THAMES MUNICIPALITY

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 90, 23 January 1872, Page 3

THAMES MUNICIPALITY

A mf.f/itnc was, held at the Shellback last evening, to consider the question of the boundaries of the proposed Thames Municipality. There was a numerous attendance.

?dr Sims was called to the chair, and having read the advertisement convening the meeting, said lie was unacquainted with (he object of the meeting, except by what be saw in the papers, and lie would therefore say no more than call upon the convenors to .state their views. Mr .Jackson said the object was to get the inhabitants together to protest against the extension oi: the municipality boundaries beyond the limits of the townships, and explained his reason for moving in the matter, which was because he could see no advantage that the out-districts could gain by being included in the municipality. They would be liable to pay all sorts of rates and taxes, for which they would receive no reciprocal bandit. Mr (iKiev' was called upon to move the first resolution, which was as follows: — “ That the inhabitants of Tararu, Shellback, and Kiiramii strongly protest against being included in the municipal district, we being so isolated as to make it impossible to derive any reciprocal advantages from any rates we may tie called upon to pay. .Mr liroy said there was very strong reasons why this municipality should not he forced on to the residents of the goldfield so as to include the miners resident on the hills. The miner would bo taxed for all sorts of rates —water rates, fire rates, road rates, &c., for which be would get nothing at all in return. Moreover, ho thought this municipality movement had been got no by a few people directly interested in the townships of (frahainstown and Shorthand, and that the opinion of the miners and of the public generally, bad not been fairly elicited. He thought the movement was premature. This year there would be £33,000 to be spent outlie Gold Held by flic Provincial Government; but next year if they had a municipality they would have no such vote, theoretically any town would be benefited by a municipality, but- on this Goldfield the residents on the bills would receive no corresponding advantage'from it. People having properly in the heart oi: Grahamslown would lie benefited, but the residents in the out-districts would get nothing' in exchange for it but extra taxat ion.

Air Frickkii seconded the resolution

The Chairman said Mr Dean was presoul as a representative of the general Alimieipal Committee, ami was jircjiareil to answer a.ny questions that might, lie put to him.

Mr Gi:ey asked how the municipalily projiosed to raise the first year's revenue? Mr Dean: I!y rates; there’s no other way. Air Grey : Estimating tlic population at, 1-2,000 persons, it would take £o per head lo make the revenue equal to the amount proposed to he spent by the Provincial Government on the goldfield this year ? Mr l lran said it was only supposition that they would get the £.00,000, but lie wished to state that the proposed boundaries of the municipality included a much smaller area than was comprised under the present highway districts, under which they were liable to taxation to the extent of ‘is (Id in the pound. Under the Municipal Act they would be only liable to Is in the pound." lie believed batteries would be taxed, but not miners’ resident sites. Under a municipality no dedication of streets was required. The resolution was put and carried unanimous] v.

Air .lunv : then moved the following resolution :—‘-That -Messrs Brown, Sims, and dury be a committee to carry into elfect tli- first resolution, and that they lie desired to co-operate, with other committees having the same object in view.” He (Mr dury)' said be believed half the inhabitants of this goldiield had not had to pay rates. Ho believed if a municipality wore established, at least one-fifth of the revenue would be raised from the heads of families living at Tararu, Shellback and Kiiranui, and lie did not see what advantage they would get, except that they would have a slop-seller in Giabamstowii elevated to be lord mayor, sitting in state in bis municipal chambers. r i hey would have lio voice in tin* cl-etuni, because if the councillors were elected ny wards, the out-districts would be out-voted by the residents in Grahamstown. 'flic only road they were likely to get in the dis (riel, lie: J’araru road, was already made, and bo did not see what possible advantage they could get under a municipality. Air Brown seconded the resolution, saving be would pledge himself, to get manv people to sign a counter petition to the one which bad been carried round, anil which had been signed by many in error. The resolution was put and carried unanimously. Several present said they did not boi lieve that on Hie Goldfield they could i legal I v be compelled to pay taxes to the i Highway Boards, and that as yet these ! Boards had boon afraid to tax them bc- : cause tin y knew the taxes could not be 1 enforced outside the township. A vote uf thanks to the chairman terminated the -proceedings, which were of a quiet and orderly character. .V (•(inference will be. held tins afternoon between the members ol: the out-dis-tricts committees and tiie general Committer*. At tin* close of the meeting a petition was handed round, protesting against .the proposed boundaries of the municipality, to which sixty-live persons appended their names. AVI;v is dough like the sun?—Because , when it rises it is light. How is it that the pronoun I and the interjection O are always represented, by a ! capital, and that when l is added it is the | representation ol no capital at all.’—l G U !

THAMES GOLDFIELD HOSPITAL. Wff.kj.y statq, of sick from 14th to 20th January, 1872 : Remained from last week, 13; admitted, (i ; discharged, 2; died, 0; remaining, 17. The following is the list of diseases: —Fever, 3; fracture, 4; rheumatism, 1 ; ccreberal disease, 2 ; hydrocele, 1 ; injury of spine, 1 ; delirium tremens, 1 ; contusion, 1 ; abscess, 2 ; phthisis, 1. Out patients, 24.