Thames Borough Council.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3926, 29 July 1881, Page 2

Thames Borough Council.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the above Council was held last evening in the Borough Council Chambers, Albert street. Present—His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Crs Meuuie, Wilson, McGowau, Bawden, Veale, and Oaborne, * MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. APOLOGY. Cr Osborne apologised for the absence of Cr Marshall. OUTWARD CORRESPONDENCE. A precis of the outward correspondence was read over. THE FLOOD: GOVERNMENT AID. Before the other business of the Council was gone into, the Mayor read the , following telegram from 1b.6 Premier :— "Government, pending receipt of fuller report from Mr Haley, take on themselves to authorise Borough and Couuty Councils together to expend £3000 in repairs to j works of public character, feeling, assured that Parliament will not refuse to sanction such assistance in the case of so grave a misfortune as that which has befallen you. I have sent a copy to the Chairman of the County, and will again communicate when further reports are received. — J. Hall." Our senior member also forwarded the following telegram to the Mayor and Chairman of tho County Council;—" The Premier will to-night let us know what Government will do. —G. Grey." LETTERS, &C. Messrs Dickey Bros, wrote complaining of the manner in which they had been treated with regard to tenders for horse labour. The letter stated they were unable to tender, having received no notice.—Cr Wilson proposed that in future tenders for carting be called by advertisement. —Carried. Alexander Connon, whose garden was destroyed by the late flood, wrote asking the Council to lake his cape iuto eousidera-

tion, as he was rendered entirely helpless. —It was resolved un the motion of Cr Osborne, that Mr Counon be informed that the Council was not in a position to entertain claims for compensation for private losses. Mr Lewis Lewis wro.e stating that his house, at the foot of the Waiolahi had been placed in a dangerous position by the Council widening the road, and requesting the Council to remove it, as they weij the responsible party.—Referred to Works Committee with power to act.

A memo from J. E. Coney, a member of the Thames Scottish Sand Committee asking that two or three loads of gravel be placed on the path leading from Queen street to the door of the Hall used by the Thames Scottish Band, was referred to the Works Committee.

J. M". Mennie, Secretary to the St. James' Presbyterian Church, wro'e asking the Council to repair the damages done to the yard and fence of that church by the late flood, as it had been done by the neglect of the Council to keep the Karaka Creek channel clear.— Referred to Works Committee with power to act.

A voucher for £1 19s, goldfields revenue for June, was received from the Secretary to the Treasury. Some residents of Kirkwood street wrote asking the CouueiL to put some sand or gravel on the footpath of that street, as it was in a disgraceful state. — Referred to Works CommitLce.

Mr R. N. Suiilh wrote asking the Couueil to do something to Davy street, near Amy street, which was in a deplora ble condition, owing to the late flood.— Referred to Works Committee with power to act.

The Deputy Commissioner of Stamps at Auckland wrote that the damaged stamps, to the value of £6 los, would be forwarded to Wellington for advice, he not being able to take the responsibility upon himself of allowing the money. — Received.

The clerk of the Thames County Council wrote in reply to a letter from the Council on the 4th inst., stating that it would require 100 yards of metal to repair that portion of the Karaka road between the old powder magazine and Sandes street, but the County Council were not in a position to authorise further expenditure.—Resolved that the metal be spread. Mr G. W. Bull wrote asking permission to build a bridge across the Karaka Creek near his battery, and enclosing a plan of the proposed bridge. He said that it the Council would assist him to the extent of £15, he would make the bridge without the centre set of legs.—Referred to Works Committee with power to act.

Alex. Campbell, carter to the Borough, wrote in reference to the statement of the Foreman of Works that the Borough horses were jiofc looking so well as should be. lie stated it was owing to the amount of work they had been doing lately, and not to any want of care on his part. If the Council thought he was to blame, he would resign his position. Ordered to stand over till the reading of report of Foreman of Works.

