Thames Borough Council.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2893, 24 May 1878, Page 2

Thames Borough Council.

The usual fortnightly meeting of this body was held at the Council Che übers lasi cv xing. Frcje it—The Mayo:-, Crs Ehrenfiied, Bcnsh-w, Read, Price, MeGowan, Butt/and Wi'son, MIKCJTES./ . The minutes of the previous meeting were read over and confirmed. LETTERS SENT. A precis of the letters sent was read over. QUEEN STEEET. A letter was read from Mr JB. McDonald drawing attention to the wretched state of Queen ctreet near the Knraka Creek. He considered tne former reply to his application very unsatisfactory, and requested the Council to reconsider their decision. - - Cr Kenshaw said he supposed the Council would agree to construct the footpath on the inhabitants contributing in the usual mnrner. Cr McGowan said tfcat it would be foolish to make the street if tfcs creek, as was likely, was io be straightened. Keferred to Works Committee to visit, and report on it at the next meeting of Council. MACKAT STBEET. A letter was read from Mr Thos. Green xe the desirability of laying a few loads of mullock in Mackay strzet near Eichmond street. The Works Committee had agreed that this work b j aor.e, but the Foreman of Works bad not yeo had time to do it. PUMPING ASSOCIATION. A letter was received from t" p b^ci^tary of the U.P.A. enclosing ac o- for the last month. Received. 7a. Tollering letter was then read :~ - Sir, —You will obberve by the report d County Council proce3dingii that ihere has been a good deal of talk about the «-,ump As some o." thi speakers have B*ateo. '.'jiormation not consistent with facts, • nr 1 as the Advertiser has taken up thee rett-rke, r.'d made a leading article upon them, jl ohhk itj is my buru^ss *o lay the matte" before you from another standpoint. It is »".t \ t»?.t the expenditivj "has incre-s .^. ore lsr.lf." [ Whether I;:s s'ntenper^ is correct or not you

will see by tho following figures, which are correct. Uoforo arrangements were made with the County Council for pumping, Mr Weston was fully satisfied, and stated to mo that'it would be most satisfactory if tho pumping and winding coaldbe done for £600 per month, and you must remember that the pumps at that time were going 2£- strokes per minute. Woll, the average expenditure per monvh for the last 15 months has been £660. The average expenditure per moElb up to the time the Shotover water w£.s cut was £623, and since that time, during the last five months, tho avorage expenditure per month has been £736, making a total average for the whole 15 months £660 per month. Now, if ib had been 6tated that the work had "increased one-half" the statement would have boen move correct, as I shall presently show. From February, 1877, up to the beginning of Seplimber, tho pumps were going 2f strokes per minute; from that time up to the end of ft ovember the pump's average speed was three siokes per miuuto. At that time the Shotot/ water was cut, which increased thespead

'■'- six (strokes for four days, when it reduced C'-wn to 4J- Strokes, and continued ah that spec d until the 17th Januaiy, 1878, when a large reef was out iv the south cross-cut, which iriereaeed the quantity of water up to bix strokes per minute. This epeed had to be maintained until the end of February % since then the sperd required has gradually reduced to five strokes per minute, the present speed bei'ig within half a stroke double tlu speed required 15 months ago. This can readily be accounted for by the amount of ground beiag opened up in that time—say 1,740 feet—from which 13,052 ions of mullock hare been hauled. I tbink I have stated enough to shew that the expenditure has not " increased onchalf," and that the extra amount of wafer lifkd during the last five months is never cons'der J as a B«fc-off against the increased consumption of coA. This has been explained in my monthly reports previously. Perhaps you will be kind enough to draw the .attention of your Thames Councillors who attend your boa d meotings again to this matter.—-1 am, &c, Geobg^ Black, Manager. TAUAEU CBEEK CBOSSING. A biter was read from Mr W. Brown drawing a tendon to tbe dangerous slate of the Tararu creek crossing neer the slaughterhouse. A letter to a similar effect was also read Mr W. Avenell. The Town Clerk said that Mr Foss also complained of this crossing, but there was a notice of motion from Cr Wilson which would coir^ up later in the erening concerning this matter. LEAVE OP ABSENCE. An application for leave of absence for one month from Cr Gibbons was acceeded to. . MUNICIPAL LEAGUE. A letter was read from the Blenheim Borough Council agreeing to join the Council in tbe formation of the Municipal League. Received. THAMES NAVAL BBIGADE. The following letter was read from Lieut. L .wless, Thanes Naval Brigade :— "Navrl Er'gade Hall, 23rd May, 1G78.— To His Worship the Mayor and the Coun» c'llors of the Borough of Thames.—Gentlemen, —lam instructed by the (apt in and Officers of the Thames Naval Brigade to intimate to you that we have appl'ed to the Government for new artillery, and for a fast, steam-launch, capable of carrying 1 gun, and fitted up for torpedo services. This application wa3 made with tbe view of equipp;ng our Brigade with the requirements necessary to enable us to be of practical use for defence purposes. We now ask thai the Borough Council wj'll be pleased to address the Government in support of our application, as we consider that should the' Council consent so to do this district would be likely to meet with favorable consideration in the matter of defence.—l have the honor to be, Gmtleroen, you obedient servant, T. Lawless, Sublieutenant and Secretary."

It was resolved that the request of the Is Taval Brigade be complied with.

DANGKEBOTTS FOEGE.

A letter was read from Mr Robert McFarland re the dangerous state of a forge erected by Mr Wade, Pollen street. The writer request :d that the Fire Inspector be instructed inspect the same." Cr Eenshaw suggested that the matter should be i-eferr d by "the Council to the F':e Inspector. Cr Ehrenivi d sad that Mr McParland should have tattn the^e^d provided by the bylaws. It was ncv the business of the Coudcil t-> al.end to tuch matters.

