Thames Borough Council.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3998, 21 October 1881, Page 2

Thames Borough Council.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the above Council was held in the Council Chambers, Albert s'reet, last evening. Present—His Worship.the Mayor (in the chair), Crs Bawden, McCullough, Mennie, McGowan, Marshall, Osborne, and Wilson. MINUTES, &C. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and a precis of the outward correspondence was read over. The absence of Crs Speight and Veale was apologised for. lETFEBS &C. WEBE BEAD. Prom Mr Wm. Litcbfield, applying for permission to break up the footpath in front of his residence on or about Monday next, and asking the Council to lay down asplalt there in place of the old footpath. Referred to Works Committee with power to act.—From J. Brown and Co., Tar am, objecting to pay the water rate. Referred to Water Supply Committee.—A treasury voucher for £10 14s, fines, &c, collected in the U.M. and Licensing Courts was received.—From Messrs Shand, Mason, & Co., Blackfriars Road, London, stating that the hose, &c, ordered by the Council hHd been shipped for Auckland. Some photographs of Fire engines, arid a couple of books on fire prevention, for the Public Library had also been shipped. Received. —From Messrs Owen aud Graham, Auck land, on behalf of Air S. Stephenson, applying for a refund of the sum of £40, paid by him for a license which was never given effect to. The writers stated that the Public Petitions Committee had recommended that the sum be refunded by the Borough, and requested early attention to the matter. After a little discussion ifc was resolved that the writers be informed that the matter was between the Government and the Licensing Commissioners.—From Alex. Connon stating that he did not request the Council to lower the level ( of the culvert in Richmond street, but merely to clean it out, bo as the branch drains might empty themselves into it. Eeferred to Works Committee with power to act.—From John Head, requiring to be placed ia possession of the house he

had lent to Mrs Titnmins within a week, or else he would claim duavigos. Referred to Charitable Ai I Committee witii power to act.—Prom H. Cordes, slating that his pro-, perty had been damaged to the extent of £15 by the Council turning the Waiotahi Creek into his garden while the new culvert was being made. He asked what the Council was going to do iv the matter. Referred to Works Committee.—From Messrs He win and Clark, refusing to allow the contractors for the straightening of the Karaka Creek to work on their premises until their claim for compensa- ;i tion (£22 10s) was settled, lieferred to Works Committee with power to act.— From J. Townsend, asking what the Council were going to do with his house in Burke street, as at present it was rendered useless by the Waiolabi culvert passing close to the back door. Referred to Works Committee.—The same gentle* man. also stated that he was rated for two horses, whereas he only kept one in the stable and the other at Parawai — . -. From J. C, Williams, asking the Councfe; to pay attention to the crossing opposite S'" his place, as on dark nights it. was dangerous, especially to females, liefer red to " : Works Committee with power to act.— ! From J. Cuff, on behalf of Messrs Barber, Ibbetson, Dare and Dolton, asbflflkthe' Council to hold back sufficient moniy from •': that due to Hanlon, the contractor, to pay their claims until they proved their claims in the KM.. Coucfc.—Referred to Works Committee with power to act.—From Alex. Aitken, County Engineer, stating that the contractor lor the straightening of the lower portion of the Waiotahi creek was not finished, nor was it likely to be finished, and asked for instructions in the matter. The writer also stalled that H. H. Adams was entitled to receive the sum ' of £60, due to him for work done. The first matter was referred to the Works Committee with power to act, and the £60 was ordered to be paid.—From J. Tasker, asking that the water be laid on to his' premises in<Queen street, on the usual conditions, lieferred to Water Supply Committee. — From the pound keeper, stating that a portion of the fence had been washed away by the flood. Referred to . Works Committee with power to act.— From the Queen of Beauty Co., enclosing an account for £26, damage done to the company's property by the flood. .Resolved that the writer be informed that I the Council had no funds to repay private losses by the flood. OBPHANAGE. - The master's report was rend and re» ferred to the Charitable Aid Committee... It recommended that several: neceisarjr small works be carried out. '■'. ■-.[. \ -■■'■-•

