MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 264, 1 December 1874, Page 6

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

The regular meeting of the above body was held onFriday evening last. There were present: The Mayor (Mr Jolly), and Crs Grant, Ttylor, Hayes, and Arndt. Cr Aridt, in taking his seat, said he hoped to work in unity and concord with the members of the Council. He could assure them he would give his earnest attention to the consideration of such subjects as came before the Council, and would do his best for the advancement of the town. Tie Mayor and Cr Grant welcomed Cr Arrdt, in congratulatory terms. UNPAID RATES. Mr Johnston, the Corporation solicitor, having been asked by the Town Clerk, by tuthority of the Council, to take steps towards obtaining the highest legal authority on the question of the validity of the 1873r4 ratc3, now replied. Uc said'he could not ad-

■vise the Council to take any steps in the mann nbrsnggested,.,, No goodresult could follow." Tpesopiniojvpf tno authority would reverse thp Magistrate's (decision ; that; could be done oiily by appeal: to'the Supreme Court. 7 The question was ab exceedingly open to different .views, that the decision of the Supreme Court Jude was not possible depended upon ; and seeing that the result was problematical, while the expense would be so heavy, he rtiUst advise the Council to reconsider their deter* mination. The letter was the cause of a long discussion. : . ■ Cr Grant thought the best plan-would be to, call a special meeting of the Council,, when the whole subject of the unpaid rates, and of some means being taken to recover them,' might be gone into. Cr Taylor, however, could see no reason for delay. He therefore moved, '.'That Mr Johnston's letter be considered as final, and that the Council take no further.legal steps to recover Mr Marsh's rates." ■ Cr Arndt seconded this. Cr Grant did not like the wording of the resolution. He thought it shut the Council out from ever recovering the unpaid rates, especially Mr Marsh's. He moved an amendment a3 follows :—"That Mr Johnston's letter be considered final by this Council." Cr Hayes seconded. The Mayor gave his casting vote in favour of the original motion. FIRE BRIGADE. Messrs Starkeyand Murrell, captain and lieutenant. of the Cromwell Fire Brigade, made their appearance before the Council as a deputation. They wished to know whether the Council intended to carry out the Inspector of Works' suggestion regarding the placing of tanks along the course of the water race (with a view to watering the streets); also, whether, in the event of such suggestion being acted upon, the Brigade would be allowed the use of them. The Public Works Committee had the subject under consideration, and the members of that Committee entered into some particulars as to the cost of the tanks.. Eventually, the deputation received an answer to the effect that no decision had yet been come to by the Council in the matter, but that, if tanks were procured, the Brigade might rely upon the use of them being granted. LETTERS FROM THE GOVERNMENT. A letter from the Under-Secretary was. read, stating that the Government would not accede to the request of the Council that Cromwell lock-up should be declared a gaol Great surprise was expressed at the receipt of such an answer, seeing that a gaol had been declared in such a town as Arrowtown ; and the Town Clerk was ordered to write again, urging the request on the Government in the most forcible manner. The Goldfi elds Scretary also wrote, stating, with regard to the old police buildings, that the intention was to sell by auction such of them as were not likely to be of future use ; but that the lock-up was not one of those to be so sold, and therefore the Corporation could not obtain a grant of it for Fire Brigade purposes. The Town Clerk was instructed to again write to the Government, asking for a free grant of one, at least, of the buildings. ACCOUNT. John Baker's account for £3l was read, and £2O was ordered to be paid on account. ASSESSMENT. The Town<Clerk submitted the assessment book to the Council, having received the same from the assessors that day. A long discussion took place during the consideration of the assessment. The book was gone over, and the valuations compared with those of last year, and the opinion seemed to be that the assessment might well be amended in many respects. However, after consideration, no possible course could be found for the Council except to allow it, no provision being made for disallowance ; ar.d, on the motion of Cr Arndt, seconded by Cr Taylor, this was accordingly done. Then another long discussion ensued, in reference to the proper legal steps necessiry in regard to publishing notice of the allowance of the assessment. Eventually, with the assistance of much advice from the Town Clerk, a conclusion was come to, and mat officer was instructed to advertise in ac<ordance with that conclusion. This concluded the business.