Thames Borough Council.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3890, 17 June 1881, Page 2

Thames Borough Council.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Council was held lasfc evening. Present --rHis Worship the Mayor, Grs Mennie, Wilson, McGowan, Osborne, Marshall, Bawden, and Veale.

LAND BETENTJE

A letter was received from the Colonial Secretary promising that the Borough's application for the revenue derived from blocks of land within the Borough would be duly considered.—^Received.-«,

REDUCTION OF WATER CHARGE

A letter was received from J. W. Sawyer asking for a reduction in the water charge of £10 made on his premises' At no time did he use more than 30 gallons a day.—Eeferred to Water Supply Committee.

T7PPEB ALBERT STREET.

A letter was received from several Upper Albert street residents calling attention to the inefficient state of the footpath and road in Upper Albert street. Mr G. Hart was present to support the application.—The matter was referred to the Works Committee with power to act.

THAT DRAIN

A letter was read from Mr G. N. Smith stating that he had lost a child through the bad state of the, drain in Pollen street and he had another sick with scarlet and drain fever. Perhaps the Mayor had no children. He asked that a water table be made without delay.

Crs McGrowan and Osborne having commented on the sarcastic tone of the letter, as an improper manner to address the Council, consideration was deferred to a later stage.

GREY STREET.

A letter was read from C. E. Dod stating that if the Council would make the footpath in front of his hotel in Grey street he would pay his share of the cost. —It was resolved to refer the matter to the Works Committee—Cr McGowan said if the Council did not give the Committee more hands it would be impossible to get through all the work referred to them. . ,

APPLICATION

A letter was read from Mr James Brown applying for permission to erect a verandah in front of his premises in Central Pollen street. —Granted.

TEMPLAR HAIL

A letter was read from John Nodded, trustee of above Hall, mentioning that six panes of glass had been broken by the men cracking road metal on an allotment adjacent. He aske.i the Borough to repair the damage.—The Foreman of Works stated that the men denied the breaking of the windows, and it was his opinion that the damage was done by larrikins.—A Councillor suggested that they should refer it to the larrikins.— The matter was eventually referred to the Foreman of Works with instructions to stop the stone-breaking near the Hall.

ANONYMOUS LETTEK

Cr Veale announced that he had received an anonymous letter referring to petty sins of omission and commission of the Town Clerk, Collector, and message boy.-r-It was decided not to receive it.

MACK AT 3TBEBT, ETC.

A letter was read from T. Green calling attentionlto! the bad.state of Mackay street near his residence.—Heferred to Works Committee with power to act.—A similar letter was received from Mr Koeford, and dealt with in a similar manner.—A similar letter with respect to the Owen street footway in front of the Empire Hotel was read,, from Mr T. Lawless.—The Foreman of Works had attended to this matter. ,

A QUEST

A letter was read from Mr M. Browne, calling attention to the unfair operation of the water rate.- Hi's store was rated at £80 as a store, and because some one slept on the premises, for the purposes of the water rate it was rated as a dwelling house. He asked the Council to define what was a dwelling house: if a watchman slept in a store to take charge of the premises, did that constitute a dwelling house under the Act.—Cr Mennie moved that the matter be referred to the Mayor and Town Clerk to obtain the opinion of Mr Miller, which would be then sent to Mr Browne.—The Town Clerk said that Mr Miller had already expressed an opinion that Mr Browne's store was a dwelling house —Lr McGowati seconded. —Gr Osbortie moved an amendment ; to effect that Town Clerk communicate with the Town Clerk of Auckland, asking the procedure of Auckland City Council on such matters.—After some further discussion, both motion and amendment were carried. —which was equivalent to the amalgamation of the two resolutions.

v OVEN. The Foreman of Works reported that he had inspected Mr Grainger's baker's oven,' and found it complied with the regulations; "

TELEGBAPH POLES

The Postmaster wrote askiug the Council to allow the matter of the telegraph posts in Queen street to stand over for a fortnight.—Agreed to.

ENOBOACBMENT

The Town Clerk reported that the work shop erected by Mr fJevey, at the oorner of Pollen and Coohrane street, encroached on the footpath of the latter street.— A ffcer some discussion, it was resolved, on motion of Cr McGowan, seconded by Cr Osborne, "That the Foreman of Works mark out the proper line, and that Mr Derey be requested to move back.

