Thames Borough Council.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3041, 13 November 1878, Page 2

Thames Borough Council.

The adjourned fortnightly meeting of the Thames Borough Council was held at the Council Chambers last evening. Present—the Mayor, Crs Brassey, Speight, Mennie, Hansen and, McQowan.

MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

OUTWABT> COBBESPONDENCE, A precis of the outward correspondence was read.

BOA© METAL.

A letter was read from Messrs IJajf and Horn stating that th,ey had 5Q yards of road roetal^hroken and qn« broken^won hand, whioh they would sell the Borough at Is per yard less than they paid for beach metal. Cr Mennie moved that the offer be accepted, subject to approval of Foreman of Works. Carried^

THE BBCBKA.TIO.ar fl^O^lJfl*, A letter wa^ read 'from Messrs Muiv dflch'B,rQthers, in reply to one from the Council, stating that so aoon as the Borough defined their boundary of the

recreation ground they (Murdocks) would do their portion of the teneintj. Cr Hansen proposed that a committee, consisting of Crs McGowan, the Mayor and the mover, be appointed to proceed with the surveyor to the recreation ground to point out the ground purchased by the Borough with iv view of making a survey. Carried. DANGEROUS SHAFT. A letter was read from Mr Crisp, Tararu, drawing attention to the dangerous state of a caved in shaft on Tararu road, near Boundary Creek. The Town Clerk stated that the Foreman of Works had already attended to this matter. I THE BAILWAT. A letter was read from the Harbor Board covering a resolution to the effect that the Chairman be appointed to confer with the other local bodies with the view of urging on the Government the immediate commencement of the Thames and Waikato Railway. After some discussion it was resolved that the Mayor and Cr Speight be appointed to act with the Chairman of the Harbor Board re the matter. CASH. A letter was read from the Treasury, Wellington, containing advices of the remittance to the Borough fund of £1 6s 6d gold revenue.

The Town Clerk said there were several hundreds of the Borough gold duty lying in the Treasury just now.

THE LEVELS

The following report on this matter was read from the Borough Surveyor:—" To his Worship the Mayor and Council Borough of Thames. Gentlemen,—l have the honor to inform you that, not having the necessary sections of that portion of Shortland between the Karaka and Hape Creeks, I cannot say what is the most desirable level for the permanent drainage of that portion of the Borough. In September, 1877,1 took some levels and prepared sections of a portion of the water tables of the blocks between Sealey and Richmond streets j the lines laid down on those sections were intended only for the then effectual surface drainage of these blocks, but it is very probable those levels will require to be modified when sufficiently extensive sections are prepared and levels fixed.—l have, &c, Robt. McFabland. Thames, 7th Nov., 1878." THE ABPHALT FOOTPATH. Standing orders were suspended, Mr T. Garrett, of Shortland, being present to urge something with reference to the asphalt and water-tables. Mr Garrett said that in the proposed laying of the asphalt footpath past his hotel it would place his floor' several inches below the level of the footpath. He suggested that at this point the wooden footpath be repaired.. Several of his neighbors were of a similar .opinion. The matter was referred to the Works Committee, to see to immediately, with power to act. RELIETIN& OFFICER'S BEPOBT. The report of this officer showed that the ration list for the past month contained 45 names, receiving 103| rations at a cost of £46 13s lid. Adopted. PAYMENT OF BELIEVIKG OFFICES. A letter was read from Mr J. B. Mason, stating that he had been appointed Relieving Officer three months"ago, but had not yet received any salary. The letter was referred to the Charitable Aid Committee.

BEPOBT OF FIBS BBIOADB COMMITTEE.

The report of this Committee was read as follows:—" The Committee have the honor to report that the pay of the Shortland engine keeper has been up to the present date 7s 6d per week, with house at the rear of the engine shed rent free; that of late the implements, hose, <fee , have been increased, until at present the work he has to perform is nearly equal to that performed by the, engine keeper of the Grahamstown brigade. Your Committee recommend that from and after this date his pay be 15s instead of 7s 6d per week. The accounts laid before the, Committee, viz., J. Wright, £4, C Gentry 30s, J. Nodder 7s, are submitted for payment. —James Kilgou*, Chairman.—Thames, 7th Nov. 1878."

Cr Hansen moved the adoption of the report. Carried. Cr Mennie moved that the question of the maintenance of the Fire Brigades be referred to tbe Fire Brigades Committee to report to the Council. Carried.

BEPOBT OF WOHKS COMMITTBB.

The report of the Works Committee was read and adopted. It was as follows: —" The committee hare to report that they have visited the various positions suitable for a site for a Fish Market, and recommend that permission be obtained from the Harbor Board and also from the present lessee of the Shortland Wharf lor the erection of the Market bouse on. the eastern or iushore end of the Short* land Wharf, and that the size of. the building be 50ft x 16ft. The committee have directed the Foreman of Works to put a few loads of mullock at the end of the newly - formed road . way, Brown street, and to remove some timber that projects in a very dangerous manner in front of Headship's old saw mill premises. —Jakbs Kilooub, Chairman. Thames, 7th November, 1878."

