BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3470, 7 February 1880, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

No sooner had Mr Whitaker made himself comfortable at the Pacific Hotel yesterday afternoon than a deputation from the Borough Council, consisting of His Worship the Mayor, Crs Speight, Marshall, Bawden, Osborne and Wilson, waited on him for the purpose of inter* viewing him on certain matters of

importance to the Borough. The Mayor brought under Mr Whitaker's notice the vexed question of charitable aid. He pointed "out that in consequence of the heavy and unfair deductions made by the Government for the support of charitable institutions they had been compelled in self-defence to take the sole management of charitable institutions in the district. The deductions were unfair because the Thames had always provided for its own sick. In two yearsno less a sum than £2309 had been deducted from them, and Qnding it was not a just charge they now came to Mr Whitaker to request a refund of that sum.

Mr Whitaker: Did you ever make its application before.

The Mayor : Oh yes—several times. Mr Whitaker: Since when have you taken over the distribution of Charitable Aid.

Mr Dean : Since the latter part of 78. Mr Whitaker : Well I never heard of this matter before; but if you will supply me with the papers I will go into the matter, and if I find the claim is good I will advocate its settlement.

The Mayor said there was another matter they wished to speak about. The late Superintendent, Mr Williamson, promised that if the Borough maintained the seawall along the Tararu Eoad, at the end of the lease the- tramway would be handed over to them. The' tramway would fall into the hands of the Government in 1881, and they wished thab steps be taken Ao have the promise carried out.

Mr Whitaker promised to look into the matter.

Mr Dean informed Mr Whitaker that though the Orphanage was now open, and had committed children in it, it was not gazetted. He pointed out that though the House had vofed £800 towards the erection of the Orphanage, only £525 had been given to them. The total cost of the Orphanage was over £1600, and they wished to obtain the balance of the vote.

Mr .Whitaker asked Mr Dean to supply him with a memorandum of their wants in this respect.

The Mayor briefly referred to the indebtedness of the Borough, and the necessity of the Government refunding the deductions made. The Mayor : I would like to speak to you about the railway. Mr Whitaker: We had it out pretty fully the other day. The Mayor: But the matter is really of such vital importance, Mr Whitaker, that we would almost strain every nerve to have it carried. I just want to show you that the river is not navigable. In my business, for instance, I can send a ton to London for from 30s to 40s, and to get the same quantity up the Waihou costs £2. The Mayor also referred to tiie fact of the sleepers being sent to Whnngarei. Mr Speigfct pointed out to Mr 'Whitaker that the money to be expended on railway works at Waikato and Thames had been passed in three votes. Mr Whitaker said that he had not been aware of that facfc, and asked Mr Speight to supply him with a memorandum to that effect. ! In reply to the Mayor he again referred

to his diffidence in assisting the railway, from the fact that he owned land on the line. He assured them he would do nothing to impede ifc. The deputation thanked Mr Whitaker and withdrew, after obtaining a promise from him to visit the High School buildings this morning.