BEPOUT OV WATEH SUPPLY COMMITTEE

The report of the, Committee was read as follows:—" The Committee hare the honor to report the receipt of the attached letter and copy of a resolution passed by the Thames County Council; and, notwithstanding that yodr Committee were, and are, of opinion that the Tkames Water Supply Transfer Act, of 1880, does not gite the County Council any power or right to remote the place of connection, for supply of water from the County race to the Borough mains,.whenever they like; or to wherever they like, and that if such removal is carried out it can only be bj mutual agreement of both Borough ana County Councils, and at: the sole expense; of the latter, and also; notwithstanding the Committee were of opinion that a connection between the two water races at the point indicated in the letter of the County Council would; 6nly:rt»«W 'M\ the waters of the Borough supply augmenting that qf.the,pounty, your Committee wrqte |o the GoUoty Council asking to. he furnished with a plan of the workf proposed tq be undertaken by them, and a description of the meter they intended to use. As the letter sent by the County County Counoil, in reply to this application' of the Committee, did not refer in any way to the plan asked for, or give any description of the Meter proposed to* be: used, the Committee agaiu wrote calling attention to their application for a plan of

the proposed works and for a description of the Meter, entering Tally into the reason why the Committee required them. The second letter of the Committee produced the unsatisfactory reply of the •County Council, dated the 10th instant (attached to the report) declining to submit any plan or affix any proper Meter, and stating that they (the County) did not intend to deliver the water into the Borough mains but into an iron cistern, leaving it to the Borough Council to conduct the water through a Meter into their mains any way they TCduld* and at their own cost.. Such expressed opinion of the County being at variance with the powers your Committee deemed them to possess, induced the Committee to obtain the legal opinions of two gentlemen on th« matter at issue, such opinions given by them individually coincides entirely with that entertained by your Committee and given in the former position of this report. Your Committee have therefore again addressed a letter to the County Council giving their reading of the Thames Water Supply Transfer Act, and the receipt of this letter has been acknowledged by the County Council. A small portion of the service reservoir was carried away by the flood on the 6th current; this the Committee ■ are having repaired, the puddle wall being strengthened and the Bye Wash enlarged, the cost will probably 'be £10/ to £12, * The: recomMendation . of the Turncock w^th" reference tM larger filtering boxes, and to improving the reservoir for reception of > JSltered water is a matter that requires earliest attention as soon as the funds of the Watter Supply will admit of the expenditure. The Committee have given that part of the- notice of motion by Cr Mennie, relating to water- rates and charges, their careful consideration, and suggest , the,, following alterations and additions with- respect to the* rates and charges for water] supply :—

Exceeds £12 10?, but doea.not exceed £100, a rale of 6 per cent, on such Value. Exceeds £100, but 1 doea not exceed £200, a

iate of 4 per cent, on such: value.' ' ■■ Exceedi £200, a rate of 3 per cent, on such

value. That, in respect, of extraordinary supply within the Borough, the* taie for fire extinguishing purposes only be £ per cent, on the rateable value of such property so supplied with water, as shown on the

valuation roll of the Borough of Thames. For fountains, such sum as may be fixed by < the Thameg Borough Cauacilatpwa speuial ' application in each case. '' ■ '■' For purposes of trade' as a butcher or baker, a rate of 30s. For purposes of trade as a slaughterhouse keeper, such sum as may be fixed, by the Thames .Borough Counoil| iipon f apodal application in each case. For purposes of trade as a publican or boardiog-house keeper, a sum equ»T to onehalf the amount; charged the, then occupier of such, hotel,. public. house, or boarding house, by the Thames W«t(|r.'Supply Committee in July, 1879! .„■'"' ■",.,. i For motive power, as"at preaeut.supplied to Messrs F. Dann, A..,B[pgg I .^ "ji'.'^ett, O. Griffiths, Wm, Wilkinson, a sum equal to the full amount per Annum charged the above-named gentlemen respectively during the year ending 30th June, 1881, .for such

supply for motive power. ' ' For the supply to steam boilers, or for use in manufactories, trades, public baths, breweries, gardens, and foundries, ' a' sum equal to the amount charged by the Thames Water Supply Committee in July, 1879, for water supplied for such purposes. Your Committee further recommend that the charges. for water supplied for any purposes, or to any,person or,,property, outside . the boundaries of the $6rough, be the same as those charged by this Council on the Ist July, i88p.,.-j.WM. Wilkinson, Chairman. ; : ! " I The report was adopted. < Hf , . BEPOBT OE FINANCB CQMMILTJBi.

The usual fortnightly report; wayiread and and adopted. : r;« - • ■ •' TENDBBB. .' ■■■•■:>:^<;; f Tenders for the iSupply !of water to shipping were read from' R. Sc&ofield (Shortland Wharf) Is Sd'jei'; TOgals.; ,H: C. Gillespie (Gbo,ds Wfi^rifj:l«}|6i; same (Shortland Wharf) 2* •' & Scfiofield (Goods Wharf) Is 4d; Onyon fshortland Wharf), Is 6d; (Grahamstowa. Wharf) :is^d. ■;.'.. ■■■'■' ■ .'•' ■.'■'•■ f; j ; i Mr H. G. Gillespie's,tendeif ,bemg the highest was accepted. ■''"■'■• ■ •'"■ *•• >f

