Thames Borough Council.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4247, 11 August 1882, Page 2

Thames Borough Council.

v^The, fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council-was held last evening. Present: The Mayor, Crs McCullough, Speight, Qsborne, Veale, Bawden, and Marshall.

Apologies were received from Crs McGowan and Mennie, and leave of absence was granted to Cr Wilson.

LETTERS TTBBB BEAD—

From the Colonial Treasurer, asking information re loans and the indebtedness of the Borough.—From George Symington, asking permission to lay a crossing in owe n street at his own expense. Granted. —From Treasurer, notifying amount of gold duty, less a deduction of £40 publi- i can's license fee paid by S. Stephenson. The Town Clerk read the copy of a letter sent lo Government asking the authority under whioh the amount was deducted. The matter was allowed to stand over till a reply to the Town Clerk's letter had been received. [Mr Robert Farrell here aoU dressed the Council touching .the wretched state of the road at the corner of Richmond and Queen street. He said the lifting of a culvert had had a great deal, to do with the bad state of tha road. The matter was referred to the Works Committee.]— Letters continued: From the Secretary of the Waiotahi School Committee, asking for attention to the crossing in Pollen sireefc, near Mulligan's hotel. Referred to Works Committee.—From D. M. Beere, upon a complaint made by Mr Clarke touching the injury done his property in the Waiotahi Creek by ,the erection of a dam. Referred to the Works Committee.— A letter was received from the trustees of the Wesleyan Church stating that they could not comply with the request of the Council re handing over the portion of their property required to straighten Cochrane street, but would be willing, for a sum of £150, to dedicate it as a public road, so that it would not necessitate the removal of the buildings.—lt was resolved to reply that the Council was not disposed to purchase (he land at present. 1 —Messrs Baker. W. Hetherington, Max- | well, Whitehead.and Hammond asked that I the water-table, footpath, and crossings on j the western side of Pollen street be completed according to bye-law.—Plans of this work were ordered to b>; prepared immediately, and the formation proceeded with.

WOBKS COMMITTEE.

I The Works Committee reported— That they hare directed the Foreman of Works to improve the drainage of Collins Street by cutting a watertable on the east side and slightly raising the footpath. This will prevent the flooding of the premises of i Mr Meachem and other residents in that street. The Foreman of Works has also been directed to put a few loads of filling in front ; of Hugh Fisber'e, Cochrane Street, and to spread 25 loads of hard mullock on the road' way leading to Judd's foundry, Queen Street. The footpath on the east and west sides of Baillie street, near the Kauaeranga School, the footpath in Pollen Street between Mr Litchfield's and Mr Driver's, and the footpath of Richmond Street at its junction wi'h Rolleston Street, are at present being improved. By the direction of the Committee, the Foreman of Works has prepared a specification j for making good the road near the stables of Mr Allan Johnson, ard your Committee purpose calling tenders for this work. Be the application made by several of the residents of Owen street, between Williamson s'reet and Abraham street, for asphalt to be laid down, and a letter from Mr Ehrenfried objecting to that work being done: The Committee find that Mr Stewart, in his letter of the 4th of May last, slates that he has Mr Ebienfried's authority to ask that the work be done, and in the application for the work (resented to Council at its last sitting appears the name of Jam^s D. Walker. This gentleman has written to the Committee that he did not sign nor authorise any one to sign bis name to the application. Mr Ehrenfcied also stated that he did not give Mr Stewart any authority to ask for the work being done. Under these circumstances the Committee cannot recommend the work being carried out at the present time. With respect to the last portion of the report of your Committee presented ti Council on the 27th of June, and referred back to your Committee for further consideration, the Committee recommend its adoption, and hare directed the Foreman of Works to prepare a plan showing the various residence sites on the Bird-in-Hand hill, and also two or three fairly wide roads that would give access to all residents in this locality. Should the roads set out on this plan meet the approval of the Council, the necessary steps could betaken for dec'aring them public roads, and these public roads only recognised and maintained by the Council. This plan will not only save the Council considerable yearly outlay in maintaining in repair 16 or 18 narrow tracks and alleys, most of which are used by the regidants as depositories for refuse, decaying vegetables, household slops, &c, but will give one goed cart road, with an easy grade, and others sufficiently wide to allow a footpath | on each side, and a road for saddle or pack horses in the centre. The Committee have notified the Warden that the Council does not recognise as a public road a passage about 2 fret 9 inches wide between Durnsford's aad Skelton's residence sites on the RedQieen Spur.

CHARITABLE AID

The Charitable Aid Committee reported Mrs Timmins is a most unworthy object on which to expend ratepayers' money to the extent now granted, and recommended that the Believing Officer be instructed to supply heronly with rations and free lodgings until provision can be made for her remoral to the Old Women's Home, Auckland, on the police being communicated with, with a view to her incarceration under the Vagrant Act. The cost of rations during the month had been less by £8 than iq. any corresponding month during the past four years, but the cost of medical attendance on the sick > poor had been greater than usual, owing to the presence of infectious disease..

WATER SUPPLY.

The Water Supply Committee re ported—

That on the 7th iaat. the debentures held by Messrs T. and 8. Morrin for £2000 were presented, sad have been paid. This payment has left the Water Supply Stoking Fund £319 in debt to the Wator Rate account. Council are usked to authorise the payment by the Collector of Rates to the fc edit" of the Sinking Fund account all extraordinary water supply charges, and also sufficient funds from the ordinal/ water rate to make the total placed from this date to Sinking Fund account previous to the 30th June next £819. The Committee have to report that the hose in use at the Shortland wharf is not fit for further use, end does not fairly represent the water oonau ..ed. The metec at this wharf for the menth of July showed a consumption Of 34,000 gallons. The Turncock in flushing out the pipes at this wharf used 10,000 gallons, but tbe contractor declines to pay for the remaining 24.C30 gallon*. The contractor for the wat-jr, Mr Qillespie, estimates that half the water that passes into the hofe is lost in consequence of its defective state. The Turncock fixes the loss by leakage at about a third. The Committee, recommend that for the month of June a charge of fourtee v thousand gallons be made against Mr GKUegpie; that a new hoae be procured and covered with canvass, and one-third of the coat; of the hose be charged to the contractor each year. Estimated cost—£2 45.J5;

ÜBBABT. , The Library Committee had much pleasure in reporting the attendance of readers in the reading room of the library has increased to such an extent that greater accommodation must be found. The report goes on to suggest certain alterations, with a view to affording more room. —A sum of money was passed ftr that purpose. COMPLAINTS. Several applications for repairs to roads and footpaths were referred to the Works Committee.