THAMES BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2140, 12 November 1875, Page 2

THAMES BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the Thames Borough Council was held yesterday evening, in the Council Chambers. Present: —His Worship,the Mayor, CjjM Gibbons, Butt, Macnab, and Benshaifr, and later on Crs. Howe and Ehrenfried. ; ■

MINUTKa. The minutes of the last meeting trer* read and confirmed.

The Mayor drew the attention of the Council to the fact that the new Act compelled the minutes to be signed at the meeting at which the business was transacted. It was decided to let the matter stand over until the next meeting, as the writing of minutes at ihe meeting itself was very inconvenient.

MECHANICS* ISSTIVtZ.

A letter was read from Mr. F. ,W. Paul, the Secretary of the"''l3&iae» Mechanics' Institute, requesting the honor of the patronage of the Mayor and Council at a benefit to be given on their behalf on Monday evening, November 15th, by the Thames Cricketers' Dramatic Club. - The Town Clerk was instructed to write and state that the Council regretted that as there were other matters arranged for the same evening, prior engagement! would prevent their attendance, and to express their sympathy with the object. ..BKMUNEBATION OF VALUES. ■*'Jfc letter was read- from^ Mr ?B£j&f. Clark requesting the Council to re-con-sider ' the question, of' remuneration-, for his services as valuer. ' * •' 1/ The Mayor thought, considering all things, especially the way the work had been done, that the valuer was entitled to some consideration at their hands, Crs Howe and Gibbons" thought it unjust to others that Mr Clarke having taken the work for a certain sum should be allowed more, and thought that he, having agreed to take the work at that sum, must abide by the same. Cr Macnab said he agreed with the principles of the last two speakers, but still he thought the sum allowed had beet) so small that it ought to be increased, as the work had certainly been 'wry, considerable.

Cr liowe thought that as they wera custodians of the public money, they had no right to allow an increase. 'I he Mayor explained ffc** it; differed considerably from* other tenaag- > Z. Councillor Butt also* thoiqjftitj.bad principle to grant the application^ Application apcordiogly refused. WAIO-KABAKA' FtVME.

A letter was read from Mr W.s H. Potts, on behalf of the shareholders of the Queen of Beauty, drawing attention, ip the dangerous state of the flume iaNJJfc? Waio-Karaka Greek, which, when it QTerflowed, as was lately the case, endangered the lives of the .wpjrkraen below.

Referred to the Works Committee, with power to act.

APPLICATION FOB WATEB SUPPLY.

A letter was read on behalf ?of Ah* Foo requesting to know on what terms: the water could be laid on to his premises. Referred to the Water Committee. BATES OF MINING COMPANIES,,

Letters were read from the Herald, Moanatairi and Waiotahi goldmining companies stating they did not intend proceeding with the appeals, of which notices had been given. The Mayor explained that these notices were only withdrawn to allow Qthprs to be served. APPLICATION FOE WATEB. An application for water to be laid on to four houses, two in Walter street and two on the Beach, was read from Or W. Rowe. Referred to the Water Committee. HEALTH OFFICER'S BEPOBT. The Health Officer's report, which informed the Council that seven deaths had occurred in the borough during the past month, and also that several notices given by him to mend footpaths had been complied with, wash r<ia4. and adopted. EEPQBT OF THI FOBBMAN OF WOBKI. The report of the Foreman of Work* was read; the principal features in it were that a large culvert had been made at the Kurauui Creek at a cost ofiS3B Os 6d, aud

the approach to the beach from Mary street at a cost of. over £20. It also drew attention to the Waiotahi culvert "crossing Golden-Crown street, which had been blocked up by debrisj, and recommended three nsw culverts in Tararu Boad and repairs to the crossing ■•at Tararu Creek. The Mayor saiid the new culverts were much needed, the pre«ent ones were very bad being, in tome instances^ merely old gin cases, and totally inefficient f<sr the purposes required. One new culvert ought at least to be made. The Foreman of Works informed the Council that the cost of the three would be £35, the cost of: carrying; away earth washed down by the late floods had been £7.

€?rfßof 1®I:hofigKt theyought not to ineiflil^ thlft'bbli^ations at present; The Mayor said that owing to the wSfit of theie culverts mucli damage had been done, and a garden in one instance had been washed away. It was most necessary that they should be made. Cr Renshaw proposed that two "of the three culverts be made for the present. This was agreed to, and the crossing at Tararu &•& referred to the Works Committed with power to act. . , Bi,TB COLLECTOR'S BE?O£T. The "Rate Collector reported that he had collected *at«—mm^unting in all r to £14210b, Via., £112 10s .borough rates, and £30 water rates. The report was received and adopted.

