Thames Borough Council.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3986, 7 October 1881, Page 2

Thames Borough Council.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the above was held in the Council Chambers, Albert street last evening. Present—His Worship the Mayor (in the Chair), Crs McCullough, Miunie, McGow-an, Speight, Yeale, Bawdeu, Osborne, and Marshall. MIHUTES, &C. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and a precis of the outward correspondence since last meeting read over. IETTEBB tVEBE BEAD —

From J." Bickett, who bought the j Borough horses, asking for the collar one ! of them used to wear, as it was difficult to I get one to fit him. .Resolved that, as the giving away of the collar would spoil the set of harness, Mr Biokett's request be refused, but the whole set be offered him at a reasonable price.—From M. Casey, calling attention to the state of the foot* path on the bridge at the entrance of the Tararu creek, and asking that it be repaired. Resolved on a show of hands that the letter be referred to the Works Committee to report.-—From J. B. Meedman! asking the Council to repair two of the tramway bridges at Tararu, as they were in a very delapidated condition. Dealt with simitar to the last one. A treasury voucher for £531654 d was received.— From Mr A. W. Sawyer, of Owen street, objecting to pay his water rate, as he had had no water on for over two years. .Referred to Water Supply Committee.— From Owen Griffiths, who had carted stone for P. Dillon, asking the Council to stop the amount of his account (£4 4s) out of the money owing to Dillon, as the latter refused to pay him. Resolved that the writer be informed that Mr Dillon was not the contractor, and therefore they could not recognise the request. —A letter was also read from P. Dillon, asking, the Council to refurid his deposit of £5, and also asking for £5 to enable him to pay his men. This matter was dealt with in the Works Committee's report;— From .Richard Hales, calling .attention to the state of the footway in Queen street opposite his residence. .Referred to Works Committee to report.—From H. O'Connell,-asking the Council to allow his rates to stand over, as he was not &t present in a position to 'pay them. Granted.—From G. Basham, Secretary to the Grahamstowu Fire Brigade, asking the Council to authorise the expenditure of a sufficient sum of money to purchase 26 new uniforms, that being the number required. The writer further staled that the articles were very badly wanted. Referred: to the Fire Brigade. Committee to report upon. * i rwoKKs oosotrrtEE's befort.

; The Committee have the honor to lay before the Council a sketch plan and specification for cutting a drain along the proposed line of road in this Borough's endowment at Te Acoha, and for its out* fall at a creek that empties itself into the Waihou river. The road, when formed by the County Council, will continue the main road that has already been made .from the Te Aroha road to the banks of the Waihou river (exactly opposite the Borough's land) towards the Waitoa, McLean's swamp, and Waikato, and these drains when cut will very greatly improve the drainage of the endowment itselfi, It is asked that authority be given your Committee to call for and accept tenders for this work. The Committee are not able ct present to submit 'any report as to making the Grauamstown and Tararu tramway available for traffic, and ask that such Teport-may be deferred for a fortnight. In the' opinion of the Committee it is not advisable to expend any large amount of money on the Shellback Creek road, nor on the bed of the creek referred to in Mrs Sawyer's letter to the Council, but that the Foreman of Works be authorised to put the road and creek bed in fair repair, and if at the expiration of the summer it is found that any quantity of quartz has been carted over this road, that a coating of metal be then spread over it, but not otherwise. To raise to its proper level and form the footpaths and watertables of Mackay street (south end) will be a work of very considerable cost, and one that can be carried out only under the provisions of Bye-law 7; but if, the resi : dents do not wish this'work to be done, it is recommended that the Foreman of Works be authorised to have the drains cleaned out and the worst holes and low places filled in. With respect to the application of Mr Connon, that the drainago* of Eichmoud and Baillie streets be improved, the same remarks apply as arc made by this report regarding Mackay street. Eichmond street should have wooden or concrete water tables from Pollen to Eolleston street, but the Work should be carried out under By law 7, when done by the Council. The Committee have authorised the raising to its proper level of the main culvert that carries the drainage oi Upper Albert street across Pollen street to the north side ofAlbert street. This will do away with the flooding of Mr Edwards' paint ! works. The plans and specifications for forming the footpath in Richmond street, between Pollen and Queen streets, as asked for by Messrs Farrell and Hether. ington, is submitted for the approval of the.Council. The Committee will take the steps necessary to satisfy the owners of property through which the new Waiotahi culvert passes, as soon as ever the contractors for this work have completed their contracts. The Foreman of Works has been authorised to lay down a box culvert at the paint of the Tararu road, referred to in Mr Hope's letter, directly, he has one available. Should the fine weather continue, the Committee intend taking up and relaying the asphalt footpaths injured by t' c late flood. The Committee have been compelled to take over - from the contractor (M. Moroney) the contract he held for works in the Karaka Creek, and have paid him' for work done and stone on the ground. The amount of his deposit (£5) has not yet been returned to him; authority is asked to do so. These works will be completed by the Foreman of Works. The roof of the Council building requires new shingles and new gutters. The rain finds its way into every room. The Foreman of Works has had the roof mended over and over again, and reports the roof, and gutters too far gone for any further repair. Authority is asked to have the building re-shingled and new gutters laid down. —W. Wilkinson, Chairman.-— After a few alterations the report was adopted. The Foreman of Works reported upon the works in progress. ' Mr B. Wolff was heard in the matter of water rate for the Herald battery. He thought the rate was unfair, aa he was not usiug the water, and had to pay the County for his supply. It was pointed out (o Mr Wolff that it was only the

