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Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1830, 13 November 1874, Page 2

The essentials of a watering-place may be literally summed up thus :—Sea, salt, sun, sand, shrimps, shells, steamers, ships, and sailors. .

It is said that, when a Chicago girl Quarrels -with her lover, she informs her friends that " she isn't on squeezing terms with that fraud any more." " Old age is coming upon me rapidly," as the urchin said when he was stealing apples from an old man's garden, and saw the owner coming, stick in hand. A French paper points out how the passion, for gambling is shown in this country, it being necessary even in wedding notices to state that there were •' no cards."

Cowper's celebrated line, " England, with all thy faults, I love the still," was thus parodied by a, whisky-loving Irishman : " Ireland, with all tfey faults, Hove thy still."

TH A MES BOEOUGH COUNCIL. The fortnightly meeting of the above Council was held last night. There were present: XI is Worship the Mayor, Councillors JEhrenfried, Brown, Butt, Macnab, llenshaw, Anthony and Wilson. The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed. COBEESPONDENCE. After copies of tho usual letters sent by order of the Council had been read, the following communications received were read: —

One from Mr. E. H. Power, Registrar of Births and Deaths, gave the names of those whose deaths he had reported as having been caused by diphtheria. One from the Central Board of Health, Auckland, acknowledged receipt or a roport on cases of diphtheria from Mr. Power, and advised all precautions to be taken for the prevention of disease. The Mayor thought the Council should ascertain the medical testimony upon which the cause of death had been registered, as, if there was any likelihood of such disease spreading it would be the duty of the Council to appoint a health officer. Cr. Brown suggested that the Town Clerk should be instructed to visit the Eegistrar's office to obtain all information and report at next meeting. This suggestion was accepted. One from Mr. Gillies drew attention to the fact that he had been called upon to pay the rate for his property twice—once to Mr. Fleming, and ones to Mr. Crick under the Kauaeranga Board; and asked that the amount £2 5s be refunded. It was decided that the Town Clerk should make enquiries, and if the statement was found to be correct, the money to be returned.

One from Wm. Bird asked assistance of the Council, having been rendered incapable of earning his living by an accident whilst engaged, in the services of the Council. The Mayor said he had seen the man, who had received an injury to his right hand, which he (the Mayor) considered would for ever prevent him from working with. it. The man wished for some employment that he could perform with his left hand as he had a wife and four children to support. Councillors generally considered the case a very hard one. Cr. Brown said it would be better to leave it till next weeky and in the meantime he, would give 10s towards his support. It was decided to leave the matter over to give the Council time to look round. Councillors then made a subscription between themselves of 10s each ; the Mayor subscribed £1, and the officers of the Borough also subscribed, making the amount collected £5 12s.

WAIOTAHI CBEEK. In reference to the application of the Council made to the Caledonian G-.M.Co. for permission to take a culvert through the company's ground for the purpose of diverting the water of the Creek, a letter was received from, the manager stating that the directors could not see their way j to permitting the Council to take the culvert through the ground unless they (the company) maintained the right to the ground; but that if the Council would take the culvert outside the company's ground it would contribute towards the cost.

. Cr. Brown proposed that the Town Clerk obtain information as to how much the company would be prepared to contribute if the channel were carried outside the boundary.

BOAD*MPBOVBMENTS. | |From residents between Amy-street and the Karaka Creek on the beach a letter •was received drawing attention .to the dilapidated state of the footh-path in the aforementioned locality, It was decided to hold orer its consideration until the Engineer's report had been read. TRANSFER OF BATE. A letter was received from Dr. Xilgour asking for the transfer of the rate for his house in Eyre-street from him to Capt. Lipsey, who bad been in possession of the house as a tenant at the time the rate was struck.

The Mayor: Dr. Kilgour did not appear to know that a man was only responsible for the time he had been in occupation, and as Capt. Lipsey had not occupation of the house at the time the rate was collected, Dr. Kilgour was responsible. The Clerk was instructed to explain the Act to Dr. Kilgour. BEACH KOAD. The Engineer reported that the cost of constructing that portion of the Beach road destroyed by the.late gale would be £1 5s per lineal yard. The Mayor 3aid the Shortland side was in many places as bad as Grahamstown, the tide encroaching upon.persons' property, and destroying their gardens. Gr. lienshaw did not see why the rates should be expended in making people's property good. Tke fact was they had built too close to the water.

