Thames Borough Council.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4319, 3 November 1882, Page 2

Thames Borough Council.

The monthly meeting of. the Borough Council was held last evening. Present: Crs McCullough (in the chair), Bawden> Osborne, Carpenter, McGowan, Veale, and Mennie.

COBEESPONDENCE

Mr E. Waite asked for the repair of the road to the Prince of Wales (late Siam) claim, Shellback Creek. Referred to Works Committee, with power to act.— Messrs Twohill, Renshaw, Bowie, and Ahier, Richmond street south, applied for a water table to be laid down, under byes law, between Pollen t>v>.d Mackay streels. The Foreman of Works was instructed to prepare plans by noxt meeting.—MrE. G. Quartertnan resigned as engine-keeper to the Shortland Fire Brigade.

EEVENUE.

Vouchers were received from the Treasury for proportion of gold duty during July, August, and. September, £311 14s Id, and goldfields revenue, £2 10s 6d.

ASPHALT SHED.

-The Foreman of Works reported upon the burning down of the asphalt shed, and recommended that a new one be erected, much larger thau the former one, it having been far too small for requirements. The new shed, if erected of iron to a size of 50 x 24>, with 9 feet studs, would cost about £65, and if of wood, same dimensions, about £50.—The matter was referred to the Works Committee to inquire into the desirability of selecting a better position. •

WOBKS COMMITTEE

The Works Committee reported the road leading to Rocky Point, referred to in the letter of Mrs Kates, has been re paired in a temporary manner by the Foreman of Works, but the entire length of this road, and also.a considerable portion of the Tararu road, requires substantial repair, and will be iacluded in the Committee's report on the matter!) reterred to in Cr Osborne's resolution. The Committee recommend that the Foreman of Works be directed to improve Queen street, where complained of by Mr Judd, by spreading about thirty loads of gravel' With respect to the footpath in Mackay street in front of Mr G-arrett's, the Committee recommend that, in the event of this footpath not being laid down under by-law, it be made passable by the Foreman of Works before the end of the summer. It is recommended that a

strong hnnd rail be added to the temporary foot crossing over the Karaka Creek at Mackay street, and a turn stile to prevent horses being taken across the foot-bridge. The Committee are obtainiug all informatiou to enable them to report on Cr Osborne's rrsolution, and anticipate laying same before the next meeting of the Council.— Wai. Cabpentee, Chairman. — Adopted. EEMIB3ION OP BATES. The Committee recommended that Iho rates of Mr Bond and Mrs Fleming bo remitted, and that those due by Mrs Peterson not remitted, but accepted in four monthly instalments.—Adopted. I HEAITH STATISTICS. Mr Mason reported five deaths during the month, all persons under 12 years of age. Three cases of measles had been reported on the 2nd ultimo, but none I since, and he was not aware of any case of infectious disease at present existing in the Borough. j FINANCE. ! The Finance Committee asked permission to delay their report upon tbe necessary alterations of Sr. George's Hall for a fortnight. Mr R:.:wden's estimate of the cost of the works was £380 9s 6d. ..'... HAY.EN STBEET. The Foreman of Works was authorised to sprend a few loads of broken metal in Haven street. ...

SHOBTLAND PTBE BEKJADE. '

The Secretary of the Shortland Fire 1 Brigade applied for the payment of a sum of £25, being one-half ot the amouut received from the united Insurance Associations, for the use of the local Fire Brigades. ' Crs' Veale and Carpenter, urged that the request be complied with. Or Carpenter asked whether any similar application had been received from the Grahamstown*Brigade. The Town Clerk said that at last meeting of the Finance Committee the cheque for the Grahamstown Brigade's portion was passed, but none for Shortland, the latter being on an entirely different footing. Crs Veale and Carpenter contended that the money was sent by the Insurance Companies as a present to the Brigades for their private m:e, such as providing libraries. &c, whilst the Town Clerk waxed warm to tlie contrary, asserting positively that it was Borough funds, and that the Shortland Brigade having made a special agreement had deprived themselves of any claim thereto.

Cr ( sborne would like-to see a fairer method of dividing the money if it was sent for the benefit of both brigades. The Graharastown contingent mustered about double-lhe number of men that Shortland did, and were therefore entitled to a larger shsre.

