Thames Borough Council.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3166, 12 April 1879, Page 2

Thames Borough Council.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Council was held at the Council Chambers on Thursday evening. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Crs Graham, Wilson, Brassey, Mennie, Hansen, Speight, and McGowan. MINJTEB. . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. OUTWARD CORRESPONDENCE. A prhcis of outward correspondence was read over. RAILWAY CONTRACTORS. A letter was received from Mr W. Souter asking permission to lay a tramway down Williamson street, crossing the Beach road and Pollen street, for the purpose of filling in a portion of the railway reclamation works. It would save 25,000 tons of stuff being carted across the streets during winter. Cr Graham moved that the application be granted on the same terms as the previous application. Carried. A letter was received from Mr J. J. O'Brien applying for permission to lay a tramway from the Queen of Beauty brace down Pahau and Cocbrane streets to the Beach, Grahamstown, for the purpose of conveying stuff for railway reclamation No. 2 contract. He proposed to run a small locomotive. —It was resolved to consider this letter at a special meeting to be held on the 18th. BELLA STREET TRAMWAY. A letter was read from R. McDonald, one of the directors af the Queen of Beauty, asking permission to move the rails laid down by the company from their battery to Bull's battery, or that compensation be allowed to them. It was resolved that this stand over till the 18th inst. GOVERNMENT VOTE. A telegram was received from the Native Minister, stating that the matter of the grant of £500 to the Borough was being pushed on as fast as possible.

THE WATEB BACE. A letter was received from the County Clerk acknowledging the receipt of the Council's letter re the breach of by-laws through the County contractor placing one of the legs of the water race on Waifitahi road. The writer stated that the Borough's letter would be forwarded to the Minister for Public Works, U.P.A. A letter was read from the County Council, asking the Council to pay the £454 18s gold duty received by them. After some discussion— Cr Mennie moved that the Mayor and Crs Speight and McGowan be a committee to report to Council re this matter. Carried with one dissentient—Cr Mc» Go wan. BATES. A letter was received from P. L. Corston, asking extension of time to pay rates on Mrs Oorston's property, Brown street. This appeal was not entertained. 3 A letter was also read from Sarah Gordon, asking that the amount due by her for rates be allowed to stand over for a little time. Referred to Charitable Aid Committee.

DAMAGE. A letter was received from Mr Thomas Godkin, 'bus proprietor, asking for £6 for damages done to his carriage on the Tararu JUoad near the Kuranui battery, as no notice was placed on the broken part of the road to warn him of the danger. Referred to Works Committee to report on. FOOD ADTJLTEBATION ACT. Mr Mason wrote stating his attention had been called to the want of a properly appointed analyst under the above Act. He was not aware if Mr Tunny of Auckland had the Thames in his district. The matter waß referred to the Finance Committee. WALTEB BTBEET. A letter was read from J. Nicholls drawing attention to the dangerous state of the bridge in Walter street. Referred to the Foreman of Works with power to act. BECBEATION GBOTJND BEPOBT.

The report of the Committee re this matter was read:—"Your Committee have to report that they have let the clearing of fifty acres of tho Recreation Park ground at 14s per acre. Also the clearing and ploughing of the small flat, about seven acres, at £2 5s per acre. They have also accepted tenders for about 25 chain^ of fencing, at £2 6s per chain, the fence to be puriri posts and top rails of ti^tree, with three wires and small ditch and bank, the fencing to be completed within six weeks from this date." Attached to the report was a letter from Millett and party stating that they had taken the contract for clearing at too small a price, misjudging the quantity of ti-tree there was on the ground, and asking for consideration. It was resolved that the matter be considered at the completion of the contract. The report was then adopted. . SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.

The Mayor stated that he had that afternoon received a telegram from the secretary to the Sydney Exhibition Commissioners asking that the names of the local committee should be forwarded. His Worship said when Dr. Hector was on the Thames he had told him that a local committee was expected to be formed who would have power to collect and forward exhibits to Wellington.

Cr McGowan suggested the Mayor and Town Clerk should form the committee.

The Mayor suggested that for the present the matter should rest, and he would in the meantime see, the County Chairman, and, if possible, arrange a joint committee of both local bodies. The suggestion was adopted and the matter ended.

