Thames Borough Council.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3629, 13 August 1880, Page 2

Thames Borough Council.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Council was held last evening. Present— Crs Wilkinson (in the chair), McGowan, Osborne, Marshall and Bawdou. WATER. A letter was read from Mr Gidleigh, stating he did not want the water supply to his-hotel. He had a sufficient supply without it. The Town Clerk said that he Had written to Mr Gidleigh stating that the 1 rate would be the same it the water was turned off or not. The Council had gone to the expense of a connection- at his request. It was decided to refer the matter to. the Turncock for explanation. MACKAY STBEBT. .:.'■■ A letter was read from several residents of Mackay street drawing attention to the want of a and footpath in that street between Sealey and Richmond streets. Referred to the Foreman of Works to report. Mr McGowan suggested that probably the swampiness of this road was caused by the waste water from the. premises of one of the writers. He also took occasion to point to the bad state of the Public Library allotment. CHABITABLB AID. A letter was read from the Col. Secretary, asking full particulars of amounts expended by Borough on behalf of County for Charitable Aid, as it was evident they had made a double charge for the month of March. It was decided to supply the required informaton. BAILS. A letter was read from Messrs O'Brien and Thompson suggesting that application be made to the Government for the use of the rails used on the No. 2 railway contract which the writers had received instructions to pull up and stack on the embankment. It would be necessary to pay the writer £10 for the woodwork. It was resolved to adopt the suggestion. REMISSION OF BATBS. A letter was read from D. Miller, stating that as he had become the purchaser of the old Harbor View Hotel which was uninhabitable and intended to remove it he asked that the rates be remitted. The Council decided that they could not grant the request. A LEGAL QUESTION. Cr Mennie wrote asking were the Borough representatives entitled to retain their seats on the Hospital Committee now that the Government paid what was formerly contributed by the Borough. Cr McGowan and the Town Clerk expressed au opinion to the effect that the Borough members had a perfectly legal standing on thje Committee till its term expired. ' PUBLIC LIBEABT. A letter was read from the Secretary of the Board of Education stating that that body had approved of the list of books submitted by the Library Committee, and had authorised Messrs Upton and Co. to supply them at a cost not exceeding £92. Cr McGowan moved that the Govern* ment be written to with respect to the library. In taking it over the burgesses had depended on the Government subsidy, and the withdrawal of the same would affect its progress. Seconded by Cr Bawden and carried. In answer to a question, Cr McGowan assured the Chairman that the Library Committee were working as economically as possible, and had not even yet expended, moneys authorised by the Conncil. MAUHGAKEBIKEBI BLOCK. A letter was received from the Under* Secretary of the Native Department, stating that Mr G. T. Wilkinson had been instructed to negotiate for the purchase of the Maungakerikeri Block for the Borough. WAIOTAHI CULVBBT. A letter was read from Messrs A; and G. Price calling attention to the overflow of the Waiotahi culvert, which had done considerable damage in their foundry, destroying moulds, etc. This matter was dealt with in the Works Committee's report. WATER SUPPLY BILL. A telegram was read from Mr W. J. Speight announcing that the Water Snpply Bill had passed its tbird reading. DISPUTED WOBK9. With reference to the required repairs to the Karaka Boad culvert on the Borough boundary, the County Clerk wrote that his Council declined to aco ept any liability for works outside their boundary. WASTE WATEB. The Turncock reported that the utilising of the waste water from the Waiolahi ram for drinking purposes had already been authorised by the Water Supply Committee, and the work was in hand. . WOBKS COMMITTEE'S BEFOBT. The report of the Works Committee was read as follows:— " The committee have the honour to report that they have directed the Foreman of Works to form the track over the Waiotahi Spur, referred to in the letter of Messrs Hutchioson and others—tho track and footbridge not to exceed £3 expenditure. The , crossing at the Alburnia battery, on theTararn Boad, has been put in a passable condition by the Alburnia'Company. The committee have granted authority to the Golden Crown Gold Mining Company to lay down the box culvert or tail race, across Golden Grown street, to carry the water from the battery into , the water-table of the street, and discharge it into the Waiotahi culvert, tho work to bo done to the satisfaction of the Foreman of Works. With regard to the Waiotahi oulvert [upon which the Borough staff of workmen, carts and horses have been engaged clearing out for orer six dajs, your committee decided on the third current to cea»e farther work, as without considerable expenditure, and the employ ment of more hands no progress worth consideration can be made, as the debris from the mines has found its way under the bottom boards of the culvert, and forced them upwards within a few inches of the roof. About 40 to 60 feet of the culvert is in this state, and behind this etoppnge is a complete block of many hundred tons of mining dabrL— pieces of timber, root of trees, etc., extending almost to where the open culvert, ends in Burke street. To clean this culvert and re* ' lay the bottom will cost from £30 to £40, an expenditure the committee do not recommend as the culvert is so circuitous, and the outlet of the water so .confined. The. committee advise that the culvert be carried from the point where it enters Burke street in a straight line across the Beach road and made to discharge on north side of Goods Wharf. The estimated cost will be £129, and when completed will allow the water to escape readily. The culvert, the joint property of the County and Borough Councils, in the Karaka road has fallen in, and the waters escaping have undermined the ground under the footpath for about 12 feet in width, bj 14 or 15 feet in depth. As it was dangerous to life to be left until the sitting of the Council, the committee gave orders to have it at once put in repair and the large hole sheet-piled in front to pravent further earth slips at a cost of