Tenders for.material.were received, and referred fro'the Water' Committee with, instructions to accept the lowest tender*

„ : Notices of Mpnpk, .\ t CrOsborne moved—" Thatthe -resolution passed by the Council of the Borough of Thames at its meeting on; the 7th of April, 1881, when considering the Works Committee's report, and having reference to the construction of footway and watertable on the West side of Pollen-street from Mary-street towards the; Jfofaka Creek, viz., that this work stand over oQtii! the Karaka Creak be straightened, and a more comprehensive system of drainage for this block carried out, be revoked, and the following resolution carried, " That the work referred to be carried out forthwith under by-law 7. That the plan and specification of such footway prepared' bf the Foreman of Works be approved. fTba*. the estimated cost of 4s per remaining ibo4 for same be agreed to, and the eosVof such footway fixed in accorclariee therewith." He referred to the necessity of the work and the number and urgency of the ratepayers* requests that it be carried out.—Cr Marshall seconded.— Cr MoQowan moved as an amendment— " That plan arid specification he . dra^rn •"**■■ but for the construction of the while of Pollen.street west fobtpath,. and that it be let in sections.^, „'|j(ii tlvaught 'ifr-jivM time that side of P^llen^st^eet';Bhould,i^a^re something done; to it.-r^Gr Osbprneji«id that he must object to Cr McGowaa'* proposal as an amendment to hU motion, though he would be willing to, support it at any other time. The particular work he referred to in the resolution had been spoken of for some time, and plan and. specifications wore prepared. The turncock said the trestle* of:-.ike water4ank in Tommy's Lane 'naid ciVea way. ,; '" ,;;_ '„ *„__, , , r Keferred to Water/jCpmroitieel' '' ' "

YA.BIOUS WOHKB. mentidned woks in the South Ward be proceeded A ™:--Bor nation H d aiIWR in offpo^th wett;»ide of Maiflciy street,fromMarytoSeale*street. Fodt. path m^iabmoud^treet, both sides, f*6m Bollengtreel to Eofleston street, j'oijt. vath m Sealey street, both ;a*de^ from fojlen street to Rolleston street. KoU leston street w^st side from^illbuiKfcr street to Mary street.(/also,' rSbawS road recently made pasißrpjrn a&fc&np~ &^«^ v Cr MfcowmMk^ ataaame^Sfr that the matter hojiefetced to the Wbrkr' CommUtee witK power to act.—This wal carried^. . l*w**

— - SATBSY - " CrMennie moved : —" That the general rate of la in the £1 be and is hereby made on the value of all rateable property within the. Borough of Thames; also a library rate of Id in the £1 on the rateable Talne of such property aforesaid, „ and, also a water rate for ordinary supply upon all lands and buildings to which water is supplied whose rateable value on , .the valuation roll of the Borough of Thames does not exceed £12 10s, a rate

-. of 10s pen annum; exceed £12 10s, but does not exceed £100, a rate of 7 per ■■ cent, on such value; exceeds £100, but

does nbt exceed* £200^^^ of 6 per , cent, on such value; exceeds £200, but

does not exceed £300, a rate of 5 per cent. on such talue; exceeds £300, a rate of 4 ■ per cent, on such value; upon all lands «ni buildings to. whichwater can be, but 1 is not supplied, situate within one hundred yards from any part ; of. the water works, a ra^e of one- half of'the rates above , mentioned^ Upon all buildings used as ■tores and warehouses, or for any purposes other than as dwelling houses, a rate of 2| per cent, on such rateable Talue, and in respect of ,the. extraordinary water supply such rates as are fixed by bye law made in that behalf, or as may be agreed , upon subject to any such bye-law with any person receiving such supply; that such rates will be fixed for one year, commencing on the Ist day of July, 1881, > and that such rates are payable on the 2nd ▼ day of July, 1881, and that the ratebooks are open for inspection of all ratepayers at the Council Chambers, Thames, from 10. a.m. until 4 p.m. each day, from the 3rd to the 17th day of June, XBBl.''—On the motion of Cr McGowan the Council. resolved itself into committee, and considered the clauses seriatim.-—Dos. 1 and 2, relating to general and library rates, were passed; No: 3, 7 per cent., between £12 10s and £100, was.reduced to 6 per cent.; No 4, 6 per. cent., between £100 and £200, was re-

duced to 4 per cent.; No. 5, 5 per cent., between £200 and £300, reduced to 3 per ! • cent, ; No. 6,4 per cent, exceeding £300, reduced to 3 per cent.; No 7 and 8 were ■ passed without alteration and the amended resolution was passed. ; t , r . ;-, ■ i WAIOTAHI CULVEBT. His Worship called attention to the state of the Waiotahi culrert, and mored the reference of the matter to the Works Committee. ;■.;-.' This eonclnded the business.