Thames Borough Council.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2965, 16 August 1878, Page 2

Thames Borough Council.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Council was held at the Council Chambers last evening, Present—The Mayor, Crs Wilson, Butt, Renshaw, McGowan and Gibbons. - MINUTES.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, also the minutes of the special meeting. OUTGOING COEEEBPONDENCE. A precis of the outgoing correspondence was read. POOE BELIEF. A letter was read from Mr Graham, E. 0., acknowledging receipt of the Council's letter re poor relief. The writer asked that the Council forward him the particulars of each case where relief was administered for the purpose of entering them in his books. KAEAKA CEEEK.

A letter was read from Messrs Macdonald and Miller, stating that as agents for the Loan Company, who were mortgagees, they were willing to allow the Council to take the land required for the straightening of the Karaka Creek on the payment of sufficient compensation. Received. INBUBANCE. A letter was received from the Royal Insurance Company stating that the,insurance on the Council Chambers would expire on the 16th inst. at 4 p.m. It was resolved that the building be reinsured , for £250, the matter of which office being left to the Finance Committee. KEBOBENE LICENSES.

The kerosene committee recommended the granting of a number of licenseß to sell kerosene. The Council agreed to the recommendation of the committee. APPLICATION FOE WOBK. A letter was received from Arthur M. Proctor who represented himself as being in very indigent circumstances, asking for work. The Mayor stated that he had instructed the Foreman of Works to place the man's name on the list for employment. The Town Clerk said that if Proctor came down to-morrow morning he could get work. ' GOLD DUTY. !

A letter was read from the Treasury stating that the sum of £109 19s 3d had been remitted to the credit of the Council in the' Bank of New Zealand.

A letter was read from the Treasury acknowledging receipt of the Council's letter concerning the division of the gold duty. The writer stated that the only Thames gold duty in the Treasury was the receipts for July. BECEEATION GBOUJfB. A letter was read from Mr H. Stilwell offering his services in clearing, planting, and laying out the recreation ground. JKeceired. BAILIIE STREET. A letter was read from W. Deeble compl; ining of the bad state of Baiilie,

street, and of the footpath there. Referred to the Works Committee, to report on. . -;' '■■:."■. • - • •

DATY STEEET,

A letter wasread from J. Craig, calling attention to the impassable state of Davy street, aud to the fact of a shanty be-, longing to a man named May being on the footpath.

The Mayor said that the Works Committee had already visited the place and w«re of opinion that the house should be removed, and May agreed to move it. The Town Clerk was instructed to write Mr Craig concerning May's intention to remove the house.

REPEAL OF GOiD DUTY,

The following telegram was received from Mr W. Howe : —" What do Borough Council think of repeal of Gold Duty. 'Joroinandel oppose. Reply prompt." Cr Gibbons sad he could only say what he had said at the Harbor Board meeting last night.

Cr Butt suggested that as there was a small meeting it should be well to leave this matter over till the special meeting. . Cr McGowan said that he did not think that an expression of opinion from them who received the duty would be received with the same weight as an expression froir the miners who paid it. He moved that this question be deferred for the present. Cr Butt seconded. Cr Renshaw moved, and Cr Gibbons seconded that the matter be deferred till to-morrow. The motion^was carritd on the Mayor's vote and casting vote. CEMETEBY ACCOUNT. A letter was read from the manager of the Bank of New Zealand asking that the Cemetery account, already overdrawn £89, be settled. It was resolved to reply to the Bank manager that this matter would receive the earliest attention. OBJECTION TO BE BATED.

A latter wasread from Mr M. Delaney stating that as he was neither owner, leaseholder, or occupier of an allotment in Owen street for which he had been rated,,he objected to be rated. Mr A. Fleming stated that las'; year Mr Whitaker was rated, but Mr Macdonald had appealed that he was not the owner. Mr Kelly, of Opotiki, was owner,; but Delaney occupied the allotment. After some discussion— Cr Kenshaw moved that Mr Delaney's name be struck off the rate-book. Cr Butt seconded. Carried. THE WATER SUPPIiY. The Town Clerk gave a brief account of what had been done at the conference of local bodies held on Wednesday with reference lo the granting of an extended guarantee to the Water Supply "Committee.

Cr Eenshaw moved that on the other local bodies also agreeing to increase the guarantee, that the Borough increase their guarantee to £1562 10s being five-eighths of £2500. Cr McGowan seconded. Carried unanimously, 'i ',yCOMPULBOBY CLAUSE. Mr Srmtherman was present with reference to the formation of ther Mackay street footpath under the compulsory Bylaw. He said Irs son and several other residents did not want the footpath made, as it would be too heavy a tax on them. It was resolved to relegate the matter to Works Committee; / . WOBKS COMMITTEE'S BEPOBT.

The report of the Works Committee was read, ;

Cr Butt said that he|thought the fish market was drawn on too elaborate a scale, and would cost too much, and was more than the promoters expected.

iser sorofl little discussion it was resolved to refer the matter to the Works Committee and the Harbor Board to see if they could modify the plan. . :Cr Kenshaw moved and Cr McGowan seconded,that the Foreman of Works be instructed to prepare plans and specifications for the construction of the deviation of Waiotahi Road. Carried. ; On the motion of Cr Butt it was resolved to defer the proposed improvements to Mackay street for a month. FINANCE. A number of small accounts were passed for payment. THE ASPHALT FOOTPATHS. The question of asphalt footpaths was deferred till a future meeting. THE MAYOE's EBULLITION. ,

Cr Renshaw said if there had been a larger number present he would have liked to ask His Worship to explain some words made use of by him at a special meeting of tHe Harbor Board on the 2nd inst. Ah reported in the papers, when speaking of the sending of a delegate to Wellington the Mayor, said there had been a lot of dishonest talk at the Borough Council meeting on the previous evening. As the remarks reflected on the Council he would like to know the Mayor's meaning in making use of them.

The Mayor: I. used the words in my capacity as a private citizen after the meeting was finished. I consider I have a right to speak in my private capacity. Cr Renshaw asked who the Councillor was who had spoken dishonestly* but did not get an answer. Cr Butt asked the Mayor a question with reference to some telegrams-sent by him, one of which was to the captain of the Hinemoa asking when that vessel left Auckland.

The Mayor: You should not take it upon yourself to lecture us on things you know nothing about. Or Butt does not know the circumstances under which they were sent.

Cr Butt said from the first time the Mayor had come into the Council he had paddled his own canoe, and had improvements made for the benefit of his own property. The Mayor: An unfounded assertion, sirl

Cr Butt: You led the Council into making works for your benefit, and after a long argument got a street alongside of your property. You hare also thrown discord between the Council and Govern ment, for, a reason I don't know, unless it was that you might be called to the Upper House, for 1 am sure you would never get elected to the lower one. • The Mayor: Every word you have uttered is false, sir. I have served the Borough as well as you.. Cr Butt: Because you get paid for it. The Mayor : Only during the last year. I am astonished and indignant at such charges being made, which I assure you, are utterly false. I will not permit this unseemly conversation to continue. Gen* tlemen, the meeting is closed. The Mayor, who was visibly-affected, then left the chair and the meeting broke up. : ___L_f' "■"■■■'