THAMES BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume IIII, Issue 1752, 14 August 1874, Page 2

THAMES BOROUGH COUNCIL.

SPECIAL MEETING, h!'

A special meeting of 'the Borough Council was held jiast evening at the Chambers,* Queen-sfcreefc, in accordance with an advertised notice, to confirm a resolution agreed to at a special meeting of the Council held on the 16th July, making regulations under subdivision 2 of part 10 of the 13th Schedule of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1867. There were present: Crs. Butt, Wilson, Kennan, Brown, ICilgour, Ehrenfried, Renshaw and Anthony. A note was received from the Mayor excusing his absence on the ground of [indisposition, and Cr. Kilgour was voted to th« chair. The minutes of the last special meeting were read and confirmed, after which the Clerk read the Bye-law as published, each section being taken into consideration separately. Very little discussion arose on the clauses, and Bye law No. 3 was therefore passed without any material alteration. . OBDINABY MEETING—MINUTES. The Clerk then read the minutes of the previous meeting, and these having been confirmed, letters sent since last meeting were read. , A telegram was read from the Tauranga Town and Country Boards, asking the Council's cooperation in urging upon the Government the immediate prosecution of the road from Tauranga to the Thames, and stating that they had already communicated with the Paravrai Board. Cr. Brown moved that the Council meet the Highway Board* with the view of making for taking steps in the matter. Seconded by Cr. Kennan, and carried. A telegram'from Chas. O'Neill Esq., M.H.R., stated that he had that day presented the petition of the Mayor and Councillors with reference to obtaining publicans'license fees. A letter was received from Mr. Chas. j O'Neill regarding the Council's petition for repeal of certain clauses in the Native Lands Act, and stated that there would not be a chance of it this session. The letter also enclosed copy of the committee's report on the petition for increased representation for the Borough, throwing it out in view of the meditated re-adjustment. A number of other letters, of no pubb'c interest^ were read. • • '■ KEBOSENE STOBE. . A letter from Mr. Patrick Nolan was read offering to erect a kerosene store on the beach allotment granted to the Borough, and would fill in the ground, conditionally that the Council would guarantee him the fees accruing from the lodgment for the next five years, The matter was referred to the Kerosene Committee. : LICENSING CARTERS. A petition from the carters asking that the question of licensing them (the carters) be reconsidered. It was decided to postpone the decision till next week. ASSESSMENT. Messrs. James Cjaig and Thomas Wayth Gudgeon* the gentlemen to whom the valuation of the Borough had been intrusted, brought the assessment, completed with the exception of the mine valuation; and they asked the advice of the Council on this matter. Cr. Kennan did not see how they could rate mines. He thought they could only rate the surface of the ground He knew they had tried it in Victoria, bat had not succeeded. The Chairman read that clause in the Act defining the rateable ground. The clause did not exempt ground held under license from the Crown being rated. Some discussion ensued regarding the form of rating mines, whether or not they i should be rated on their relative value. The Chairman advocated relative value. Cr. Renshaw thought they might take the £2 for a miner's right and a goldmining license as an annual rental of the bare ground, and levy a rate of 5 par cent on the annual rental; besides which they would rate property, if any, on the ground Cr. Brown said the value of a mine very often existed only in the minds of the I people. | It was ultimately decided to leave the ! matter in abeyance for a week. '. \ The assessment amounted in round ! numbers to about £51,000. I BOBOUGH BATES. * The Bate Collector sent in his report, in which he states that rates to the amount of £115 had been collected. i WOBKS COMMITTEE. The report of the Works Committee ' was read, making certan statements of operations undertaken, and suggestions as to night-soils and other matters. It also enclosed the letter of the Foreman of I Works stating that upon enquiry he had found ther* was no cart available on 1h Thames suitable for the purposes for which the Council required it. \ It was decided that the report be received,, and that it be again referred to the same committee, with the view of their forming some, plan for carrying out the suggestion embodied in the said report. EYBE-STBEET FOOTPATH:. Tenders were opened for the formation of the footpath in Eyre-street. The decision arrived at was that the tender be referred to Mr. Pulleine on behalf of the residents, as the funds were insufficient. PIBE BBIGADE. The report of the Fire Brigade Committee was read and ordered to be received. , , Cr. Ehrenfried stated that Mr. Macdonald had guaranteed £10 towards the erection of the fire-bell at Shortland; and he: moved a proposition which was accepted, that the Engineer should be instructed to prepare a plan for a stand

up_on which to erect tho fire-bell now lying in the Council Chambers;' Authority was also given for the purchase of,certain apparatus for the use of the brigades. ACCOUNTS. Accounts, certified to by the Borough Engineer, and amounting to £200, were ordered to be paid on the motion of Cr. Wilson. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL GRANT. Cr, Brown said he would like to know something about the £500, that had been, granted by the Provincial Council towards the improvement of the Shortland Cemetery. He made a motion, which was unanimously carried, to the effect that the Clerk should be instrmcted to communicate with Mr. Dignan, wko was the representative of the Superintendent during Mr. Williamson's absence, with reference to the money granted by tVh Council, so as to obtain some information on the subject. This concluded the business, and the Council then rose. _