The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, JUNE 15, 1874.

Thames Star, Volume IIII, Issue 1700, 15 June 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, JUNE 15, 1874.

The,. Council was to meet at two o'clock to-day in order tli&t the business of the session may be finished by/to morrow evening, the prorogation to take place on Wednesday; It would seem that the [Estimates having been got through—the Government in every instance having their own way—the session must be brought to a close aa soon as possible, for fear of anything unpleasant turning up. Mr. Bagnall tabled a motion some time * ago with reference to endowments for the -Thames Municipality, and on Tuesday last he asked the Provincial Secretary when the papers on the subject were to be laid en the table, receiving in reply; a statement that it was hoped to have them all ready by next sitting day. Since that date, the 9th, we have carefully read the reports of Council proceedings but have failed to discover any reference to the Thames Municipality, until Friday last when the Superintendent sent down the message (published on Saturday) asking the Council to vote £1500 in addition to a similar sum already * placed on Uie Estimates. It cannot be said that His Honor's message complied with the requirements of Mr Bagnall's motion, and it is to be hoped tho latter will not allow the question to be shelved because the session is nearly over. :

Some time ago the necessity for a pilot for the port of Thames was represented to the Government, owing to the difficulty and delay experienced by masters of foreign vessels in approaching the anchorage, after they bad once got into the Hauraki Gulf. The matter -has been attended to by tbe Government. In the Estimates sent down to the Council this session an item was included " Harbor Master and Pilot, Thames,£l&Q." Subsequently the Supplementary Estimates were sent down, and on Friday the sum of £12 10s was votedaV additional salary (six months) fey the Harbor Master at the Thames, no mention being made of a salary for perfoi'ming the work of Pilot. Tho present harbor master lias filled the office

for over five years, if ~ve remember rightly, aud tlio salary is the same tow, barring the' rise of £25 passed this session, as it was when the appointment was first made. There is at least an apparent injustice in this. . In other and less important ports the officers in the same department aro paid at a higher rate than the hirbor master of the Thames, and they-have besides house accommodation, with little or nothing to do for days together. It may be said that the work at the port of Thames is very -limited, but this is no argument, as the officer is supposed to be at his post all, day, and could not possibly undertake any other work if so inclined. The additional responsibility now imposed on him will not be compensated by a paltry £25 a -year. • In several departments the Council have been liberal in raising salaries but the harbor department has as usual;been -shelved, -except for the smair sum placed on tho: Supplementary Estimates. Can it.be that this is only carrying out the usu^l Auckland tactics of'doing everything to keep in the background the Port of Thames?