seven pounds. The committee recommend that the water table of Queou street, t.etween Paiiau and Cochranc streets, be cleaned out, and tight, loads of gravel spread in the lowest places of the foutpatb: on thfl east side; that four loads of coarse gravel be spread on the footpath at the junction of Sealey and Baillie streets; that, on Mr Hogg laying down a pipe drain from the brewery to the water table on each tide of the entrance gate, the Foreman of Works spreads a load of gravel over each ; that the r >adway of Quean street, at its junction with Richmond street, be improved by a few loads of hard mullock ; that the drains on each side of Mackay and Baillie streets be cleaned oat, also the drain in Sealey street between Bollcston and Mackay streets ; that the roadway in Baillie street, from the stables of Mr Phillips and Mr Johnson to Willoughby street be metalled as soon as funds are in hand; and that Baillie street, from the Public Pound to Grey street bridge, be coated with rough gravel from the Kuhe or Kauaeranga creeks. A little child having fallen into the channel carrying tiie waters from the Queen of Beauty turbine, and the rush of water having carried her under one of- the culvert*, the committee, to prerent such an accident again, have had gratings fixed; at the mouth of both the long culverts through which this stream of water passes. The report was adopted. BEPOBT OF FOREMAN OF WORKS.

The report of the Foreman of Works on works done during past month was read and received. BEPOBT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE. The report of the Finance Committee was read. Their being some accounts in connection with the Fire Brigades that appeared to be for unauthorised work, they were referred to the Fire Brigade Committee. BEPOBT OF BELIEVING OFFICES. j The report of this officer for the past month snowed that during the month 37 persons had received rations at a cost of £31 5s 9£d. BEFOBT OF INSPECTOR OF StACGHTEBHOT7BES. The quarterly report fcf this officer was read and received. FIRE BBIGADE EXPENDITURE. Cr Osborne moved and Cr Marshall seconded that the Town Clerk prepare a return of the expenditure on the two Brigades for the year ended the 31st of June last. Carried. .■ : ■ * - THAMES AND WAIKATO RAILWAY BILL. The Chairman said that they would notice by the newspapers that Bir G.Grey had re-introduced the Thames and Waikato Railway BUI. He suggested that a telegram be sent to Sir G. Grey thanking him for his action, and as he had reason to know that their second member was not pulling with Grey, they might write requesting him to back up Sir George's action. ,' . . •"'-■" •'" It. was decided to communicate with the Thames and Waikato members iv accordance with the suggestion. \ : WATER. _" , '.TV A letter was read from Mr Onyon, lessee of the Shortland wharf, calling attention to the fact that, the water supply for the Shortland wharf was inefficient, the steamer Enterprise being unable to get filled in time, and had consequently to come, to the' Burke street wharf. After some discussion it was decided on the recommendation ofsthe Turncock to replace the present inch pipes with a two inch main from the four inch from Butt's corner to the wharf and relay the one inch pipes in Baillie street, where several residents had applied for water. : ' - OLD DEBT. ' '. , The Town Clerk said that the old Bright Smile Company owed the Borough £20 for rent of the.tramway to the battery. The Queen of Beauty now represented the Bright Smile. He asked what should .be done in the matter. It was decided to obtain the advice pf the Borough-solicitor. />'- . . -

BBPRMENTATIOH BILL.; Cr McGowan moved that Messrs Wilkinson, Osborne, Marshall and theaMnrer be a committee to confer with 4he Coatnty Council je the proposed electoral Won* daries.—Carried. r -, - -» x'u?.^ • OBSTRUCTIONS. ', ' '

It was resolved on the motion of Cr Bawden, to order the removal of certain obstructions' ta the Tararu road footpath. This conclnaed the business.