Thames Borough. Council.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3581, 18 June 1880, Page 2

Thames Borough. Council.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Borough Couic'l was held last evening. Present—His Worship the Ma'or, Crs Wilson, McGowan, Menr/e, Wilkinson, Marake 1'!. Bawden, and Osbovae. :

THJ3 MINDTEB

The minutes of the previous nieeiihg were read, rlso the minutes of the special meeting re the action o2 the L:cens''ng Commissioners.

Cr McGowan drew attention to the fact that no notice had been t»ken in the minutes of his written protest against the Council taking any steps with regard to the action of the Commissioners in closing the hotels.

A hunt took place amongst the documents of the last meeting and the protest being produced was entered on the ntinutes.

LETTERS SENT,

A precis of the outward correspondence since last meeting was read ever. A letter was received from the Police Department caPing attention to the dangerous state of the Karaka foot bridge, beach. This matter had been attended to.

WAIOTAHI FOOTPATH,

A letter was read from a number of Waiotahi Creek residents drawing attention to the impassable state of the footpath. Befen'ed to Works Committee.

SEBASTOPOL HOUSE

A letter was read from B. Burr a, agent for Mr De Hirsh, ytith reference 10 Sebastopol House, stal'ng that the on which it stood had been leased to Messrs Sargent and Bronaeand the term had not expired.

THE PUMPING QUESTION

A letter was received from the Moanatairi Pumping Association, making a formal demand for the Bum of £150 said to bo doe to them on account of a pro* miscd grpnt of aid to the pump. It was resolved to inform the writers that the application cannot be entertained.

THE SAILWAT CROSSING.

A letter was received from the District Engineer, stating that he could not recommend the railway crossing, as proposed by the plan made by the Foreman of Works, at Amy street, principally becauee the turning was not witie enough. The Town Clerk read copies of correspondence on the matter. The Mayor suggested that the Foreman of Works be instructed to alter bis plan so that the wishes of the Engineer might be complied with.

The Foreman said it could be done, but it would alter the estimate.

Cr Wilkinson suggested that the Fore* man bring up a new estimate at next meeting.

The Mayor said that time was passing, and a large number of persons were suffering for the want of the crossing. He asked Mr Kawdon what would be the rough estimate of the alteration in the crossing.

Mr fiawdon: About £70; "and a1! that."

Cr Wilkinson spoke against any money being expended till the estimate came before the Council.

The Mayor pointed out that a considerable portion of the cost bad been subscribed privately. What would be the result if the Borough made the road n the face of Mr Stewart's letter P

Cr Bawden mored tbe reference of the matier to the Works ComDittoe with power to act. Cr McGowa a said he was glad that Mr Stawart nrade the objection. A rop.d 13 feet wide would be en aboraon a id money tb -owj away.

The Mayor said they had not sufficient fends to make a wider road.

Cr Osborne moved that the maUer be refei-rd to the Works Committee. He objected to power bei >g given to the Committee 'o act.

Cr Bawden said the reason he had wished to give the Committed power to act was the urgent necessity of the work.

The Mayor said that simply referring the matter to the Works Committee was shelving it. A large number of snail vessels came to the herd, c id the want of the crossing would have i serious effect on the trade of the place. He had reason to believe that the residents would subscribe enother £10 not?. They had already subscribed £19. He thought the Engineer was laughing at them, as he said that if they wanted a railway they would have to put up with the inconvenience. He urged the construction of the cross:ng at once. -

Cr McGowpn said that the Engineer refused to let them use the batter, and consequently, another estimate would have to be made.

The Mayor said the Eagineer was not the GoTeinment. Civil setrr its look too much on themselves, and sometimes acted to the inconremence of the pablic. Cr Osborne thought the crossing should be made across the embankment at Pahau slreet, though that would entail the tuifl'ng of the Karska creek. He objected to a crossing at Amy street, which led nowhere but to Cr Graham's rllotments.

The amendment was then put and cauied.

THE DIAMOND CHILL.

A letter was read from the M"'nes Department stating on what terms the diamond rock boring machine might be hired. Received.

Cr McGoffan mored that oar members be requested *o endeavor to orocure the use oi the drill for the district without cost. Cprrled.

COUET FEEB

A letter was received from the Department of Justice stating that the Cleric of the Court oc*3d il'egalij when he created the Inspector of Nuisances and Relieving Officer as a public officer under the Aci —exempting him from the fayment of Court fees.

