Thames Borough Council.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2822, 1 March 1878, Page 2

Thames Borough Council.

The usual monthly meeting of the Borough Council was held at the Council Chambers at 7 o'clock yesterday evening. There were present—His Worship the Mayor, Crs Howe, Kenshaw, Price, Bead, McGowan, Gibbons and Ehrenfried. MIHUTBS. The minutes of the previous meeting were read over and confirmed. OUTGOING COBBBSPOIfDJHTCB. A list of the letters sent since last meeting was read over. TXBABU BBIDOBS. A letter was read from • number of ratepayers at Tararu asking that the first tramway bridge be repaired, as it was in a very dangerous condition, as also was the bridge leading to the cemetery. Cr Ehrenfried moved that the matter be left to the Works Commitee with power to act. Carried. AN APPLICATJOW. A letter was read from Mr E.H. Power, registrar, askiug the Council to supply him with a map of the Borough showing especially its southern and eastern boundaries, as mistakes were often made as to the district in which a birth took place. The Town Clerk was instructed to inform Mr Power that the Borough have not themselves got a map, and to give him the Borough boundaries from the Gazette. BICDOWMINTS, BTC. A number of letters were read from the Colonial Secretary's office in reply to several sent by the Counciljon the following subjects :'-~Reereation Ground, Hospital Endowments, and Borough Endowments. The letters stated that all these matters had been referred to the Secretary of Crown Lands. One of the letters stated that the question of subsidising the Borough Gold Duty as rates was now being considered. Cr Khrenfried: The same old story. He considered these letters very unsatisfactory. Cr Kenthaw : You must mind that this is a new Government. Their letters were answered promptly, and no refusal had been received.

In answer to Cr Gibbons, the Mayor said that most of the matters mentioned in these letters had been brought under the notice of the Government before. Cr Bowe said that the Government could not give an acre of land to the Council for endowments to the Hospital. They (the Council) must keep the matter before the notice of the Government, and it would come in the right way. It was no use asking the Government to do it on their own responsibility. He referred to the exceptional case of the Thames in the matter of endowments, and said that instead of 2000 acres they should have 50,000 acres. They should not be placed on the same footing with Auckland and other old and rich municipalities. Auckland in a few years would be one of the richest municipalities in the "world. Cr Benshaw said that they could write again if nothing came of those letters. Cr Bead : Why don't they write what Cr Howe's says—that they haven't got the power.

Or Ecwe said fuat no Government must commit themselves. If the Councillors were in the Government they would do the same filing. The lriiera were then received. MR TYLEkV OPINION. A letter was real from Mr E. K. Tyler enclosing his-opinion re the Borough's claim to the Grahamstown and Tararu tramway, fhe opinion, which was rather lengthy, was to the effect that the Bank of New Zealand had no right to more the tramway, as it reverted to the Governor in 1881. The Borough had no claim to the tramway that could be enforced, but •uch a claim. as the Government if appealed to could scarcely resist. It was resolved that the letter lay on the table. WATBB TABLKfI. A letter was read from Mr" D. Barly applying for an asphalt water table from his hotel to Kenshaw's corner. The letter stated that the smell was unbearable. Cr Ebrenfried mored that the Works Committee be instructed to estimate the cost with power to act, also to arrange conditions with Mr Barly. Carried. THB GOYXRKXBHT ASBATBB. Standing orders were then suspended in order to receive a deputation to, the Council. Mr Philp then introduced a deputation consisting of Messrs Comes, Petrce, Turner, Gillan, Goodwin and Kelly, and presented to the Council a memorial signed by 400 residents of the district, asking the Council to assist them in getting a mining assayer appointed.'. < Mr Thos. Giilan said that there was considerable dissatisfaction felt amongst miners at the combination of the banks. Before the combination took place they, had obtained as much as 6s per ounce for their gold more than was now obtained. They might get the full value for their gold, but it would be much more satisfactory to them to have a Government Assayer. Cr Ehrenfried mored that the petition be received, and. that the Council take action in the matter. Cr Aowe said that the petition Isked that an assayer be appointed, but they must look about themselves first. If an assayer was appointed the office would have to be self-supporting. The Government would not support it. He thoroughly approved of the movement, and thought that the combination in the banks a most iniquitous thing. The establishment; of a School of Mines here would be one remedy, but assays even then mutt be paid for. Cr Ehrenfried thought that they did not need to look at that matter just now. All the deputation asked was the appoint* ment of an independent assayer. ; Mr Comes said that thej had to pay for their assay now, and. got no satisfaction, and they were quite prepared to. pay for the Government assay. He then thanked the Council on behalf of the deputation, which then withdrew. Cr McGowan considered the appoint" ment of an assayer was of the greatest importance. Private buyers would pur* chase the gold. After further discussion Cr Ehrenfried amended his resolution to a notice of motion, which he would move at the next meeting. APPLICATION FOB IITCBBASB OF SALABT. . A letter was read from Mr James Wright, Engine-keeper, asking for an in* crease of salary. Beferred to Fire Brigade Committee.

