THAMES BOROUGH.

Thames Star, Volume LXI, Issue 16779, 25 January 1927, Page 5

THAMES BOROUGH.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. QUARRY TRAMLINE. MOTOR-CYCLISTS’ REQUEST. The Thames Borough Council met last evening, the Mayor (Mr T. W. Rhodes, M.P.) presiding over an attendance of Crs Bush, Bongard, Donovan, Christie, Morley, Mackay, Ensor and Potterton.

An apology was received for the absence of Cr Allan. The Town Clerk (Mr A. Chapman) assistant-Town Clerk (Miss Maxted) and Borough Engineer (Mr J. E. Anderson) were also in attendance.

Rat Extermination. The Medical Officer of Health, Auckland, stressed the necessity for the extermination of rats, and requested that poison be distributed to householders, and that Borough inspectors be alive to their duties in this respect. On the suggestion of the i( Mayor, it Was decided to ask for the co-opera-tion of the Harbour Board and Railway Department in organising a campaign of extermination. Bath Wanted.

The Thames Volunteer Fire Brigade Wanted a bathroom for the stationkeeper’s residence. , The Mayor said a sum of £39 was involved.

Referred to Finance Committee, with power to act. Quarry Tramline. The Nonpareil G.M. Co. complained that the Waiotahi Quarry tramline was interfering with the mine, and generally prejudicing its working, and asked for remedial measures.

The Mayor explained that the mine tunnel was beside the quarry tramline. Tihe was not allowed to dump debris in the creek.

Cr Christie mentioned that the Council had set a bad example in this connection.

The Mayor sadly retorted that two Wrongs did not make a right. Cr Bush favoured a suggestion from Cr Mackay that the company be asked to suggest a way out of the trouble, and a motion to this effect was duly carried. Pillion Riding. Six motor-cyclists asked the Council to consider the advisability of removing the penalty on pillion riding. They said that Thames was the only town over a very large area in which this practice was prohibited. , The Mayor pointed out that other local bodies in the Waikato district prohibited pillion riding. Cr Morley could not see anything wrong with pillion riding, and .moved that it be allowed.

The Mayor said that in view of the work of revising the by-laws, the motion was inopportune. Pillion riding was “the most dangerous practice that could be indulged in anywhere.” He suggested that Cr Morley merely move a recommendation to the by-laws committee to allow pillion riding. Cr Morley found a seconder in Cr Donovan, who also, saw no danger in pillion riding, provided cycles were fitted with the proper attachment. Cr Bongard’s view was that motorists were divided on the point. It was decided to request the By-law Committee to consider the question. Swimming. The Thames Swimming Club was granted permission to .make a charge for an exhibition swim by a coach, to cover the cost of a guarantee, and to hold a carnival on Wednesday. A Banner from Thames. The Town Clerk, Auckland, asked if the Council would care to forward banners displaying welcoming greetings, for the visit of the Duke of York as used on the occasion of the visit of the Prince of Wales in 1920. The Mayor said the Council had a dilapidated banner which had been used and might be used again. A call for a resolution remained unanswered, and no action was taken. COMMITTEES’ REPORTS. Works. The Works Committee reported as follows: —• The committee has authorised the Borough engineer to make satisfactory arrangements for the temporary hire of a tractor and trailer by way of a trial as regards the efficiency of same for Borough works, and to report. The committee will then report to the Council.

The Town Clerk has been authorised to furnish each councillor with a copy of the Borough engineer’s report on the classification of roads and streets in the Borough, so as to enable this matter to be fully considered at the next ordinary meeting on January 24th, The Borough engineer has been authorised to confer with the Borough electrical engineer, with a view to utilising the Borough Ford truck for the electricity department when needed. The committee will report further should any such arrangement be made. After conferring with the Borough engineer, the committee recommends that all quarrying and delivery of stone to the crusher at the Waiotahi quarry be carried out by contract. The Borough engineer has been directed to draw up specifications accordingly. The Borough engineer has been authorised to make application for water rights in respect to creek traversing the Waiotahi quarry site. The Borough engineer submitted plans and specifications covering the sewerage of portion of the Parawai district, bounded dh the north by Grey Street, on the east by ths Kauaeranga Valley Road, as far as the Native Vicarage, and on the south and west by the Kauaeranga River. The committee approved of the proposed work, and authorised tenders to be invited as early as possible. Adopted as read.

Finance. The Finance Committee recommended that with regard to the offer of Messrs A. and G. Price to purchase allotments at the corner of Owen and Abraham Streets, that the Council agree to sell the allotments in question for the sum of £IOO, plus the cost of obtaining necessary legislation to enable the transfer to be made.—Adopted. Accounts amounting to £7428/14/8 were passed for payment.