LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 3, 29 February 1868, Page 3

LAWRENCE TOWN COUNCIL.

The Council met at eight o'clock on Wednesday evening* Present : — The Mayor and Councillors Jeffery, Robertson, Aimers^ Donovan* and Town Clerk.

The Mayor stated that he had called a special meeting to take into consideration an offer of Mr. George Murray's with reference to bringing water into Lawrence, and as Councillors Jeffery and Robertson were going to Dunedin next week the Usual fortnightly meeting could not be held, and a delay in the consideration of this subject would have been the result. Previous to introducing this subject cfce Mayor called upon the Town Clerk to read the Public Works Report, which, after being slightly altered, was adopted as follows : — The footpath in Ross Place, north side to be gravelled from White-haven-street to Gabriel's Gully Road, and the portion from opposite the " Tuapeka Press " property to be channelled to the junction of Gabriel's Gully Road, that distance not to exceed one chain, and also to be kerbed and channelled on Gabriel's Roa< I one chain. It would be necessary to cut a drain from said junction to the storm channel, and to form a culvert at said junction across Ross Place.

Cr. Donovan was hoping to have seen a report from the Public Works Committee with reference to the state of Kil-marnock-street.

Tho Mayor stated that the Council adjourned that they might consider this, and the meeting which should have been held on Friday night lapsed for want of a quorum. Cr. Jeffery moved, " That the Public Works Committee prepare a specification for the work referred to in report, so that tenders might be called for next meeting of Council." Cr. Robertson seconded. Carried nem. con. The Water Committee's Report was then read. It set forth that the Committee were of opinion that Mr. Murray^ offer was reasonable and fair, as it relieved the Council of all expenses in the engineering, agency, &c., and took all responsibility, from them until the works were handed over completed to the Council. The Committee had reason to know that the Phoenix Water Race Company would supply the town with a sufficient quantity of water upon a lease, at a rate not exceeding £30 a-Var. The Committee then resolved to accept Mr. Murray's offer, contingent upon arrangements being made to negotiate a loan. The Committee also resolved that the Mayor , should see the Government, and endeavor to arrange as to a £1500 loan. j Mr. Murray's letter was then read, of which we give a summary : — The work to consist of a water course from the Phoenix Co.'s Race to Herberts Hill ; to supply and lay cast iron pipes 6 in. diameter, of a thickness of $ in. from and connected with, such reservoir, across the flat to the junction of Lan-caster-street and Ross Place, thence along Ross Place and Peel-street, and terminating at the corner of Colonsay-street, where a stand-pipe would be erected for delivery of water to carts ; a similar stand-pipe at corner of Lancaster-street and Ross Place ; two fire plugs to be provided for Ross Place, and two for Peelstreet ; pipes to be laid underground to a depth of eighteen inches ; length of piping required, understood not to exceed thirty chains, any excess of that quantity to be paid for by Council at the rate of £40 a chain ; a reservoir to be constructed on Herberts Hill, capable of holding 20,000 gallons ; work to be done in a workmanlike manner and to the satisfaction of the corporation, for the j sum of £1850.

The Mayor stated that the scheme first proposed by the Council was to brinsc the water from the source of. Gabriel's Gully Creek, but doubts had been entertained as to whether that supply would meet the wants of the town. He believed they could eret a lease of twenty-one years from the Phoenix Water Company, and he had no doubts as to the source bein? permanent. Cr. Donovan said with reference to the proposal of the Council, he thought they were travelling out of their course. He understood it was usual when such important works were proposed to be carried out, that a report was laid before the Finance Committee. He thought that if there was a Finance Committee it was the legitimate business of that body to report upon such a scheme as the one now before the Council. He would ask how was the money for this proposed work to be refunded ? The Mayor in explanation, stated that the scheme had nothing to do with the Finance Committee. It was well known the want was great. Cr. Donovan was not going to disensa that part of the question. Nj %^« The Mayor said that Cr. Donovi^B ought to know the position of the Couj^B oil. It must be well known that tn^B -"■/irk could not be done without the as^ sistanv- - f the Govetrmejnt, and i^'ej was no use going to the vernm u^gm|H less they had some scheme" to propo^B He (the Mayor) had brought the subject" before the Executive when he was in Dunedin, and Mr. Yogel thought that a loan of LISOQ could be arranged. As to the refunding of this amount referred to by Cr. Donovan, he thought that if they as a body could bring about such a great public work for the benefit of the town, there was riot the necessity to pay the loan for some time, especially as a rate of" 6d. a pound would pay the interest on the amount. The whole of the matter, however, was contingent upon their obtaining the loan. It was then moved and seconded that Mr. Murray's report be received.