The Town Clerk-said f.ii Mr McFarIp.nd h d complained to the Fire Inspector, aart that officer had 'aken co action.

Cr Eenshaw moved tuat Mr McFarlaad's bttei * be refced to the Fire J.nsp?3le** with a view o" his taking action Uj/oa it. ,■■'.', Seconded by C.,v Read and carried unanimously. AMELaCAN DBEDGING SYSTEM. A letter was received from the Minister of Public Wo/ks enclosing a pamphlet on the Ame.l.. 1 d.edging system. Recaived and ordered io be on the table. TE3E PLANTING. A letter was read from Mr Christie, asking permission to plant trees in front of his property in Mackay street. Granted. , * Cr Wilson moved that in future the Town Clerk be empowered to grant permission to burgesses to plant trees subject to the direction of the Foreman of Works. WAIO-KARAKA BOAD. A letter was read from the manager of the Queen of Beauty Golumining Company, requesting that the Water-table in Waio-Karaka Road be extended past the company's shaft, as the company's property was at -present-liable <o injury, es^; penally in time' of flood. Referred to Works Committee to repovt on. HOSPITAL. The following letter was read from the Thames Hospital Committee :— Thames GoldfieM Hospital, 18fch May, 1858. The Town Clerkj Eorough of Thames.— Sir, —I have the honor, by direction of the Comrnii.;e3 of Management of tje Hospital, to acknowledge tho receipt of your letter of 18th ult >, and to state that the Committee have taken stops for the representation of the Council in this Committee, as soon as the financial arrangements have been settled. I am also directed fco state that this Committee co is'der that, as the/ have, for the past seven years received from the Government the sum of one thousand pounds (£1000) annually, i* quarterly instalments, which sum has only beep sufficient, together with the amount raieoJ locally, to keep the institution in efficient working order, and as under the new arrangement proposed the sum received from Government will be only equal to the amount of subscriptions, that the Borough Council should undertake to supplement the amount received from tlio Government quarterly by such sums as may be required \o make the amount two hundred and fifty pounds (£2oO), as hitherto.—l have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, E. Boniss, Secretary.

Cr Renshaw said that he had a notice r otion on this matter, so that the con-

sideration of the letter had better stand over for a while.

FINANCE. . Several small accounts were passed for payment.

HOSPITAL MAINTENANCE.

Cr Eenshaw moved the notice of motion standing in his name, to the effect that the Council accede to the request of the Hospital Committee. Ho said that they had had the matter before them for some time, and it would b« well to come to some definite arrangement. He explained that the Borough had had £1400 taken last year from their subsidy, and by the new arrangement the Borough would have to pay less. The plan marked out by, the Hospital Committee placed the matter definitely before them, and would enable them to send a definite answer to the Government. The Hospital could not look to the County for any share of the contributions, a^.d he suggested that the MayOi. 1 be appointed to confer with the County authorities, with "reference to their paying their share, and then an. answer could be sent to the Government informing them of the manner in which the Hospital was to be supported. Perhaps the Council did not remember that they also had to contribute' towards the Industrial School, although they had no say in the expenditure. . Cr Butt suggested that it would be advisable to call a conference of the two local bodies re the maintenance of charitable institutions.

Cr Ehrenfried said that he thought Cr Butt's suggestion a good one and should be acted on before anything else was done.

Cr Eenshaw showed that there was need of speed in this matter, as the deductions on account of the hospital were going on. Cr Butt moved that a special meeting of the Council be held on next Thursday evening, re this matter, and that the: Chairman and members of the County Council be invited to attend. Carried. ERIDGE OVER TABABTJ CitEEK. Cr Wilson moved the notice of motion standing in his name, re the calling of tenders for the cbnstruction of a bridge over Tararu Creek. He urged the necessity of the work, and stated that recently three axles had been broken. He moved that the Foreman of Works be instructed to prepare a specification of this work by next meeting and submit it to the Council. Carried. EEAGH ROAD. Cr Eead said that he had accompanied the Key. E. S. Bunn and Mr J. A. Miller and visited the allotment attached to the Wesleyan Church. He might say that they would not require \t do so, much filling in on the removal of the fence as had been anticipated. He moved that the Foreman of Works be instructed to prepare an estircate of the cost. This was carried unanimously. \> - BEALEY STREET WATER-TABLE. The Town Clerk said that the next matter was the consideration of the matter re the water-table in Sealey aicee'i, from Pollen street to the beach. Cr Ehrenfried said thst he would contribute £5 5s towards the cost. The Town Clerk said that the total cost to the inhabitants would be £15. It was resolved that on the residents contributing one-third of the cost that the Council would undertake the work. ASPHALT. Cr McGowan asked the reason why the work of constructing the asphalt watertable in WilUanuon street was delayed, and was inform: d that it was in consequence of the airount of work on hand._; Some slight discussion arose out of this matter as io the unsatisfactory state of the tendering for aspbalt, as the Council^ could never obtain a sufficient, en passant; Cr Butt read an extract from the Evening Star, giving a report of a meeting of the (ouncil, showing Cr Eenshaw's action on the matter of contracts. He said that a lot of mud was thrown at the Council, and some of it stuck. He wished it to stick to the right parties. He asked Cr Henshaw how,long he had bean a member oi? ihe Finance Committee, and sat on judgment on his own account. ; - Cr Eenshaw declined to answer any such question unless the matter was brought up in the proper manner. The discussion then lapsed. .