Cr. Anthony proposed that the petitioners should be communicated with asking how much they would contribute. The Mayor suggested that the Engineer should be instructed to report upon the cost of the whole work, anri that the Council should ask the Provincial Government to contribute something towards the cost, as the Council had been prevented from obtaining the foreshore. The funds should come out of foreshore revenue.

Cr. Brown said this was only shelving the matter. They should ignore the right of the Superintendent to the foreshore altogether. They knew very well that if the Council made any applicatian in respect of it, they would get snubbed. He approved of Cr. Anthony's motion—it was practical. Cr. Anthony's motion was carried. INSPICTOB OF NUISANCES.

The report of Mr. Mason was read. He reported amongst other things that he

had made a test of Messrs Murphy Bros.' kerosene, and that it had not stood the test. Some discussion ensued.

Cr. Kenshaw said, as the kerosene was the property of the creditors of that firm, it was a pity to put on the creditors any \ additional burden. This was agreed in. FOHEIIAN OF WOb£s. The report of the above officer was read and received. The repo-1 acquainted the Council with the fact that through the kindness of Cr. Khrenfricd he had been enabled to keep two horses at work.

BATES COLLECTED. The Collector of Eates reported that he had collected £191 3s. 6d. for the fortnight. BEDXTCTION OF BOBOUGH EXPOSES.

Tlie report of the Committee re the above was read, as follows:-—" Your committee have the honour to report that on one of the questions referred to them for consideration they are not agreed, viz., If or not the Mayor of the Thames should receive an allowance; and if so, to what amount per annum ? The Mayor and Councillor Butt being of opinion the* the office should be purely an honoraryl one, Councillor Ehrenfried differing from this opinion, because in a community like tho Thames the Mayor is obliged to devote a large portion of his time to the duties attached to the mayoralty, and in addition to which is called upo* and obliged to respond to every charity, and that to a very much larger amount than would be expected from him as a private citizen; also, the Mayor is often requested to call by advertisement public meetings on matters of moment to the inhabitants of the Thames at large ; 4ho which advertisements, as well, as the hire of th» theatre in which the meeting is held, has to be paid by himself. The Mayor, as representative to the burgesses, is also expected, when called upon to do so on any matterjconnected>ith the well-being of the district, to proceed to Auckland. These journeys are always expensive, besides being detrimental to his own business. The above and other similar reasons induce Councillor Ehrenfried to still maintain iiis opinion that the Mayor of Thames should be a paid officer. With regard to the of officers employed by the Council and the salaries paid them, your Committee cannot advise that any amalgamation of offices be made, being convinced that due efficiency could not be maintained if this were done, neither do your Committee see that the salary paid to any officer can be reduced, except that of Town Clerk, the which your Committee propose, after the expiration of the first year, to reduce from £300 to £200. Should the Council decide on making the Mayor's an honorary office, end on reducing the pay of the Town Clerk to £200, the expenses of the Council for management would be reduced by the sum of £250 per annum.—W. Davies. Mayor. Nov. 12; 1874."

The report was received on the motion of Cr. Butt.

The Mayor said whatever decision was come to at this meeting another would >have to be arrived at in future to rescind the former resolution with respect to the salaries. The first question was the Mayor's salary. Cr. Butt proposed that after the expiration of this financial year the Mayor's office should be an honorary one. Cr. Macnab seconded, and in doing so reviewed the Borough income and expenditure. With regard to the Bank overdraft, he said there had been an increase in the fortnight of £278. From motive* of economy he seconded the motion.

Cr. Brown moved an amendment that the office should not be honorary. The duties were onerous, and the class of men that would hold the office would not be such as could afford to occupy the position without some remuneration.^He would support payment of the Mayor that they might pick men, whether rich or poor, best suited for the position. Cr. Eenshaw would second the amendment on the same grounds as set forth by Cr. Brown, the mover. Any payment mad* should be looked upon as a recompense for anything that such an officer would be out of pocket. As to what Cr. Macnab had said, he considered it was bad policy to commence cheeseparing—they should turn their attention to other sources of revenue.

