CROMWELL TOWN COUNCIL.

Cromwell Argus, Volume 2, Issue 92, 15 August 1871, Page 5

CROMWELL TOWN COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly mooting of the above Council was held in the Town Hall on Tuesday evening last. There were present : —The Mayor (Mr Taylor), and Crs Dawkins, Brown, Fraor, and • Shanly. In opening the meeting, the Mayor said that he hoped the Council would work harmoniously together during their term of office. There was a great deal lo do for the district, and he was thoroughly convinced that if the Council went into the work with a will, a great deal might be clone within i the next twelve months. Ho hoped, ere long I to sec. Cromwell not only with ifei Court Houao I and Warden, but witli its Gaol and Supreme | Court.Cvs Fraor and Shanly concurred in the rc- ! marks of the Mayor, and hoped they should i he judged by their deeds, and not their ! words. The minutes of the previous meeting hav- | ing been read and confirmed,

Lottei's were i'ead from Messrs Preshaw and Wright Auditors), in rot'erenoe to the books ; from Mr Smythies (Town Clerk), asking for leave of absence; and from Messrs Isaac and Thomas Escott, applying for leave to sluice on the banks of the Upper Molyneux. Accounts from Messrs Hayes, Connellan, Si Go. and Fenwick were also read. Leave of absence was granted to the Town Clerk (Mr Smythies), and Mr Fenwick was appointed Acting Town Clerk. Cr Dawkins thought that before they considered any of the business before tiie meeting, the Committees of the Council should be appointed. He woiild move, " That all correspondence be loft over until the Committees of the Council are appointed." This having bjeu seconded by Cr Fraer, and carried, Cr Dawkins further moved,

" That Cr Fraer and Cr Brown constitute the Finance Committee, and Cr Shanly and the mover the Public Works Committee, —-the Mayor to be, ex officio, a member of each Committee." —Seconded by Cr Fraer, and

carried. Cr Brown said that while appointing o'heebcarcrs for the Council, he wished to bring a subject forward which, he thought, deserved some consideration. He alluded to the appointment of a Treasurer. There was far too much responsibility thrown on to the shoulders of the Town Clerk at present, and he thought that if a Treasurer to the Corporation were appointed, it would remedy the evil to a considerable extent. Cr Fraer thoroughly coincided with the remarks made by Cr Brown. While keeping a check on the Clerk, tiie appointment of such an officer would also relic ve him of a certain amount of responsibility. Crs Shanly and Dawkins having expressed similar views on the subject, Cr Brown proposed, '' That Cr Fraer be appointed Treasurer to the Council." Seconded by Cr Dawkins, and carried. On the motion of Or Fraer, the application of Messrs Escott was referred to the Public Works Committee to report upon ; and, on the motion of Cr Dawkins, seconded by Cr Shanly, the Auditors' letter was referred to the Finance Committee for the same purpose. The accounts of Messrs Fenwick and Hayes, Connellan, and Co. were passed for payment. The latter was an account for the town water, for six months from August IS, 1870, to February 18, 1871, at the rate of threepence per week for each householder, the total amount being £l7 4s 6d. Cr Fraer thought that all accounts should be referred to the Finance Committee previous to being passed for payment. He would propose, " That in future all accounts be rereferred to the Finance Committee to report upon."—Seconded by Cr I a -kins, and carried.

j The Town Clerk was, on tlie motion of; Cr Fraor, seconded by Cr Shanty, instructed ! to procure a new minute book, and also a rough-minute hook. After a prolonged discussion as to the advisability of suieng all pirtles in arrears with their rates, the Town Oierk was instructed to collect as many unpaid rates as possible before next meeting of the Council. Cr Fraor said he wished to draw the attention of the Council to the advisability of their immediately taking some measures to impress upon the Government the urgent necessity of commencing the new Court House. TiiC3 r had £550 on the Estimates last year, but through the vote having lapsed, there were only £450 this year, and if the subject were not kept constantly bofore the eyes of the Government, it was probable that the vote would lapse again this year, and another £IOO be knocked ott' it next. He had prepared a memorial on the subject, which he would read, and in which he had roconmiended as the best site for the building, the Municipal reserve adjoining the Town Hall : "To his Honor the Supjriutan.leut. i " The memorial of the Cromwell Corporation Itespoctfully Shewcth :• " 1. That great necessity exists for tin crec- ! turn of a suitable Court-house in Cromwell, the j present building being tot lily inadequate to j the requirements of the district. j "2. That the Council would recommend that • such Court'houso should be. erected on the Municipal Reserve adjoining the Council Chamber, ! for the following roisons, viz.,—That such Wej serve is centrally sioirited, is m close proximity j to the Police quarters, and is a so the nearest j place to where the stone for building purposes is | procure I from (tlu.s reducing expense in cartage ' j of same). "3. That this Council has therefore ryspectI fully to request that immediate effect he given | to this memorial, in order to supply a great desiideratum." I He would propose, "That the memorial be [signed by the Mayor and Councillors, and j sent to Dancdui by the first mail." )l Cr Dawkins said he quite agreed with the -1 remarks made by Cr Fracr. lie thought the I sum placed oa the Estimates v.-.w mnvh too r j small, but if they did not takewhat was offered I us wo would very likely have to do without I altogether. lie would second Cr Fracr'B II motion. - j Cr Shanly thought that the money voice! fjwas totallv inadnquato. He thought thai 3! £3OO ov £OOO would be quite little enough, 1 i £450 would go n. very short way toward? i 'erecting a decent building in Cromwell. il( 1 '■ would like to take some action to have tin gisum increased. He thought the site recom oi mended in the memorial was the most unitc! able one in the town. i Tho Mayor said that he quite agreed will - 1 Cr Slianly'a views on the subject, lie ww l iHiire tlioy wore entitled to a much larger sun rjthan thot placed on fch«" Eskimatss '•bis y>«r land he thought they might, by keppin;; lh< •, laibjcet before the notice of the Government have the sum augmented. He also though

that tlio site next the Council Chamber was decidedly preferable to the Public Buildings Reserve.

Or Fraer said that he quite coincided with the remarks of the Mayor and Or Shanly, but he thought it would be the wisest plan to get the Government to start the building, and afterwards endeavour to have it enlarged. Cvs Brown and Dawkins thought it would be far better to get the" building started before trying to get the vote augmented. The motion was then put to tiie Council by the Mayor, and declared carried. It was then proposed by Or Fraer, seconded by Or Shanly, and carried, " That the Town Clark be instructed to write to his Honor the Superintendent requesting that. effect should be at once given to that portion of the report of the Gold-fields Administration Committee which recommends that a subWarden and Gold Receiver should be appointed for the Cromwell district." Or Fraer thought that it would be advisable to fix the Assessors' fee for the present year, and then call for applications tor the offices. He thought that catling for applications, and thou appointing two out of the number, would be found to act much better than appointing two citizens, as hitherto. £3 3s each would be sufficient remuneration. Or Brown was of opinion that the most satisfactory way would be to appoint Assessor 1 !.

The Mayor 'said that if applications were invited, lie did not think there would be many applicants* Or Fraer proposed, " That applications ha called from competent persons willing to assess the town property for the current year —the fee to be fixed at £3 3s each."—This was seconded by Or Shanty, and carried.