A letter was received from Messrs Wilkinson and Kilgour, of the High School, stating that the Committee still declined to close the school, as they did not think it necessary.—Received. A letter was read from the Rev P. O'Eeilly, staling that he held to his former decision re the closing of the Catholic Schools.-'-Referred to Board of Health. An application from T^iipari that one years water rate for his house be remitted as he had not used the water for that period was read. Referred to Water Supply Committee with power to act. EEPOET OF WORKS COMMITTEE. This report was read as follows : — The Committee regret that the flood which occurred at Thames on the 16th has damaged the Btreets and structures of fche Council to the extent of several thousand pounds, especially so at the Hape, Karaka, Waiotahi, and Moanatairi Creeks. Large numbers of men have been engaged since the morning of the 17th in repairing damages. The committee recommend I hat the Waiotahi Creek be carried in a straight, line from the Waiotahi eDgine house to the sea, through the properties occupied by Mr Ehrenfried and Mr Soraerfield. That the Kai-aka creek be straightened from the Piako battery to the sea, and that your committee be authorised to arrange with occupiers of the strips of land required to accomplish this, and (ailing such arrangement to take the land under the Public Works Act The Hape Creek has already been straightened very considerably, the waters during the flood having found themselves a new channel, which has been deepened. Immediate repairs are necessary to the aqueduct and flame carrying fie waters of the Moanatairi Creek. Authority is asked to sheath the aqueduct, and clean out, line, and repair the crown of the flume where burst by the force of the water on the 16th. On the visit of W. H. Hales, Esq, District Engineer, your committee lvi i before him a list of ihe damage done to public works within the Borough, and personally visited with him each work particularised in th? list submitted to him. The committee find that Mr Bull, of Karaka, is erecting a bridge over the Karaka Cre> k without first submitting the plans for approval of this Council. The committee do not approve of the structure he ha 9 cotnroeneed to put up, it being, in their opinion, sure to cause an obstruction to the flow of water in the creek and to the flooding of tho flit portions of the Borough in its vicinity. The coinra^tee, in accordance with the instructions of Council, have proposed an arrangement, which is likely to be agreed to by the Thames Gas Company,- relative to the breaking of asphalt footpaths when laying gas mains. It is recommended that £'2 be paid to the Parawai District Bjard for work done by them iti Bo wen-street. The cornuiittee cannot recommend any additional payment to Messrs Hamlin and CuojmiDga foL- the removal of the fire-bell stand. The various mutters referred to your committee with power to act have been dealt with ; but in consequence of the pressure of worl: just nt present, it will be some time before all are completed. The oommittKe purpose carrying out the footpath and water table north side of Willoughby street from Pollen street to the sea under byelaw 7. In view of the large amount of permanent drainage being laid down every year within the Borough, the committee again urge that the Foreman of Works be directed to lay the water tables and kerb of one street or section of a street in concrete, so that the cost and durability may be determiaed, the Foreman of Works being of opinion the cost will 'bo very little greater thim wood as present, laid down. The committee recommend that the Tsiraru road, near the Kuranui battery, and the road at the back of Mr Wells', butcher's shop be put in repair by the Foreman of Works, also tint the drain past the H.A.C.B. Sicioty's hall be cleaned out. With respect, to the damage to Mr Lewis' premises, the committee prefer that the Council should decide the course to be adopted. The committee have already had a bridge for cart traffic erected across the Karaka at Baillie street. When completed it will be 12 feet wider that it is at present, but the committee thought it better to complete one Bootiou of the bridge, aud so get it opeu for trafSo at as

curly a date as possible.— W. WtLKISSOS, Mnyor.

The report was received. Re the straightening of the Waiotahi Creek, some discussion ensued as to the means to be employed, but ultimately it was resolve J that the matter be referred to the Works Committee to procure plans &c, for the work, and an estimate of the cost, to report in fourteen days. A similar resolution was carried with reference to the Karaka Creek.

Cr Osborne suggested the raising of the Hape Creek bridge, and moved that the matter be referred to the Works Com* mittee to report.—Carried.

The clause re forming the footpath in front of Thomson's in Grey street was struck out. The clause re laying down a kerbing of concrete as an experiment was also struck out.

The report was then adopted. Cr McGowan proposed that the straightening of the Waiotahi Creek be made the first charge on the Government moneys accruing to the Borough. On putting this to the vote, the resolution was lost by three to one. BEPOET OF FOREMAN OF WOBE6. This report was read, and gave a list of the work in progress. It recommended that the west side of Hape Creek be piled and sheeted. It complained that the Borough carter did not attend to his duties, and recommended that the. horses and drayd be sold aud the work don 6by contract. , ■„■,.. , ,

The report was then received. Re the clause referring to the piling and sheeting of the west side of the Hape Creek south of the bridge. Cr McGowan thought the work was not necessary, and moved that it be struck out. After some discussion, it was proposed that this matter be referred to the Works Committee. . . An amendment was then proposed that the whole of the report be referred to the Works Committee.—This was carried on a show of hands by 4 to 2. OTHER REPORTS. The reports of the Water Supply Committee and the Turncock were read and adopted. The Finance Committee's report was also read. It recommended the payment of accounts to the value of over £700.—Adopted. LIBRARY. The Committee of this institution recommended that a fender be procured for the Library and the ground fiUed in. Agreed to. l ■; OBPHANAGE SCHOOL. Cr McGowan pointed out the necessity for further school accommodation for the Orphanage, and urged that steps be at once taken to procure the necessary funds to erect a schoolhouse. The Mayor said the matter had been considered by the Committee, who had decided to wait till there was a possibility of the passage of the Charitable Aid Bill, when Government would take over such institutions and pay > their liabilities. Cr McGowan though!; the matter was of importance, but that it should be left with the Committee. The subject then dropped.