Thames Borough Council.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3172, 19 April 1879, Page 2

Thames Borough Council.

SPECIAL MEETING.

A special meeting, under the Borough of Thames Tramways Act, for the .phr* pose of considering Messrs O'Brien and Go.'s application re the laying of tramways in Pahau and Cochrane streets in connection with the railway reclamation, and also Mr McDonald's application to remove Bella street rails, was held in the Borough Council Chambers last evening. In connection, with the above, Mr ItMcDonald's letter, asking leave to remove the Bella street tramway on behalf of the Queen of Beauty Extended Company, or be allowed compensation for the same, was read.

Mr Campbell, solicitor, appeared to oppose the application, and produced a copy of the original agreement under which the tramway had been laid. From the deed he asserted that the Qaeen of Beauty had only a certain right. Vickery's battery and Bull's battery had also shares in the tramway, which, however, was also under the control of the Waiotahi Highway Board and their representatives. Vickery sold hia right to the Queen of Beauty, and they to Mr Perry, who, he believed, held the greatest portion of the rights. The Queen of Beauty had been formed into a limited company,, but only held rights obtained through the Warden. The Borough, by permitting the removal of the tramway, would destroy rights of the public; who had an interest to vie the tramway, paying the owner! in accordance with a scale fixed by this Council. He submitted that Mr McDonald had no right to remove the tramway. - The Town Clerk read letters to Mr Thomas of the Queen of Beauty Claim re the laying of the line, and also the rules and regulations under which the line had been laid.

Cr McGowan said in none of the Acts he had read had he seen anything giving any one a right to move these tramways. He did not think the Borough could.

The Mayor and other Councillors ex* pressed a similar opinion. Cr Hansen moved that the Borough Council consider they hare not the power to grant the application. Carried. Messrs O'Brien and Co.'s application was then considered. The plan and specifications of the proposed tramway were placed before the Council. The Town Clerk read the clauses of the Act giving the Council power to give permission to lay a tramway. Mr Campbell said he appeared to object to a locomotive being run on the proposed line in Cochrane street. He appeared for himself as a ratepayer, and for a number of ratepayers, whose names be handed in. He said that the grounds of his objection were that the locomotive would be dangerous to the school children; and also at the crossings of the various streets. Mr Thompson, on behalf of O'Brien and Co., said perhaps they would not require to go down Cochrane street. In Wellington and other large cities locomotives ran in all the principal thoroughfares. ,-' Mr McGregor* as a ratepayer, said if the residents had known a locomotive was going to be run down Cochrane street near the school there would have been a numerous petition in against it. Mr Thompson said he was willing to j withdraw his application for Cochrane street for the present. They would not want it for some time if at all.

The application for the tramway in Pahau street was then granted, subject to compliance with conditions in clause 7 of of the Act, ttie rent being fixed at £1 per annum.. The bond was fixed at j£soo, in two sureties of £250 each.