Thames Borough Council.

Thames Star, Issue 3807, 11 March 1881, Page 2

Thames Borough Council.

_, fi uiiy meenug oi mv Council was held last evening. Present —His Worship the Mayor, Ors Wilson, Osborne, Speight, and McGowan. CORRESPONDENCE OUTWARDS. The correspondence outwards were read over. THE LIBRARY. After the reading of the minutes, Cr Osborne said at last meeting two letters had been read regarding the discontinuance of certain papers by, order of the Library Committee, and which he had been informed were referred to in the report. This letter was not produced, and as there was no mention of it in the minutes, he took occasion to mention it. If he was assured the report would be brought up to-night, he would be content. Cr Speight: The report will be brought up. Cr McGowau pointed out that there was an inaccuracy in the minutes ; his resolution re Mary street footpath not appearing. The Town Clerk asserted that the minutes were correct and Cr McGowan was sure they were not. Eventually the minutes were signed. APOLOGY. Cr Wilson apologised for the absence of Cr Bawden, and the Mayor for that of Cr Marshall. LETTERS RECEIVED. From Charles Hill, giving notice that he had built a furnace for roasting hematite in Campbell street. Prom Mr W. Carpenter forwarding a copy of the counter petitiou against the merging of the Parawai District into the Borough. Received. From the agent of the Victoria Insurance, giving notice that the policy" on the Public Library was about to expire. On the motion of Cr Osborne, it was resolved to leaFe the matter to the Town Clerk to insure the property for £700, at the lowest rate. From Mr John Hislop, Secretary to the Central Board of Education, forwarding an account for £3 for the child Syvrett's passage to the Sumner Deaf and Dumb .Asylum. The account had been forwarded to him by mistake. Received.

The Town Clerk pointed out that the law required a copy of the Pounding Act to be posted at the public pound, whereas none were obtainable.

Cr Speight recommended application being made to the Government. He wanted to get some copies of the Provincial Fencing Acts, and Dick soon got them struck off for him.

From Whitaker and Eussell regarding the vexed question of the rating of the Moanatairi Water Supply Company, and asking if Mr F. Whitaker's a&d Mr Laurie's properties were not the same. The Town Clerk said they were different properties. Prom the County Council, declining to sell the Waio-Karaka reservoir to the Borough. From the Colonial Secretary, requesting that existing contracts re charitable aid, etc., be sent to the Auditor-General from time to time. From the Treasury, intimating that £241 8s Id, gold duty and goldfields revenue, had been remitted to tbe Borough Fund Account. ME BMITH'S APPLICATION. The Charitable Aid Committee recommended the granting of Mr Smith's appli. cation re the widening of the road through the Orphanage. The report was adopted.' KJ3POKT 01? WOBKS COMMITTEE. The report of the Works Committee was read as follows :—•" The Committee

consider it would be a considerable injurf to the roadway of Queen street to allow the tailings to be removed therefrom. They have on this accouat refused the application of Mr Simons to remove them. Tne drainage of Davy street, referred to in the letter of Mr Alexander, is a work that will receive the early attention of the Committee, and will be included in the works already authorised by the Council for the improvement of this street. The Foreman of Works has been authorised to improve the drainage of the Tararu road where complained of by Mr Poulgrain, after the 4-inch mains are laid. In accordance with the resolution of the Council that the drainage of Queen street between Mary and Walter street _ be improved, the plans and specifications necessary under the 7th bye-law have been prepared, and are submitted to the Council for approval and adoption ; on this being done, the works will at once be commenced. The various owners of and ( settlers on the lands adjacent to the j Borough Endowment at Te Aroha have ! many of them represented to members of the Committee that a bridge and road connecting the Waitoa district with the main County road to Paeroa and Thames should be constructed at a point that would intersect the Borough Endowment and the Waitoki Block. The Committee, with a view to ascertaining the most suitable site for the bridge and the best line of road to connect the Waitoa district with the Thames townships, ask authority to place iliomselves in' communication with tite Thames County Council, and with the ownersof land interested in the construetiou of ii bridge over the river, regarding the formation of a road in the abovenamed portion of the Thames Valley." After some discussion, Cr Speight moved that the estimate for the work in Queen street be approved of, and the cost fixed at 4s per running foot. Cr Osborne seconded. Carried. The balance of the report was then adopted. REPORT OF FOREMAN OF WORKS. The report of this official was read and adopted. WATER MAINS. A letter was read trom Mr S. C. Macky, stating that he was afraid the residents in Queen street would not be able to raise the £50, but he thought they could raise £25 for the laying of the 3-inch mains. Of course i.hat amount would only be water rates paid in advance. As this matter was referred to in the Turncock's report, it was ordered to stand over. BE PORT OF THE TURNCGCK. The report of the Turncock that the extension of the 9-inch mains from the Queen of Beauty battery to Owen street had been completed and tested at a pressure of 2Golbs ; that a number of the Upper llichmond street residents had taken the water into their houses from the small main in Sandes street, that the laying of the 4-inch mains along Tararu road had been completed as far as Boundary Greek, and the greater number of the inhabitants had, agreed to take service pipes into their houses; that 20 connections had been made during the month, six of them outside Borough limits; that he would suggest all pipes that may be remaining be - along street irom vviiloUgiiby street iG Mary street; that the Council adopt a way out of the difficulty re the Goods Wharf supply by making a charge to be paid by Mr R. Schofield, the lessee.

