THAMES BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2579, 13 April 1877, Page 2

THAMES BOROUGH COUNCIL.

x The usual fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held at the Council Chambers at 7 o'clock last evening. There were present—Crs Kilgour (in the chair), Ehrenfried, Benshaw, Macnab, Read and Wilson. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were then read over and confirmed, as also were the minutes of the special meeting. COBBESPONDENCE. The Clerk read a Hat of the letters sent since last meeting, and then read a letter from Me»sra J. Whitford, J, Williams, J. Calder and others, applying for leave to mine for gold and other minerals on the foreshore between the Kuranui battery and Holdship's wharf, with a seaward depth of 40 chains. After a short discussion the Clerk was instructed to inform the applicants that the Borough Council had no objection, but they (the applicants) would have to write to the Harbor Board for permission. ,

A letter was read from the clerk of the County Council drawing the attention of the Borough Council.to the motion passed at the meeting of the joint committee of the two Councils, which was moved by Cr Kilgour and seconded by Cr Bagnall. The motion read as follows :—" That the Borough Council be requested to instruct their surveyor to confer with and assist the County Surveyor, in preparing estimates for road and bridge in continuation of Pollen street."

Ci Macnab said that it did not matter if they gave their opinion or not, as the County Council had made up their minds.

Cr-Benshaw said it would be well to avoid anything like conflict. „..'.' After some further conversation—

Cr Ehrenfried moved that the discussion of .the matter stand over till next meeting. '.. .'.... i .A letter was read from the Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington! inclosing a copy of Mr Benshaw's letter asking if the Government would continue its support of the Thames Hospital till the local bodies could do so, and also the answer of the Government stating that the support would be continued.

Spme conversation on the matter ensued, and the matter dropped. A letter was read from Mr Grigg drawing attention to an offensive liquid in the water table in fronfr of his premises, which came from the premises of one of bis neighbors. He requested that steps be taken to abate the nuisance. Beferred to the Works Committee, it being stated that the matter was dealt with in the report of the Foreman of Works. -

A letter was read from Mr B. B. McGregor drawing attention to the bad state of the footpath before St. George's Hall, and applying for assistance to repair it. " It was resolved that if the proprietor of. St. George's Hall contribute one-third of the cost the Borough would contribute the rest. . •

Mr Bead drew attention to the bad state of Mackay street between Willoughby and: Grey streets, and - ; it was resolved to effect the required repairs if the residents complied with the usual conditions.

A letter was read from Mr McGregor applying for a license to use St. George's Hall as a skating rink.. • Beferred to Foreman of Works. WOKKS COMMITTEE BEPOBT.

The report of the Works Committee was then read :—" Your committee have the honor to report that, toraise-the footSth from Cochrane to Pahau street past r Gudgeon's house, would cost-£46, and: recommend that this work be carried out oh the residents paying one •third: of such cost. The cost of raising the iootpath in Pollen street, between Sealey and .Richmond streets, will cost £69. .This will prevent the drainage water of the street escaping through Mr E. W. Hollis' and other low-lying premises as at present. The construction of a wooden water-table would be but very little additional cost. Your committee have examined the Waiotahi road referred to in the letter from the County Council, and do not advise that the present line of road be altered, but that the Council sanction a sum of about £25 being expended by the Foreman of Works in repairs. The committee are also of opinion that the drains on the south side of Sealey street, if deepened, would not in any way assist the drainage of the low-lying parts of Mackay and Baillie streets, as the present bottom of the drain is almost level with the bottom of the culvert in Pollen street. —John Bead."

BEPOBT OF THB FOBEMAN OF TTOBKS. The repoitf of the Foreman of Works was read as follows:—" Thames, April 12, 1877.r-Tbe Mayor and Councillors, Borough of Thames.—Gentlemen,—l hare the honor to make the following report for the fortnight ending 12th April :-*-Karaka Bridge—The contractor for Karaka bridge reports that he will hare completed bis contract, and that the work is ready for my inspection. Waiotahi culvert—The Waiotahi culvert (Macandrew's contract) will be completed in the course of five or six days. I would suggest that the Council take into immediate consideration the necessity of placing a V.bottom from Macandrew's contract through Uurke street culvert to the beach. This I consider important, so that the debris coming down the Waio? tahi culvert may be washed down to the beach. I also consider that it is important that, this work should be done at once, otherwise the debris, will accumulate in Burke street culvert; the removal of such would be an expensive item, as it would have to be wheeled out of the culvert a distance of 212 feet. This work can be undertaken at once at a cost of £— The footpath in Pollen, street from Sealey to [Richmond street, a distance of 690 feet, can be made including wooden water-table at a cost of — shillings per foot. The difference of cost between footpath with water-table and without water-table is so trifling that I would recommend your Council to adopt the former, both for permanency and cleanliness. Cost with table, £—; without, £—. The footpath from Cochrane street to Pahau would cost £— for filling with mullock. The. cost of works on the Waiotahi (recommended by works Committee) I estimate at.£—.—l am, &o. t Thomas Kawdos, Foreman of Works." The various suggestions in the report were approved of, and it was relolved that they be carried out.

FINANCrAI.. Accounts to the amount of £200 were passed for payment.

BHABEBEQKEES' LICENSES. The matter of the sharebrokers' licenses was then brought up. Cr Ehrenfried thought that the sharebrokers should pay licenses as well as auctioneers. One of the sharebrokera themselves, Mr Salmon, had said that the ligitimate sharebrokers were willing to pay for a license if a workable Act was Drought into force. Cr Eenshaw said that he considered that they should not be in too great a hurry. Cr Ehrenfried said that the brokers were coining money, and they should be made to pay as well as auctioneers. Cr Eead thought that it was their duty to enforce the fee. They should also give - the brokers protection. Some further discussion ensued, and— Cr Ehrenfried moved that the Council enforce the license fee on sharebrokers, and that the Council use its influence to. obtain greater protection for the sharebrokers during the coming session of Parliament. The motion was seconded by Cr Wilson and carried. " ' PUMPING ABBOCUTION. : -. The Clerk stated that he had as yet received no replies to the letters sent by the Council on this subject. Cr Head stated that the County Council , met Mr.Weston on Monday, aa'if Bethought it better to postpone the discussion of the motion. He reported that the expenditure was decreasing, and a further decrease was expected this month as the new bob was effecting a saving, The Council adjourned at 8.30. .