BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume XX, Issue 6132, 30 November 1888, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of th° Boroifch Council was held in the Chambers last evening, there beina present—The Mayor (Mr Brodie), Cv< Eadford, Wood, Koefoed, Crawford, MeAndrew, Renshaw, Keid, and McGowan.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and conQrmed.

Electeic Lighting.—Mr F. A. White, Secretary to the Thames Gas Co., wrote acknowledging the rt-ceipt of the Council's letter of the 16th ult., which had b en laid before the directors/and they had instructed him to write to the Council to the effect that at the present time this company does not see its way to undertake the lighting of the Borough with the electric light. The directors were watching the development of that system in other places, and if at any time the prospects at the Thames should encourage them to think that it could be done with advantage to their customers and the company, they would be glad to take advantage of any preference the Council may feel inclined to give the Gas Co—The Mayor said that when the question of lighting the streets by elec iricity was 6rst introduced, things looked better at the Thames, bat since then a change for the worse had gradually come over the place. There could be no doubt that they were paying a high price tor gas, which ga*e a bad light, bat consider ing the condition of the district at the present time, there was a certain amount of fairness in what the Gas Co. had stated. The electric light could not be. beaten anywhere, and it was simply a matter of assurance. He moved that the letter be received. —Cr JJenshaw agreed that the Council should not be in too great a hurry to act in the matter, as it was desirable that they should wait and ascertain the result of the contract now being carried out in Wellington, and the experiments being made by other corporations. He seconded the motioo, which was carried.

Charitable Institutions.— Mr A. Bruce, Secretary to the Charitable Aid Board, wrote statiDg that he had been directed by that Board to open up a correspondence with the Council with the view of having the properties known as the Thames Orphanage and Old Men's Refuge vested in the Board. He asked that the Council should inform him (1) upon what grounds the Council keep possession of the properties, seeing that in the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act which came in force on the Ist October, 1885, all these existing institutions became vested in the Board ; (2) should the Council have a legal right to the properties, please state the amount for which the Council would hand them over to the Board ; and (3) that should the Board be unable to get the Government to purchase the lien of the Council on the properties and place the Board in possession, what terms would the Council bo willing to accept for the payment of the money? — On the motion of Cr Radford, seconded by Cr McGowan* the letter was referred to the General Purposes Committee to report at the next meeting of the Council. Excessive Valuation.—Mr L. Ehren fried wrote as fallows :—" I wish to bring under your notice the great hardship I am laboring under, brought about through last year's excessive valuation, the fact being that the rent which I receive from my Thames property does not exceed £500 per annum, whilst out of this amount I have to pay your Council over £200 for rates and taxes per annum. I need not tell you that it will be impossible for me to continue under such circumstances, and would respsctfully-a-skkyouFv Council to look iDto this "matter and see whether some relief may not be granted to me."— Tbe Mayor said that when he was ast in Auckland Mr Ehrenfried had spoken to him on the subject, and again on Tuesday last Mr Ehrenfried had interviewed the 1 own Clerk and himself in respect to the matter. From what Mr Ehrenfried stated it appeared as though he was suffering from a hardship, and if the Council could give him some conaideration it should do so. He (the Mayor) was unaware, how~ ever, whether such could be done legally.— Cr Renshaw moved, and Cr Crawford seconded : " That the letter be referred to the Finance Committee."—Cr McAndrew said he failed to see what good could be done by the adoption of such a course. The Council had already refused to alter the late valuation, which was most excessive, and there were many others laboring under a similar grievance as Mr Ehronfreid. It was necessary that matters should be remedied in the future, but nothing coald be done in tbe present case or any of the many others of a similar nature. If the last .valuation could be altered, the Council would be beseiged with letters. He moved as an amend* ment: " That Mr Ehrenfreid's letter be received." —This was seconded by Cr Radford. —Cr McGowan said that from all he had heard and himself knew regarding tbe late valuation, he did not think that the Council had any power to do anything in the matter. Still, no' barm could be done by referring the letter to the Com mittee, and consequently he would support the motion.—The amendment was lost, only Crs Radford and McAodrew supporting it, and the motion was then put and carried. Report —The General Purposes Coin* mittee reported as follows ;—»

"That with respect ti> the extension of the water maiog at Par*w»i, that tue main ha laid down as far as tho recide-co of Rlr Cocaer, conditionally hat Me3;ri Jjhn Fletfc, Bobort Comer, Ai Foe, Joseph Clark, L. Dodd, and Thomas Dufty airee to pay the reepeobiTe amounts Bet out in their letter to the Council,' dated Ist November, 1888; and that notioo be sent to those applying for the water main to be extends i beyond that distance, thit provided they wjll protido at tl)oir own coat the pipes neoepsary for such exteosiqa tfae Goun» oil will give the services of the Tm?neock free to lay same, and that the cost iiioutred by them for such pipes will bo returned to thorn by allowing them a full supply of water calculated at a certain yearly value until the coat of cuch pipes has been bo repaid to them. The Com mittee consider it is quite imperative that pro vision be at once made fo r a iargei- suppifi. of water for domestic and public purpose*, jtad have requested the Mayor, Councillors tten* chaw and MoGowan to see the Wird«i, «d 4 get a portion of tho Bi>ru otreaaj wilh^its" watershed set apart, for euoh purpose. The" Mayor and Councillors Mc&owan and Sen* sbaw have also been asked to see the W»rden with a view to the beds of the T >raru, l^irafcaand Hape creeks bgiqg set fepsft as reserves for quarry purposes, to he placed under the Control of the Council. Authority has been given to the Turocock to obtain the neeese? S*ry caetingSi aqd repair the two fire plu°s on the 20 in h maios in Pollen Street, and the oue on the 3-inch main Tararu Road, also to protect each with v concrete covering."

-r«The report was adoptedPetition.—^A petition was received from several ratepayers prsyiog that the

water table in Queen street might be completed in accordance with resolution of the Council —After considerable discussion Or McAndrew withdrew the motion of which he had given notice re having the work of continuing the footpith in Queen street postponed, and it was decided to refer the matter back to the General Purposes (Joratnittee to report." Finance.—The usual accounts were passed for payment, and the meeting ad jonrned.