Thames Borough Council.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3142, 14 March 1879, Page 3

Thames Borough Council.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Council was held at the Council Chambers last evening. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Crs McGowan, Hansen, Speight. Wilson, and Price. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. OUTWABD COUBEBPONDENOB. j The correspondence outwards since last meeting was read over. { , THHATKE3. I The proprietors of the Academy of Mnsio and Theatre Royal applied for the annual license for these, buildings, as places of public amusement, etc. These applications were granted. VOLUNTEER HALL. A letter was received from Captain R. Farrell stating that the Hon. the Native Minister had transferred the Volunteer Hall to him in trust. The Government had it repaired on the condition that they would be ,no longer liable for rates, rent, etc. TfliPwriter therefore asked the repayment of the rate of 30s. After some discussion it was resolved that the writer be informed the Council had not power to remit the rate. cash. A treasury voucher for 16s, E.M. and Licensing Court fees, was received. - , OEMBXBBT OVERDRAFT. A letter was received from the secretary to the Cemetery Committee re the cemetery overdraft. The writer asked for a cheque from the Borough for £38 4s 7£d, half of the overdraft. It was resolved that the amount asked for be paid. BBOWN STBEET. A letter was read from Lieut. Lawless, Secretary T.N.8., asking the Council to fill in or repair a portion of Brown street, opposite the Naval Hall. About 12 loads of mullock would be required. Referred to the Works Committee. BENEFIT PitBFOBMANCE. A letter was read from the Grahams* town Volunteer Fire Brigade stating that it was the intention of the Brigade to give a benefit performance for the Kaitangata Belief Fund on the 26th, at which they asked the patronage of the Council. It was resolved to comply with the request, the Mayor remarking that he trusted, the patronage of the Council having been given, Councillors would attend in numbers. BEPOBT OF HEALTH OFFICBB. • The report of the Health Officer stated that six deaths had occurred in the Borough during the past month. EELIEVINa OFFICEB'S BEPOBT. The report of this officer stated that 46 persons had received rations during February, at a cost of £35 11s sd. He asked for a further petty cash advance. The report was adopted, and it was rasolved to place £5 to the credit of the Believing Officer to meet petty expenses. BEPOBT OF FOBEMAN OF WOEKB. The report^ of the Foreman of Works was read, and was as follows:—" Gen-tlemen,-—I have the honor to report that during the past month the following works have been completed: Laid down water-table Sealey street (390 feet) at a total cost of £48 15s; made good the approach in Amy street, Beach, at a total cost of £2 ss; lengthened culvert at the back of Wells', Tararu Road, at a total cost of £2 15s; repaired the Shotover Road and drains at a total cost of £2 10s ; erected dam in Waiotahi Creek to prevent the debris from flowing into the Waiotahi flume at a total cost of £5 2s; laid down culvert and crossing for Messrs A. and Gt. Price at a total cost of £6, Messrs Price Bros, paying one-third of the cost. Asphalt.—Laid down 766 yards in Pollen street, between Sealey and Mary streets, at a cost to the residents of £97 9s 8d; laid down for L. Ehrenfried (private), 105 yds 6in. at 4s per yard, £21 2s; J. Townsend, 33 feet of water-table at Bd, £1 2s; T. Veale, 66 feet of water-table at Bd, £2 4a. Worka in hand.—Laying down water-table from Mary street to Xaraka Bridge. The men in asphalt yard are employed preparing asphalt. I have two men employed in attending to drains in different parts of the Borough.—l am, &c, Thomas Rawdon, Foreman of Works." The report was adopted on the motion of Cr Price. Cr Hansen moved that the gaps in the asphalt in Pollen street, Shortland, be filled up in terms of the bye-law. Carried. Cr Hansen moved, and Cr Speight seconded, that all outstanding accounts for asphalt be sued for, notice being first given to the parties of the intended proceedings. Carried. BEPOBT ON FIHE BRIGADE COMMITTEE. The report of this Committee was read as follows: —"Your Committee have to report that application has been made by the Superintendent of the Shortland Fire Brigade for sufficient timber to partition the meeting room of the men from the engine shed. Many of the men sit reading of an evening in this room, but it being open to the street it is too cold a place for the mento read in during the winter. The cwp& the wood will not exceed £6. The labor, nails, &c., will be found by the Brigade. The Committee are also informed that the supports to the platform under the triangle gong at the junction of Rolleston aQd Sealey streets, are quite rotten, and it is therefore dangerous for any man to stand on the platform to strike an alarm. It is recommended that the platform be made safe. A requisition has been received from the Grahamstown; Brigade for ten suits of uniform, which are much required. The secretary of the Grahamstown Brigade has notified to this Committee that Mr J. C.Williams has resigned his position as Captain of the Brigade, and that Mr Robert Pearce had been elected in his room. The confirmation of this appointment is sought from the Council, and receive the recomcommendation of the Committee.—Wm. McCullouoh, Mayor.—Thames, March 13th, 1879." The recommendations of the report were adopted, with the exception ,of the portion re uniform, which was referred to the Finance Committee. WILLIAMSON-STBEET FIBEBELL. Cr Wilson said that the Williamson street firebell tower was rotten, and was besides in a bad position. He suggested its removal to the station, Queen street. It was "resolved to refer the matter to the Works Committee with power to act. VOTE OF THANKS. ■ . -■ It was resolved to forward a rote of thanks to ex-Fire Brigade.Captain Williams for his past services. CHABITABLE AID. The Mayor referred to the conference of local bodies re charitable aid held the other day, and said that the Committee were not yet prepared to report. ; ; Cr Speight said, as the County had not

agreed to settle the matter of charitable aid other steps would be taken, when the Committee would be able to prepare a report. He hoped they would have uo more of these County and Borough conferences, as personally he would never attend another. The Council then rose.

Pomps and Vanities. —The Mayor of a country town was questioning the boys at a ragged school, and he asked them what were the pomps and vanities of this wicked world. He asked them one by one, but they could not tell him. At last a little boy near the bottom said, " I know, sir. The mayor and corporation going to church, sir." (2Tor remainder of News see Ist S( 4*th Pages.)