Thames Borough Council.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3618, 31 July 1880, Page 2

Thames Borough Council.

The adjourned fortnightly meeting of the Council was held last evening. Fre" sent—Crs Graham (in the Chair), Wilson, Wilkinson, Mcnnic, Osborue and Me* Go wan. THE PUMP. A letter was received from the Secretary to. the Moanatairi G.M.Co. of the intention of that company to stop the pump in October next. Received. WAIOTAHI HILL. A letter was. read from a number of residents in this locality asking that a footpath be constructed over the Moanatairi and Golden Crown mines and was referred to the Works Committee. APOLOGY. The absence of Cr Marshall was apologised for by Cr Wilkinson. APPKOACH TO OBPHANAGE BBIDGE. Mr E. N. Smith wrote asking the-

Council to make a cart read approach to the Orphanage bridge, he undertaking to have the approach fenced. Eeferred to Charitable Aid Committee. DEFECTIVE C BOSSING. Mr Edwards'letter calling attention to the dangerous state of the cart crossing made by the Alburnia company over the Tararu road, was referred to Works Committee. ADVANCE BATES. ' A letter was read from Government in reply to a request by the Council that the Government would advance the sum of £2500 on the rates, to be repaid within four years, regretting inability to do so. The letter was received. The Town Clerk said the request had evidently been made by Cr Speight on their behalf. The Council had not made it. BATES. Mr Wilson, manager of the Gas Works, wrote stating that he did not consider it was fair to rate the gas mains, as the gas company could in no way be benefited by it.

It was resolved to inform Mr Wilson that the Council had no power to interfere in the matter.

The managers of the Union Bank and Bank of New South Wales, and Mr M. Browne wrote stating they considered the amounts charged for water for the ensuing year excessive, as their respective properties were merely offices nnd not dwelling houses. The writers admitted that they slept on the premises, but did not think that that constituted them dwelling houses. It was resolved that as the writers reside on the premises tbe rate could not be altered. MISCELLANEOUS. The manager of the Golden Crown mine (Mr T. A. Dunlop), wrote making application for permission to lay down a box tail race under tbe railway in Golden Crown street from the water table to the battery. A sketch of the proposed work was sent with tbe application. The matter was referred to the Works Committee with power to act. Messrs J. J. O'Brien and Co., railway contractors, applied to the Council for permission to draw some empty trucks from Bella street to the reclamation near the wharf. * The Town Clerk said the waggons had flange wheels. The law prohibited such trucks to run along the public roads. The application was granted on the condition that the applicants should repair the damage done to the streets, should any occur. , < A number of residents in the Waiotahi creek wrote complaining of the scarcity of water for domestic purposes, and asking the Council to look into the matter. Referred to the Turncock to report. Mr George McCaul wrote agreeing to retain the 9in. mains for another year in accordance with the terms stated in the communication of the Council. The action of the Committee in the matter was confirmed. Mr Stewart, the District Engineer wrote stating that he had submitted the plan of the proposed railway crossing in Panau street, to the Engineer in charge of the North Island. He was sorry he could not add his recommendation, the proposed crossing was only eleven chains from the Mary street crossing. Letter received. The sum of £78, the Borough's share in the gold duty for May and June had been received from the Secretary to the Treasury. Another communication stated that £236 13s Bd, amount of subsidy on charitable aid expenditure to the 31st March had also been placed to the credit of the Borough. ' j The deed conveying the endowment of the Borough at Te Aroha was received. BBFOBT OF WOBKS COMMITTEE. The Works Committee reported as follows: —" The Committe have to report that the approach to Albert street wharf has been repaired,.and is now in a passable condition. That the dynamite has been remove i from the drive in the Tookey Company's ground to the powder magazine. That the Poundkeeper has been authorised to expend a few shillings in the erection of a shelter for animrls in the public Found. And that the application of the men lately at work for the Council to do certain parts of asphalt-laying on the Mary street footpath does not meet with the approval of your oommittee, who recommend that asphalt work be stopped for two months, at the expiration of that time the men be engaged to prepare a considerable quantity of asphalt ready for laying as soon as the dry season of the year commences. With regard to the houses encroaching on Queen street, between Willoughby street and Shortland wharf, the committee find this property is the leasehold of Mr James Benshaw, it being leased from Mr W. H. Taipari, and has about nine years to run. Mr B.3Hshaw has sub let this land, and with the tenants in occupation the Council would have to arrange as well as with Mr Kenshaw. One of the tenants, Mr W. Parker, would be willing to remove provided the Council paid the cost of pulling down and re-erecting his house and stables on some other allotment. The Waiotahi culvert, at the beach end, is filled with debris; the Borough workmen are now engaged cleaning it out, the gravel fit for use on the roads being deposited on the streets."

Cr McGowan moved the adoption of the report. Cr Mennie seconded.

Cr Wilkinson .did not consider the Works Committee had acted for the best interests of the Borough in rejecting the offer of the discharged workmen to lay down asphalt when weather permitted, and ratepayers were willing to pay for the same being put down as soon as the work was completed. The Borough would receive the difference between the price paid to the workmen for spreading, viz., Is 2d per yard, and 2s Bd, the price to be paid by the ratepayers. The Council knew that asphalting had already been laid down in Mary and Pollen streets near Mr Wilkea' shop. By adopting the course suggested, good work would be completed without further expense to the Borough, in its present impecunious condition, whilst the men would be kept in the district. The report was adopted. The accounts for the month, amounting I to £20, were ordered to be paid. BAB FOOTPATHS. Cr Mennie suggested that some attention should be paid to that part of Que*n street near Judd's foundry, which was in a very bad state. The matter was referred to the Works Committee.

Several wants in the South Ward were brought under the notioe of the Council by Mr Wilkinson at the request of Cr Marshall, who was absent through indisposition. . The wants would be easily

supplied by a load or so of gravel to make the footpaths passable. The matter (after opposition from Cr McGowan) was referred to the Works Committee. Council then rose.