Thames Borough Council.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2905, 7 June 1878, Page 2

Thames Borough Council.

The usual fortnightly meeting of this body was held at the Council Chambers last evening. Present—The Mayor, Crs Ehrenfried, McGowan, Butt, Bead, Kenshaw, and Wilson. 'MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting, and those of the special meeting, were read and confirmed., ' - OUTWARD CORBESPONDENCE. The outward correspondence was read over. GOLD REVENUE. A letter was received from the Treasury, stating that £30 19s 2d had been remitted to the County Fund Account, being goldfields revenue brought to account by the Treasury, April Ist, 1878. APPLICATION TO ERECT A SIGN-BOARD. A letter was received from Mr J. C. Williams, asking permission to erect a sign-board over Queen street, in front of his hotel. Granted, subject to the approval of the Foreman of Works. THE KABAKA CREEK. A letter was received from Mr W. Mitche'!, private secretary to tha Prene'er, stating that Sir George Grey would

see the Minister of Public Works re the straightening of the Karaka Creek. APPLICATION TO CBOSS FOOTPATH. A letter was received from the driver of Mr Douglas's bread cart asking permission to cross the footpath of Queen street near the Provincial Hotel once daily. Application granted provided a crossing be made. MUNICIPAL LEAGUE. A letter was received from the Borough of Sydenham approving of the Municipal League, and one from the Borough, of Kaiapoi of a similar character. Also one from the Wellington City Council suggesting that the meeting of the Conference be held on July 9th, and offering to convene the Conference. The Mayor here retired, and Cr Ehrenfried took the chair. It was resolved that the suggestions of the Wellington City Council re convening the Conference be agreed to, and that the Mayor of Wellington be requested to con yen c the Conference 8 days before the meeting of Parliament. INDIAN FAMINE. A letter was received from the Colonial Secretary's office asking what was the amount of money subscribed ■ in the Thames district to the Indian Famine Fund. It was agreed that the information be supplied. BOLLESTON BTBEET*. A letter was read from Mr Thomas Graham re the bad state of Kolleston street footpath in front of the Una Hotel. The Foreman of Works had had the footpath repaired since the writing of the letter.

BEACH BOAP, ETC. The following letter was received from Mr S. Stephenson :—

Gentlemen, — I ha.ro the honor to draw your attention to the complaint made by the Health Officer of the Borough in not c implying with the conditions of the Act in filling up to tbe ground &oov of the building now in course of erection on the Beach road, corner of Williamson street. The site is on a magnificent bed of dry shingle and sand, far abore the level of the town; in addition to which, I hare filled up a foot high with dry rubble, and taken every precaution for my own and fellow-tutizens' health in carrying out and complying with the spirit and intention, if not the exact wording,-of the Public Health Act. To do more is simply to make the place a refuge for rats, as no dog or cat could get under to destroy them. I have also to make application to have the pathway and guttering formed to oorner of Browu street, as the storm water flows in upon tbe adjacent allotments, the long neglect of which is of far greater im o-tance to the residents of this particular . ock, and which have been entirely overlooked, swamping the back allotments from Williamson street to the wharf corner; and am willing to contribute my share of the cost. Also to draw your attention to the old premises known as Sebaetopol House, which stands over six feet on the line of road, with a dilapidated and dangerous verandah to paseera-by. Referred to Works Committee. GOID DUTY. A statement was read from the Gold Duty committee which showed that the total amount of gold duty from January to May had been £1873 12a. Of this the County had received £61 7s 6d per cent., and the Borough £38 12s 6d per cent. It was remarked that this was the highest percentage the Borough had yet received. FOBEMAN OP WOBKS BEPOBT. The report of Ihe Foreman of Works was then read. It gave the usual account of works in progress during the past month. woeks Committee's bepoet. The report of the Works Committee was then read as follows:—

"The committee have arranged that the Que6nef Beauty Extended GKM.Co. pay onehalf of the cost of extension of flume WaioKaraka road, and hare authorised the work. The committee lay before the Council the plan and specification for bridge over Tararu Creek, with estimate of cost; and also the plans and specification, with estimate of cost, for foundation of Beach road, including the removal of fence and filling in the ground of the Weeleyan Church, and re-ereotion of fence afterwards. This would continue the Beach road, from Brown street to south side of Cochrane street. The committee have visited that part of Queen street in front of Mr Ronald McDonald's premises, and recommend that a wooden water table and sand footpath be made from Amy street to Karaka Creek, one-third of the cost to be borne by the ownersl of property benefited."

Cr Eenshaw mored, and Cr Read seconded, that tenders be called for the bridge over Tararu Creek. Carried.

Cr Butt mored that tenders be called for carrying out the portion of the report re the road past the Grahamstown Wesleyan Church, on the deed dedicating the road to the Borough being obtained from the Wesleyan trustees. The motion was carried with one dissentient—Cr McGowan. Cr Eenshaw moved that the Queen street footpath, near Mr it. McDonald's, be made on the usual conditions. Carried. The Foreman of Works report and the report of the Works Committee were then adopted. BEPOBT OF HEALTH OFFICES, INSPECTOR OE NUISANCES, &C. The repf .t of this officer-was read. It. shewed tb '; four deaths had occmred in the Borough during the past month. The dangerous forge belonging to, Mr Wade had been ; tered and made safe. A conviction bad been obtained against Mr J. Connell for driving to other termini than those specified on the license. The report was adopted. EECBEATION COMMITTEE'S EEPOET. j The report of this committee recommended that 200 aores of land be purchased from Mr Murdock at £4 per acre, on his agreeing to fence the back portion at no cost to the Borough ; and also 14 acres from Mr Anderton, at £ — per acre. It was stated that the committee had been unable to see Mr Anderton, but they understood that he wanted £150 or £250 for his piece of land. Cr Kenshaw said, as one of the members of the committee, he supported the recommendation, but wished they could get a piece of land which he could give a heartier assent to their purchasing it. It might make a recreation ground some 25 or 30 years hence. After some further discussion, Cr Butt moved that the recommendation be approved, and tha*. the committee be empowered to make arrangements with Messrs MuKdock and Anderton. FINANCE COMMITTEE'S EEPOST. The report of the Finance Committee was read. The Committee referred back to the Council a reduced account from the Advertiser for printing the annual accounts. The Town Cierk said that Mr Wilkinson's disputed account for printing the inual accounts had been referred back

to him, and he had amended it to £7 odd. Mr McCullough had sent in a demand for £1 10s 4d, balance of account.

Cr McGowan moved that the accounts bo paid. Carried unanimously.

NEW BY-LAW

The time for advertising the fixing of the the day bringing By-law No. 8 into force, was left with the Town Clerk.

AUDITORS

Cr Bead moved that a recommendation be sent to the Municipal Conference re the alteration of the Municipal Act, so that candidates for the auditorship should pay a deposit to bo forfeited if they failed to poll a certain number: of votes. He said at the recent election one candidate had taken no interest in the election whatever. The Town Clerk stated that the recent election had.cost the Borough £20. The motion was carried. DB HECTOB. Cr McGowan moved that the Premier be asked ip permit Dr Hector, Government Geologist, to visit the Thames, and report on the reefs, etc., and also that the the establishment of the School of Mines be urged on Sir George. Carried. GBEY BTBEET. It was resolved that the drain and footpath in Grey street near the Hotel be repaired. Carried. This was all the business.