Thames Borough. Council.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3605, 16 July 1880, Page 2

Thames Borough. Council.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Council was held last evening. Present — Cm McGowan (in the chair), Wilson, Meunie, Wilkinson, Osboine, Marshall and Bawd en. OUTWARD CORRESPONDENCE. The outward correspondence since the last meetiug was read. TELEGBAHS. A number of telegrams were taken as read, on the motion of Or Osborne. ' THE FIBE BBIGADEB AND THE LIB BABY. A letter was read from the secretary of the Grahamstown Fire Brigade asking the privilege for members of the brigade of taking books free from the Public Library on their paying a caih deposit. Beferred to the Library Committee, WATER SUPPLY. A letter was read from the Under Secretary of Grown Lands asking if the Council wished the Government to acquire for the Borough at their cost the Maungakerikeri block, containing the watershed of the Waikeikei creek—a block of 250 acres. The Chairman said that Mr Elliott had evidently misunderstood their application. * The Town Clerk explained that the block was that which laid nearest the'flat, and contained about 250 acres. It would cost about £80. It was resolved on the motion of Cr Marshall that the Government be requested to acquire the land at the expence of the Borough. PAELIAMENTABY RETURNS. A letter was read from the Under* Secretary, asking information respecting the poor relief, for submission to Parliament in the form of a return. The Town Clerk was instructed to supply the required information. INSURANCE COMPANIES' GRANT. The Town Clerk intimated that he had received £50 from the Insurance Companies for the Fire Brigades, and had handed the latter their cheques. THE RAILWAY RECLAMATION TRAMWAYS. A letter was received from Captain Souter asking permission to postpone the raising of the tramways as the weather was unfavorable. Granted. pound. A letter was read from J. E. Hanseu drawing attention to the want of shelter in the public pound. He had noticed horses standing in one spot exposed to rain or frost for 10 or 12 days and presenting a most pitiable appearance. Beferred to Works Committee. APPROACHES TO ALBERT ST. WHARF. A letter was read from the Secretary to the Harbour Board drawing attention to the inefficient state of the approach to the Albert street wharf. Cr Wilkinson said he had noticed that some time ago, but did not think it was the duty of the Council to make the approach passable. < Cr Osborne commented on the bad state of the wharf, saying it was positively dangerous, and should be closed to traffic. He moved that the Harbour Board be informed that as soon as the wharf is put in a state of repair the Council will improve the approach. This failed to find a seconder, and a motion by Cr Mennie to the effect that the matter be referred to the Works Committee, with power to act, was adopted. DYNAMITE MAGAZINE. A letter was received from Mr George Black, manager of the Southern Cross G.M.Co., asking the Council to remove the dynamite magazine, as the workings of: the company were now near it, and the concussion might cause an explosion. Beferred to Works Committee. COMPENSATION. A letter was read from Mr G. Harcourt, covering particulars of his demand for compensation for damage done to his property by the bursting of the Moanatairi culvert. He claimed in all £20 18s.. The letter was ordered to be received, without comment. WORKS COMMITIEE'B EXPORT. The report of the.Works Committee was read as follows :— Your. Committee have to report visiting the entrance to the Alburnia battery in tbe Tararu road, and have given notice to lower the same to tbe height of the crown of the road, and to . extend the batter on each tide, so as to render it less abrupt and make it more safe for pedestrians to pass over. Tbe Committee have also ordered the Foreman of Works to put in a-box drain at Sawyer's Hotel, Tarara road, to can?/ the storm water off the Tararu road into the Shellback Creek main culvert; the cost of the-work will be 255. Kirkwood street footpath, referred to m Mr Williams' letter: The Committee recommend that the wafer table be cleaned out and. tho footpath raised where necessary. Pahau street: That the water table be oleaned out, the footpath, raised, aud the crossing at the junction of Mackay street made good. Bella street: The Committee recommend a wooden kerbiog be carried past Mr Arnold's house for a distance of about 60 feet, and the water table and footpath improved, Mr Arnold undertaking to paj the labor of one man. Bird-in-Hand Hill: That the steps at the side of the store leading to the top of the hill be continued as far as the top of the rite, and a slight water table cut each side of the steps after formation. Baillie street: That a few loads of gravel or sharp land be spread on the footpath where necessary, between the High School and Mr Johnson's premises. The roadway leading from Mary sfcreet, past Mr Deeble's store in this atreet, is in an impassable condition, and" would necessitate an expenditure of £50 to put in good repair. Tho committee- reoonsmend that as soon as ever funds are available* the Foreman of Works be instructed to form and metal the road. That two loads of gravel or sharp sand be spread on the worst places, of the footpath in front o? Dt Bowbottom's prenatal.

