THAMES BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1877, 8 January 1875, Page 2

THAMES BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The regular fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held last evening. ' Present: His Worship the ,Mayor, Crs. Renshaw, Butt, Macnab, and Brown. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. LETTERS SENT. A number of letters distributed by order of the Council were read. LETTERS RECEIVED. From Messrs A. Philip and Johnston-— a letter respectfully solicited the help of the Council in re-forming Mackay street. They were agreeable to give a horse and dray each to assist whoever the Council might put on. Referred to Works Com-,. mittee, to report at next meeting. From the residents, of Eolleston street, requesting the Council to take some step* towards^ constructing effective drainage. Mr W. Robinion .explained the circumstances by which the drainage liad been rendered defective by Mr Saunders' culvert. The matter was referred to the Works Committee. From Mr J". Home; asking for the removal of a urinal on the Beach road in Williamson street—said urinal having become an insufferable nuisance from the want of a proper supply of water. Beferred to Worts Committee. From Mr Comer, asking for a main pipe from the Boundary Creek' to the Moanatairi Battery. The Company would lay down the pipes from the beach, and permit the Council to erect three standpipes. * It was proposed to lay the pipes outside the seawall. His Worship said this might interfere with the foreshore-— some of the beach being still in the hands of the Natives. He suggested that the Sipes should be laid inside the road. Mr bmer had said the work was estimated to cost £100, and it would be well to get some title before entering on such an outlay. The Council decided to accord their -permission^; provided the Company's operations would not interfere (with any steps it might be necessary to take for the stipulation being made that the Company deliver the water for fire-plugs and standpipes within 20 feet of the road, in accordance with the plan submitted. The next thing for the Company is to apply to the Warden. From Mr Cribb (of Parawai) complaining that he had not received the night i soil (for which, he had applied). It appeared that the contract had been sublet. The Clerk said? that night .soil had fee ?n deposited upon the beach and elsewhere, but the Inspector had not been enabled to discover the delinquents. The letter was referred to Mr Mason with instructions to take steps for the discovery of the perpetrators.' .. ' ' ' :'\-:\-- '■'■ ';■■ '■.■■■-.. '■'■'; ■ "'■ ■■■ FIRE BRIGADE COMMITTEE. * The repofct of the fcjommittee appointed to confer with the Fire Brigades was read. '"' A. notification of the resignation of Mr Bull, Superintendent of the Shortland Contingent appeared, and certain accounts were presented for payment. The report was received and adopted. BATES COLLECTED. v -'":. ' Mr Andrew Fleming, Collector of Bates, reported that ne had collected £185 of rates during the month. Of this amount £7 was collected upon old rates. FOREMAN OF WORKS. .

The Foreman of Works reported upon the various works performed and in progress. The report was duly received. His Worship said the only matter requiring consideration was the estimation of the cost to pitch the Moanatairi road, namely, £25. This was a most necessary work. He would advise that it b» at once undertaken. Cr Kenshaw proposed that, the Moanatairi road be pitched. Carried. On the motion of Or Wilson, the remaining portion of the report was adopted. HEALTH OFFICEB. The Health Officer reported that he left instructions with the Bird-in-Hand to mend a defective culvert. He also reported that he had served a number of notices on persons not complying with the rules of the Borough Bye-laws. Respecting the Bird-in-Hand, the clerk said he had seen the legal manager, and the work would be performed.. . The Mayor said the verandah irtr front of Murphy Bros, had been repaired. Cr Brown said Mr Mason ought to be Supported in compelling persons to repair the footpaths, which, were now in many places in a dangerous condition. It was decided to instruct the Inspector to enforce this rule,!and failing compliance the penalty would have to be imposed. : ' ACCOUNTS. ; A number of accounts were read, amounting in all to £162 19s 3sd, and passed for payment.

A claim was was put in by Messrs Taylor and Barclay, contractors for the Tararu Cemetery road, and referred to Mr McLaren, ,who had drawn up the plans and specifications for the work. -.;.': ••■ ■ ( .;/ ■ rvvljijEs. .. ■ A number of certificates from the Borough Engineer for payment of wages were received, and it was agreed to pay them on the proposition of Cr Macnab. '-: ""..,.. /FIRE WELLS —TENDERS. | , Tenders were received for sinking firo wells, the work which* a late contractor failed to complete. %A tender had been accepted by^ the Mayor/, to whom the decision in this'matter had been entrusted. The matter was simply brought forward" for the information of the Council. It was decided to return Mr McCormick his deposit of £3. ;,- . . TABARTJ B^AD; ' The Mayor; said 3M r McLaren had asked him when the Council w©re B°™% to take over tbo" Tararu road. Cr BenshßW said they should not be in a hurry. They could not support such an,addition unless they might look to some other sources of revenue, such as publicans' licenses, etc. Cr" Macnab thought the Superintendent would not wish the Council to take over Tararu road till the end of the financial year. ' Cr Brown remarked that their only course was to tell the Government they could not take over the road, as they were not in a position at present to maintain it. The Mayor said there would have to be be an -entire change in the disposal of the revenue, and referred to the goldfields traffic upon Borough roads. Tneir only hope was in the General Government. Cr Brown said that the goldfield as a goldtield was getting all it was entitled to. What they wanted was ; * better adjustment of the revenue; they wanted more for the Borough ;■ and he thought they might get that by judicious management. Cr Kenshaw asked what about the Water Works. Nobody seemed to know. The Mayor said they had been promised. Some more discussion'ensued, in which councillors expressed themselves in favor of taking some steps towards drawing up some definite proposals before the next I sitting of the Provincial Council. The Council then rose.