Thames Borough Council.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3346, 12 September 1879, Page 2

Thames Borough Council.

The usoal fortnightly meeting of the Council was held at the Council Chambers lasfc evening. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Crs Ehrilfried, Mennie, McGowan, Wilson, Graham, Marshall, Bawden, and Osborne. NEW MEMBEHB. The new members of the Council made the statutory declaration under the Muui*

cipal Corporations Act, mid were welcomed to their seats by His Worship tho Mayor, on behalf of the Council.

MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. ta'kaku cbossing. A letter .was read from Mr Steadman complaining of stoDe-getters at Tararu Creek removing the stoiies at a crossing of that creek. The Town Clerk said the Foreman of Works had stopped the men, and they had promised to replace the stones. The Town Clerk was instructed to acknowledge the receipt of the letter, and to thank Mr Steadmau for the information. WALTJEIt STBEET DBAINAGE. A letter was read from Mr G. J. Lawlor complaining of the unhealthy state of the Walter street water-table. The Mayor said that until the Karaka Creek was straightened it was impossible to make a water-table.

It was resolved to inform Mr Lawlor to that effect.

BOAI> TO BEGBEATION GROUND. The Chairman of the County Council wrote asking that the Borough Council give the necessary land in the Borough Eecreation Ground for the Kauaerunga Valley Eoad, and also contribute a quota of the cost of construction.

The Mayor and several Councillors expressed a willingness to grant t'.ie land required for the road, and to throw no obstacles in the way of having it constructed. After some further discussion it was resolved that the matter be referred to the Recreation- Ground Committee to report to next meeting. boad metal. A letter was read from the County Chairman stating that the County, had paid for the road metal last placed on JRolleston street and Karaka ltoad. The Mayor said according to the report of the Foreman of Works, the Borough had borne the cost of the last road metal, and spread the same. It was resolved to inform the County Chairman to that effect. APOLOGY. The Mayor apologised for the absence of Cr Speight, who was detained in Auckland awaiting the official declaration of the poll of the City East election. BBFOST OF CHABITABLE AID COMMITTEE. The report of this committee was read as follows : —" The committee hare Jha honor to report that the Orphanage Build ings, Kauaeranga Valley, will be ready for the reception of inmates on the 10th of October next, and with the approval of Council they propose to bring down and domesticate at the orphanage, the Thames children now located in the various Children's Homes in Auckland, for the maintenance of whom the Council are now paying. The committee purpose to invite applications for the position of Master and Matron at the. salary already fixed upon by Council,, viz., £100 a year with rations, firing, and apartments in the buildings. • Such applications - to be returnable in about 12 days, which will enable the committee to make full inquiry into any applications they may receive, and make a recommendation to- Council to make Ujc appointment at the Council's next meeting on the 25th of the present month. The committee estimate the cost for fixtures and furnishing, and two cows, wili be fully covered by £225, which will refniti the cojfc of'.the/ building-"nhd its furniture within the sum named to and agreed to by Government, viz:, £1050." (The report then gives a mass of information respecting the clothing, education, and daily duties of the children.) The roporfc was adopted without comment. REI'OBT BE LOAN.

The report of the committee appointed iv accordance with the terms of Cr McGowah's motion, was rend as follows :-—

" Your committee hare; the honour ;to, report that the reunite of the Borough from rates, when "rack at the highest amount allowed by the Municipal Corporations Act, is, as nearly as possible, £2000; and of this amount from £1000 to £1400 is required yearly for maintenance of poor, hospital, and other charitable purposes, lour committee are perfectly cognizant that, at the present time, th« Borough has other sources of ' revenue such as subsidies from Government, fees paid for publicans' licences, carts, omnibuses, the storage of kerosene, gold fields revenue, &c, &c, that malcefa total of from ten to fourteen thousand pounds ayear as the Borough's income; but all these are liable to cease by resolution of any Parliament, and the subsidies from the Government are by tho Financial Arrangements Act, 1876, only payable for five years from that dale. This Borough, being without endowment of any kind to assist its rates iv maintaining the roads in such repair as will bear the exceptionally heavy goldfields traffic passing over them, or lessen the burden I of charitable aid, much le>s provide for the formation of sewers or other sanitary ra-arures, Avcry year becoming more necessary, renders it, in the opinion of your committee, imperative that a sum of thirty thousand pounds, or, should the Council decide to commence a system of sewerage, a much larger sum, bo raised to carry ou> works that are most requisite, and to purchase freehold property the rentals from which will not only greatly aid in the re-payment of the loan, but wili, after that is extinguished, be a valuable endowment to the Borough. The attached statement has been prepared by the committee to provide for the taking up at interest and re-payment of £30,000, but should the Council decide on at once commencing drainage works, and borrow a greater sum than £30,000, then in that case a larger sum will have to be set apart for the purchase of freehold property, so that no greater burden be thrown on the ratepayers to provide by special rate for interest and sinking fund for money borrowed than that already mentioned in the committee's statement. The committee recommend that the provisions of the 141 st section for the Municipal Corporations Ace be at once put in force by the Mayor, by his calling a meeting of the burgesses to consider the proposal of your committee as to raising the proposed loan, and by tin's means help to decrease the excessively heavy rates of this Borough. " He-payment of Morrin's debentures in 1882,*£200Q ; purchase and laying down of McCaul's 9-inch pipe, £2000; re-lay, ing 4 inch mains in other streets, £1000; construction of storage reservior, £1000; re-paymeut of overdraft Bank New Zealand, £2500 j formation and metalling of Mackay, Baillie, and Eyre street, £6000; formation and metalling 6f streets to railway embaukment-—Cochrine, Walters, Pau&u, Mary, Sealey and Eiclimotd

streets, £3000; public library—books valuable for reference, £500; reproductive works, viz., partially improving and erection of houses ou endowment, Te Aroha, £2000; do. purchase of endowment to assist rates,* £10,000. —Total, £30,000.