Cr Marshall said re the Campbell street culvert that the only expense required was that of carting. Cr Os borne moved that the report be adopted, and that the committee be requested to carry out tte proposed works as soon as funds are available. Carried. . . -'.",'.

PATBHKET. > The fortnightly paysheet was ptssed. THE POOR BELIBF. The Relieving Officer had Bent tq|the Charitable Aid Committee the following communication : —

" I hate the honor tj bubmit the following as the grounds on which I edvised the Charitable Aid Committee not to accept the tender of F. Hewin and Co., for the supply of rations:—l. That during the fix months F. Hewia and Co. had the contract, the goods supplied were not equal to the samples sent with their tender, particularly the tea and flour, and on sereral occasions I complained ta Mr Clark and to Mr F. Hewin, but obtaiaed no satisfaction. 2. That the bread supplied by them was nearly always short weight, and I complained to Mr Clark and the baker, sad to prevent this I put in the next specification that the bread be weighed on delivery; 3. That there were continually diiputes with Mr Clark and the people ai to the amount of bread delivered, and at the termination ef their

contract by enquiries I found that 461bs of bread had been delivered short. Mr Clark admitted this, aud delivered that amount of bread to my orders. 4. That goods which had been weighed before me, and apparently good weight, were weighed by his Worship (Mr McCullough) and found to be short weight.—-John B. Masok, Relieving Officer." The Chairman said that these were the grounds that actuated the Committee in accepting Mr A. Mennie's tender. Cr Wilkinson moved, and Cr Wilson seconded, that the action of the Charitable Aid Committee be approved. Carried unanimously. N ASPHALTING. Cr Wilkinson said that, with a view of keeping the men recently discharged together, the following suggestion! had been made:—The men hitherto engaged for the Borough Council on asphalt work agree to do the following werk: To prepare the asphalt and lay same, finding all material except shingle ; to assist in rolling and forming the ground on which the asphalt is to be laid; to sift the sand used in the work—for one shilling and twopence per yard (either public footpaths or private works). No payment to be made the men until the Borough Council has received payment for the same from the persons for whom tbe work is done. He proposed that this be done. Cr Marshall, in seconding, aaid he thought the suggestion a good one. It only referred at present to' the Mary street footpath, and a desirable object would be attained were that work completed. *' Cr Mennie said he supposed the thing was right, bat thought that the Works Committee should look into tbe matter. What control would the Council have over the men ? Cr Wilkinson: The Foreman of Works will supervise the work. Cr Mennie then moved the reference of the matter to the Works Committee. Cr Bawden seconded. The Chairman thought that if the affair was carried out as proposed, it would be clearly a job, as the Council did not know how much shingle and tar they had in the yard. People in the outskirts, had doubly the right to spend their own rates on their footpaths, and a bad.precedent would be established. . , . .-. Cr Mennie said that they were making a new departnre, and it would be well to pause before adopting it He was by no means satisfied that the matter could be , carried out successfully. The Woris Committee were the proper persons to< see if it could be earned out with satisfaction to the Council. . < i The amendment on being put was carried by four votes to three. THANES -TO FIRE BRIGADE. ' ■"> Cr Mennie moved that a letter be sent to the Fire Brigades thanking them for their exertions at the.fire at Stephenson't Hotel. . , '■'-■]■' The Chairman seconded.. Carried..,,;; QUBBH STREET, SOUTH..; -tb) Cr Wilkinson called attention to the fact that there was no footpath for pede*trians on the Beach, Shortland, near Mfv Parker'B residence. He proposed' that', the Works Committee visit the place and' report. Carried. ; „..„,. » .„„, \ „,. RAILWAY CROSSING. > ,„ "..., The Town Clerk said that Mr Stewart was adverse to the railway crossing at . Pahau street. He would have permitted. it before the Council endeavoured to get the one at Amy street. ; \ '■■] ' _;- ' This concluded the business.