ordinary rale on the value, of the property, and which all had to pay alike. With the water supply report a long report upon the most suitable position for a storage reservoir/vas received from Mr D.M. Beere, C.JT.

The Health Officer's and the Charitable Aid Committee's reports were read. Cr Marshall moved, and Cr McCullough seconded that a letter be sent to the District Engineer, Auckland, urging the letting of another section of the Kopu line —Carried.

Cr McCullough asked that authority be given the Foreman of Works to clean out the drain running from Queen street at the back of Dod's hotel, to the beach through the reclamation.—Agreed. A report of the financial position of the Council was laid on the council id ac>' cordance with the resolution 'of Cr McCullough at the last meeting. THE TRAMWAY GBANT.

Cr McCullough moved that the £1000 granted by Parliament for repairing the Tararu tramway be placed when received to a special account at the bank, and be used - only for the object for which it was granted.. In support of the resolution, he said hit experience in the past had taught him that money, placed in the current account when given for special objects, was ■ very difficult to get out again—in fact, it was frequently without the power of the Council to get the money, when it was required. In order that such a fate should not befall the present grant, he moved his resolution.—Seconded by Cr Mennie.

Cr Veale objected to such a course., being adopted, and moved that the money be placed at the current account, and used in such a manner as the. Council thought fit.—Seconded by Cr Speight. His Worship said he had only .used Ithe . tramway matter as an excuse for getting > the money from Government, and he did ■ not think the money should be spent on the tramway. .'". '-.' .. ".,-,...' .' Cr Speight said he • understood the money to be .obtained as stated ~by .the.. Mayor. ' Cr Bawdon: Then, the^monej was received under false pretences, arid if not spent on the tramway should 1 be returned to the Government." .? "■ r ;• Cr Mennio supported the motion, rind considered the course suggested; by Mr McCullough a proper one. He could speak, from experience also, and bad'not forgotten the Karaka Creek and ita vote. I

Cr McGowan suggested an amendment, but afterwards withdrew it. , .- „t , . The Mayor said he was strongly opposed to the motion; he did not think the tramway wanted repairing. I ' ;.\ Cr McCullough should insist, upon his motion being put. For - Cr Veale's . amendmffnt-^Crs Speight, Marshall, and Veale! 'Against —Cr McCullough, Mennie,-Bawden, and McGowan.- Amendment lost.!. "■ For the resolution—Crs McGowan, Mennie, McCullough,- -and , Bawden. Against — Crs Speight,.. M.a/aUaJJ,, a>»4 Veale. Resolution'carried.. „,.'*,;. -

Cr McGowan gave notice of motion that, in view of the large number of letters received from persons .disclaiming any possession of buildings for' which, they were rated, a nine modtfisj .toll* should be prepared, so as to facilitate names being correctly placed on the roll, and gave notice' of motion that th 4 matter be considered at next meeting. ' ;•' • Cr Bawden moved—" That the Poreman of Works- prepare a estimate of the cost of' aemctiW weter tables in comparison with that of woo Jen ones," which was agreed t6y-r'- \ v'. \'> This concluded the business. "7