BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3092, 15 January 1879, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A deputation, consisting of the Mayor, Crs Ehrenfried and McGowan, and the Town Clerk, waited on the Hon. John Sheehan at the Government Buildings at 9 o'clock this morning re several matter! of importance,, ,;,,. , ,

The Mayor first introduced the matter of tlie Borough '. endowments. Ho said some time ago the Borough had selected a block called the; Waihou West, but the matter was in a very unsatisfactory condition at present, as thifee',signatures necessary could pot be obtained, while a large native.reserve had been taken off the block depriving it of the most of the river frontage. They could not even get the balance, as the remaining signatories refused to sign; They wished to know if, in lieu of th» Waihou block, they could get 2000 acres at Te Aroha. Cr Ehrenfried said that the natives were using this block as a lever to induce Government to give them other lands which they thought themselves entitled to.

Mr Dean said he had been informed by Mr Wilkinson that it would be several years before the matter could be settled. Mr, Sheehan said he would see Mr Puckey, and hear his opinion on the matter. It would be a pity to make too many reserves at Te Aroha, as it Would depreciate the value of the remainder of the block;'" With reference to the matter of endowments within the Borough, Mr Sheehan promised, in event of ■ freehold of goldfield being obtained, that the Council's wants in the matter would be attended to. He would give instructions to the Land Purchase Officers to press for the purchase of the freehold of the goldfield. The Mayor and Town Clerk pointed out the exceptional circumstances of the Borough, whose rates only amounted to from £1600 or £1800 per annum, of which they had to contribute £1400 to charitable aid.

Cr Ekrenfried said that besides their own sick the Borough had to support the sick of the County and district, which contributed nothing. Unless the GoTernment assisted them they must go to the wall. Mr Sheehan said if the County were informed that it was proposed to deduct so much from their subsidy for charitable aid they might contribute. | Mr Dean pointed out that County rates only amounted to £800 per annum, and the proportion they could fairly take from the subsidy would not be adequate. Cr Bhrcnfried said that five-eighths of those in the Hospital came from the County. v The Mayor drew Mr Sheehan's attention to the promise of an endowment for the Hospital; Mr Sheehan : And there is no question as to your getting it. The question is where ? Mr Dean said that there was 2000 acres of Government,land at Puriri. After some further conversation, Mr Sheehan promised to support an application for the granting of reserves in tlie

Government township at Te Aroha as an endowment to the Hospital. At the request of the Mayor, Mr Sheehan promised to wire to Wellington at once respecting the £400 balance of grant for '.Recreation Ground.

: The Mayor said that the Provincial Council had voted £500 for roada to the cemetries, of which there was an unexpended balance of £200. " ". Mr Sheehan thought he could not help them there, as all the vote for Provincial liabilities was expended. He did not want to mislead the Borough, but would see if anything could be done. Mr Sheehan, in reply to the Mayor, said there" must bo Some ""technical" difficulty respecting the vesting of the Tararu Cemetery in the Borough. He would make a note of it. The question of the School of Mines was also introduced. Mr Sheehan said that the Vote for that purpose had all gone South.-. ... ;•; '[' ■ . .;.; / •}

The Mayor said that a .considerable portion of the land in the Borough was in the handi of natives, on which they could not get any rates, and he wished to know if they could get anything from the vote for roads and bridges; in native districts. They were also prevented from, rating mining property. w < ; ■;'■„■: „,., I■■ Mr Sheehan said that the land in' the Borough referred to was leased by Europeans who paid rates. The rating of native lands would retard land purchase. He would gi T e them something frotn the rote referred, to by the' Mayor; ! With reference to the goldfields traffic on roads, Mr Sheehan said, there was no source from whence a grant could ' come, as the House had absolutely ; refused to give any more special grants for roads. ; The Mayor pointed out that: they .only got the gold ; revenue from-mines within the Borough, and the County got the greater portion of' the revenue, though most of the traffic was on the Borough roads. • ■•■''■;•■.., ■■■■■'; ■ :•:'. •■• •, < Mr Sheehan said that the moral from . that was some rectification of their rela* tions with ihe County. Mir Stout, Minister for Mines, would bo here shortly,'and they should lay |heir. case before him. He did not think it would fete fell tp"tax mines just now! !.',,.,•-. The matter of the handing over 6if thi streams to the County, was then discussed. ;•'■•.■ .■; . f; ; ' S

Mr. Sheehan informed the deputation that the County had the promise of the streams. ■'■' ' . '''•■ : ■ ; Mr Dean: That was when it was understood that the; Bprough and County were to be one. Pj&rawai district is strongly against the handing over 01 the streams, as it will be the ruination of that district. Mr Sheehan said tney were discussing spilt milk. He, bad had inserted in the agreement with the County a r tause which would protect the public interest. At the request of the Mayor Mr Sheehan promised to see that the'assent of Government-was given to the Council concerting the straightening of the Karaka Creek. :

The Mayor asked was there any chance of their losing the Goldfields Kevenue. It was very likely pressure would be brought to bear to make them give up their revenue for the support of the Big Pump, which theyobjected to do. Mr Sheehan said he thought the Gorcrnment would not interfere 1 in the'mat» ter at all, but leave local bodies to settle it amongst them. , ; With reference to the promise of the foreshore as an endowment to Borough, Mr Sheehan said the 'man; who had promised it had no right to do so. Tf j ; In answer to a question from the Mayor Mr Sheehan said ( lie understood the Natives intended to bring the matter of the railway going through certain Native land at Shprtland befpre him to-day. He promised fie assistance of the Native officers in acquiring the necessary land for railway. ■ '„>,' ■V';l"i..' ,' vv' : v ; '"' '• The^deputation having thanked Mr Sheehan withdrew^ , : : .\-.,,..,