MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1802, 1 May 1874, Page 3

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

The weekly meeting of tho Thames Municipal Council was held last evening at the Court-houso, Grahamstown. It was presided over by the Mayor. The whole of the Councillors were present, and there was a large attendance of the public—The minutes of the last meeting were road over and confirmed.

Conference with Provincial Councillors. - The Mayor said ho had to ask pardon from the Council for taking a step which ho had done. They were aware that the members of the Provincial Council wore about to proceed to Auckland to their labours, and he had invited them to come here to meet them, so that they might state their views to them. The present opportunity should not, he thought, bo lost, of telling their members their wants, and hearing' their views on them. They were well aware that th«y would have to ask the Government to urge on the Provincial Council that a certain portiou of the revenue should he set asiie and apportioned to them in lieu of the grant which they had received as road boards. That would require to be properly laid before the Provincial Council, for they had to maintain a heavy goldlields traffic, and would require assistance in doing so. "The second object was in reference to their obtaining the water supply. In regard to the foreshore, the committee appointed that they should see the Superintendent on the subject before ho went to the Assembly. The three members on the Thames were invited to be present. Mr Bagnall was in attendance, and Mr Brown, the second number, was present, but Mr Carpenter did not appear. —Mr Butt said he must object to this interference with the business of the Council. They had no idea what the opinions of the Mayor were, and they were now asked at a moment's warning to make up a proposition of what theylutended to ask their members in the Provincial Council to do. They should have some system in carrying out the business of the Uouncil.-Mr Jlennan thought these remarks were uucalled for, and he was of opiuion that the Mayor was justified iu asking the members of the' Provincial Council to be present, as they were about so soon to proceed to Auckland.—The Mayor said he was sure the members of the Provincial Council would .excusejhim for asking them to be present. Finding that they were to proceed to Auckland to-morrow, he thought there was no time to be lost. He was sure the members would excuse him if he had overstepped the mark. He had done so with a good intention.-Mr Butt said he had no doubt the Mayor's intention was good, but there were subjects introduced, as, for instance, the foreshore, on which they were not at all agreed, and it would be necessary for them first to _ consult and arrive at some distinct plan which they could recommend to the support of tho members of the Provincial Council. He thought this thing premature. He did not say it was not done with a good intention, but if they were to do any good by meeting or by devoting their time to public business, they must carry out their meetings and business in accordance with parliamentary usage, otherwise this sort of thing would grow, and iu six months they would find themselves in a mess.—The Mayor said Councillor Butt was in error about the foreshore. He had stated that with regard to the foreshore it was intended to go to the Superintendent. What they wanted to meet the members of the Provincial Council, for now was merely with regard to a grant iu aid of roads, and about the water supply.—Mr Brown said that lib coincided with the Mayor. _ They (the members of the Provincial Council) were going away to Auckland this week, and they would, he had no doubt, do their best for the community, but he thought the Mayor was quite right in taking the step he had done-Mr Jienshaw asked how much had been the amount of the erant last year given to those road boards now c imprised in the municipality. -Mr Dean replied that £1,000 had been granted to tho Kauwaeranga Board, and a similar amount to tho Waiotahi. The Tararu Board had received close on £500. —Mr Bagnall said that as a member of the Provincial Couucil he would be glad to have any information regarding the wants of the place and thoir requirements from the Borough Council. Ho would be glad at any time to do all in his power to forward their interests to tho best of his ability, so long as they did not conflict with what he deemed his duty to his constituents. In ooming hero, ho was pleased that tho Borough Council had in this manner_ recognised tho members of tho Provincial Council. By putting their united influence to work they would bo able to do more than apart Ho did not know whether there was any use in his reraaiuing longer, but if they forwarded him any memorandum ho would be glad to do all ho could to forward their views iu tho Provincial Council.— Mr Bagnall thon retired.

The .-Secretary read copies of all outgoing correspondence.

Town Clerk and Tbeasu-hkr.—The only application for this office was from Mr F. O. Dean. It was accompanied by testimonials, which were not read.—Dr. Ogour had great pleasure in proposing Mr Dean for the office. He, who took a prominent part in the municipality committoe, was ably assisted by Mr Dean • Ho had groat pleasure in proposing him for tho office.—Mr Konnan seconded the motion, and coincided with the

remarks of Dr Kilgour.—Mr Ehrenfried thought, before putting the motion, it should bo distinctly understood whether the Town Clerk was to devote his timo solely to the business of the Council. Mr Doan had, ho believed, some agencies at present, and he wished the matter understood. He was of opinion that thoy should hayo a town cleric to themselves. —Mr Renshaw thought they should not tie him up in that way. There were several things which a man might do without interfering with his business.— Mr Butt said thoy had beeu dressed down by the Advbbtiser for making the salary £300 per annum, but as a member of the committee ho undorstood they wore to hare a man for that sum wholly, solely, and bodily the factotum of the Council,— Mr Brown said that if .Vlr Dean did not do their work tiicy could discharge hira. He thought they were only wasting time. —Captain Butt proposed that the Town Clerk be required to devote his whole time to the business of the Borough Council.—Mr Ehrenfried secoudod the motion.—Mr JTonnan proposed as an amendment that the Town Clerk be required to devote his whole time so far as the business of tho Council requires it, but that if he timo which ho can make profitable without interfering with his duties he bo allowed to do so.—Mr Anthony seconded tho amendment.—Mr Butt said that in giving a salary of £300 a-year to a man to lill.tho office of Town Clerk, they expected somo brains for it, and it would not bo fair to outside agents to allow him to carry on other business, [f the Town Clerk did his duty, and did it well, ho would have no tin\e for other duties,—Mr Jtennan said that the Town Clerk was liable to be dismissed at any time if he did not perform his duties, but they had no right to prevent his making use of his spare time.—Mr lienshaw also spoke to the same effect, ft was not right that they should tie a man in that way, or to make it a crime against his appointment for him to do anything else. It was unnecessary, assuming that a man wished to perform his duties, to mako this restriction.—Mr Brown also spoke in support of tho amendment.—Mr Butt replied, and insisted that the servants of the Council should bo the servants of no-one else. If thoy puid for a man's brains they should have them —Tho amen.dm.ent was carried by a largo majority, and the original motion was lost.—Dr. Kilgour's motion was then put and carried unanimously. Subvezob. -The next official to be appointed was the surveyor. The first application read was from Messrs W. C, Wright aud Bayldon, the former of whom sent a number of testimonials. Applications were also read from Mr H. Macfarland, Mr T. B. Cameron, and Mr J. Walker, These, with the exception of Mr Macfarland, sent in numerous testimonials.—A good deal of di 'cussion took place as to how those elections should be conducted.—The Mayor then put Mr Wright's name, when no hands were held up. For Mr Macfarland there voted 5 ; for Mr Cameron, 0; for Mr Walker, 4 The Mayor declared Mr Macfarland to be elected.