WOBKS COMMIIT2K's BEPOBT. f".- '■ " This report was read, received, aid--,; adopted. It was as follows:--"The ■ Works Committee have the honour to report that, alter personal inspection, tbey cannot recoinmsnd any expeadiiiure of Borough funds on repairs -to-' Tramway Bridge, at Taraiu. The Committee recommend that a good dray road be formed up the Tararu C reek from the pared stone ' crossing, immediately under the Tramway Bridge, to the Borough and; County boundary line, conditionally that the County Council will carry! this dray road up the creek. That authority be-given the Committee to communicate with the County Council on. this matter, and on their consent being .given, that Govern- "" menl be asked to contribute out of the vote in aid of tracks and works on goldfields an amount equal lo the money expended by the two Councils iv forming this road. The Committee have authorised the necessary repairs to the hand . bridge over the Creek referred-to in Mr Stf edman's letter. The Committee have accepted the tender of Mr C. McLean for cutting drains in the Borough Endowment, Te Aroha, at £1 7s 6d per chain. In accordance with the wish of the Council, specifications have been prepared and tenders invited for filling iv approaches to the bridge iv Queen street, and are submitted to the Council. The Committee recommend that a wooden watertable with footway of gravel be laid X down in Kirkwood street, uuder Bye-law "H 7. If this is done the drainage of this --' Bireet will be materially improved. The Committee caused notice of this recommendation to be sent to each householder and resident in this street, so that the wish of the majority may be ascertained. : The Committee ask for a further extension of time before submitting their report - on the Grahamslowri and Tararu tramway. The plan and specification prepared by Mr McParland for the widening and raising of Grey street bridge are laid before the Council for approval.—-W. Wilkinson, Chairman.

TENDERS. Tenders were then opened for the approaches to the Queen street bridge. Wo 1 being 8 chains on each side of the bridge, and Wo. 2, 4 chains on each side of the bridge:—Dickey Bros., No. 1. £295, No. 2 £430; Allen and others, No 1,177, No. 2, £177; MV Casey, No. 1 £682, No 2, 378; P. .Maxwell,' No. 1 £700 7s 6d, No. 2, £8847 Wm. Ashby, No. 1, £786, No. 2, £393. Aftei a little discussion it was moved by Cr MqCallough and seconded by Cr Osbornc—''That the lowest tender be accepted provided that the securities^ &o. were found satisfactory, and if they were not found so, that the next highest lie accepted."

HAPSOBEEK BBIDGE. L Plans and sjfccificafions for theTriifsing of this bridge' were laid, on. the table. Cr Bawden proposed—'l That an estimate of the -cost of. this work* be laid on the table before,any farther steps be taken in the matter/'-^Cr Marshall seconded. The resolution wfcitißarrled. WATEB SCTPiy. The Water Supply Committee* report was read and adopted. It recommended that M. Casey's offer to extend the Bubmain at Tararu on receipt of £13 assistance be accepted, a proper agreement to be drawn up. Re the extension of the main to the Rob Roy Hotel at Parawai, it was resolved that the expenditure of £20 be authorised on condition that, the residents contribute the other £20, the cost of the work being £40.

The Fire Brigade Committee recommend the authorising of an expenditure sufficient to buy 26 new uniforms j each one not to exceed £3 2s 6d.—Received and anopted.

THE BCABLET FEVEB EPIDEMIC. = An exhaustive report on the subject wai read from Dr M. H. Payne. "

FOBEMA.N OF WOBKB. This report dealt with the relative cost of wood and concrete watertables; the cost averaging from 4s to 5s per foot. In the matter of the drainage of Kirkwood street the report recommended the con. struction of a wooden water table at a cost of 3s per foot. It also recommended that tonders be invited for the carting required by the Borough. The report was adopted,

and the recommendations referred to the Works Committee.

The report of the Water Supply Committee was read and adopted. The plans for raising the Hape Creek bridge were laid on the table. It was resolved to proceed no_ further in the matter till an estimate of the cost was received from the Engineer.

Cr McGowan moved that a nine months' rate be struck in order to facilitate tho work of the Collector.

Cr McCullough. seconded the motion pro forma, and suggested that insfend of a rate being struck for a short term that the termination of the financial year be altered from June 30th to March 31yfc. This would also meet the request of the Government, that the financial year of municipal Councils should end at the same time as that of the Government of the Colony. The Mayor suggested that the matter be referred to the Finance Committee, which was adopted. Cr McCullough moved that as no assistance was rendered Mr Fleming, the valuer, by the officers of the Council, aud ifc being' absolutely necessary to secure clerical assistance, the amount of £30 be voted for the valuation of the year , 1881-82. Seconded by Cr Marshall and carried. Notice of motion was given as required by the Act for the appointment pf a valuer, by Cr McCullough in favor of Mr Fleming. GAS SUPPLY FOE THE BOBOUGH.

Cr McCullqugh gave notice of motion that at the next meeting of the Council he would move to appoint a committee to collect information and report upon the desirability of the Council acquiring the Thames Gas Works on behalf of the ratepayers under the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act.