THAMES BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1812, 23 October 1874, Page 2

THAMES BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The adjourned weekly meeting of the the Thames Borough Council was held last night. There were present: Ilia Worship the Mayor; Crs. Itensh&w> Ehrenfried, Anthony^ Brown, Macnab, Wilson and Butt. < MINUTES. The minutes of last mooting having been read and comfirmed, letters sent since last meeting were read; also a number of letters received. THE WATEtt WORKS. The Clerk read the letter from the Superintendent upon the above subject; which we published in our last report of the weekly meeting. Some discussion arose. The Mayor aaid the Superintendent appoared to have taken another view of the matter now, and would not hand the supply over. He would suggest that the Council state that they were willing to take over and keep in repair the existing standpipes. Cr. Ehrenfried considered they should ■not take over the supply unless tha Government handed over the money they had collected during the year. Cr. Macnab said tha Superintendent would never do that. Some more discussion ensued, and eventually the matter was referred to a committee of Messrs Howe, Anthony and the Mayor. SHORTLAND CEMETERY. A letter was received from the Parawai Highway Board, relative to the Shortland Cemetery, and inclosing a letter from the Superintendent, asking that the Parawai Board and the Council come to some understanding with regard to the Cemetery and' the approach thereto. The letter also, enclosed resolutions passed by the Board, and requested the Council to appoint an. early date for a conference with the members. Cr. Eensliaw said, in reference to one of the resolutions as to the title of the Cemetery, that it was already vested in the Council, and that the title was registered, but he would suggest that they meet the request of the Board, and with that view would propose that the Mayor, Cr. Butt and himself be a committee to see the Board. EOTICES OF APPEAL. A letter was received from the Golden Crown Company stating that the company proposed appealing against the rate of the Council at the sitting of the Court for that purpose. The Clerk stated that netices from six other companies had been received. It was decided that Mr. Tyler be appointed to act on behalf of the Council in respect of these cases. KEROSENE STORE. The application of Mr. Renshaw to store kerosene in the store erected by him on the beach at Shortland was granted. ROAD IMPROVEMENTS. An application from the residents of Mary-3treet for improvement to portions of the said street was referred to the Works Committee. CARRIAGE LAMPS. , A letter was received from George Vidal complaining of 'bus owners being compelled to carry lamps in the inside of the carriages, it being very inconvenient. Cr. Anthony said there was a difficulty in fixing lamp 3 inside the carriages. The matter was left with the Mayor. REPORT OF DIPHTHERIA. The following letter, from Mr. E. H. Power was read : — Registrar's Office, Thames, 2nd October, 1874. Gentlemen. —Several cases of diphtheria as causes of death having been reported to roe as occurring in this district, though it may not be my especial duty to report such to you, yet, in the absence of any information from resident medical practitioners, I deemed it advisable to draw your attention to the fact. It is admitted that diphtheria is a highly infectious disease, and may be classed, under clause 17 of Public Health Act, 1872." [This clause provides a penalty on medical practitioners for not giving notice of the occurrence of infectious diseases.] The Mayor said he had, on receipt of the above, become frightened, and made enquiries, but was informed both by Dr. Lethbridge and Dr. Kilgour that they had heard of no such cases.

The Town Clerk read a letter from Dr. Lethbridge stating that ho had not known a case of diphtheria for some "weeks, the last being on the Moanatairi. The Mayor thought it was not right of Mr. Power to write such a letter—being calculated to cause alarm, without having good grounds for it. Or. Ehrenfreid considered f Mr. Power ought to be asked to produce his authority. This was agreed to, and the clerk was ordered to communicate with Mr. Power. EVASION OP BYE-LAWS. A letter was received from the Inspector of Carriages, notifying that certain owners of carts had not complied with the provisions of the bye-law for taking out licenses.

Cr. Anthony proposed that summonses be issued against those who had not taken out licenses.

Cr. Butt thought the Council should obtain legal opinion beforehand, as he believed those carters who lived outside the Borough, could fight the Council on •this point with a fair show of beating them.

Cr. Anthony's motion was voted for by all but Cr. Butt.

It was also decided that summonses be issued against those who do not comply ,with the rules in other respects. ' „ 'pus paiyEßs'petition.

A petition was received from 'bus owners against the rule which compelled the 'buses to start within a given time. It was generally considered advisable to rescind this part of the bye-law. Cr. Macnab said there were many parts of-the Borough bye-laws that might be rescinded with advantage, and therefore if;

would be well to consider the subject at one sitting. Ifc was decided to receive the letter and reply thereto, the consideration of its contents io be left over till next night.

Ci\ Macnab moved, that Crs. Butr, Anthony and the Mayor be a Committee to go over the bye-laws and revise them. This motion was carried, it being understood that in the meantime the Mayor would take steps by which 'bus drivers would not be inconvenienced in respect of the subject of their petition. WORKS COMMITTEE. The report of the Works Committee was read, and contained certain suggestions regarding loraf works. It was decided to instruct the engineer to report upon the cost of making the beach r»ad, desfroyed by late high tides. FINANCE. The wages sheet and a number of accounts were passed for payment. SHORTLAND FIRE-BELL. It was determined to give permission to the Shortland Branch of the Borough Fire Brigade to again ring the bell at the corner of Richmond-street, as the laist trial was unsatisfactory. FIRE RATE ACT CERTIFICATE. It was agreed, on the report of the Fire Inspector to give a certificate to Mr. Gillctt for the Theatre Royal. PROPOSED REDUCTION OF EXPENSES. _ Captain Butt's motion to take into con-: sideration the whole question of Borough expenses, and salaries of the employees was then brought forward.

