Thames Borough Council.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3013, 11 October 1878, Page 2

Thames Borough Council.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Borone.li Council wfs lield at the Council Cluuubuia last evening. Present—the Mayor, Crs Brassey, Price, Ehrenfried, McGowan, Mennie, Wilson and.Hansen. MINUTES. , The miniites of the previms meeting were read and confirmed. OUTGOJNG COEHE9POMDENCE. The precis of the letters sent since last meeting was read and confirmed. POVERTY. A .letter was read from* Mrs Hames, a poor widow,'asking that her rata be remitted on the ground of poverty. It was decided to remit the rate. MARY STREET. . , .. A letter was read from Mr S. En'sor complaining of the bad state of Upper Mary street where the Powder .Magazine stood. The Town Clerk said that the place indicated in the letter was not" a road but a private allotment belonging to Captain Eraser. Cr McGowan moved that Mr Ensor be informed that this was a private allotment. Carried. • RAILWAY. A letter was read from the Waikalo County Council enclosing a resolution of the Council with reference to a branch line to Cambridge. (A similar One was considered.at the meeting of the County Council.) Cr Ehrenfried moved that a letter be sent to the Waikato County Council concurring with the let.ter. Carried.. ' ■ '■''■'■■■'■ ' :,-■; : ::-

FIRE, BRIGADE. . ! '/i The appointment o£ Mr l."W;/Holli8 as Superintendanfc of the Shortland'jFire Brigade was confirmed by the Council on the motion of Cr McGbwan.

THE TJTAIO-KAEAKA PtJMP. A letter wasi received from the County Council enclosing the resolution passed at its last meeting re che WaiorKaraka drainage. It was to the ;effecfc .that the Government be urged to grant a portion of the £5000 voted for prospecting to the Waiq-Karaka Drainage Association. The Mayor said that £5000; bad been voted last session, but he did not know how much had been spent. He thought it would be quite competent for them to obtain the grant io the Association if possible. , "'■.''' s . Cr McGowan said that though concurring with the object, they must keep their eyes open to see that their gold duty might not be further hypothecated. j The Mayor pointed, out that it could not be hypothecated yrithoiit their consent. 1 ' ■.. ■ ' ' '■■ •' ■'. ■ ' ■■ .-.■•'

.Crs # Mennie and Ehrenfried spoke strongly in favor of assisting the County Council in this matter, and the,latter moved—" That the ' Mayor be requested to write to the Government stating the circumstances, and urging them to vote a, portion of the : £5000 , ; for prospecting operations at the deep levels of the Waio^ karaka Flat." : , ,'.. ;

Cr Hansen seconded. Carried. ■ ' EX-CB GIBBONB. .', j A letter was read from ex-Cr Gibbons, acknowledging receipt of the letter from the Council requesting him to resign his seat in the Harbor Board, as he had ceased to be a member of the Council. Cr Brassey said he tad been abused for moving, the resolution" requesting Mr Gibbons to resign. Ho did not mean anything offensive by his action in the matter, but had thought it fair, as he had ceased to be a member of the Council' he should cease to represent them in the Harbor Board.

Cr Ehrenfripd said he did not approve of the action taken in the matter. Mr Gibbons had worked with him as a public man for years, and simply asking him to resign was not the proper; course to puiv sue. It was an affront to Mr Gibbons, and if he had been present at last meet* ing he would have objected to it. Cr McGowan rose to a point of order.. He contended that the matter was not under discussion, and he claimed that it be not discussed. . «'

The Mayor said that personally he thought it would be unwise to open' a discussion. Cr Bras sey claimed a right to speak, as he had been attacked. Cr Ehrenfried said that he hadn't been attacked. x The discussion then dropped. THANKS TO THE MATCH. A letter was read from the County Clerk enclosing, a -vote of thanks to the Mayor for his cooperation with the County Chairman in matters affecting County interests. The Mayor referred to the assistance he had obtained from Messrs Brodie and Rowe in Borough matters, and suggested the sending of a vote of thanks to the former gentleman. Cr McGowan said he could not agree to the suggestion of the Mayor, as the Borough Council had, not sent a delegate' fp Wellington, and it would make it a Council matter. .. \

