Thames Borough Council.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3518, 5 April 1880, Page 2

Thames Borough Council.

A special meeting convened by His Worship the v Mayor re the Water Supply question was held at the Council bers this morning. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Crs Wilson, Osborne, McGowan,. Speight, Bawden, Marshall, and Wilkinson (who entered after the reading of the agreement.)

The Mayor said he thought it would be well if at this meeting, and at all others the standing orders should be strictly adhered to; the business would be gone through rapidly and pleasantly. Some time ago they were instructed to get the question of the Water Supply settled, as it had been hanging fire for some time. He had seen the County Chairman and. Councillors, and had come to an arrangement which he thought would be agreed to by the council. He had instructed Mr Miller to provide a rough draft of an agreement which he would ask the Town Clerk to read.

The Town Clerk read the agreement as follows :—

This Debd made the —— day of 1880 between the Chairman, Councillors, and inhabitants of the Thames County (hereinafter called " The County") of the one part; and the Mayor, Councillors, and burgesses of the Borough of Thames (hereinafter called "The Borough") of the

other part— Witnesseth that in consideration of the sum of £3500 to be paid by the General GoTernmeHt of New Zealand to the said County. The said County do hereby assign and transfer unto the said Borough its suooeseors, and assigns, All the right, title, and interest of the said County of in and to all and singular the property and assets of every kind and description whatsoever and wheresoever of and belonging to the Thames Water Supply Committee or in which tbty may have any estate, right or interest, together with all the rights, easements, and appurtenances thereto belonging, And also all ohoses in action, and the benefit of all contracts and engagements made and entered into by the Council, and ali rights of representation and all other rights, powers, benefits and advantags which the said Council receive or may exercise or are entitled to under or by virtue of. "The Thames Water Supply Act 1876," or otherwise howsoever to hold the premises unto the said Borough its successors and assign absolutely. And this deed further witnesseth that,for the consideration aforesaid the said County Council do hereby agree that upon the Race with the water therein, known as the " Thames Water Race," being legally transferred to and b scorning vested in the said County the said County will allow, without other change or compensation, the use by the said Borough, within the Borough boundaries, of the lastnamed Water Race Supply for all purposes not connected with goldmining or quartz crushing or anything incidental or conducive thereto upon the terms and conditions following, that is to say:— '„ ■1. The nine-inch main of the Domestic Supply at the junction of the two services at Albert street shall be always kept amply supplied with water from the Thames Race, and available for immediate use by the said Borough, the valves being kept open (excepting at times when repairs are necessary.)

2. That the opening and closing' of the valves at the junction shall be under the control of the said County.

3. That it is distinctly understood that no water taken from the Thames Race shall be granted or used by the said Borough for goldmining or quartz crushing purposes, or anything incidental or conducive thereto or connected therewith.

4. Whenever the Domestic Supply thall fall below the actual requirements of those parts of the town which are not connected with the nine-inch main, then the said County will supply water to the extent required and subject to the same conditions, and herein before provided, in respect of the Albert street junction, by permitting the said Borough to conneot with the Thames race at such place as the parties may agree upon.

If they cannofc agree then an engineer* to be appointed by the General Government, ""to settle that pnint with which a connection nan best be established, regard being had to the efficiency and proper working of the Thames Race, and the necessities of the said Borough.

5. That all oipenee of connection is to be borne by the Borough. 6. That it is specially understood^that all the mains and services belonging lo the Domestic Supply are to be kept in thorough good order and repair by the said Borough, so as to prevent waste.

7. That the said Oounty shall at all times be entitled to convey or deliver through any of the mains or other pipes belonging to the said Borough or the said Mains of Water Supply Committee free of all cost, charge, or expense to the said County all or any water which may be required for goldmining *tor quartz crushing purpose?, or anything incidental or conducive thereto or connected therewith s and that either within or without the Borough boundaries.

8. That the said Borough shall not at any time charge for any water supplied by them at a less rate than that charged for the water for the time being supplied by the said Oounty.

9. If at any time by reason of defects or for other reasons the said County should determine not to repair or renew the 20-inch main now connecting with Albert street and their reservoir, they, undertake to connect immediately therefrom with the nearest or other best point on the Heo of the nine-inch mains belonging to the Domestic supply south of its present termination near the Governor Bowen Hotel in Owen street, the said Oounty paying the expense of such connection.

The Mayor said they had heard the agreement read and be thought when it was carefully looked into they would see the County agreed to everything they required. They could supply water for all motive power except batteries, which they must remember they never looked for as the supply was quite inadequate for such purposes, indeed the Queen, of Beauty battery alone which had 20 stampers used between one and two million gallons of water per day. He thought that no more favorable terms could be given by the County Council than those now offered.

Cr Marshall moved that the offer be accepted.

This failed to find a seconder.

Cr Wilkinson said that before a motion was proposed he would like to read it. IJe wished to know why this meeting had been called at such an unearthly hour as 10.30, which was most inconvenient to himself. On Saturday he was refused information that hitherto had always been cheerfully given him.

The Mayor said he had requested the Town Clerk to call the meeting at 11 o'clock, but he had summoned it at 10.30. They couldn't suit Cr Wilkinson's convenience. Cr Speight said that while the agreement was being read he made a few memos, and at first glance he could not endorse the favorable opinion expressed concerning it by His Worship the Mayor. He did not wish to obtrude his private grievances on the Council, but he must say that as long as he was a member of the Council he would not permit work that had been placed in his hands by the Council to be carried out by His Worship without reference to him• self. This had been done. Although he was a member of the subcommittee appointed by the Council to act re the settlement of the water supply he had not been -consulted, and-indeed secresy had been enjoined on.the Town Clerk. When he enquired if there was any important business of the Town Clerk in His Worship's presence the Town Clerk led him to believe there was none, the Mayor by his silence giving tacit consent to this statement. He moved that the consideration of the agreement be deferred till Thursday evening. , The Mayor said that if Mr Speight saddled himself with a certain amount of disrespect to the Mayor of this city— (Cr Speight: State it). If Cr Speight had saddled himself with the charges he had made against the speaker, the boot would be on the right leg. He might say that Cr Speight had had an agreement prepared by Mr Miller, as Borough solicitor, and had carried it about in his pocket persistently for weeks, and never consulted him*. The question of the Water Supply was no nearer settled than it was months ago, and Cr Speight had grossly mismanaged the trust, and really never attempted to settle it. They should not look on the County Council as enemies, but as friends, and Cr Speight should have gone to them; Cr Speight did not state in which way the agreement was objectionable, and moved in an offhand way that the matter be postponed. This would cause its postponement for a month, and perhaps for ever. He trusted they would not protract this very vexed question any longer. Cr Speight said the only point he •wished to set right was discourtesy to His Worship the Mayor. His statement with regard to a deed was incorrect. During the Mayor's Hot Springs trip, he (the speaker) had had an agreement presented to him for signature, and he called the Council together, it being unsatisfactory in his judgment. The Council agreed with him, and he looked on the agreement it valueless. It had been discussed point by point and left on the table. (The Mayor) "Excuse me, Mr Speight, where is that deed? Mr Dean has it not, Mr Miller has it not, you have it not. Then where is it P " Cr Speight said he attached no importance to it whatever, as the Council had refused to agree to the terms. Cr Bawden then moved an amendment to the effect that the deed be ] discussed at i meeting to be held tomorrow afternoon. This was carried.

This concluded the husiness.