MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 32, 22 June 1870, Page 5

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

—o — The usual fortnightly meeting of the Council was held in the Chamber on Monday evemiug. Present—The Mayor, and Councillors YThetter, Burres, and Kelly. Councillor Dagg took his seat about an hour after the Council met. The minutes of the previous weeting hating been read and confirmed, The Town Clerk read copies of oatward correspondence since last meeting. Amongst others was a letter to the Provincial Treasurer, inform- ' ing him that Messrs Howorth & Hodgkins had been instructed by the Conncil to take proceedings against the Government for the recov«ry of £BS ss. 4d. alleged to be due to the Municipality as subsidy on rates collected in 1868-9. Also, a letter to Messrs Howorth & Hodgkins, asking their opinion as to the validity of the claim sought to be established by the Council. A letter was read from Mr W. Fraser, M.P.C., statiug that his Honor the Superintendent had instructed the Provincial Engineer to make an estimate of the probable cost of a bridge over the Clutha between Cromwell and Qaartz-reef Point.—Received. COMMONAGK. Cr. Burres, by permission of th<y Council, laid on the table copies of resolutions passed at the public meeting held on Saturday evening. He said there was a general desire that the Council should take the matter in hand and communicate the result of the meeting to the Government. The ground which had served as a commonage hitherto was gradually being taken from us, and we should sooa be without any. Repeated efforts had been made to obtain a public commonage, but from one cause or another the people had always been bamboozled. He trusted that the Council would look after the interests of the district in this matter. Tho Tows Clerk read the minutes of the public meeting, embodying the resolutions which had been adopted. Cr. Whetter remarked that there was great commotion in the town in consequence of the fencing-in of the Lower Flat, and the agitation had resulted in the holding of a public meeting. He considered it was the duty of the Council to endeavour to get a commonags, and that they should not relax their efforts until that object was attained. It was very desirable to ascertain whether the runholder really possessed authority to ■ sub-let portions of his run. If the Lower Flat was allowed to be fenced, not only would the best of the pasturage be taken away, but the only means of access to water for cattle would be cut off. He moved—- " That a letter be written to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to take steps to prevent any further fencing operations on the Lower Flat, and to allow no more land to be taken up (in the fun, until a public commonage is obtained." Cr. Bcrres, in seconding the motion, observed that if aomo effort were not made to put a stop to the present Bystem of aub-leasing portions of the run, Mr Loughnan might let the whole of the laud in one block, and so prevent cattle from depasturing on any part of it. He would therefore support the motion, and would go in for a commonage besides. Or. Kelly said that for the last two years the commonage question had been a bono of contention in this district. The Bimple facta, of the [ case were that Mr Loughnan had made an offer of au area for qonunpnage, which had nut been

accepted; and he,had smco refused to. enter upon any further negotiations in the matter. Mr Loughnan held the run, and paid for it, and could therefore do what he pleased with it. It wag not worth while cavilling about a paltry Hat: let tho whole district unite and demand an area for commonage from the Geue*»l Government. The best plan to get a grievance redressed was to go direct to the head-centre, and not huxter to subordinates. The Mayor, in the course of an irregular discussion that followed, remarked that ho had only fenced ft piece of ground hj« had been trying for years to obtain; and as to the alleged blocking up of the landing-place for timber, the river frontage of his ground was only three or four hundred yards, and no timber had been landed there for the last twelve months : tho landingplace now used was higher up the river. If the Government decided that Mr Loughnan had no power to sub-lease any part ofjthe run, all those who had taken up land within the run would have to be turned off. The motion was put and unanimously carried. THE TOWN RACE. A lengthy discussion took place regardingfthe water supply, and it was finally resolved tha* the PuMic Works Committee should be empowered to carry out the proposed improvements in the race. FOOTPATHS AND OHANHELIHO. On the motion of Cr, Kelly, it was resolved that the south side of Melmore-terrace, from the Bridge Hotel to Mr Harding's, should be gravelled, and also that the channel on both sides of the street should be cleaned out. THB POST-OFFICE. Cr. Kellt said that as the General Assembly was now in session, he would move—- " That this Council memorialise the General Government, through the Postmaster-General, that a sum of money'be placed on the Estimates sufficient to erect a suitable Post and Telegraph Office at Cromwell, as the present building is totally inadequate and unedited to the growing requirements of this important diatriet." The motion was agreed to. THE CITIZENS' ROLL. A Court of Revision w*a appointed to be hold on Thursday, the 7th July. ACCOUNTS. A number of accounts, amounting in all to £l6 125., were examined and passed for payment. • The Council then adjourned.