Cr. Ehrenfried rose to support the amendment and said the whole cry for reduction of expenses was to save £250, and to do that they had to abolish the principle of paying-the Mayor, which course he (Cr. Ehrenfried) considered all nonsense. He considered a greater piece of injustice could not be done. As to the figures of Cr. Macnab he considered they were utterly absurd. They should turn their attention to other sources of revenue instead of nag-nagging about the Mayor's salary. The Provincial Government were liable to that Council for £2250, but nothing had been done towards getting that. .

Cr. Butt said he would like to have heard some better argument in favor of the amendment. He had heard a lot about turning their attention to other sources of revenue, and was astonished to hear that the Provincial Government had voted £2250 to the Council. (It was explained to Cr. Butt, that Cr. Ehrenfried meant it to extend over 18 months.) He would work with them in endeavoring to obtain other sources of revenue, but did not consider it advisable in the interests of the people to be always pestering the Provincial Government; It was bad policy. The May»r said he wished to explain one or two statements made in error. One was the remark «f Cr. Macnab as to the accumulated overdraft. It was well known that the interest would not have been so heavy had the Council obtained the money granted by the Provincial Government. It was not their policy (as Captain Butt remarked) to say anything unpleasant

about the Provincial Government, bul they could not close their eyes to the fnet that if the Government had handed over even a portion of the money voted, that Council would not now have "had so much to pay. As to tho cry about retrenchment, lie maintained that those who agitated in that direction were no friends to the Borough. It was not so much their interest t» bo constantly malting,efforts, for retrenchment as to get that revenue which was available. Jt was absolutely necessary that they should look to this, as if they had nothing to depend on but taxes, they had better lay down their tools at oacc. They must have endowments to borrow money on, in the same way as Auckland. They should never •ease their exertions until they obtained the foreshore—whole or iv. part: they should never cease until they had the upper country opened for settlement. This was their object, and not to trouble about taxes. '' ' /.?:-■* -

Cr. Butt said it might appear from what had fallen from the Mayor that he had offered an obstruction to obtaining the foreshore, whereas he had been oneofthe first t4|aiove for it, and had his motion been backed up they would now have had the foreshore..

The amendment that the Mayor be paid was then put. Crs. Wilson, Renshaw, Anthony, and Ehrenfricd, voted for it; Mayor, Cr. Butt, Macnab against. The next matter vas the reduction of the Town Clerk's salary (us the report proposed) to £200 at the end of the time from which he was appointed. Cr. Butt moved that that part of the report be adopted. Seconded by Cr. Macnab. j Gr. Anthony moved an amendment that { the salary be £250. Cr. Benshaw seconded the amendment. He thought that to accept the reduction of £100 now, when they had seen the nature of his work, would be like passing j a direct vote of censure on the Town Clerk. Cr. Brown supported the amendment. He said they had a first-class place, and it was right they should have first-class servants. As to the cry about rates, he considered the Borough had been done an injustice by those in power. .Nine tenths of the goldfields traffic occurred within the Borough and he maintained that the Borough should receive that proportion of the goldfields revenue. Cr. Brown then alluded to the increased prospects of the place, by way of showing that they would require an efficient man to conduct the business pertaining to the office of Town Clerk. ' Cr. Ehrenfried then spoke in favour of the amendment and said the office was such as required good security from the person who occupied it. Amendment carried. FINANCE. The report of the Finance Committee was read. The accounts amounted to £194 Is 4|d, and the report was adopted. Certificates from the Borough Engineer of accounts due to certain contractors werei then read. The penalty for- overtime in the case of, Mr. Davies was remitted.

soutbb's teamway. ! Mr. Souter objected to paying rates on the Tararu Tramway, as by agreement with the Waiotahi Board, he had already to pay £20 per annum, which he considered included rates. This subject was postponed from last meeting. Cr. Butt said the tramway should be rated as well as other property on the Tararu-Road. . , , , Cr. Brown said it might be exempted for one reason—that the tramway saved the Borough rate with every ton of stuff, that went along tho line. They had already stopped the engine because it would not pay, and the last straw might break the camel's back. Cr. Butt said it was purely a commercial speculation of the tramway company—when the tramway paid the engine was run,.and when it did not pay it was knocked off. '„',. , . Cr. Ehrenfried considered it was advisable to offer every encouragement to tramways. \ Cr. Anthony said it was very natural that Mr Souter should have considered the £20 included rates. Cr. Ehrenfried moved that the tramway be exempted, and that the station buildings only be rated as other property. Carried.