised to give this order, it is recommended that the Town Clerk notify the Turncook that this Council take over the engino, but whilst so doing they condemn his praotice of obtaining artiolos for the purposes of water supply without authority, and that in future no supplies of any description be procured except on tho orders in writing of the Water Supply Committee of the Council. That the stook and tools now tho property of the Counoil be entered in a stook book signed by the Turncock as being correot, and that ho be held accountable for tho same; thati the Turncock aluolkeepa a work book, I

I showing nil the work done and the matorial used for such work, as well as tho material or tools purchased for stock; that such work-book be chocked and kept in order by the Collector of Water Rates, and a monthly report mode from it for submission to the Council; that the Turncock be also notified that he will not be allowed to do any private work, or to make any charges for work done by him in excess .of his wages, but that such things as covers for fire plugs, connection boxes, &o, be made by him when not busy on other work, and a small stock kept on hand ready for use; that no labour bo engaged by him for any work without the authority of tho Committee being first obtained, exccpt in cases of breakage of large mains, and then only on the most urgent occasions. The Committee attach a detailed statement showing how the £400 required this year for water supply purposes will be expended. In accordance with a recommendation of Council, one of the members of your Committee (Mr Marshall) made inquiries in Auckland as to selling some of the debentures issued by the Water Supply Committee before the property of that body was rested in the Borough Council, and ascertained that Mr Alexander Saunders, broker, of Auckland, is of opinion he can dispose of thom at par. It is asked .that authority I be given Mr Saunders lo dispose of debentures amounting to £2133. Us Bd. This would allow of a long out-standing account of £163 lis 8d being paid to Messrs Morrin, and the purohaso and laying down of the SMnoh mains in Short* land and the 4-inch mains in the Tararu road, An application has been received from Mr Avery, of Parawai, for the main to be extended to his premises, the cost of which will bo £3 10s, and the income therefrom £1 por annum. It is recommended that if Mr Avery will pay throe years' rates in advance the work be done. The report having been received, the Town Olebe said that the Council were responsible for all orders given by the Turnoock or any other official.—Cr Spbisht said the Committee saw no way out of the difficulty but to recommend that the money be paid the person from whom tho engine was obtained,-Cr Osbobnb moved tho adoption of that paragraph. — Carried, —Cr MoGowan thought they should not bind the Turn* cock to a hard and fast course of action, as suggested in the report, He thought the Turncook should be allowed a discretionary power.—Or Osbobnb said the Committee reoommended that Mr Laurie should bo allowed to employ extra men in extraordinary cases. He moved that the second clause be adopted,—Agreed to,— Or Osbobnb then moved that the clause referring to tho salaries of Secretary, Collector, <feo., be struok out, on the ground that it was inadvisable to pay those officials so much for this and so much for that, He was of opinion that they should be j)aid a lump sum for the whole of their duties.—Cr MoGowan suggested that the consideration of the matter should be deferred until the Committee brought up a report as to the salaries of the officials. —Cr Mabshall thought the Council was quite competent to deal with the question. He had much pleasure in seconding the resolution.—Or Osbobnb expressed himself willing to vote a sum for clerical assistance; but opposed the proposal of the Committee.—Cr McGowan moved as an amendment that Crs Speight, Bawden, Mennie and Marshall be a oommitteo to bring up a report on the question of salaries to Borough offioials,-Seconded by Or WiisoN.—The resolution was oarried.—The report, as amended, was then adopted.—Or Mennie gave notice that at next meeting he would move that the question of salaries be considered. The Fobbhan op Wobks' Eepobt enumerated the works oarried out during the month.

Wastb Linus Boabd,—Or. Speight suggested that the Council should communicate with Government strongly pointing out that a Thames gentleman should bo appointed to the vaoancy on the Waste Lands Board caused by the resignation of Dr Campbell,—On the motion of Or Bawdbn, it was resolved that the Mayor should communicate with Government on the subject. Tababit Seawall,—Cr Wilson drew attention to the state of the seawall near the Tararu Cemetery, and moyed that the Foreman of Works attend to the matter. —Agreed to,

| Notice op Motion,—Or MoGowan gave notice that, at the noxt meeting, he would move "That the Works Committee be authorised to let, by public tender, the following worksTo olean, repair, and keep in order that portion of Tararu Boad between the Tararu bridge and Bnrke street j also to keep the drains and water tables cleared for a period to be arranged; also Pollen street, from its junction with Owen street to its termination at Grey street, all drains and water tables to be kept clear; also, that the asphalt yard, with sheds, appliances, boilers, tools, &0,, bo offered for public tender, tenderers to state price they will give for lime, shingle, &0., in stook, and the price per square yard they will undertake to lay asphalt for the Borough Council,

Goldfields Boads,—The Works Committee were instructed to interview the Hon the Attorney-General with a view of obtaining a portion of the Government grant for goldfields roadp. The Oonnoil then adjourned.