The Town Clerk said the lessee of the wharf water would not pay because of the leakage. The matter was referred to the Water Committee. Regarding Mr Maekay's letter Cr Wilson moved, that the work be carried out. Carried soon as possible. WATER SUPPLY COMMITTEE'S' EEPOET. The report of the Committee was read and adopted. The Committee recommends the granting to Shellback hill of a main, on condition that they paid one fourth of the cost. Mrs Sawyer's application for a horse trough vras granted.— The Council decided that there was not yet sufficient inducement to do the work applied for in Tommy's Lane. EEPOKT 01? LIB3AEY COMMITTEE. The report of the Committee was read. It r- commended the discontinuance of several papers aud advised the taking in of others. It asked permission to apply to Captain Ashby, of London, to collect photos for the institution.—"Adopted. BELIEF. -:• The Relieving Officer reported that the cost of poor relief had been £27 for the month. —Adopted. HEALTH OFJ?ICEiI. The report of this officer showed two deaths had occurred in the Borough during the month. He suggests that in future it be made a provision in granting water for motive power that the waste water be turned into the water tables. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The report of this committee reoommended that the Borough account be kept at the Bank of Now Zealand. The report was adopted. NEW BYE-LAW. Cr Osborne moved the approval of the new bye-law regarding the special charge for water. Cr McGrowan asked if the words in one of the clauses, " horses, cattle, and other animals," included pigs, gnats, &c. The Town Clerk suggested that the words "as defined in the Slaughterhouse.' Act " be inserted. MAEY STEEET FOOTPATH. Consideration of this matter was further postponed. HAEBOE EEPEESENTATIVES. Cr Osborne said at last meeting a resoloton had been moved, but not seconded, that the Governor-in-Council be asked to appoint two Borough representatives on the Harbor Board. He really thought something should be done, as Cr Marshall would not take his seat — indeed, his solicitor informed him that he was not legally elected, and he would not do it. Cr Speight said if he was elected, he would take his seat. Cr Marshall should resign if he would not sit. Cr Osborne; How can he resign a position he doesn't hold. I

Cr Speight: Has the Board refused to receive our representatives.

His Worship : They have not refused, and indeed they cannot. I, as Mayor of this Borough, certified to the election of these gentlemen, and they are ■'■[', the Borough representatives till they- resign.. I cannot understand the position taken up by two members of tha Council —Crs Osborne and Wilson—-in moving , this resolvjti>tOj. a^ considered it au insult t© the.Mayor of this Borough. I. think it inadvisable to do*anything in the absence of Cr Marshall.

Cr Osborne said that a legaj gentleman

had given his opinion that the election was illegal.

The Mayor said that Judge Macdonald had stated the election was legal.

Cr Osborne: The same gentleman told me it was not.

The Mayor: Do you question the truthfulness of my statement.

Cr Wilson disclaimed intending any insult to the Mayor ; nothing was further from his thoughts. Cr Marshall had told him he would not sit.

His Worship: I wish you would reconsider the matter. You wish to make a fool of me and the Council. If there is any blame in the matter I am willing to bear it, but I hold that the election wa3 legal. I move that,, :^The Mayor having certified to the election of the Harbour representatives, they be requested to take their seats." After a pause during which no one seemed inclined to second it, the Mayor continued —And to show that I take it as a personal matter, I will nsign if the motion is carried.

Cr Osborne : I think this a very unfair step for the Mayor to take, to threaten to resign if the Council passes the motion. The Mayor: I myself nominated Cr Osborne as one of the Borough representatives and voted for him. I have been informed outside that Cr Osborne thinks I did not vote for him,

Cr Osborne : Since you have made that statement, I will contradict it. I know" you did not vote for rue at the election of members for the Harbor Board, as there was only one vote in my favor, as recorded by the minutes, and Cr Wilson is prepared to state that he recorded it>

The Mayor: How do you know I didn't vote for you?

Or Osborne : Because I had only one vote, which was given by Cr Wilson. Cr Speight thought the discussion most undignified.

Ur Osborne : I only want the Borough represented. The Mayor again asserted he wished to take the blame. Or Speight: Well, you wish the matter narrowed down to your certification of the election. The Mayor: No, to a quarrel between Cr Osborne and myself. Or Osborne : If you like it so! Cr McG-owan moved that the matter be postponed till that day twelve months. Cr Speight: If you will make it two years, I second it. The mover agreed. His Worship: I withdraw mine in favor of that. (Loud guffaws from " the opposition.") This was put against Cr Osborne'a resolution, and was carried—the Mayor, the mover, and Cr Speight voting for it, and Crs Osborne and Wilson against. ; CHAHITABLE AID. On the motion of Cr McGowan, it was resolved that the Town Clerk communicate with the County Councils of Thames, Piako, and Coromandel to ask their opinion on the necessity of a conference re charitable aid. This concluded the business.