MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Cromwell Argus, Volume VI, Issue 286, 4 May 1875, Page 5

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the above body took place in the Town Hall on Friday evening. Present—His Worship the Mayor (Mr .Tolly), Crs Grant, Hayes, Taylor, Whetter, Talboys, and Arndt. CORRESPONDENCE. Inward correspondence read comprised letter from Mr J. Escott, offering share in Westmoreland water race for £l4O ; from Mr Strachan, offering his interest in Firewood Creek water for £350 ; from the Under-Sec-retary, re Block IX ; from Colonial Bank making offer for Waterworks Debentures. Outward consisted of letter to Goldfields Secretary, enclosing names of Messrs Towan, Bennett, Dawkins, and members of Town Council as nominees for Board of Wardens. MR BSCOTT’s OFFER. The Clerk was ordered to acknowledge receipt of letter, and state that, under present circumstances, his offer was declined. WATERWORKS DEBENTURES. The proposal of the Colonial Bank to take up the Corporation Debentures was then dealt with, and a long conversational discussion ensued. Ultimately, it was proposed by Cr Talboys, seconded by Cr Grant, and carried—That the offer of the Colonial Bank to take up the debentures (£2000) at £B7 each for seven per cent and one per cent commission to cover all charges, be accepted, and that the final arrangements be left in the hands of the Finance Committee. It was decided to engage the Corporation Solicitor’s services to assist the Finance Commitee in carrying out the details, provided his fee did not exceed £5. WATER RIGHT AT FIREWOOD CREEK. The offer of Mr Strachan to dispose of his half-interest in the water-rights at Firewood Creek, known as Strachan and Barker’s race, was then considered. Whether it was desirable to purchase, or take possession under the Waterworks Act, submitting value to arbitration, were questions which received much consideration. The opinion seemed to prevail that the former course was the ivisest one, and a resolution as under—proposed by Cr Whetter, seconded by Cr Hayes—was carried—That Mr Strachan’s offer to sell for £350 his share in water-rights No. 6293 and 6313, being one-half share in water-race known as Strachan and Barker’s, be accepted ; and that an offer be made to Mr Barker to purchase his half on the same terms ; said purchases to be subject to the titles being satisfactory to the Corporation Solicitor. The whole matter to be left in the hands of the Legislative Committee. The Clerk was instructed to write to Mr Barr, C.E., asking him to send up the con tracts without delay. It was decided to open a separate account, to be called “ the Waterworks Account” at the Colonial Bank, and the Town Clerk was appointed clerk of Waterworks, pro tern. BLOCK IX. The letter from the Under-Secretary (recently published in this journal) regarding Block IX. was again read. No comment took place, further than a remark from Cr Grant congratulating the Council on having the “ best of it.” A motion was passed “ that the letter from the Under-Secretary be received.” FIRE BRIGADE BUILDING. The Mayor intimated that he had been waited upon by Inspector Moore regarding the building which Government had granted to the Cromwell Council for the Fire Brigade. At present it was occupied by Sergeant Cassells, who was not prepared to vacate it just now. Would the Council have any objection to take the office temporarily for Brigade purposes, until the Sergeant found it convenient to shift his quarters ? It was agreed to comply with the Inspector’s request. PUBLIC POUND. The Mayor said he had been asked to bring the necessity of establishing a pound before the Council, It had been pointed out as a great hardship that cattle belonging to local residents should be driven to Clyde, thus entailing considerable trouble and expense. In the absence of definite information on the subject, it was not deemed desirable to at present deal with the matter. ' ACCOUNTS. Accounts were presented and passed for payment as follows : —J. Taylor, £6 19s lid ; D. A. Jolly and Co., £4 13s 5d ; after which the Council adjourned.