MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 147, 3 September 1872, Page 5

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

The Council met in the Town-hall on Thursday evening. The Mayor, and Crs. Dawkins, Wright, and Grant were present. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed ; the inward correspondence read and received ; and copies of outgoing correspondence read and approved. THE DUST NUISANCE. The following letter was received from the Waste Land Board : - Department of Lands and Survey, Dunedin, 22nd August 1872. Sir, —t have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th inst., relative to the advisability of disposing of a portion of the town of Cromwell, under certain conditions, i-i order to abate the injurious effects of the sand blown therefrom.

I laid your communication before the Waste Land Board yesterday, when it was agreed that the Board had no power to comply with your request, however advisable it might be to do so. Probably the Provincial Executive or Provincial Council would take the case into consideration. [ have, &c., J. T. Thomson, Chief Commissioner. 11. W. Smythies, Esq., Town Clerk, Cromwell. It was resolved to instruct the Town Clerk to write the Provincial Secretary on the subject. In connection with the same matter, the Mayor said lie had written to the Secretary of the Acclimatisation Society relative to obtaining seed of a certain kind of grass which was said to be specially suitable for sandy soil. THE CORPORATION WATER-PIPES. The following communication from Mr Taylor (ex-Mayor) was laid on the table : Cromwell, August 24, 1872. Mr IT. W. Rmvthiea, Town Clerk, Cromwell. Dear Sir. —ln rep'y to your letter of yesterday, I herewith haml vou copy of order to Briscoe an I Co. for water-pipes as sent for by me for the Corporation of Cromwell : "Cromwell, March 22, 1872.—Please semi to England for 12 tons of the four-inch pipe, two knees, six tees, one tapering pipe to (it into fourinch pipe, one regulation-cock to tit outlet at termination of pipes. Send by the outgoing mail, and get them out as soon as possible,—and oblige, yours tru'y, James Taylor."

The above order for pip 's was execute! with nil despatch, and they -ire now lying at Port Chalmers on bo trd the ship James Nicol Fleming, which arrived on Thursday last, I will give you all the assistance I can to get. the pipes forwarded to Cromwell, but 1 think it will be as well to shore them till carriage gets cheaper.—l am, yours truly, James Taylor. The Mayor remarked that it was evident the whole transaction had been conducted in a most irregular and unbusinesslike manner. Mr Taylor' had ordered the pipes in his own name, and not as a member of the Corporation. He (the Mayor) would advise that the Council place themselves in immediate communication with Briscoe & Co. Cr. Grant considered it the best course, under the circumstances, to let Mr Taylor complete the transaction with Briscoe & Co., and then get him to hand the pipes over to the Corporation.

Cr. Dawkins concurred in the remarks of the preceding speaker. The Town Clerk stated that Mr Taylor had expressed his desire to complete the transaction with Briscoe & Co. so far as regarded the landing and receiving of the pipes in Duncdin. It was resolved that the Town Clerk (in conjunction with MrTavlor) be directe 1 to w.ite Messrs Briscoe in reference to the matter ; and the Mayor was empowered to arrange with Mr Taylor as to temporary storage of the pipes in Dunedin.

MEMORIAL FROM HOTELKEEPERS. A memorial, signed by a miruber of licensed I victuallers resilient in the Kawarau district, and . requesting the Council to exert its influence in | getting the Colonial Government to appoint a \ re-ndeot Coroner, was received and considered. On the motion of Cr, Wright, seconded by Cr. j Grant, the Town Clerk was directed to bring I the matter under the notice of the Colonial Secretary. WATER SUPPLY. The subjoined communication, accompnniel ! with section of levels, was laid before the Council by his Worship : Cromwell, 21st August 1572. Sir, —Having been directel by the Govern- [ mont to aid the Town Council in the matter of water-supply, I beg now to forward section of ', levels taken at a point 82 chains from the b tttom j of Sligo-street. and in a direction almost W.N w. j from Cromwell, at the level of the present, waterj race which supplies the town of Cromwell. i It will be seen that there is a rise of 11 inches

between A* and /?+, and a fall of 89 feet 9 inches between i? and C.% There is also a fall of 25 feet between B and D.§ The Town Council will re i lily see 1> levels that a mrst favour»ble opportunity is thug afl'.rded for efficiently supplying the own with an Abundant quantity of watei, and that Math a fall sufhVent for pII purposes. The reservoir at B will only require to be constructed a few feet lower than that at A to ensure sufficient fall.