Division or BomotiGH ikto wards. A letter was read for Mr William Carpenter, Chairman of the Farawai Dial trict Board, asking if it was contemplated to di?ide the Borough into wards, and if in the erent of the Farawai District joining the Borough, would thej be formed into a separate ward. The writer asked for an earlj reply, at it was shortly intended to hold a meeting of the Farawai Bate: payers on the matter. Cr Ehrenfried said that he considered it very desirable that the Farawai District j should be merged into the Borough; and if that was done he considered it would be desirable to force the Borough to be dirided into wards. He moved that the Town Clerk be instructed to reply, that if Parawai merges into the Borough, the Council will endearor to have the Borough divided into wards, and Farawai be made i a separate ward. Cr Bowe said that that would be upsetting the fair prinoiple of representation altogether. Cr Ehrenfried said that he considered that naturally Parawai should belong to the Borough. Cr Price seconded the motion. Cr Bowe: W v by should they (Parawai) be allowed to wear three heads while we wear one ? Are they better than us ? Cr McGowan said that he looked at the matter in a different view from Cr Bowe, or even than Cr Ehrenfried. The Council were there to look after the interests of the ratepayers, and he considered that it would be in the interest of the ratepayers that the Farawai district should be merged into-the Borough. The majority were in favor of the Borough being divided into wards. By the merging, both the ratepayers of the Borough and Parawai would benefit. He would support the motion. - , : Cr Bead said that apart from the rales they would derive from Farawai, he thought it would be very desirable that the Parawai district should join the Borough. , . . i j Cr Bowe: Let us not use illegitimate means of getting up an excitement about ! the matter by getting up a petition in the Council Chambers. If the majority of the ratepayers are in favor of the Borough being divided into wards it will be done. Cr Ehrenfried laid that Cr Bowe had no right to make such h statement. At present they were considering what answer should be given to Mr Carpenter. Cr Gibbons : I think Cr Bowe takes a very sensible view of— Cr Ehrenfried : Really Cr Gibbons you must not interrupt me. Was I not in possession of the floor, Mr Mayor P The Mayor: You were. Cr Bowe said that Cr Ehrenfried had interrupted him. If the Parawai people came into the Borough they should be placed on an equality with the burgesses. He thought it unwise to divide the Borough into wards. Cr Ehronfried said he failed to see anything dictatorial in the letter, and thought it quite in their province to answer it. Cr Kenshaw said that the matter of dividing the Borough into wards had been considered some timo ago, and it had been decided that such a course would not be expedient. He would move that the Chairman of the Parawai Board be replied that if the burgesses'generally wished the Borough be divided into wards the Council would recommend it.