Cr. Donovak referred to several communications on the subject 'Before thgnr lying on the table which had never beeiiJ laid before the Council, and saicf he^w^s. puzzled to know how matters^stqpd. * If J the work-^as to be donp. why not put iiJ up to esthete. He asked who ,wa3*M™ Murray that he should do this work ? Hfl questioned if he was. be^teraMetod^H than some of theuT owfi^peo^Ser'Sß thought it unfair towards the Mu^ic« pality, and believed that there were men in Lawrence who were equally able to dol the work. They talked sometimes aboujl money going out of ,the district, outl surely this was ,a case in point. Therel was a loan of 1/1500 proposed, but theifl was no arrangement how that sum was to'

belaid. He bteiieVed they were not in a position to go bito this scheme, and he could not conceive how such a plan as that of Mr. Murray^ could be agreed upon, and if agreed Upon he thought the men of Lawrence ought to have a chance to execute it.

Cr. Robertson thought CJr. Donovan was so far right, at the same time he had not come to a different decision without having minutely calculated the whole affair. He agreed to receive Mr. Murray's offer because calculations had been repeatedly made before they received this offer, and none of them brought the same under a couple of thousand pounds. By adopting this offer of Mr. Murray's they would free themselves of a deal of labor and of extras which it was well known generally formed a serious item in some of their contracts. He agreed with Cr. Donovan that estimating was the proper course to pursue, and although it might appear an eyesore giving the work to people in Dunedin, still he would remind them that the labor would not likely be brought from Dunedin, so that after all the Lawrence people would reap the benefit of the work. He saw no reason why Mr. Murray's offer should not be received.

Cr. Aimers quite agreed with Cr. Donovan. He believed there were plenty men in Dunedin who perhaps could do the work better than Mr. Murray and perhaps as cheap, and he thought it ought to be tendered for in the usual way. His oWn opinion was that it could be done cheaper.

The Mayor said that from what Crs. Aimers and Donovan h\d stated one would think that this matter had been brought before the Council for the first time, whereas it is an old subject and had been before them often. He then referred to Mr. Jackson hating made every enquiry both in Dunedin and Melbourne, and found that the, cost of the pipes alone would amount to L 990. If they estimated for the work, they would require to employ an engineer, and they well knew the expense that wuld entail ; besides the proposed arranganent would relieve them of all aiixiety ij the matter. Cr. Donovan rose to nove as an amendment to the motion, 'f that the report be sent back to the Biblic Works Committee for re-consideratbn."

The Mayor then said tit this report had not been hastily browht forward, the Committee could notfdo anything further than lay down the for the consideration of the Council

Cr. Aimers said he didfiot object to the scheme, but he objected to Mr. Murray's report. [ Cr! Robertson said, apposing the Council were to call for terlers by advertisement in the " Daily [Cimes," were they prepared to accept thflowest or any tender? Until they got tie money, or knew how it was to be jbllected, they could do nothing. He wold recommend that the Mayor should peat with the Government in the matter

Cr. Donovan opposed the scheme, mainly on the ground of I^bir not tender-

ing for it. | The Mayor remarked, jhat if they got the loan from the Governient, they were bound in honor, althotigKnot legally, to give the work to Mr. Mujjay. The amendment was fen put to the Council, when two were nfavor of it and two against it. | It then devolved on the Mayor to give the casting vote. After lonsidering the matter for a few momeiß, he said, he would much rather the buncil had decidad the question ; but tfere was nothirg left for Mm but to decicl ; and as this matter had been so longjnder weigh, he gave his vote for the kiginal motion, " That the report be recered."

Cr. Donovan then loc^d the following protest against the legaly of the proceedings : - Council Chacers, Lawrerii, Feb. 26, 1868.

I hereby protest against j»s resolution heing adopted, for the following reons : — "When the amendment had been pup two Councillors voted for it , viz., Cr. Aimegand myself, and one against it, viz., Cr, Jefry ; therefore the amendment ought to be deer ed the motion. foHN Donovan.