The Town Clerk pointed out that this was a breach of faiih on the part of the Government, who bid iromisei tie Council in taking over tae Charitable Institutions fiat they wou d be pnt to no other expense. Cr McGrowan moved that the matter be laid before Sir G. Grey. Carried.

TEtEGBAMS

A telegram was receive! from Cr Swight concerning t'?e progress of the V? ate? Supply Bill. Seven \ other tele- & ams on, tte same subject; were taken es read.

WOBES COMMITTEE BEPOBT. The report of the Works Committee was read over.

The Works Committee have to report that they have ordered the crossing near Mr Short's, in Ovran stroel, to be repeirei, and the drnius at corner of Mackay aud 3ealey street referred to in Mr J. B-ien's letter, cleared out. The committee visittd the whole of the north word, an i direct 3d the following works to be done by the Foreman of Works: —Footpath in Tararu road, from the Turaru

School House to Kui::nui batter/, and 50 yards of metel to be spread in the ruts and worst places of this road in addition to the 42 yards already spread thereon. The repairs to breaches caused by the sea in that psrt of the road between rocky point and the slaugh-ter-house ; the committee examined the metsl oomposing rocky point, bat do not recommend its use on Borough roads. Moanatairi aqueduci;. This structure is leak'ng considerably, and thus earning iuju y to Coromandel street. The committee advise that some sheets of iron ba purchased of the County Council, bent to shape and lad in the aqueduct where necessary. Ooromandel street: This BL'eet is to' be scraped and 20 yards of metal filled in the ruts and worst places. Moanatairi Bead: The ruts in this road to be fill«d with hard mullock end ashes from the batteries. Golden Crown street: This street is to be scraped when necessary, and 50 yards of metal put in the.ruts and worst places. Waiotahi road: All places requiring repair to be filled in with ha**! mullock. Pollen street (between Albert and Abraham streets): The road to be scraped, and the ruts a:id worst pis es to be repaired with 20 yards of metal. Thr's to be in addition to the 84 yards a 1 ready used. Ooohrane street, Mary street, and Pollen street, between the saw-mill end Giey street: 100 yards of metal to be \>«ed in repairing these streets. The committee hare gir^n notice to Mr James (of the Caledonian) to cease depositing mullock- on the Moanatairi roadway, a most dangerous prcctice to passers by ; also to cut the water channel on the south side of the road, which he has filled in by coyering mullock over it. Mr John Brown (of Tararu) hits had his attention called to the danger to children end pedestrians bis flume or taiK-.ce causes by net been covered for some distance on each side of the road u^der which it passes, and has been requested to remove this cause of danger.

The report wes receved and adopted

ELECTORAL BOLL

The Committee formed to ascertain the best mode of adding names to the Electoral Roll reported as follows:—The Committee, after seeing the R?git.trar of Electors, recommend that he be asked to meet a committee of the Council and compare the electoral roll with the miner's rights list, the defend: nts list, Resident Magistrate's Court, and the Borough pnd Cornty burgess and ratepayer's rolls ; and any names shown as being on those lists or rolls, that at present pre net on the elactorel roll, be added by the Registrar thereto. The committee do not recommend that rnyone be engaged to collect names until after the electoral roll has been printed.

A NEW BYE-LAW.

The bye-law in reference to the charges to be paid on water was read. Cr Wi'k'nion proposed that the bye'aw be held over until the result of the Bill sow before the House is known. Cauied.

ACCOUNTS.

The wages sheet of £42 8s was passed and ordered to be paid.

THE YEAB'S RATES.

Cr Mennie moved the following resolution in accordance with notice previonsly given":—

