Thames Borough Council.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3406, 21 November 1879, Page 2

Thames Borough Council.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Council was held at the Council Chambers last evening. Present—Cr Ehrenfried, Mayor elect (in the Chair), Crs Graham, Bawden, Osborno, Meanio, Marshall, Wilson, and M'cGowan.

THE BIG PUMP. Cr Graham said that he had attended a meeting of the Pumping Association in Auckland as a representative of the Council. On that occasion it was pointed out that there was a deficiency in the finances and a discussion took place. It was shewn that a saving of about £200 per month could be made by pumping at the 350 feet level instead of the 400 feel; levei as at present. He was asked if the Borough would be disposed to this arrangement. On behalf of the Borough he had assented to the pumping from the 350 feet level for one month, giving as his reason that the pump would be sold on the 25th of tha month and the Borough was obtaining but little benefit from the present pumping. The Council approved of Cr Graham's action.

In answer to a question the Town Clark stated that the total Borough gold duty "for the past three months had averaged £20 per month.

Cr Graham said that a meeting of the Association would be held immediately after the sale of the pump. He wished to obtain an expression of opinion from the Council as to what course he should adopt at the meeting. It was resolved, on the motion of Cr Osborne, that Cr Graham be empowered to use his own discretion, butTthafc the^4l Borough must not be commjjjfed to a greater liability than at present. THE KECBEATION GBOUND BOAD. A letter Was read from the County Clerk, given the conditions on which the County would construct the road through the Recreation Ground. They were pro» pared to make two swing gates, but would not do the fencing as required by the Borough. After a long discussion it wai decided to accept the terms of the County on the condition that the County Council agees to fence when called on bj .the Borough. FOOTPATH. A letier was read from Mr John Gillan, asking that the Council make the footpath leading from the Scrip Corner to his hotel.. It was decided to inform the writer that the Council had no foods to do this at present. ■ * CHABITABLE AID SUBSIDY. An application from the Hospital Committee for £2 6s the amount of: the Borough subsidy due to the Hospital, wm referred to the Charitable Aid Commit* tee. ' OA9H. Treasury vouchers for several small sums were read. *•'■>>■- mechanics' institute DEBr.*A letter from Mr J. Read re tome money owing him by the Mechanics 9 Institute was referred to tho Library Committee. BATING. . A letter was read from the /''Harbor Board relative to the Borough's imposing rates and charges on that body. Cr McGowan moved that the Mayorelect, Crs Mennie, Bawden, and himself be a committee to confer with other local bodies re the rating of each other. Cr Osborne seconded the resolution, which was agreed to. . COMMITTEE BE LIBBART. ■';

The report of this Committee was read as follows:— '■■'

The Committee appointed by your Council to report on all matters relating to the establishment and good management of the Thames Public Library recommend that a library rate should not be struck until July next. That a librarian should be appointed by the Council at a salary bf £104 a year with free house, firing and light, the gen. tleman so appointed to be an officer of the Borough Council. - t ■■ . ; % That the Thames Public Library be managed for and on account of the Thames Borough Council by a sub-com-mittee of seren persons, consisting of tho Mayor of the Thames, for the time being, three Councillors of the Borough of Thames, and three persons nominated and elected by the Council, in a manner hereafter provided, who shall, be called the Committee of Management, and shall hold office until the. election of their successors.

The first election shall be held on the day of 1879. On the first Thursday in April in each year at a meeting of. tho Council of the Borough of Thames, the Councillors shall by ballot or by open voting elect one of their number to be a memberof the Committee of Management, who shall hold office for three years, and after the election of such Councillor to such office shall forthwith nominate and elect

in manner following one person to be a member of the Committee of Manage* ment, and who also shall hold office for three years. The nominations' shall be made as follows:—We and

nominate to the position of mem< ber of the Committee of Management, Thames Public Library. Each notnina-

tion paper must be signed by. two Councillors, and delivered to the Mayor, and : no Councillor can nominate more than* one person at such meeting of the Council. The Mayer may, if he elects to do to, defino the time in which he will receive nominations, and if so, they shall only be received within the time so defined. The names of the persons nominated shall be read by the Town Clerk, and, if necessary, the election of one ofthe persons so nominated shall be decided by cs£n voting or by ballot to be completed during such sitting or meeting of the Council. The Mayor shall declare at such meeting the person so elected to such office. ' : Of the three Councillors and three nominated persona elected on the day of , 1879, one Councillor and s one nominated person shall retire and cease to be members of the Committee of Management on the first Thursday in April (at noon) in 1880, and one Councillor and one nominated person on the same ' hour, day, and month in 1881, and one Councillor and one nominated person on. the same day, hour, and month in 1882, to bo decided in each case by ballot or lot.