The Mayor said it was only a vote of thanks to Mr Brodie for what he had done for the Borough. Cr McGowan said that when it was ' put that way he would cordially support it. ■ ' •■ '\ ■'•■' - ' l:' '";' '. : Cr Hansen moved, and Cr Brassey seconded* that a vote of thanks be accorded to the County Chairman for his cordial assistance in* Borough matters j whilst at. Wellington. 7 Carried. < KIEKWOOD STEEET. Aletter was read from Wm.McCullough and other householders of Kirkwoad street drawing attention to the necessity of making several improvements in the footpaths and drainage of that street. Referred to the Works Committee. KUBANTJI HILL. • A letter was read from a number of residents of the Kuranui Hill, asking,that their tracks be repaired, it having been irjured by Scanlan and party sledging quartz over it by the permission\of the Council. It was resolved to instruct the Foreman of Works to make the necessary repairs. . BOLIESTON STBEET. ; A,letter from residents of rßolleston street south, calling attention to the bad state t)f the footpath near the' Wesleyan Church. Keferred to Works Committee.

POM.EN AND MAEY STBEEIT. A letter was read from Dr M. H. Payne, superscribed to "his excellency" the Mayor, asking that something be done to make the water table* near his residence effective. The cost would be *£30, of which the residents would hare to subscribe £10, or one third. The writer had offered to subscribe £10 and Mr Driver £1, but there the subscription ceased. The matter was, after some' discussion, referred to. Works Committee with power to act. APPLICATION FOB REMISSION OF BATES. A letter was, read from Mrs E. Lenton asking tfiat her rates for two allotment! be

remitted as she did not now occupy tirem. Received.

GOLD DUTY COMMITTEE.

The report of this committee showed the gold duty for the months qf August and September had been 8,6450z5. Borough's percentage, £30 ss; County's percentage, £63 15s. 1 BEFOET BE SOtTSY's DISMISSAL.

The report on the matter was read. It showed that the man Soury had been employed for 12 months as asphalter, and was "to do other work when there was_no asphalting to do. > On one occasion when his year had expired he refused to go to work, and left the employ of the Council. Adopted. . EEPOBT OF THE CEMETEBY COMMITTEE. The report of this committee, containing the,,recommendations made at the recent meeting of the committee, was read. After some discussion it was resolved to assent to the recommendations of report including the Bridge over the Hape Creek on cemetery road. EEPOBT OF WOBKB COMMITTEE. The report of the Works Committee was read as follows:—Your Committee have \ the honor to report that with reference to the offer of Messrs Hart and Horn of spawls for road metal at 3s per yard delivered at quarry, or 5s per yard at other parts of the Borough, that the matter has been referred by them' * o the Engineers of the Borough and County for their opinion as to' quality and value. Bird in Hand Hill. —>■ The Committee recommend that the various lanes and passages be repaired where injured by the winter rains; and provided a roadway is sanctioned by the Warden from the footpath in Bella street to the flat on which the/Vanguard whim is standing, that such roadway be formed for horse and dray traffic. Waiotahi Hill. —The Committee have instructed the Foreman of Works to temporarily! repair this track in such places as are most necessary. Feotpath in front of the Tairaru School. —This work is being" carried out by the Foreman of Works; Offer of E; Soury.—The Committee, after carefully considering this offer, and ascer* taining the present cost of asphalt pavement, do not consider the offer of-Mr Soury would be of benefit to either the ratepayers or Council. Sites for stone • breaking yards.-r-The Committee recommend that one ghe.d only be erected, and that it be built on the allotments adjoin: ing the present asphalt shed, but that an additional stone depot be obtained for Shortland, and have instructed the Town Clerk to communicate with'the agent of the Sev. Mr Smales for authority to use one of his empty allotments' for such purpose. After visiting that part of Mackay street between Willoughby and Richmond streets, in which certain of the residents have asked that a footpath be* constructed^with water-table, your Committee are of opinion such work should be carried out at once, and ask the Council to sanction this footpath being constructed in accordance with Bye-law No. —. Burke street. —Application having been made by Mr Burke for a footpath with water-table to be made on the north side of Burke street, and offering to contribute his proportion of the cost, the Committee recommend this work bc'ng " can ied out, provided the residents and ' owners of . pro* perty will contribute one-third of the cost. The Committee visited the footroad being constructed by Mr* Driscoll, leading from the Waio-Karaka to Irish Town, the formation of which the Foreman of Works refused to pass as not being completed according to specification. The Committee approve of the action of the Foreman of Works, as the road has not been cut ten feet wide out of the solid in several places.^Jameb Kilgoub, Chairman. — Thames, 10th October, 1878. «