" Raise £30,000 by debentures in London at 9 or 7 per cent, for 25 years, if taken up at par: Interest to be paid on coupons at 7 per cent per annum, £2100; sinking fund to meet £30,000 debentures yearly, if reinvested at 5 per cent, £600. —Total, £2700.

" How Interest and Sinking Fund to be provided—itent from £10,000 reproductive works, say 12 per cent, £1200; rent from endowment at Te Arohu, gay £700; annual re-payment of interest from Water Supply advance of £6000 at 5 per cent, £300; balance to be obtained yearly by special rate, £500.—TotaI, £2700.—Wm. McCullotjgh, Mayor." Cr Graham said he thought the sum should be increased to £50,000. He believed there was a great future for the Thames. A railway was now being constructed to connect the Thames with the Waikato, and harbor accommodation would soon be provided. He spoke of the advantage of having a large sum of money available for purchasing endowments. He thought they should make no provision for a sinking fund for the first seven years or so.

Cr Mennie seconded. He said he quite endorsed all Cr Graham had said. He believed that they could borrow eaa.% £59,000 than £30,000, as the latter sum was so trumpery that it would be almost beneath notice in the London market.;:

Cr McGowan said a jump from £30,000 to £50,000 was not one they should make on the mere adoption of a resolution. He might say he did not object to the borrowing of £50,000, or any other sum provided they could devise metm of meeting the interest. They should devise a scheme before making the change in the proposiiion. It was not a matter that they should deal with hastily. • ■.> Cr Graham pointed out that they need not spend all the money at once.. They could lay out a large portion of the loan at interest, so that it would be no losa to thern^ There was a great deal of money to be made in native lands, and' the Borough should be in a position to take advantage of the concessions granted to boroughs in the' purchase of endow* ments. . On the motion of Cr Mennie a committee consisting of the Mayor, Cra Graham'and Marshall were appointed to report on the matter. . ' .

FIBE BBIGADE EIPOBT. . . „, The report of this Committee was read as follows :—

" Your committee hare to report that , the uuiforms sanctioned by the Council to be procured by the Grahamstown Brigade hare been obtained and tbe accounts for same hare been examined, and are recommended for payment by the committee. It has been proposed by the Superintendent of the Shortland Brigade to your committee, that instead of making application for, and obtaining the sanction, of the Council for each article required for the maintenance of the Brigades, an annual sum not exceeding £100 should be paid to each Brigade, and that such mm should cover all the persona! expenditure of the Brigade, including the Enginekeeper's salary, uniforms, gas, adrertising, extra hands at fire, the taking on and control of such to be under the superrision of the Superintendents of the Brigades." Your committee submit the proposal for your consideration, aad should this amount be granted, it is intended to corer all outlay except the purchase and repair of implements, rent, and maintenance of buildings, and recommend the. same being agreed to.—Wat. McCoxlott&h, Mayor." ' Or McGowan mored that the portion of, the resolution after " committee" be left' out. Ho said he did so beoause he considered they had too much local self; Korcrnment on the Thames, and the step proposed was one in that direction. It was also establishing a bad principle. Cr Osborne seconded.' ■ The Mayor said that the officers of the Brigades had been hampered in a great measure by hating to come to the Counoil for erery few shillings they required.' It should be remembered Superintendents, officers, and men were rolunteers and deserred consideration at the hands of the Council, and if the course recommended. by the report was followed it would ■ be, he bettered, a Raring to the Borough funds, besides placing the Superintendents . in a more honorable position.

Cr Graham also spoke in faror of the report. ' After some further discussion the motion was carried by 5 to 3. BEPOBT OF OFFICER OB 130ABD OF HEATH. The report of this officer stated that 7 deaths had occurred in the Borough during tho past month.

I ": -"• . ■ HNANCE. • : Tbe report of the Finance Committee was read and adopted. THE WATJKtt BACE LEG IK THE TVAIOTAHI. The Town Clerk said that the County Council had not yet giren them>?tho undertaking binding them to remove the water race log on tho Waiotaht' road when required by tbe Borough Council. The Town Clerk was instructed to apply for the undertaking. COMMITTEES. The various committees for the ensuing year were then elected as follows:— *" - Cemetery—The Mayor, Cra Wilson and Marshall. Water Supply—The Mayor, Crs McGowan, EurenfnejJ, Marshall, and Bawden. Charitable Aid—The Mayor, !J Crs Speight and Osborae. Works and .Recreation—Tho Mayor, Crs Wilson, Mennie, Osfaorne, Marshall, and JBawden. ; Fire Brigade—The Mayor, Crs Ehrenfried, McGowan, and Speight. TT.P.A. , —Cr Graham. Goldfield Eerenue— The Mayor and Cr McGowan. Finance —•The Mayor, Crs Wilson, Mennie; Marshall, and Osborne. Kerosene — Crs Bawden, Marshall, and Mennie. ATTENDANCE TABLE. On tho motion of Cr McGowan; it was resolved that the Town Clerk should prepare a table showing the attendance of Councillors for the year.

7UULIC LIBRARY. , . €r Osborne suggested that the jVftyor should call a pnblic meeting to thoroughly ventilate the matter of the Public Library, lie feaved if it wasn't better rentihrted the public would not rote for it. The Mayor pointed out that the, poll took place on Monday, but if it were the wish of tho Council ho would call the meeting. It. was suggested the Press should ▼entilate the Bubjcct. The matter thea ;■ dropped. • ■ • -! , Tuift concluded the buiiaeis,