Thames Borough Couuoil.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3475, 13 February 1880, Page 2

Thames Borough Couuoil.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Council was held last evening.. Present— His Worship the Mayor, Crs Marshall, Bawden, McGowan, Osborne, and Speight. TENDSItS 90S 800 COLLABS. Teiders for a supply of dog collars

were received: E. Gibbs, 8d; Culpitt, 7|. Culpitt's tender was accepted. THE OBPHANAGB SCHOOL. . ■ A letter w»s*read from the Board of Education deferring consideration of the Council's request that the Board place the Orphanage oa the same standing as the Howe street (Auckland) Institution, till after the Inspector's visit. Received. ■\;.-. RATES. A letter having been received from C. Palmer asking time to pay his asphalt rate, the Town Clerk was instructed to receive it in instalments. Mr G. Lovett wrote to the effect that he had sold his property for which he was rated to the Board of Education. He enclosed 10s, half the amount of the rate. It was resolved to demand the full amount. HBECTION OF BOILER. A letter was read from L. Ehrenfried applying for permission to erect a steam engine and chimney stack on his premises, Mackay street. OBPHANAGE. The Secretary to the Orphanage Committee applied that the Council authorise the erection of 6 or 7 chains of fencing on the Orphanage grounds. The application was granted. FIBE BBIGADE HOLJDAY. Mr Geo. Price, Superintendent of tb.e G.V.F.8., wrote asking the Couucil to grant the Borough workmen,; who are members of the Brigade, a holiday for today. Granted. INSPECTOR 01? SLAUGHTBB-HOUSES BEPOBT. The Inspector of Slaughter-houses reported that during 1879, 11,565 head of cattle large and small were killed in the Thames abattoirs. ' HEALTH OFFICEB's BEPOBT. The report of this official showed that no deaths had occurred in fhe Borough during January—a circumstance that had never previously occurred since the proclamation of the Borough. The health. of the Borough generally was good.

BEPOBT 01? FOREMAN OF WOBKS. .. The Foreman of Works reported as follows :—The water tables and asphalting on the east- side of Pollen street are progressing very satisfactorily. The roadway in Mackay street. between Willoughby street and BiclimoDd street is being filled in 18 feet wide, and at odd times the drains and culverts are all being cleaned out throughout the 'Borough. These have constantly to be attended to, as through the dry weather complaints are continually being made in Short laud. The contractors, O'Brien and Thompson, have laid a box drain 18 inches square, and 50 feet Jong (without being tarred) across the end of Hichmond street on an angle of lOin. in 50 feet. I consider the angle too. sharp; and my opinion is that at the first fresh the drain will be silted up—as through this drain must come all the refuse from Block 27. ' BELIEVING OFFICER. In the report of this officer it was showed that during January there had been 36 names on the list receiving rations at a cost of £30 5s Bd. He regretted to state that two of the widows receiving poor relief had lately increased their families. TABA.RU SEAWALL. , The Foreman of Works reported certain damage to the seawall on the Tararu road. The.cost of repairing would be £12. It was resolved that the work be done. ASPHALT. The Committee of the whole Council reported that in view of the limited means at the disposal of the Council it was inadvisable to employ more men for asphalting. v . FINANCE COMMITTEE'S BEPOBT. The Finance Committee recommended that £300 be procured to pay the pressing accounts. Cr Mennie, as one of the Finance Committee, said, that they- had accounts amounting so about £600 to meet, and the Committee had thought that the Council might raise halt that sum by mortgaging the Council Chambers. ' . After some discussion it was resolved to leave the matter in the hands of the Mayor and Town Clerk. . BE THE EAILWAY. Mr McGowau moved a notice placed on the paper by Cr Wilkinson to the effect that a report be prepared of the action taken by the late Mayor re the acquirement of land for the railway within the Borough. The Town Clerk said, in accordance with the motion, he had prepared the following report showing the action taken by the (ate. Mayor relative to certain claims for compensation for land required for railway purposes at Shortland:— In January, 1579, the honourable the Minister for Works authorised the Mayor to enter into uegotitions with owners of land within Borough of Thames through whose property the line of railway would pass. On the 29tYof January plan showing land required was received from Government. On the first week of February the Mayor requested all persons through whose property the line would pass (as shown by plan in Mayor's ,possession) to Vend in claims for compensation required, by the beginning of j March. The following claims were received :—Peterson, leasehold, £250; Wilson, weekly tenant, £,10; Kenshaw, leasehold, £250 ; Avery, leasehold, £150; Thames Produce Co, leasehold, £192 ; Dodd, leasehold, £235 ; Driver, leasehold £691; Stone, no title to land, £1904; Natire Owners, freehold. £1000. On the first of April the Majror appointed Captain Fraser to enquire into and ascertain if the claims could be arranged, who, after four months, returned papers to the Mayor, having found claims so unreasonable that in all probability they would come before him to decide upon under the Public Works Act, or else Government would divert the line a, chain; or so more seaward, and not touch any of the properties. After this the Mayor asked persons interested to meet him, and, after a long conversation with them, agreed if fair reductions were made to recommend | Government to agree to same, but gave the persons present to understand that, as a whole, the claims sent iv were preposterous and unreal, that they were asking in many cases five times the value of the freehold for their (the claimants') interests in the .leasehold. Mayor then wrote Government, asking authority to appoint persons to value on the part of Government. Government declined, but said wLfea claimants severally made a. claim that the Mayor could agree to as just and reasonable to forward the same lor approval. The Mayor saw the Hon Minister for Works in Wellington, who said claims were so out of all proportion it would be better for Government to change course of line, or take the land under the Public Works Act, and proceed

with claimants thus. The Mayor also saw the Native Mjnislor on the matters at the Thames. Showed him the claims put in, and went orer the ground with him. The Native Minister said if the railway was wanted, people should show a reasonable spirit. That the Government were opposed to go into Court unless compelled; would consult as to deviation of line. People, if so stupid to offer obstruction to line, would have to suffer for it. The claim of one gentleman, as will be seen from plan, would, if taken, to the Compensation Court, under the Public Works Act, be nil, the slip on which he at present builds his ships being on the public road, and the property he ownaj.has no right to a river frontage, a" road being between- his property and the river; therefore whatever amount may be awarded him, would be as an act of grane, and not in payment of a right surrendered. —F. C. Dean. On the motion of Cr McGowau, seconded by Cr Osborne, it was decided to leave the whole nuatter of railway compensation in the Mayor's hands. WAIOTAHI BOAD LANDSLIPS. Cr McGowan spoke of the advisability of doing something* during the summer months to prevent landslips . on the Waiotahi road. The attention of the Works Committee was directed to this matter. I?IBE BATE ACT. - ; J. B. Mason, Inspector under the Fire Rate Act, reported that he had inspected a number of the chimneys and fireplaces in'the Borough, and found many of them defective. This concluded the business.