Cr Ehrenfried thought that a more direct answer should be given than that. They should express themselves stronger in the matter. Cr Gibbons said that offence would be given to a large body of ratepayers. The Mnyor: You can only recommend the division of the' Borough into wards. The matter lies in the hands of the rate* payers. The amendment was then put to the meeting, and three voted for it and four against. The amendment was thus lost. Considerable discussion then took place on the wording of the motion.; Cr Howe moved a further amendment that the words " and will endetVor 'tcT have Parawai made a separate ward/ be left out of the motion. Cr Gibbons seconded the amendment/ which was lost, only two Toting for it..v.; The original motion was then carried. ; I Cr Ehrenfried objected to Cr Hensbaw not voting. , Cr Henshaw explained that he was in favor of neither the motion or amendment,' and consequently could vote for neither. The Mayor said that when'he wli contesting the Mayoralty, he had Deem frequently asked if he was in favor of tistf : division of-the Borough into wards. ' Cr Ehrenfried said that ho held in hif hand a petition to the Governor signed by 176 ratepayer! praying for the division of the Borough into wards. The matter then dropped. • , FOOTPATH MSAB TABABV SCHOOL. ' '■ A letter was read ifrom the Tarara ; School Committee, asking the' Council to repair the footpath between the hew school and Mr Bawden's residence. ' Referred to Works Committee tore-' port on. HOSPITAL SNDOWXBHTS. A letter was read from the Secretary to the Treasury, making an explanation of the amounts kept off* the Borough subsidy for charitable institutions. •■ Cr Howe remarked that the Government need to retain every shilling they could. : :,- . ' Letter received. fumpihg AssoouTioir.-'' '-'■ r i j r A communication was read from the ' U.P.A. office* enclosing a statement of the winding - account - for the month of February. . . THB HAKILTOH CONMBBHCB. The report of the Borough delegates to the Conference of local bodies at Hamilton, Waikato, was.then'read :— : We have the honour to report to the OevW cil that, in accordance with the resolution patted in that behalf, we proceeded to H«bsU* ton, and on the morning of Friday, IS, we attended • preliminary meeting of delegates at the Commercial Hotel. At that meeting the whole question was gone into and considered in its social, commercial, and legal .aspects. The resolutions to be submitted to the general conference were drawn op, the mover* and seconders of each of them appointed, a ohairmau was designated, aud generally the' programme of the meeting arranged. The general meeting vu hold in the Court-house as-.' two in the afternoon. Ac a report of the proceedings has been already published in the newspapers it is unnecessary to describe them again. We cannot, however, omit stating, for the information of the Council, thai the greatest unaoimity of sentiment as to-the ~ advantages of a railway between the fhamos and Waikato prevailed, not only emong the members of. the Council which comprised the Conference, bat among the community goao* nil/, the resident member for the distriot (If r Oax) being aleo a warm supporter of the 7, scheme. All, however, recognised the noose (?'! sity for. an increate in the amount to k»W guaranteed by the Government, supposing the *' line ts bo constructed under the District Railways Act. For that purpose it wouli . probably be desirable for tho Qorernmoat,it. * get an Act passed next session to enable woof either to eonstruot the lino themselves, or to provide specially for some farther peeaniary assistance by the Government to tho company v oonstruotiog trelinr. These questions mast ' be urged upon tho Government by the inbaU-'i * UnU of the distriot through whiett it potass | it will therefore bs the duty of the different local bodies interested to ascertain tho views of their constituents so far as practicable, sad embody them in memorials to bo addressed to the Government. It will also be necessary ffsr those bodies to-vote the amount which awy be necessary to give effect to the neolations pa«eed at the Hamilton Conference, bssa—i< joint action between tho various parts of tfts distriot interested is absolutely nsssssary to ensure the succese of too general plan. In oonclaeion, we submit that the weU'kaowa sentiment* of the Premier on tho snbjeet of the Thames and Waikato railway, tho vnaaimityof the communities eoneened, and the. confidence of capitalists in the scheme, justify a hopaful view of its success at no distant dat«.—Jakis Kxmovb, ICayori Jour On* BOKS, Councillor. Cr McGowan said that he thought it was not altogether wise to mixup the Premier's name with the matter. /He then moved the adoption of the report Carried.' ." ' "' / •" -• ■■■; v, v \- •■ HBALTH OFFIOBB'S BBFOBT. The report of this officer stated thai there had been four deaths in the Borough during the month, and no irosh eaaaof ;>. fever nad occurred.. ; The report was then adopted. - - ' ■'■. FIBB BBIOADXS COMMITTfI's MMtOM* The report of this Committee was thea .' read. It stated that Fireman Gentry bad been appointed engine-keeper to ths) Shortland Brigade, and recommended tk# purchase of 600 feet of canvas hose for the Shortland Brigade. '_-_.! r >. The report was then adopted, andPMr was ordered that the recommendations contained therein be given effect to. FOBBMAX OF WOBBj' BBPOBT. The report of this officer contained thf. r usual statement of works done during thei month. It contained nothing of any particular interest. v In answer. to Cr Bead, Cr Bow* : said that the Caledonian company were repairing the flume under their mullock tip. 1 The report was then adopted. :<. FIHAKCB COMMTTBE'b BXPOBT. ; The report of this Committee was read ■ and adopted. ; The Town Clerk reported that the Borough account was £1690 overdrawn . without the accounts passed for payment to-night. ' BOLIiBSTOH STBBBT FOOTPATH. 1 Cr Head moved that the Foreman of Works be instructed to place the footpath in Eollestcn street, between Willoughby and Eichmond streets, in a passable state of repair. Carried. - cb xcgowav's xonoirs. Cr McGowan moved, " That this Council take action to obtain a commission of enquiry in reference to tho general question of endowments for Boroughs. That . this Council take action to obtain information to lay before tho commission, with special reference to those Boroughs without, or only with partial, endowments. That the Town Clerk correspond with other Municipal bodies with a view to the formation of a Municipal League, to take united action on all matters affecting the

interests of Boroughs." Ho (Or Me Gowan) said that he knew that the question of endowments had been given considerable attention by tho Councillors. As Or Howe had stated, they were placed in exceptional circumstances. Several Boroughs had large endowments now, but they had none, and ho thought that if a commission was appointed they could ■how the exceptional casps. The previous Premier, while in favor, had expressed himself in favor of the matter of Borough endowments being gone into, and ns tho present Premier had also expressed his tcquiesence in the movement, he thought it could easily be done. He thought that A Municipal League should be formed to look after their united interests. Cr Rowe asked if the Governmont would be asked to appoint the commission. Cr McGowan: Yes. Cr Rowe said that then they would have to petition the Governor for a commission. They must work unitedly with the unendowed Boroughs. They would have to bear the expense. Cr McGowan said that the commission would show that they required treatment commensurate with their condition. The TJifair position they were placed in would Be forcibly shown. Some further discussion ensued, and the resolutions were carried. This was all the business.