THAMES BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2176, 24 December 1875, Page 2

THAMES BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Thames Borough Council was held in the Council Chambers. Present — His Worship the Mayor elect (J. E. Macdonald Esq.,) Crs Davies, Benshaw, Gibbons, Butt, Ehrenfried, Wilson and Bowe. The first business of the meeting was the induction in due form of Mr J. E. Macdonald, the newly elected Mayor. v: ■' .. /'■ MINUTES. . The minutes of the previous meeting were read over.; The Mayor said before the ordinary business was'gone into he would crave a moment to express the gratification he" felt at meeting the councillors, more especially in his present capacity; he hoped the gratification was mutual and that they would be able to work together harmoniously for the good of the district, and also with the public bodies with whom they might be brought into contact..: ' ■ :' •••.:..:■.■•'. .. ■■■--.. ■ .:"f-■'"-■. Cr Ehrenfried expressed himself certain, speaking on behalf of himself, and colleagues, that they would work together harmoniously. , WAIOTAHt PATHWAY. A letter was read from the inhabitants of the Waiotahi district complaining of the rotten state of the footpath alongside the tramway, and requesting that it might be immediately seen to. Eeferred to the Works Committee. ; v , FEVEB HOSPITAL SITE. A letter was read from Mr Cribb offering a piece of ground for a hospital site at Tararu, and stating the advantages which it possessed. The price asked.was £1 per acre. Ordered to stand over for the present. THE FOBESHOBE. A letter was read from the Superintendent's office at Auckland in answer to a telegram sent, informing the Council that all documents relating to the foreshore had been destroyed, but that upon enquiry into the matter it was found that no actual right had been given to companies to occupy the foreshore. CUXVEET IN TABABU BOAD. A letter was read from Mr W. M. Coembe drawing attention to the want that existed of an additional culvert on the Tararu road. Eeferred to the Works Committee. TABABU CEMETEBY. A letter was read from Mr Johns requesting that the docks and thistles in Tararu Cemetery might be cut down, as they were seeding and doing great damage to the improvements made by the Tararu people. Keferred to the Cemetery Committee. TOWN CLOCK. A letter was read from Mr H. A. Severn bringing before the notice of the Council the very great want of a town clock, and offering, should one be purchased^ to keep the same in order free of charge, and suggesting that the public buildings would form a suitable place, and that £8 would be about the cost. _ ■■■-■■ Consideration of the subject deferred until next meeting. , WAIOTAHI BOAD.. A letter was read calling attention to the bad state of the Waiotahi road within the Borough which caused the carters to charge a higher price for carting quartz. Referred.tp the Works Committee. MACKAY STBEET. A letter was read from the inhabitants ■; of Mackay street, between Richmond street and Willoughby street, calling attention to the fact that their portion of the street had been impassable for the last six years, and requesting that the road be metalled. : ■ Kefcrred to the Work s Committee. -WATBB 'SUPPLY. An application was read from Mr Hogg to have the wafer laid on to his house in Bo wen street, and enclosing dgl for a half year's rate. After a discussion on the respeotiye merits of Mr Stephenson's and Mr Hogg's