EEPOET OP BELIEVING OFFICES. The annual report of this officer was read. It showed from lit August to 31st March the expenditure of Borough on charitable aid had been £446 7s 7jd, of which £141 4s 4|d was on account of Borough residents. The report was adopted. ANNUAL BEPOBT OF FOBEMAN OF WOBKS. The annual report of this officer showing the amount of work done during the year was read. The report was very voluminous, and the Mayor remarked it seemed very well got up, containing information rery valuable to the Council. Or Speight moved that the report lie on the table till next meeting. Carried. BEPOBT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE. The report of this committee was read. It recommended a payment of £45 on account to Macdonald and Miller;- that Mr W. Murdoch be proceeded against for the recovery of £29 4s expenses gone to by the Borough in finding out the correct lines of the Becreation Ground; and called attention to the item of £15 14s to settle the accounts of the railway demon* stration, and the Macandrew and Sheehan banquet committees. The Mayor said the first matter in the report calling for attention was the sum of £29 4s, expenses incurred by tbe Council in putting right the defective plan furnished by Mr Murdock of the Recreation Ground, which had caused a great deal of trouble and expense. It was suggested that tiifl Town Clerk should be instructed to proceed against Mr Murdock for the recovery of the £29 4s. : In answer to Cr Brassey— The Town Clerk explained that the Borough had had nothing to do with reference to the purchase of the Becreation Ground. ', The surveyor employed by Mr Murdoch had made a wrong survey. Cr Graham moved that the Chief Surveyor be informed*that a wrong survey of the ground had been made by the surveyor, and the Borough had been put to expense, and asking that the amount thus expended should be refunded. Carried. , The Mayor then drew the attention of the Council to certain items in Mr Miller's account—law expenses re the Recreation Ground—which he said the Committee thought should be charged against the Eecreation vote. Course suggested was not adopted. Cr Brassey proposed, re the item £5 5s to Mr Miller, General detainer, be struck out, and " that Mr Miller be informed that the Borough does not tee its way to pay a general retainer, but will employ him from time to time as required." . . Cr McGowan moved that a committee bo appointed to enquire into the whole account. On tho motion and the amendment being put to the meeting, the amendment was carried. The Mayor said the next item was re the reception of Sir Geo. Grey, and the Banquet Committee's deficiencies. Cr Speight thought it was an imposition on publib funds for gentlemen to get up

banquets and such things, and then send in eccounts to the local' bodies. He believed that the banquets would not have been failures if some who had taken tickets had paid for them, and he thought a list of these gentlemen's names should be published. He objected, to pay any account except what had been, authorised by the Council. As a member of the Railway Committee he would subscribe to the band account, butjhe would object to the local body -paying banquet amounts.

Cr McGowan said that the Major had been made a martyr of through proceedings being taken against him for which there had been no grounds ; the Borough, as a whole, suffering through such action. He thought the Council would be obliged to pay the Band. Or Speight thought that the County should pay half. They should pay half of the £16 15s for the band and the boat to convey the Minister of Public Worki up the Thames river. - Cr Mennie thought, for the sake of public decency, all the accounts should be paid. The Mayor said the County would pay half of the whole amounts.. Cr Speight moved, and Cr Graham seconded, that the sum of £8 7s 6d be paid. Cr McGowan moved that the Council pay the whole cost of the band. Cr Mennie moved that the sum of £15 7s 6d—-half of all the accounts—be paid. Cr Brassey spoke strongly against paying the accounts for the windftg^np- of the Sheehan and Macandrew baaquets, saying that it was playing ducks and drakes with the Borough funds. Cr Speight's resolution was then carried by four to three. The report was then adopted with the amendments. '. ' • THE PUMPS. !;;"^-H ;?" The Mayor, said he thought it was within the province of the Counoil to see if some steps could not be taken to restart the Pumps." He bolieved that circumstances had arisen. lately which if taken advantage of woujd lead to the restarting of the Pumps. The Water in the pump was 20 feet above the .N<>. 1 level, and was rising fast, and in a 'short time a number of other mines would be flooded out. The present position of the matter was, .that the County held the securities, and demanded a larger sum for them than the mine, owners, were, willing to give. It was resolved, on "the motion,of Cr MeGowan, that the Mayor, Crs Graham, Speight, and the mover be a committee to report on the matter.