I have also taken levels from the head of Barker and Strahan's race, in Firewood Creek, to Cromwell Bridge, obtaining a fall between the former point and the site of a proposed reservoir (78 chains in length) of 151 feet 4 inches ; the fall from the latter place to Cromwell Bridge platform (17 chains) being 411 feet 8 inches. The cost of construction and facilities afforded are, i consider, so far in favour of the Council obtaining the supply of water from Cromwell Flat, that I down it unnecessary to state the disadvantages of having recourse to Firewood Creek.—l have. &c, W. A. Bews, District Engineer. To his Worship the Mayor, Cromwell.

A lengthy conversational discussion followe 1. and it was ultimately agreed, on the motion of Cr. Grant, seconded by Cr. Wright, to request the Public Works Committee to make inquiries as to the probable cost of obtaining a supply from the east side of the Clutha, and to bring up a report on the whole subject. It was further resolved to invite tenders from persons willing to keep the town race clear for a period of three months, and a'so to cleanse the main street once a fortnight for the same length of time : specifications to be prepared by the Public Works Committee. The Council then proceeded to discuss the following REPORT OF LEGISLATIVE AND RATE COMMITTEE. The Legislative and Kate Committee have the honour to repo:t that they held their first meeting on Wednesday evening, Aug. 2S Present—the Mayor, and Crs. Wright and Orant. The Committee would recommend the advisability of at once proceeding with the assessment for the current ye ir ; that two assessors should be appointed, at a fee of £3 :3s each ; and that applications be called for through the Cromwell -. Aitous from qualified persons for such assessorship : applications to be received up to Thursday, 12th September. The Committee would also recommend that the rates due hy the late Mr Hutton, amounting to l/U, should be remitted,—his widow being thereby exempted from paying them. The report was adopted without amendment ; as also was the

fivanob committee's repoht. 'Die Finance Committee hive the honour to report that they held their first meeting on Wednes lay evening, 28th inst., when the following memhers were present—v : z., the Mayor, and Crs Grant and Wright. An aecmnt for £9 lis. Oil. was handed in from Mr Smvtlnes for services as Town Clerk ami Collector. The Commit ee having examined the s-ime. find it tu be correct, and recommend that it he for payment. The Committee wouH have reported on the financial position of the Corporation, but the Auditors not havmg as yet laid their report before the Council, they were unable to do so. The Committee would reconmend that Mr f utten. of Dunedin, who Ins been in arrears for rates for several years, be forthwith summoned.

The Mayor stated that subsequent to the meeting of Finance Committee, the Auditors had furnished their half-yearly report on the financial affairs of the Corporation. The report was read, and was remitted to the Finance Committee to report upon at next meeting of Council. [Subjoined is a copy of the abstract embodied in the Auditors' report:—] RECEIPTS.

The Town Clerk was authorise 1 to procure I a fewchai s for the use of the Counei'l »s, thoso ! at present in use being « idly out of reiviir At the suggestion »f his Worship, the Public Works Committee were requeste 1 to draw up ! specifications for the erection of the tire-bell in | some conspicuous position in the town. A letter was ordered to he written to the Secretary for Land and Works, urging that the formation of the main roa:l leading towards the ! Corge be immediately proceeded with. ! At five minutes to 11 nm. the Council rose. * Level of water-race at commencement of I section. + Highest point of terraoe, within Municii palitv, wes f of Cronwell. X Level of roid, bit torn of Slijjo-street. § Highest hvel of terrace, top of Sligo street.

Balance ..£ 3 16 7 Hares collected ... 241 13 4 Wen's ,. ... 24 10 0 Subsidy . ... 1S9 10 0 (ieo. Jcnour In 0 0 £409 18 11 1 exp ENDITURE. j As per cash-ooii] ... £322 13 6 1 IJalanc! in Hank ... 123 15 7 I Balance iu Treas urer S b illds .. ... 23 9 10 £469 IS 11