The Town Clerk produced the list of salaries which he had been instructed to draw up.

Cr. Butt said, in moving in this matter, his feelings went against his principles. He saw by the statement that the Council now had an overdraft at the Bank of £4,000, and, if the Provincial Government did not go smash, they might get £2,500 more ; which would leave them a balance of £1,000. But they had no guarantee that they would get that money; the Provincial Government were living in hopes the same as that Council was. It therefore became them (the Councillors) to see if they could curtail the expenses. In moving for this he must call a spade a spade, as he had a plain hard duty-be-fore him. In the first place, then, he would commence with the Mayor's salary, namely £150: that he would strike out altogether. In the second, he would reduce the Town Clerk's salary from £300 to £200. By this he obtained a saving of £250. Ho found that the collector was in receipt of £125 and the Health officer £75. He would amalgamate these offices, and taking £25 off the latter's salary, and adding it to the former, would save the balance, and this, with the £250 already reduced would effect a saving of £300. Cr. Butt then referred to tho engineer's receipts. He discovered that the engineer had been paid £35 for measuring road metal. They had been only six months in harness and he supposed they would repeat that outlay during the next 6 months, so that he might put that down at £70. If these several items were added together they would find that the saving would pay more than 8 per cent, interest on the overdraft. With regard to the first item, as he had already said, his feelings went against his principles, but they had only hard facts to deal with. The Mayor and Clerk received £450. They were in a worse position than when under the Government of highway boards, and had increased the expenditure instead of reducing it. Cr. Butt said much more respecting the necessity for reduction in the face of the position, financially, in which the Borough stood; and concluded by bringing his motion forward.

Cr. Macnab seconded the motion, and said that he had telegraphed to the Town Clerk of Hokitika, asking to send particulars of his salary and the general Borough expenses. His salary was £250 a year, and he had the, asiistanca of a messenger, who was also employed as hall-keeper. He had to get in the rates, but did not collect them. They (the Council) employed a wharfinger at a salary £225 per year, but the revenue derived from the wharves was about £2000. Tho clerk had also enclosed a balance-sheet for the last year and a half! He had to get in revenue, keep the books; call committee meetings, draw up reports, and make copies of specifications from the rough drafts of a practical man. Cr. Macnab referred to all these duties which this clerk performed; and said as regarded the £225 for the wharfinger that he looked upon that sum as nothing, as there was such a large revenue derived from that source. Cr. Macnab then reviewed the salaries paid to our own Borough ofilcials and warmly advocated a reduction in the expenses, though at the same time he would wish it to be understood that he entertained the highest opinion of those employed -by the Council, and thought it would be impossible to get better men; But he looked upon the action which he was taking as a duty to the ratepayers who had elected him.

After some unimportant discussion, th« Mayor said with regard to Captain Butt's idea of amalgamating certain offices,, that it was impossible one man could discharge the duties. As to the Engineer's salary; a percentaga on works at the rate of 5 per cent.j no one could suppose that thb same amount of work—^to the extentof £3000 —would be performed during the next six months. He would maintain and was prepared to prove that paying the Engineer 5 per cent, was the cheapest way they could.'"work it. Thus all that could be saved was the Mayor's salary; and a reduction in the Town Clerk's.

Cr. Brown moved that Crs. Elirehfried, Butt and the Mayor be g. committee to enquire into the matter and bring up $ report a£ next meeting. He (Cr. Brown) thought that the motion pame from Cr. Butt with bad taste, inasmjiph as he ha 4 been one of those who had voted strongly for the Clerk's salary of £300, saying tfiat

the salary ivas quite small enough for a Rood map. But nevertheless ho (Cr. .Brown) considered a reduction might be made : he would take £50 (but no more) from the Clerk's salary, for one. As to the Mayor s salary, he thought mention of that might bavo been well left alone since another Mayor would be elected in another month.

Cr. Ehrenfreid rose to second Cr .Brown s amendment. H" e said ho liked consistency, which did not appear in Cr Butt, who had said that. £300 was little enough for the clerk, when be (Cr. Ehrenfreid) had opposed-it. If e objected to people who blew hot and cold. r Cr. Butt replied,' and said the Cotincil wouldlicar him ouf-iii that ho had stipulated that they should haye the clerk wholly and solely for the work of the Council—he wanted a clerk in whom they would find a man equal to a lawyer. As it was. Mr. Dean had been permitted to retain office and transact business outside his duties as clerk, and he had shown, by reason of his being''able ■■ to fulfil these, that his time as clerk was not, fully occulted. J .

Mr. Benshaw spoke briefly i,r support ot the amendment, which was made the original motion, as it met Cr. Butt's riews ami was carried unanimously. ' The Council then rose. .'W-