" Ib*t a general ra'e of one shUling in the £ be, and it, hereby mt "eon the rateable Take of property wif bin the Borough of lhames. Also a librrry ratr of one penny in the £ be, pud is hereby made on the rateable value of euch proparty aforesaid; j* id also a water rate for ordinary supply and extraordinary supply be made as follows:— Upon eU lands and buildings to wbfch wat.r M supplied whose rateable value on the Valuation 801 lof the Borough of Thames does not exceed twelve pounds ten ehWings, a rate of ten shillings per annum : Exceeds twelve pounds ten shillings, but does not exceed one hundred pounds, a rate of six per cent, on such value; Exreeds one hundred pounds, but does not exceed two hundred pou id«, a rate of six per cent, on such value; Exceeds iwo hundred pounds, but does not exc>ed three hundred pounds, a rate of five per cent, on such vrlue ; Exceedi three hundred pounds, a rate of four per cent, on such value; Upon all lrnds »nd buildings to which water can he but is not supplied, situate within one hundred yavda from any part of the watar works, a rate of one bslf of the rates above mentioned; " Upon all bui dings used f.j stores and ware* houses, or for any purposes other th?n as dwelling homes, a rate of two and a-half per cent, on such rateable ve'ue; And in respect of the extraordinary water supply, euch rates as may be fixe 1 by any bye-Jnw to be hereinafter ma le in that behe!f, or as may ba agrsed upon subject to tny such bye-law with any person receiving such supply; Taat such rates be and are respectively made for a period of one jeer, commencing ou the Ist day of July, 1830, and ending ou the 30th June, 1881 i and that euch general rate and such libr.uy rate be and ar» payable in one sum on the 2nd day of July, 1880, «id that such water rate be and is payablo in iwo equal instalments on the 2nd day of July, 1880, and 2nd January, 1881, at the office of the Borough Council, Albert stwe*."

Tn pioopsing the motion Cr Mennie said he dil so with some diffidence. He was afiiad that bis resolution would act unequpUy, and if there was a way of modifying it, he should be much in faror of doing so/ He would like to see the rate far equally on all. Cr McGowan mored "that the resolution be taken by clause." Tl is was agreed t>. The first th *cc clauses of the resolution were carried.

On the fourth clause,

Cr Wil'rnson moved thai the amount be reduced from 7 per cent, to one-half that rtnovat.

The Town Clerk s id he had made a calculation, the result of wh:ch was that the prople who paid £1 under the old system, would now pay £1 0* 2d, those who paid £1 would pay £114s, and some who paid £1 before would only pay 18s, those who paid £2 would pay £2 13* 3d. There would only be oao or two cases in which ratepayers would pay on under £)00 and over £12 10s per rnnum. Thsre was revj little actual difference.

Cr McGowan: I think I can show more.

Cr Marshall: I can mention a dozen without thinking.

Cr McGowan moved that the percentage be reduced from seven to fire per ceit.

Cr Osbcrne said he should very much lika to support such a resolution if he thought it would be sufficient to v.ipe off the liabilities of tue Borough.. Cr McGowan: A rate of 25 per cent, would not do that.

Cr Mennie said ho sympathised with the last speaker, and thought that the ratepayers should be relieved of as much rates as possible. At the present time when business was so bad it was their duty as Councillors to lighten as much as possible the burden borne by the ratepayers. He thought five per cent, was as much as they could expect tLe ratepayers to pay, and he considered it a very fair cuarge. The amendment was cavried.

Cr McGowan moved that the names be taken down.

His' Worship : "No one seconds it; go on to the next clause."

Cr McGowan said it was not necessary to second his motion. He wished the names to be taken dona.

His Worship: We were nearly unani* mous; however, I will but the amendment and then Cr McGowan will be satisfied.

The amendment was then pat and carried unanimously. The sth and 6th clauses were agreed to.

In the next clause, Cr Wilkinson moved that the rate be altered from % to | as he considered it would press heavily on the poor people. Cr Mennie said he had put brnuelf in a fe'se position. The Mayor: You have put yourself ii a very fp'se position indeed, as he had brou«at forward a resolution, end then voted aga'nst it. Cr Mennie said the Chair jib n had no ripht to cast a slur on him.

The Mayor said he had a perfect right to say what he liked.

Cr Mennie: Then I challenge your decision, Mr Mayor.

On Cr Wilkinson's motion being put, the Town Clerk said the reduction could not be made.

Cr Wilkinson : I did not come here to argue with the Town Clerk, I came to pass a resolution. Cr Wilkinson's mo. ion was agreed to. The next three clauses were also agreed to. ■•■'■• . •■■

Cr McGroWfi said that with the Council's pei mission he would like to say that Cr Mennie was not at all in the wrong when voting for his resolution as amended. Cr Mennie,with rM due deference to the rul'Bg of His Worship, was qcite ?n order. Cr Mennie sa:d that he proposed a resolution, and tbat if he disagreed with any of the clauses in it, he had a perfect right to do so. Cr Wilkinson said that the mistake had occurred through Councillor Mcnnie's taking the sums set forth in the Act as being f xed instead of being the maximum f nounts.

Cr Mennie and he thought the Counc :l did not really know what they were doing byvoting as they had done. His Worship said Mr Mecnie's langnage was most disrespectful to the ouncil.

At this juncture the firebells sounded the alarm and the Council adjourned.