Cr McGowaa sdd the Council seemed (o forget the position in which the brigades stood was different to that held by them foraierly. Originally both were under the control of the Council. It had been customary to pay the mosey granted by the lusurance Companies to the two brigades equally, but not because it w»s a matter of right. Thought nobody would object to. this being continued, only that one of the brigades had made a proposal to continue operation on their own account without, an annual allowance from the Council. They thought they could do better by doing things their own way, so thrt they should not be under the coiu.ol of the Councih The Council had agreed to the proposal, and put the Brigade in a good position as regards clothing, and if in the face of that they persisted in making claims, it would be wiser, to rescind the resolutibp by which the annual allowance had been granted, because the Brigades were virtually beyond t'le control of the Council now. A very greevfc mistake had been made in allowing such au arrangement, for it was a principle they should never dep-.rt irora not to grant money to bodies over which they had no eontrd.

Cr Veale : Whet control have we over the Grubamstown Brigade?

Cr MeGrowan: Our control there is absolute.

Cr C.rpenter: In what way?

Cr McGowc/i: In so far as appliances and services are concerned; and we have power (o disband them at once, the same as Government has power to disband the local forces- ' .- "

Cr Carpenter was exceedingly surprised at members taking exception to the payment of £25 to each Brigade, inasmuch as such had invariably b^en the custom in tue past. The money hr.d been sent to'them, uot as ordinary revenue to be doled out by the Council, but merely as a graceful recognition of the efficiency of the Brigades and the value of their services. Tbe Council were merely the recipients and nothing more. Was it right to suppose for a moment that the Shortland Brigade contemplated that what had been given to them in the past was now to be impounded by.t!ie* Council ? Mr Dean said the question, had been specially asked by Cr Ve::le when tlie arrangement was entered iiito, and when an officer of the Brigade wrote about the money he received a reply that they had nothing whatever to do with it.

Cr C.trpenter said that from the fact of the Borough handing over the money an & customary thing annually the brigades had come to regard it as private. If Cr Yeale would state that it was understood that the £25 was to form part of the £70' annual allowance he would have nothing further to say. - Cr Yeale said such was not the case to his knowledge.

Cr MennL said the question had been distinctly pat, " Was the £70 to cover everything ?" and the reply was, " Yes, absolutely everything." Cr Carpenter: Assuming, of course, that the £25 was coming to them as in the past; they never supposed v the Council would impound it.

Mr Dean: This £25 was absolutely mentioned.

Cr Carpenter said unless there was some record bearing upon it be must assume that it was not so in'ended.

Cr'Mennie thought Cr Osborne *as right. They should rescind the resolution for the contract should never have been made. Why should a contract be made with one brigade and not the other.

Cr Veale: The other was not gamo to make a contract.

Cr Bawden said after the agreement was made the Shortland brigade brought in an account for £46 for clothing which was paid, now they ask for £25,iu addition to the £70 a year. He thought Cr Osborne right and the resolution should be rescinded. The Chairman said they could post themselves as to the intention of the donors. One circumstances strongly in favor of the Shortland brigade's claim was that as far as he could recollect, no return of how the £50 was expended had ever been asked of the brigades. This went to show that it had not been regarded as ordinary Borough revenue. Cr Veale said he had it on very high

authority, the Town Clerk, that the money does not belong to tbe Council. Cr Os borne moved and Cr McGowan ' seconded that the matter stand over until next meeting, with a- view to the Fire Brigade Committee bringing up a report giving the number of men in each brigade, so that the £50 might ba*.;)) accurately divided. The Council divided" '^ —For: Crs McGovran, Oiborne, Mennie, ? Bawden, and Wilson. Against: Crs Carpenter aud Veale.—Cr Osborne's amendment was therefore carried. FOBMATION OF BEACH BOAB. Tender -were opened for filling in the Beach Koad, from Cochrane street to the Karaka Bridge, as follows:—M. Casey, £225; John Allen and Co., £175; James Dickey, £265 2s 6d.; O. Griffiths, £175. The tenders of Messrs Allen and Griffiths being equal, the latter was accepted.

VALUES.. Cr Osborne moved the appointment of Mr Fleming as valuer. \Cr Carpenter seconded.—Carried. \ The Council then adjourned.