BBPOBT OF TOBIKAW OF WOBKS. The report; of the Foreman of Works was road at follows:—" Gentlemen,—l have the honor to lay before you the following report for the month ending 31st October, 1878:■— Water tables.—Laid in Baillie street, from Mary street to Karaka Creek, and forming footpath 401 'feet; cost £75 3s Sd, the inhabitants paying one-third, Culrert across Baillie street in Mary street, a distance of 71 feet; cost £13 6s Bd, Laid water tables Waiotahi roa,d, for the purpose of carrying off the large supply of water coming from the Waiotahi ram, 66 feet; post £Q 12s. Erecting fence round Borough Chambers; cost £9 Is. According to instructions, I repaired (he Bird-in-Hand hill footpaths* repaired the truck on the Waiotahi Spur, repaired the Kuranui Hill footpath; finished the footpath on the Tararu, road from the school) made footpath in front of Mjr MoGowan's. in Queen street, at * 4 cost of £3, he having to pay one-third; faced up footpath in KoHeston street; cost £1415s 6^. Metalling streets.—lso yards in Macbay street, 85 yards in Pollenstreet. The weather is not suitable for laying dovru metal in the streets at present, wet weather being preferable for that purpose. 1 feare four men employed in the yard urtreiDg and making frames for water tables, and I hope to be in a position to start laying the first block n«| week} and four men employed i(\ ifod abed preparing gravel for axpbjtyipjb so that I may be enabled. \& fa a. large piece of footpath

in & Hhort space of time. Contracts.— Drißcoll —I have still to report that this contract is not done according to specification, and I will have to leave the matter in your hands, although there is no doubt that the contractor made a mistake in his tender.—l remain, &c, Thos. Bawdow, Foreman of Works." The report was adopted—in the matter of Driscoll's contract it being decided that no more money be paid to Driscoll until the Foreman of Works was satisfied that the work had been carried out according to specification. BEPOBT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE. The report of the Finance Committee was read. The committee referred back to the Council an account for £25 odd from ! Mr E. H. Power, for services rendered by him at the Municipal Conference at Wellington. The account!, with the exception of Mr Power's, were passed for payment. The Mayor said there was no doubt that Mr Power had rendered service to the Borough worthy of money payment. The Town Clerk produced copies or the report of the proceedings at Mui> cipal Conference, and shewed the alterations Mr Power bad been instrumental in suggesting. JM Cr Speight said that the Council bjV tacitly recognised Power at their delegacy and he had been so acknowledged byth/ Conference. / V The Town Clerk said that Power haW*. gone to Wellington on hit own acoonut, but as Mr Bowe would not hare bean at Wellington in time to be present at Conference, the Council had employed Mr Power to act as the Borough delegate. Cr Speight moved that Mr Power be awarded 10 guinea* for his services while at Wellington. Cr Hansen seconded. Carried with one dissentient—Cr McGowan. Cr Brassey pointed out that the amount should be passed as an honorari am without prejudice- to the Borough or as acknowledgement of Mr Power's claim. MACKAY BT2UT. ' Cr Hansen proposed and Cr Mennie seconded that the Council proceed with the Mackay street footpath in accordanoe with By-law No. 7; Carried. . Cr McGowan moved that the work bo done by contract. Carried. POLLEN STREET. Cr McGowan moved that the Pollen street footpath near Dr Payne's residence be made in accordance with tho term* of By-law. No. 7. Cr Brassey, seconded. On the motion being put to the meeting it was negatived, by three to two. Consideration of the matter waa adjourned till next meeting of the Council. TENDEBS FOB PAINTING COUNCIL CHAHBEKg. Tenders for the above wo- r k were opened as follows : —Phillip F ir ch, £23 15s; Conroy, £19; Lymburn, £19 17s 6dj Fricker, £16; Barlow. £2014s 6d. Cr, Brassey mored. the acceptance of Fricker's tender. Carried. £■ AX APPMCATlos^^^^^^* A letter was read from C. Christiansen asking permission to use a portion of the Borough allotment adjoining the Fire Brigade Buildings to fix clothe linen on. He had done so on the ground. for the last nine years, and was willing to par 20s per annum. The application was granted free of cost, subject to withdrawal of the permission at any time on the part of the Borough. . . NOTICES OF MOTION. ■ V Cr McGowan gave notice of motion-* " That the Council, at its next sitting, consider the advisability of securing si site for a High School on the Recreation Ground." Cr Speight gave notice of motion-* "That all contracts over £10 be passed by the Works Committee as well as br the Foreman of Works. This was all the business.