Thames Borough Council

Thames Star, Volume XLV, Issue 10240, 5 June 1909, Page 4

Thames Borough Council

LAST NIGHTS MiEETINIG.

Last night's meeting of the Thames Borough Council was attended by His Worship the Mayor (Mr F. H. Claxton) and Crs EL. Dteeble, E. V. Tui-nbull, W. Taylor, J. Thomas, W, Scott, G. Warns, andi G. Cornier.

—Minutes, Etc,—

The minutes of the last meeting were read by the Town Clerk ('Mr A. Bruce) and' adopted; also the outward correspondence. —The Abattoirs.— The Meat Inspector wrote: —.'Beiewith is a return of the stock slaughtered at the Thames abattoir May: Cattle 101, calves % g&gs 19, sheep 351, laawbs 74." —Atolition of Telephone Eixchange, Fre© Connection. — The Chief (Postmaster wrote:—"l Ibieg to inform' you that as it hasi been decided to abolish .all telephone exchange free eonne'citions, a rental of £■5 /per annum, must, in future ho charged for the !A(lbe<rfc-sitreiet Fire Brigade connection, commencing from Ist instant. Should your Council decide to discontinue the connection I should like to be adivised as early as possible." It was decided to continue to pay. —'Separation of Coromandel.— The Coromandel County Council wrote:—"l aim directed by the Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th ult., relative to the separation of the Coromandel County from: the United District Chasuble 'And Board, In reply I am lo inform yon that even- effort .will be made to this end!, and if necessary a Local Bill will be prepared, as .suggested in your letter." ' j —'Mamesi of Streets!.—Mr R l. T. Corfcran wrote: "In ihe report of the last meeting of the Borough Council, it was staited that the cost of. painting the names of the streets was to be ascertained. The usual method 1 is to paint the name on a strip of galvanised' iron, which is 'afterwards nailed in ai conspicuous position. I would he glad to supply the Borough with signs of this kind, iron included, durably andi neatly paintedi in any desired colours, and finished with a border line, for 2s fid calcli. This is exclusive of the cost of

Pe-fferred to the General-Ptaipoaes Committee. '"

—^Compulsory, Military Training.-

The secretary of the :Klational Leujgue wrote:—"l am requested by the General Counqil of the National Defence 'League of iNew 'Zealand! to solicit the assistance of yourself nnrl the Borough 'Council over which you preside in keeping the. .movement' in favour of the universal training of the youtb.*^. the "Dominion iprominently before the publia Several city awl "borough councils have: already by resolution directed the attention of the Government, to the <strong public feeding in, favour of universal training, while others have convened public meetings to consider and resolve on the matter. We believe your Council will g?vei .public expression to their view© on the question of defence and assist in keepingl the needs of the 'Dominion in this respect prominently before the public."

It was decidied to support the iseheme, the motion, beingl moved by the Mayor, and seconded by .fr Thomas.

—The l Butchers' Abattoirs.—

'Mr (ft, (Bateanau wrote: "I havei the honour (on behalf of the associated butchers of Thames) to request" that the 1 authority hitherto vested in Messrs Read, Gillespie, and Co. in connection:'.wttft the working of the abiatt.oir» .^il^airawai may, be .transferred to rniy nainieV so thaib the business may .be, ; t<hevppre conveniently tiarried on."--"'•-■5;*K^.--

The application .-was granted. —deduction of " Water Charges.—

The iSecretairy of, the Thames Harbour Board) " wrote: —"I have the honour by direction of the Thames Harbour Board to apply to the Council' for a reduction of the' charge for vater for supplying shipping, the position being as follows: Some years ago there was asn arrangement made between the* Board and the Council thereby the Council collected' the charges fromi the shipping and-allow-ed the 'Board a percentage' for certain work done in connection- with the business. It was found that this method caused! at good, deal of complications so it was ultimately agreed that the "Board should pay the sum of £iQ> per annum for the water, and attend to all matters connected! ■with the supply, als far as providing mains on the wharves, valves, etc. 'At that time the steam shipping whs fully double the quantity to what it, has 'been of late years, and the margin between the £40 and the amount receivable was a fair sum for the Board's labc-Ur and expense. However the sterna* shipping visiting or using the port has fallen to otic steamer about .daily, and in,consequence tli3 receipt* frc-mi water, has fallen to such lan extent that the Board are, suffering an annual loss. Last year th© receipts for water werei £32 12s 6dan>l the cost £H 8s scl, a loss of nearly !£'l2;, besides labour.not included in the amount. Last year's operations are a fair average of affairs for albbuit five years. Earlier nippliciation for adjusting the matter with the Council woultl have* been applied for, hat! not the Board reasonably expected >an iniipr,ovtein)ie.nt, < 'but oa there ap(pearsi no prt>spect r of an increasei in the steam shipping; the Board now ask the Council to take the matter I

under their most favourable consid!- ( eration«!«ind lower tho ciharge .so ;s "to. at all events prevent the Board \ making a loss on the transaction. The Board would have no objection to^tbe tJouncil supplying the shipping <tyith water direct."

Referred to the General Purposes Committed

—general Purposes Coinimittee. — The Committee having considered the several matters referred to them they recommend as follows: — Application of B. Pearson smd others to have repairs effected to the road leading to their residences: That the application be. granted, and the work done forthwith.

Extending the street lighting: That until the Council's income ni)fprovea lit isl iimipossiibl'a to supply more, street lights.

Public Abattoirs: The Slavghtering ami Inspection Ac|t, 1908, nrovides that when the local authority of am abattoir district wishes, to erect or establish an abattoir in another district, that the consent of the local authority of the latter mu-sfc be first obtained, and should the application be refusedl the miagiistraita has the poweir to decide between the two 'bodies. 'Ait present the Council hold a license for an abattoir that is situate in the Thames County, and when the new -aba.' I."' is erected the license will only require transferring from the one. building to the other. Besides part of the County of Thames is situate in the Thaimes Borough abattoir district, and these factors in the cft.se may make it unnecessary *•... apply to the T'hairoejgi County Council for a permit to erect the new building;. Haw'ever, as a, matter of courtesy the oomimiittee recommend that a formal application be made to t he County 'Council for a permit.

Viqtoria Reserve: It having been suggestedl that ai pathway be taken through the centre of the lawn and trees planted on each side, it is recommended that the Council as a whola visit the reserve and report mi the suggestion.