Any Councillor elected as a Councillor on to the Committee of Management vacates such office on ceasing to be a Councillor, and the Council of the Borough shall forthwith elect another Councillor in his room, who shall complete the term of office of the Councillor so vacating. The Committee io have the management and'supervision of the Thames Public Library, and of its officeri, bttt -

the sanction the Council first obtained The Committee to have the power t>: suspend officers; and report same to Council either for promotion or dismissal. Tho Committee shall meet monthly, on a day to be fixed by themselves. That the reading room bo free to all persons over (14) fourteen years of age, who conform to tho rules of the Committee relating Ijiereto (proposed rules attached). That the library, the circulating library, and the reference library be free to nny ratepayer to Borough funds, or nny resident in the Borough over 14 years of age, for the purpose of reading any magazine or book withiu the rooms of the Institute.

That uo book bo allowed to bo taken fron» the circulating library for reading out of the Institute, except tho person borrowing same shall be a contributor by subscription to the funds of tho Thames Public Library tf> the extent of 5s each year, and such payment not in arrear. That no book be allowed to betaken from the reference library for reading out of the Institute, except the person borrowing same, in addition to being a contributor, as above provided, shall also deposit an amount to cover the valuo of the book with the librarian, to be retained by him until such book is returned ; and that no book from the reference library be allowed to any persou longer than one week at a time.

The following are the proposed rules of the Circulating Library :—

1. That t!io library shall ba open for the. borrowing and returning of-books every day, except Sundays, Obrisf>mr.sDay, Good Friday, and public holidays, frsm ten o'clock in Hits jnoruing until nine v\ tho evening. 2. That each person hare out of the library one book, or three volumes of any work, and no more at ono time, except that all the volumes of a novel may bo borrowed at tho unni.o time j but in these exceptional cisea the ■whole must be returned by the expiration of the time allowed for one volume.

3. That, inclusive of the (Joys of delivery and return, one week shall bo nllowed for reading any periodical; two weeks for nn octavo, or any emailcr volume, or f>r a novel; aud three week* for a quarto or folio volume ; and that if on the day when a book ought to bo returned the library be not open, the next day shall be considered as tho day for return.

4. That if a book l>9 cot returned at the time the person shall pay a fine of ono penny a day for oven da; of his detaining iho book j nnd if it be not returned within fourteen days the person may be required to pay its value, or the value of the work of which it for;na a part, in addition to the finrs incurred ; und in default of such payment the book or its value, or the vuluo of tho work o' which it forms a part, and the fiueß, may be recovered in a court of law.

5. That if a book shall bo written in, or otherwise damaged, tlie person in whose hands the book was at the time may be required to pay the value of the book, or to replace it, at the discretion of the committee.

6. Tbnt until a person shall Iwve paid all fiaes and moneys duo by him on account of books detained, lost, or damaged, he shtdl not bo entitled to use the circulating library.

7. That every person before being admitted to use thd librarj', ahull sign an undertaking to observe and be bound by tha rulca of the library, in a book to bo kept for that purpose. Cr Bawden moved that the report be amended that only too outsiders be elected on the Committee. . ' •

Cr Marshall seconded.

Cr Alennie moved as .an amendment that the number be as provided in the report. This was carried. Cr Bawden moved that for the library privileges, others than Borough ratepayers or residents be charged 10s per annum.

Cr Mennie seconded. He would like J to see a higher rate imposed than on Borough ratepayers. Cr Osborne moved that the charge to ratepayers be 10a per annum, and to nonratepayers 15s. Cr Wilson seconded. Cr McGowan further moved that the charge to non-ratepayers be 7s 6d and to ratepayers 5s per annum. This latter being seconded by Cr Marshall was carried. DEPRESSED FINANCES. Cr MoGowan moved—"That Government be informed that unless we are assisted financially, we shall have to renounce our liability of charitable aid." Cr Mennie seconded. This was carried without comment, and the Chairman empowered to telegraph it to Wellington. LOCAL INDUSTRY. The Town Clerk laid on the table some samples of pottery-ware, manufactured by Mr W. Plant from Thames clays, and also some samples of a pigment manufactured by Mr Edwards, which, he considered, would do for printer's ink. Mr Plant desired that his articles should be deposited in the Public Library, and preserved as a curiosity for future generations to gaze on and meditate over.

It was resolved to accept them with thanks, and the Council adjourned.