THAMES BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume III, Issue 1686, 29 May 1874, Page 2

THAMES BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The weekly meeting of the Council i was held last night. Present—The J Mayor, and Crs. Ehrenfried, Renshaw, Anthony, Kilgour, Wilson and Butt, MINUTES. • -. ■ •.;■■'-: ■ The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. LETTEBS BENT. . The Clerk read copies of the different letters which had been distributed since last meeting.—One was that sent to the Superintendent, asking that the Council be constituted a local authority under the Municipal Police Act. The discus-. sion of the question was deferred until next meeting. LETTEBS BECEIVED. A letter was received from the District Engineer, stating that the contract of Mr Brett for the Tararu. Cemetery Road was completed in. a most satisfactory manner. One from Mr. Vincent E. Rice, Secretary to the Board of Health, was read,' drawing attention to the increase of deaths in the Province during the last year, owing, it was presumed, to defective drainage ; and suggesting that the Council, as the authority under the PublicHealth Act, should; institute vigorous measures for the improvement of drai»age, and prevention of disease.—A committee —of the Mayor, Crs. Renshaw and Eil--gour—was appointed to ascertain the correct steps.to be taken.

; A letter was read from the Waiotahi Board, asking that the Council would, undertake, with, the Waiotahi Board, the formation, of the road to the Waiotahi Creek.-rCr. jßenshaw thought an estimate should be made out of what monies would reqire to be expended' on these works, for submission to the Government. —Oa the luggestion of Or. Kilgour it was decided to make the Thames Representatives acquainted with the fact tha| the goldfields traffic inside the Borough was much heavier than "the'same traffic outside the, Borough.—Cra. Ehrenfried; and Butt thought it was inadvisable to instruct the Engineer to make out a specification for this work before they could realise where the funds were to come from, and that the Council should turn their attention to roads which had been already formed—to keep them,in repair.—The Town Clerk stated that the Waiotahi Board could compel the Council, to form the road, and that the letter was merely sent in courtesy.—Some discussion ensued, as to whether the Council were justified in going to, the expense.of an estimate when there was a doubt of its boing carried out —pending grants from Government.—»Jt was: decided to

instruct the Engineer to preparo plan and specification, and estimate of cost of the Waiotahi Creek Koad.

A letter from Mr John Cohen, of the Anchor Hotel, with reference to the footpath in front of his hotel, was referred to the Works Committee. •

An application, from Mr William Souter was read asking permission to extend the tramway from Owen-street to Pollen-street, trusting that two-thirds of the expense of the work would be recouped according to agreement. —In answer to a question as to what Captain Souter meant by the word " agreement," the clerk said the Government had voted £600 on account of that work, and £450 had been paid, which completed one. contract; therefore there was £150 in hand for its thorough completion^—-A d£al of discussion ensued.—On the motion of Cf. Kilgour, seconded by Cr. Butt, it was decided to refer the matter to the Public Works Committee,;,with power to act if they saw fitf.

PUBLIC WOBKS

It was decided unanimously that the consideration of the works which could not be treated at last meeting should be again postponed.

The report of the Works Committee was read and adopted.

nOLLE^TON-STKEET.' '

The Engineer's report, with reference to the footpath on the west side of ltol-leston-street, was read, and it was decided that the Town Clerk be instructed to write to the residents, informing them that the Council would be willing to undertake half the expense—£so, the whole work, according;, to 'estimate, to cost £100.

■>•...'. HEALTH OFFICEK. The report of the officer under the Public Health Act was read.

ACCOUNTS

(; The bill for the office furniture of the Council was presented and passed for payment. ; ■ ■ v

KOAD METAL

The tend ers for the several contracts advertised for were then opened and considered.

It was agreed, on the proposition of Cr. Kilgour, seconded by*£ Cr; Wilson, that the tender of Messrs Hall and Cain, for Nos. 2, 3 and 4 contracts* be aceppted, and that of Gurney for No. 1, subject to the condition that the first be finished within' six weeks, and the latter within .a month.

WILLIAMSON-STBEET,

The Mayor drew attention to the culvert in Williamson-street, which he said was completely stopped up from an immense accumulation of rubbish.

It was agreed to instruct the foreman of works to open the culvert, clean it, and place a grating at,each end of the drain. PILOT. The Mayor thought that, when communicating with the members in Auckland, it would be advisable to ask that Mr Best should be appointed pilot for the port of Thames and Thames Biver. The Mayor said complaints had frequently been made by masters of vessels, that ,there was; no regular pilots;'; ; ; : V •>"?■ O' This was. unanimously agreed* to; and' Cr. Butt made a proposition to the effect, Suggesting that an increase should be made to the Harbor Master's salary, and that he act as pilot for the port of Thames.

FINANCE COMMITTEE.

It was agreed on the motion of Cr. Wilson, that the Mayor and Crs. Ehrenfried and Renshaw should be appointed a Finance Committeei . :

BOBOtraH BEGTTLATIONS.

Cr. Ehrenfried was about to move that the erection of wooden chimnies should be prohibited, but the, Mayor informed that gentleman that he could not, according to the Act, put such a motion. The only course to pursue under such circumstances would be to call a meeting for the passing of rules: he could not make bye-laws summarily. x Cr. Ehrenfried Hitien moved that a commtitee be appointed to consider the adoption of certain regulations under the 13th section of the Schedule.

This was unanimously agreed to. ADDITIONAL BEPBESENTATION *OB THE ]';.. ;.V.::'■,;>*; THAMES. : ; ■ ,': ..•■;. ; Gr. Kilgour said he had a proposition to make, and that was to take cognizance of the question of representation of .this district. It was not, however a matter which he could properly bring forward for discussion at a meeting of the Borough Council, but he would simply put the following motion, namely, that a committee be appointed of Crs. Anthony, Wilson and the mover to draw up two petitions praying.for two more representatives for the .Thames district—one to be sent to the General. Assembly and the other to the Provincial Government.

Cr. Butt seconded,

It was pretty generally expressed as the opinion, of Councillors-that the' representation for the district was totally inedequate, considering its importance, and the large population.

FOOTPATH PEOM KABAKA BEIDGE

It was decided to form a footpath along the Beach from the Karaka bridge—the footpath to be five feet wide. This concluded the business, and the Council adjourned.