Thames Borough Couucil.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3454, 20 January 1880, Page 2

Thames Borough Couucil.

The adjourned meeting of the Council was held at the Chambers last evening. Present—His-Worship the Mayor, Crs Speight, Mennie, McGowan, Osborno, Bawden, Marshall, and Wilson.

THE MAYOE ON TIMPOEAHY WOIIKS

The Mayor drew attention to the enormous expense of temporary drainage. He had gone over the nccounts a few days ago, and found it was very considerable. He though! the time had come when they should expend the money now spent on temporary works on permanent works. He only wished to draw the attention of the Council to the matter. STATISTICAL. A letter was read from the Registrar General's office, applying for census statistics of the Borough. The writer asked for a return of the uninhabited houses.

Tbe Mayor said that from the prominence given to the uninhabited houses he thought that it had reference to the number of dilapidated uninhabited houses in the principal streets, which created a very unfavorable impression to visitors, and was a source of danger. He trusted thia matter would be considered soon by by the Council; Cr Speight said that the letter did not appear to be a circular. He surmised that in view of what had taken place in the House last session with reference to the Thames that this was a means of obtaining information for the purpose of diminishing the importance of the Thames district.

It was finally resolved to forward the required return.

GOLD DUTY,

A treasury voucher convering £52 10s gold duty was received.

CHARITABLE AID MATTER. The Town Clerk read a lengthy correspondence between the Government Provincial Relieving Officer, and the Borough relative to payments under the head ,of Charitable Aid, which affected the Borough's claim for a refund of certain Bums overcharged. The matter was left in the hands of the Mayor and Cr Speight.

IHE ORPHANAGE

The arbitrators award in the matter of the dispute between the Borough and Mr Stephenson, contractor for the Orphanage was read. It recommended that £56 3s be paid to Mr Stephenson— £13 less than the amount claimed.

LIBRARY COMMITTEE.

The report of the Library Committee was read as follows .—

"To His Worship the Mayor of Thames—Sir, —l have the honor by direction of the Public Library Comaiittee to inform you that the committee are unable to suggest any means for raising funds to pay the accounts due to the late Mechanics Institute creditors, but desire to earnestly press on the Council of the Borough of Thames, the necessity for taking some immediate steps to liquidate these accounts, they being very much over due. The draft rules for the management of the Library approved by the committee are submitted to the Councihfor adoption.—l have &c, F. C. Dean, Sec. to the Committee—l9th January 1880." . • * ■

LIBRARY BTTLES.

The Library Rules were read and adopted.

THE LIBRARY DEBT

The Mayor said it would not be advisable to levy a rate just now, as the expence of collecting such a small rate would swallow it up. The general rate would be struck in July, and they could then strike the library rate. They could either get the money from the Building Society, but the interest would be heavy. It had also been suggested that they should personally discount a bill for a few months until the proceed of the rate was available. -

Cr Osborne objected to the latter expedient. After some discussion it was agreed to borrow the money from the Building Society.

COMPLAINT AGAINST THE LIBRARIAN.

Mr Moon wrote, stating that he believed Mr Woodward, to be non compos mentis, that gentleman having made an attack on him about some Government paper. Referred to Library Committee.

TBAMWAY CBOSSING,

Captain Souter wrote asking for 30 days instead of one week to repair the tramway crossing on Tararu road, leading to the Big Pump as he would then know what it was intended to do with the Big Pump, and he would then either repair the crossing or remove the tramway altogether. 'Referred to Works Committeee with power to act.

ENDOWMENT.

The Town Clerk laid on tie table a plan showing the position of several small blocks at Te Aroba, opposite the Waitoke block, handed orer as an endowment to t'Le Council in lieu of the Waihou west No. 2 block.

WAGES SHEET. The wages sheet for the past fortnight was passed for payment.

CONCRETE FOB CULVERTS

The Foreman of Works laid on the table a block of concrete suitable for water tables. He reported that he was pursuing his investigations. -Cr McGowan moved that as an experiment, the Foreman of Works be instructed to lay down in Abraham street sections of a water table in concrete, aspbalte, and stone. * Cr Bawden seconded. He thought if they did not go to any great expense it would be a benefit to them.

Cr Mennie demurred to any cxpence being incurred for experiments when they could not pay for works they had carried out.

Cr Speight thought the experiments unnecessary. These have been made by other municipalities. It was simply a matter of calculation of cost of the different materials.

The motion was finally carried on the casting vote of the Mayor.

THE WATER SUPPLY,

Cr Mennie's notice of motion, re the consideration of the whole question of the" taking over the Water Supply, then came on for consideration.

The Town Clerk read the agreement made by the Hon. John Sheehan on behalf of tke Government, Mr McCullough for the Borough, and Mr Brodie for the County, re the handing over of the supply. The Council then went into Committee, and after a long discussion, it was resolved that the supply be taken over, that the Borough members of the Water Supply Committee be a committee to

devise means to raise money to pay off the necessary amounts, and that the Town Clerk be instructed to take the nece&sary steps in the matter of deeds, &c. This concluded the business.