'. ;:l I ";bebpb|j6|. finance "committee. , :>■.. The; report of the. Finance Committee was read, -the items submitted amounting tff£39B^Ss!6d;r "^ — *■•' ■:-■■'- : ° ...:-

C3r3Bfltt'tdok exception to an item of £6S due to Mr Macfarland !lfor laying out Tarsru Cemetery. This item.gave rise-io a;%o%s!deMWe^dil;cusMOflr;as^tne -Council were^f the state Ntf^thsir fiindsSid not 5 warranttbe expendittire.r' ? ;*"Or !lKo"#e' 'msbeS td Know /by jwhpse authority' .tne eemetfery'^was _ laid t ont; as. lie dwt not app^rpye'-bf gc^tMig, thie credit, .oj^Jjaying piit ; their : cemebrjfand the Councifpajing-fpr it. The Town Clerk informed Mr Eowe that^Btr^qtipns shad $e?u. to JCr Mtcfariand 16 lay out the iJemeteryJ ::;?; ■ CrKowe thought that the term "I*7" ing? out c iwts jeryi iiuiefipitS,'jand^iwisKed to see the minute authorising-the woric.-: Or Ehrenfried said that no doubt the w^lciiadl'be^ lfa*uthbria(Jd^.Cor^itl not ha^e^been: been^Udrie; lie tfiough't that i all that .was necessary was to say whether the charge was a fair one or not; for his own part he thoughfit was.' : . CrJMacnib: thought it would be better to pp«tpone the matter for a fortnight. ; v The Mayor said that ..the matter, had already been standing for a very longtime. .■;. ..■■.-, ■■ ■ ■ . ■ ■ •■.•■;■

Gt EoWe, after some further discussion, proposed that the matter be left to Crs Gibbons,; Macnab and himself to trace the matter step by step. • This was agreed to, and another item of i£3Gifor Shortland cemetery also referred to the same three gentlemen. ■ Gr Gibbons'drew to the fact that charges were made for surveying chimney s, &c, of the. erection of which notices had been given, but ,the' erection haid iibt been completed.' This put tie Council to airexpense sometimes amountiag'to twol'guineas, which he thought ihose who gave the notice* ought to pay. The Mayor said it was the intention of the; CounGil'to make these persons pay; The report, with the exception of the items . for the cemeteries, was then adopted.

■-y- •■■'•''■■""APPEA.IS AGAINS* BATEB. /■-';• The appeal of Mr J. B, Steedmah on behalf of the Tararu- battery o company, which had been adjourned from last meeting was then heard. The amount at which the company had been rated was £440. Mr Steedman explained that the battery was very seldom employed and the road never used, and that other batteries which were more employed were only fated at about one third the sum. After a good deal of discussion Cr Rowe maved tfcit the fates stand as they are. Cr Butt seconded^ „.,,

Cr^^Ehr^nfried;moved; as an- amendment that the fates be altered to £3^o. There being \ rnp. seconder, Mp BoweV motionf'shat the rates remain as they are," was carried, v r • v * '

Messrs Levy and Barnett rates, £65 and £30. Mr Hyams explained that the reason he appealed was that Mr Blott's premises which were much better were only valued at £40. =-ub Epwe said that the question was notone of comparison, but whether the premises were worth the sum charged; he certaiftly thought they'iwere. Cp-Ehrenfried differed on this point. : iOr = Bjatt i moved .that it-be, reduced to £40. '" T '"'"'■".

Cr Ehrenfried seconded the motion which was carried r

CES£E'J>£BT BOAD. -This busines^ occupied a long time in discussinjf-v^/ Tfce:s!pqWt said that it had. been proposed to mortgage Wilson's paddocks with a view of raising sufficient money to make a upad ; but he was confident that the amoxint they would be able to raise wou.ld he quite, insufficient tq m.«ke the 'road required; he spoke With*nfil due deference to opinions of qualified' men, but he felt sure that the road could not be . made for the estimated cost. He thought it would be* much better to spend the money in getting a more suitable piece of land, or to use Wilson's paddocks. Even when the road was made it would only lead to a cemetery already more than half ■filled.

Mjp Butt said that though as chairman of the Cemetery Committee he had signed the report yet he entirely agreed with all the Mayor had said. ; ' -. . Mr Ehrenfried moved, that the .matter be referred back to the committee, to look out for a more suitable piece of ground. 3^r Eenshaw thought it very unfair to appoint a pominittee to get work done and then throw it back on their hands to do over again, he moved an as amendment that the footpath in the cemetery.be in the meatime made. Cr Eowe objected to the footpath being made.

After a long discussion Mr Ehrenfried's motion was carried with the following addition :—" That the footpath in the old Cemetery be made subject to the Council and Highway Boards contributing £G b,esjdes fees ijn hand,>

COUNCIL CHAMBERS. The Town Clerk was instructed to adtertisef the.removal of the Council Chambers to th» now premises, TABABU CEEEK. It was resolved to proceed with the track at the opposite side of Tararu Creek at a cost of £15.