THAMES BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2080, 3 September 1875, Page 2

THAMES BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A meeting of the Thames Borough Council was held yesterday evening. Present: His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Anthony, Macnab, Renshaw, Butt, Ehrenfried. The minutes of the last meeting and adjourned meeting were read and confirmed. CBOWN PRINCESS TBAMWAY. An objection was read from John Head to the construction of the proposed tramway. . ■ ■ Ihe Mayor ssid he had since seen Mr Heady and the matter was settled. The plans of the tramway across Pollen street were subsequently approved of, and the rental fixed at 5s a year for ten years. COMBINED HIGHWAY BOARDS CONFEBENCE. A letter was read stating that the Highway Boards would wait on the Council tbafc evening at 8 p.m., to confer with them on matters of importance. WATER-PIPES ALOKG THE GOOES WHARTES. A letter was read from Mr V. Eice on behalf of the Superintendent, giving permission to lay water-pipes along the wharves at Shortland and Grahamstown. RELEASE OF COLLECTOR'S BONSDMAN. A letter was read from Mr A. Dewar asking permission to be released from Bondsman for the Bate Collector, and to substitute Mr Blott in his stead. The permission was given, several members remarking that it was hard on the Rate Collector as the expense of the substitution would cost him £5. The Council authorised Mr Tyler to take the necessary steps.

WANT OH iWATER AT TAEARU.

A letter was read from the dwellers ou ,the Tararu Eoad complaining of the .want of water under which they suffered. Immediate action was resolved on to supply the want under the dxection of the Works Committee. APPLICATION FOR APPOINTMENT. A letter was read from Mr J. B. Mason requesting a certificate of appointment in writing under the Dangerous Goods Acts! Appointment ordered to be madp.'

QUEEN OV THE MAY. A letter was read from the legal manager (Mr Philp) announcing a donation of £15 towards keeping the Waio-Karaka road in order. . complaint. A letter was read from Mr W. H. \ Cassin complaining of stones, &c, being laid against his fence. Stones ordered to be removefl.. An anonymous letter was also read, but no notice taken of it. MOANATAIEI AQOEDUCT t^aA letter was read from Mr McLaren, stating that the .Moapatairi aqueduct repairs had be3n finished, aad he now handed over the aqueduct to the Council. I

SWSPENSIdIT O? STANDING ORD 3EB

On the motion of Mr Macnab the Standing Orders were suspended in order to attend to the deputation from the Highway Boards.

"DEPUTATION Or HIGHWAY BOAEDS,

The deputation, co-jsisting of Messrs Eagnall, Scott, Brodie, aid Miller, was introduced by Mr Brodie, who informed the CouncH tbat Mr Bagaall would state to the Council the pavpose for which t'le deputit/oj bad be^i cents Mr Ea,Tal\ staled fjai fie Highway Boa.c.s did rot tMnk tjey ha.l been fairly tve-ie-1 in the mp'.Le.l cf t'i3 wa'ev supply. No sbare in lie ma?asejient had been given <o tb3m aceordlnj to the conditions 03 whieb the supp y was lajderi over, and as^fed tbe Couus'. whether they intended to c've them a s'»are in the management or not? 2. WHt share they were to have in that maaagemenfc if they had any?

His Worship said it had always been intended to give the Highway Boards a voice in the mater, and asked them what voice they expected to receive. Mr Brodie Staled, that they wished to have three members from the Boards and tbree meJibers of the Borough, with the Mayor as chairman.

The Mayor said the Council were perfectly willing to give the Boards a, voice pro rata., the rate roll of the Toards was in all about £BCO, while the Borough rate roll was £2800; they (the deputation) could not expect for their roll of £800 to have an equa 1 voice with those who paid £2SOO.

Mr Bagnall ard Mr Miller thought there was nothing involving the "pro rata. " principle in the conditions on which the water supply had been handed over. They could not agree with the Mayor, and stated that fail'ng to obtain a satisfactoiy arrangement*.they would lay the matter before the Superintendent. In the course of the* discussion which followed, the Mayor character sed tho late meeting held by the Highway Boards at which the Press weve excluded as "ahole and .corner meet'ng," and said that had he known of ,tl c meeting he would have beea happy to have'attende'd and endeavoured lO exp'aii trafters. Mr Eagoall took excepllcn to the meeting I eld the night previously being stigmatized as a bole and corner meeting, and said tVat "cfc'irg aggrieved at the want of eoartesy with wh'ch ho considered they Tad been treated they had a pc feet right to acl; in the way they had. The Mayor qioied the 4,t!i clause of the couditxns to show that the Borough Council were perfectly justified ia some matters comp'airied of regarding maintaining the woi'ks and keeping the mo lies.

Mr Miller thought that the whole conr •diMons weve-to be looked at and not one clause only. Mr.E'ireifrled then sa;d they certainly inte ided to give the Highway Boards a share in ?lie'mai-er,- but certainly not in proportion of 8 to 4, since whether they regprded tbe numbe? o" inhabitants, or the value of property their proportion should only be ai most 1 to 4. Mv Eovre (who had craved late) said although he tad fought hard for Highway Boards he considered it absurd, considering the circumstances, for them to ccme aud den-and representation to the amount t'aey had done. He was quite sure that the Couicil wojld give them all, if not more, than was fair and proper, but that be felt they couM no!; in duty give representation to the absurd extent requested. Mr Brodie repl'ed saying they had come to ask what representation the Council would give, and they could then consider whether justice had been done them or not-

After considerable further discussion in which all the Council took part, the Mayor said that the best plan would be for the deputation to reduce their proposals to writing, and leave the Council to decide upon it. The deputation then withdrew. - KEEOSENE LICENSES. . The report of the committee was read, and 29 licenses granted to store 50 gallons, and license granted to Mr Kenshaw to store kerosene in bulk at his iron stores. The remainder of the report was expunged on account of the danger of storing kerosene in bulk. IJEPOKT 01? WORKS &0. The report of the Foreman of Works, with estimates for path, &c, in Beach Eoad, was read and adopted. And a horse aud cart, as suggested by the Foreman, ordered to be obtained by the Works Committee.

The reports of the officer for the Local Board of Health and Fire Brigade Committee were also read and adopted. - BATES AND FINANCE. It was announced that £180 had been collected in rates during the past month. The Finance Committee's report was read and accounts to £184 18s passed for payment.

MEETII^S. It was decided to send printed circulars giving notice of meetings to members. The Council then adjourned.