FoßEiiAif of Works,—There were applications for this office from the following:— Messrs Moase, W, S, McOormick, W. Ralph, E. McMinanien, J. B. liockliffe, T. liawdon, J. Brett, A. Porter, J. J. Holland, R. Barclay, J. H. Flatt, W. Thackeray, 0. Hay, W. J. McKee, G. Smith, J. McCulloch, G. Oribb, r£. T. F. .Richardson, J. Horan. Mr Thomas (fawdon was elected, six having voted for him.

Kate Comectob.—For the office of rate collector there wore the following applicants; -ft. M. Mitchell, T. Taylor, G. H. Lamont, 15. Honiss, E, M. Mc Turk, J. B. Russell, H. H. Wright, E. T. Herbert, E. L. Millott, W. Wood, A. Fleming, G. N. Eobson, J. Jervis, 0. Lloyd, W. Smith, W. H. Crick, A. Kerr, G. Vidal, A. Stanton, W. Page, F. G. Woodward. Mr tfoniss and Mr Fleming each got four votes, and were put again to the Council, when four voted for Mr Honiss and five for Mr Fleming.

OfEIOEE TJNDEB HEALTH Ad.—The next were for the appointment of officer under the Health Act. The following applications were read: -A. Boon, G. Tidal, J. McNaughten, R. Higgins, E. L. Millett, J. Horan, W. Gordon, S. Stephenson, £. M. Mitchell, G. H. Lamont, E. Honiss, Ji. Shepherd, J. B. Mason, JR. Blake, P. Woodward, T. Vowles, It. Peat, WV Knopps. Mr J. J. B. Mason was elected. Valuers.—The next appointments were for valuers. The following applications were received:—!. Cooks, P. A. Pulleine, G. Vidal, J. Craig, S. Stephenson, J. Horan, W. Muir, E. T. Wildman, Gudgeon, A. Hume, J. Thompson. Messrs Gudgeon and Craig were elected. Solicitoes.— Mr fienshaw proposed that Mossrs Macdonald and Miller be elected solicitors to the municipality. —Mr Butt seconded. —Mr Kcnnan . proposed Mr Tyler. — Dr. Eilgour seconded.—Mr Tyler was chosen by five to four. < Mr John Graham applied for the situation of night watchman. A letter was read from the Waiofcahi Board relative to the metalling roads, and asking a conference on the subject for to-night.—lt was agreed to leave the matter in the hands of the Mavor, to confer with the members of the Waiotahi Highway Board, and to report to the Council at the next meeting. Designs foe Seal.—The designs for a seal were referred to a committee, consisting of the Mayor, Dr. Kilgour, Mr Anthony, and Mr Renshaw, to report to the Council at next meeting. Bankers.—A report was read from a comraitteeo stating that arrangements had been made with the Bank of New Zealand for an overdraft. The report was unanimously adopted, on the motion of Mr Kennan, and the Bank of New Zealand was chosen as the bank of the Corporation. „.. Application peom Saw-Mill Company.—A report was read from tho committee appointed to consider tho application of the Shortlaiid Saw-Mill Company to lay down a tramway and cut a channel to the .Kauwaeranga Creek. Tho committee recommended that the application bo granted oil certain conditions.—On the motion of Mr Butt, tho report was adopted, and the Mayor was authorised to grant permission. The UEMETEur.—A report was read from a couvnitto'e appointed in reference to the cemetery. It suggested that a resolution be passed asking the Provincial Council to vote £1,000 to purchase nine acros of land to add to tho cemetery aud improve tho road.—The report as to the cemetery was carried.

Municipal Accommodation. — The report of the committee as to accommodation for the municipality recoinmendo.l that the Crown Hotel bo taken temporarily at £1 per week. The committee suggested that Mr it. Graham be asked to grant a suitable allotment for the purpose.—Mr Brown proposed that tho report as read be adoptod.—The motion, was seconded by Mr Wilson, and carried. —Dr. Silgour proposed that the Mayor,

Mr Benshaw, Mr Kenuau, and Mr Khrenfried, be a committee to wait on Mr Graham. Accounts.—Mr Eenshaw moved, and Dr. Kilgour soconded, that all accounts certified to by highway boards bo at once paid.—Carried. Notices op Motion.—Mr Tlennan gave notice for next meeting that leave be given to the Bright Smile Company to construct a tramway in Bella-street to their battory, aud convey tho water from tho mine to tho battery.—Several other notices of motion woro given. Tho Council adjourned at midnight.