j The,following letter was appended to the report:—To the Works-Committee, Borough of Thames.—GentlemeH.^-In accordance with your instructions I have examined the heap of road metal at junction' of Mary and BpllestonvStreets, from the Hape Creek quarry, and hare the honor to report—That I do not consider it of equal value to best quality beach metal, but it would be sufficiently good for streets on which there is dot much traffic, such as Mackay street. Its value for such streets would be about threequarters that of "beach metal.—l have, &c, Kobt. McFabiand.-—Thames* 10th October, 1878. The report was adopted. • ". ;' EEPOBT OF FOBEMAN OF WOEKS. The report of this official for the past mons showe^ 278 feet of water-table had been laid round tbe Council Chambers. 183f yards of asphalt had been laid and 1120? yards top dressed. The various contracts were making good progress. The Foreman suggested that the Council sanction him to fence in the Council Chambers and other Borough, property. 25 chains of the Tapu Eoad had been gravelled by piece work. The report, was adopted, the matter with reference to the renting, of the allotment now used for -hose drying purposes being referred to the Works Committee. . ■ BEPOBT OF INSPIICTOB OF NUISANCES. The report of this officer stated that for the quarter ending 30th September there were slaughtered in the slaughter houses licensed by the Council 3815 head of cattle. *

KEPORT OF RELIEVING OFFICER. The report of this official shewed that the poor relief for past month had cose £51 16s 6d, which was a decrease on the previous month, owing to the employment of many of the unemployed on harbour and other works. „" ' ' ' .: EEPOBT OF INSPECTOR OF BOARD. OF „.--. HEALTH. The report of this officer shewed that during the past month seven deaths had occurred in the Borough. Cr Brassey moved that Crs Price and Ehrenfried be a committee to obtain a night soil cart. Carried. . coilectoe's eepoet. The report of the collector showed,that duriug last month £263 12s 3d, rates, had been collected and handed over to the Treasurer. ' • EEPOBT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE. The report of the Finance Committee was read and adopted. THE HAEBOB BOABD AGEEEEMENT. The Town Clerk read the agreement between the. Council and the Harbor Board re the grant of the former to the latter. The agreement had been approved by the Board. It was signed by the Mayor,and two Councillors.

ACCOUNTS. The Town Clerk laid on the table the six-monthly accounts. ' THE -FISH MARKET,. - Cr Ehrenfried moved.-that tenders be called to construct the fish market in

accordance with the second plan pre pared. Cr Hansen seconded. This was carried.

Cr Brassey moved that the sum to bo expended on the fish market do not exceed £150. Cr McGowan seconded. Carried. THE ASPHALT FOOTPATH. Cr Price moved, and Cr Brassey seconded, that the formation of the three feet wide strip of asphalt and water table in the principal thoroughfares, as recommended by the Works Committee, be agreed to. ■ Carried unanimously. THE BECBEATION GBOITND. The following telegram re this matter had been received : —" The decision of the Cabinet is in favor of the municipality getting £400 placed on the Estimates to complete the fencing, &c, on the recreation ground.—J. Sheehax." Cr Ehrehfried moved, and Cr Brassey seconded, that Crs Wilson, Brassey, the Mayor, and the mover be a committee to report on the best way of expending the £400, balance of the purchase money on the ground. Carried. . * '

' hilman's gbievance. With reference to the complain? made by the man Hilman that the Foreman of Works had not employed him because he had a grudge against him, the Council heard the Foreman of Works in explanation, and considered it satisfactory. ' , This was all the business.