cases, it was resolved to treat them both . alike and to inform Mr Hogg that; on the payment of ten shillings more, being an additional quarter's rates, the water could be turned on until June 30th. 1876. STAGNANT WATEB. ; A letter was read from Mr McMasters requesting the Town Clerk to call the attention of the Council to two holes near Cockrane street, which were full of stagnant water. ; The officer of the Local Board of Health informed the Council that it was storm water, which could not flow, owing to there being no culvert. _- Beferred to the Works Committee with power to act. footpaths. A letter was read from Cr Benshaw calling attention to the condition the late wins had left the footpaths in Sealey, Bichmond, and Rolleston streets, with a new to their being improred. - The Mayor said he thought all the-' ootpaths were in the same condition. Several people had spoken to him on-the subject, but he thougnt that the late weather was quite exceptional, and he saw no reason why they should undertake the footpaths for two months at least. Cr. Benshaw said these footpaths were exceptionally bad. Beferred to the Works Committee to report on at the next meeting. SMOKE NUISANCE. JL report from the Officer of the Local Board of Health on the chimney of Mrs Bull's battery, complained of^bjj Mr* Wickham, was read. The officer stated v that in his opinion the chimney was of sufficient height and capacity to carry off the smoke except on particular occasions, and that on these occasions even heightening the chimney would riot remedyiiiii, but that it was necessary to have* furnace consuming its own smoke, after the manner employed at Mr Master's Beduction Works. The report Also stated-; that Mrs Bull intended to do this as toon as the holidays set in, and suggesting that no action; should be token intu January 31st. . Beport adopted.■ -..',"',. j BEPOET OF WATKB SUPPLY COMMITIEE. The report of the water supply committee re Mr Spencer's application to have water laid on to Parawai Gardens, and the action taken by, the committee on the occasion of the Superintendent** visit to this district, was read; j '; The Mayor said he had seen Mr Gillies on the subject, asking for such facts as Mr Gillies might be able to give. These facts he thought it better to reserve for the Councillors privately rather than have them go forth publicly. The report had also stated that a halfinch pipe had been offered to Mr Spencer. ••; As there was another., report on this subject coming in the report was ordered to lie on the table for the present. FIBE BRIGADE. The report of the committee appointed to confer with the Fire Brigade was read. The report drew attention to the state, of the engine house at Grahamstown which required fresh paint, and recommended some accounts for payment. Bosolved to obtain estimates for painting, and lay them before the Council at the next meeting. THE CEMETEBT ENQUIBY COMMITTEE. Thfe^yeporfc of~the~T7emetery JEuqmry Committee was read, it stated that after conferring with -Mr W*-C. Wright the Committee advised that a sum of £86 18s be paid to Mr Mtfcfarlane for work, done in tne Tararu and Shortland Cemeteries instead of £99 as charged. Mr Wright's report on the subject was also read. After an interval to allow of business being transacted concerning the tever hospital, this subject was resumed, and after considerable discussion it was re* solved that the report be adopted. SUSPENSION OF BUSINESS. The ordinary business of the meeting was suspended to allow of the discussion of matters relating to scarlet fever, another case (Mrs Townsend), of which Dr Payne, who arrived at this moment, reported. Dr Fox was also present at this time. FEVEE HOSPITAL ... The Mayor reported what had been done on the subject, and presented a plan of what the medical gentlemen thought necessary and proper in the way of a hospital, which they had decided was now necessary. As regarded a site, he said Mr Puckey had offered a house formerly in the occupation of Crown at Parawai for £100, or a house and 5£ acres of land for£3so. Therewasan offerfromDrFoxto allow the erection of a building on his land at Parawai, which he would lease to them for seven years at the nominal rent of a shilling a year. The doctors had decided that a mere shell of a building would best suit their purpose. Besides these two a house at Tararu belonging 'to Mr. Bleazard had been spoken of, T>ut unfortunately Mr Bleazard had gone to Auckland and he had had no opportunity of ascertaining what he would, do in the -. matter. Another offer had also been made which they had had read to them, from Mr Cribb offering land at £1 an acre. A letter was read from Pr .Lefch«s ? bridge saying' that he andV|)r Fox had decided on recommending that Mr Puekey's offer be accepted, and., that the work of putting'the "house j in order be immediately set about.' The Mayor also said that builders had informed him that a house could not be erected under six days, even after due and proper notice had been given.■- ;-;.- - Cr Ehrenfried said that this'WaY 8/ case "which must: bo dealt with at dnicei f and then enumerated the offers made to* them, and urged that Dr. Fox's offer be , accepted and immediate tenders, not to exceed a certain amount (£150), be called for to erect a house in accordance with plans prepared by medical gentlemen. This was resolved on, and the carrying out of these plans left in the hands of the Mayor and medical gentlemen. ASSISTANCE TOWAEDB FEYJSE HOSPITAL. - Cr Davies proposed that a letter be written to tho Superintendent informing him that scarlet fever had broken out in the district, and requesting assistance in the matter; £200 was, he said, a mere,; flea-bito in the task before them, as they would require medical aid, furniture and other essentials. Cr Butt seconded the motion. - • -< ■ Cr Bowe suggested that it would be better to ask for the £2QD to be placed at . their disposal at once. Cr Butt thought that the first thing to be done was to have the water-tables in all the streets cleaned. ' n ■ -■> ; • The Mayor thought it would be betterto get the £200 first, and see how far it would go.. Cr Davies thought that it ought to b«

explained that £200 was totally inadequate, as it was not one-third sufficient tor the purposes required. ' The Mayor said that £200 had nothing to do with the carrying on of the hospital, it was given simply as a means to erect the building itself. Cr Renshaw proposed as an amendment that the Superintendent be informed that a hospital is being erected, and to request prompt payment of the money required. Cr Wilson seconded the amendment. After some further discussion, the motion and amendment were withdrawn, and the matter left in the hands of the Mayor to get the promised £2CO at present necessary. The ordinary business of the Council was then resumed. . LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence for two months was granted to Cr Anthony. CEMETERY COMMITTEE. The report of the cemetery committees was read. It was decided to employ a man at once to repair the road leading to the cemetery. The rest of the report was postponed. . QUEKN STKBET FOOTPATH. A letter was read from Mr JVC, Williams suggesting that Mr Graham should be compelled to fill in allotments by the side of the Provincial Hotel, and complaining of the state of the footpath between the Provincial and Queen's Head Hotels. Referred to Works Committe. METAL FOB ROADS. As regards obtaining metal for roads Mr Gibbons thought now, on the new j Mayor's commencement of office, would be a favorable time to resolve to call contracts for all works which admitted of it, ac he was decidedly in favour of adopting thatmode in all cases possible which required the expenditure of public money. It was resolved to call for tenders for a supply of metal for 500 yards of road. FINANCIAL. Accounts and the pay-sheet of £48 19s were passed for payment. ! BOADS AND FOOTPATHS A proposal to put a wooden kerbing from the Crown Princess mine to WillianiBon street was referred to the Works Committee. It was resolved to have the sunken poTtion of Bella street near the Queen of Beauty mine filled in. The state of the footpath m Rolleston street was referred to the Works Committee to report on. PUBLIC HEALTH ACT. The Mayor said, the necessary notices having been gazetted the Council were now in possession of all powers under the Public Health Act. The Council adjourned.