MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 197, 19 August 1873, Page 5

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

The first regular meeting of the re-con-! structed Council was held in the Town-hall on Thursday evening. There were present —the Mayor, Mr Fraer, and Councillors Dawkins, Grant, Wright, Shanly, Eaves, and Pierce. Before bringing the immediate business of the evening before the Council, the Mayor said that he deemed it necessary to make a few remarks before entering upon the duties which he and the other members of the Council had been chosen to fulfil. He could assure them that it gave him great pleasure to think that he had in some measure merited the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citi-zens, when he wa3 again returned to preside over the Council of the important Municipality of Cromwell. He was aware of the responsibility which rested upon him in filling that office, and he would endeavour to maintain its dignity by conducting the duties of- it on all occasions in a fair and impartia' manner. Tn doing so, he trusted he would | have the hearty assistance and co-operation j of the Councillors, so that the business of the town might be carried on in a profitable and satisfactory manner. Differences of opinion would no doubt exist on many subjects ; at leaif, he expected, nay he had almost said he ! hoped so. But he trusted those differences | would be expressed in a temperate and for-; bearing manner; and thai one aim only j would animate the Councillors, —namely, the I Welfare and advancement of the town and j district. With these few remarks, he would j now direct the Council's attention to several matters which he thought should have their earnest attention during the year. Amongst the various works which would be brought under their consideration were the following: •A permanent water supply, (his Worship pointing out that the Ordinance passed during the late session of the Provincial Council put the Corporation in a position to prosecute this scheme to advantage); the permanent levels of the town ; the formation of the cross' streets from Melmqre-ternve to the mainstreets on the fiat ; the construction of Mel-more-street westward towards the Kawarau Gorge ; the settlement of that vexed question, Block IX; the reclamation of the waste land on Blocks XIII, XIV, &c, &c, ; the improvement of the mail service ; and the establishment of a District Court. These, he thought, were the most important local matters they would be required to deal with ; but manv other important questions affecting the district, as well as the town, would crop up during their term of office, and he trusted, when they did come before them, they would be discussed in a liberal and intelligent manner. He would conclude bv again expressing a hope that all their discussions would be conducted in a temperate and businesslike manner. Cr. Grant had great pleasure in listening to the remarks which had fallen from his Worship on this occasion. He (Cr. Grant) concurred with the spirit of those remarks, and was sure that his Worship's most earnest desire was to benefit Cromwell, and to see it floui'ish. He hoped that one and all would join heartily in carrving out those works which had been shadowed forth to them tonight. Cr. Grant was then proceeding to discuss the water scheme, but the reminded him that it would hardly be in order to allow any discussion on the subject at the present stage of the business. A more fitting opportunity could be taken for doing so. Cr. Grant was anxious to proceed with the matter, characterising it as the "great and grand" scheme they were ehieflv called upon to deal with, when Cr. Dawkins rose to a point of order. Cr. Dawkins thought it was quite competent for any Councillor to make a general expression of concurrence, or otherwise, with the introductory remarks made by the Mavor ; but it was not in order to discuss at length one particular matter. Cr. Grant said he would bring the question of water simply or at some future time. Cr. Shanlv, as one of the new Councillors, would only like to say that he would do eve^vthi'ir 1, IT i his power to irnVr- things wo"k harmoniouslv ; and he trusted that at the end of the year the members would be found acting as one man for +*>" "»nlf-ire and advancement of the town and district. The minutes of previous meetings were then read and confirmed. APPOTNTIURNT OF To\V>J C.ljßitK. Three applications for th-> oQice of Town Clerk wore r«c'"'v.vh-_f rom Messrs Colchmgh, Mac Nab, and Jenour. Before putting the applications to the meel,,ing, the Mayor impressed upon the Council the necessity of putting a:;;dc ill jxrjr.nsl

prejudices or predilections in making the apj pointment. Every one knew that the success j or otherwise of the town business depended i greatly upon the gentleman who might bo appointed to the office of Town Clerk, and ihe trusted that that consideration alone j would guide them in making their selection. It was then resolved to appoint Mr Charles ! Colclough to the office : three Councillors j being in favour of his appointment; two of the appointment of Mr Mac Nab ; and one of : appointing Mr Jenour. It was also resolved ito instruct Mr F. J. Wilson, solicitor, to j prepare the bond for the security required ! from the Town Clerk,—viz., £2OO. I CLEANSING STREETS AND REPAIRING TOWN RACE. Three tenders were received for cleansing i street and attending town race for the period of three months : —John Wright, £9 15s. ; I William Barnes, £lO Ba.; R. C. Moore, £ll. ! Resolved that the tender of John Wright be accepted. COUNCIL COMMITTEES. Before proceeding to the election of Committees for the year, it was resolved, on the I motion of Cr. Dawkins, that three memj bers of the Council (exclusive of the Mayor, who would act ex officio) should be appointed on the several Committees. The appointment of Committees was then gone on with, as follows • Public Works Committee: Messrs Dawkins, Grant, and Hayes. Finance Committee: Messrs Wright, Pierce, and Shanly. Legislative and Rate Committee : Messrs Dawkins, Wright, and Shanly. ACCOUNTS. Several accounts laid upon the table were ordered to be referred to the Finance Committee, to be reported upon at next meeting. CORRESPONDENCE. j Inward. —Letter from R. Inglis, offering jto supply gravel for footpaths in Melmorestreet, was read. Ordered to be referred to ! Public Works Committee. Outward.— The Town Clerk was instructed ito write to the Chief Postmaster in re the i mail service.- - MISCELLANEOUS. Resolved, on the motion of Cr. Wright, I seconded by Cr. Grant, that application be ! made to the Government to get the District j Engineer to assist in taking the .permanent 1 levels of the town. i It was resolved that the Mayor and Town I Clerk be empowered to deal with the Govern- ! nient in the matter of compensation for the j main road already formed through the township. Before concluding.the business, the.Mayor | intimated the past accounts of the Corporation would be brought under, the con-, sideration of the Council at its next meeting ; and that if the need arose, a special meeting of the Council would be called for the purpose. The usual VOte of thanks to the Mayor concluded the proceedings.