Thames Borough Council.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4271, 8 September 1882, Page 2

Thames Borough Council.

The fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held last evening. Present— Crs McGowan (in the chair), Osborne, Wilson, MeCullough, Yeale, Marshall, ?peight, and Bawden. :

LETTERS

Letters were read from a number of ratepayers in Baillie ; street, for the lowering of the water-table in that street,..as they were not at present able! i'o - drain their properties advantageously. Messrs Deeble and Whitehead were heard in support of the application. Referred to the Works Committee.—From John darken, objecting,to the excessive valuation of his house at £8 par annum. Re« solved the objection came too late.—From the Secretaryof the Catholic Boys' School, demurring to the payintentof £6,,f0r their share of the Walter street footpath unless the same was finished in a workmanlike manner. Resolved the work be properly attended to.—From several residents on Bird in-Hand Hill, in reference to the laying out of the new road.—-From Mr 0. Judd, against a water-table 'and* footpath being laid down iii Kirkwood street adjoining the allotments of his foundry;— From Mr C. Curtis, asking permission to connect a 12 inch drain with the,culvert on the south side of Albert street. - Referred to the Works Committee. 77-From Mr T. Gatran, objecting to being charged wita water rate, as he lived at a great distance from a stahoNpipe.—From Mason Bros., objecting to their being charged for a bath which they did not possess.—From Mr Macandrew, claiming exemption on the ground that he had by special arrangement already paid in advance.—From the Clerk of the House, forwarding an abstract of the report of the Goldfields Committee upon the Council's petition, in which Govern-i ment was recommended to buy up native rights or subsidise the local bodies to the extent of the amount derived from miners rights. It was resolved to communicate with our members, requesting them to so (■hit the recommendation be carried into effect this session.—From the directors of .tlie Queen of Beauty G.M. Co., asking ih.4 Council to subsidise their pump' to the exrenfc of one half the gold duty received by the Borough, on the grounds that the company is doing much, for the advancement of the Thames, and that the expense of pumping and draining operations might

fairly be a charge upon the Council to a much larger extent than at present-; seeing also tKat the company is now adding materially to the gold revenue. Resolved to reply that the Council was not prepared to make any alteration of the present arrangements.

The Works Committee reported as follows:—" The Committee have the honor to report that they have let the tramway (with the use of three trucks) now laid down between the Queen of Beauty hoppers and the Queen of Beauty batfcery for a period of six months, et a rental of 15s per week. It has been intimated to the Committee by a gentleman tha: he is willing: to take over and reat for two years, the line of tramway between Albert street and Tararu if put in working order. A matter in connection with the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company's claim re land taken for Karaka 'Creek is brought before the Council for its consideration by notice of motion."

( The Water Supply Committee's report was read." . . . ;

FIBE BRIGADES

The Fire Brigade Committee's report was as follows:—" The Committee hare to report that, seeing the Shortland Fire Brigade have just received a large number of new uniforms, any inquiry into the state of the Brigade's uniforms would be useless. Of the accounts, amounting to £56 17s 2d, the Committee recommend the following be paid by the Council out of the Borough funds : J. Renshaw, £2 8s 8d ; Judd &Co M £5 4s; E. Quarterman, £2 2s 6d; J. West, £6 11s (this includes proposed alterations to hose reel); and that an advance be made by the Council to the Shortland Brigade of £40 2s 6d to enable them to pay Mr Wiseman, such advance to be secured by its being made on account of the £70 agreed to be granted annually by the Council to this Brigade.—James McGowan." Cr McCullough moved as an amendment that the sum of £40 2s 6d referred to be paid, but not charged against the annual allowance of £70. —Cr Veale seconded.

The amendment was carried and the report was altered accordingly and adopted. . . The Eelieving Officer reported that the relief list for the month was smaller than on any previous occasion during his term of office.

The Health Officer stated 34 cases of measles had been reported during the month. . i

ACCOTTNT3

The Finance Committee rrcommended payment of the monthly accounts. They found that the local Exhibition committee had no power :to expend money on behalf; of! the Council, and therefore the - Council was not liable for their actions. The report was adopted. Cr Bawden asked whether this would end the Plant business.—Another Cr said this plant was a growing one.—Cr McCullough said that if Mr Plant would assert that either he (the speaker) had promised him the £5, or that Mr Dean had done so on his behalf, he would hand over a £5 cheque immediately.-—Cr Speight remarked: That £5 is gone then.—Or McCullough : No ; Mr Plant may consider himself hardly used about this matter, but he is not likely to make a false statement for that or any other sum of money.

NOTICE OF MOTION

Cr McGowa 1 moved the motion of which he' Had previously given notice, " Thst the resolution passed on August ;24bh in reference to the Loan Company's conpecsation claim be rescinded, end the following ■resolution passed.. ■'.That' the matter be referred to two experts, and Col. Eraser as umpire between the two, whose decision shall be final.'"—The resolution was put and carried. .......

SPECIAL MEETING

An adjourned special meeting was held, at which tbe plan for roads on the Bird-in-Hai)d Hill proposed to be (.jken under the Public Works Act was pre ented.,

Cr McCiillough moved that a slight alteration should be made in the.plan, and that the same be approved. Seconded by Cr Osborce and carried) .

Cr Veale said' before, eeparating he thought there was a duty they bad to perform, and that was io take some recognition of the services rendered by the retiring councillors. Cr Marshall they knew was not to come back, but their other colleague? at present nominated he felt they would tee again. Of Cr'Marshall he could not speak too highly, and personally he had to thank that gentleman for the able assistance' he bed given him in all matters touching the interests of the South Ward. He moved a vote of thanks to Cr Marshall.

Complimentary speeches were made by several councillors, the Chairman remark; ing he trusted within a tew months to see him occupy a post of honor at the Council

Board

The resolution was carried,

Cr Marshall returned thanks for the compliment paid him. He had always striven to do his duty to the Borough, and trusted the ratepayers were as satisfied with him in the matter as he was that he had tried faithfully to serve them. , ,